Right to vote, a sweet illusion or I may say a virtual perception of fantasy, I always craved for. They say democracy is a battle of ideas, but I contest! Because, in this part of the world, democracy is a charade and in the most beautiful garrison town, Kashmir, people are enslaved and the foreigners exploit it’s charm. Institutions and schools of thoughts left no stone unturned to make the idea of voting look more divine and dignified. We were told to believe that this right will place us at par.
“If I vote, I believe, I am stamping the document of my own oppression. If I vote, I believe that I am legitimising the presence of Indian security forces and their actions as prevalent in my home land. If I vote, I believe that I am ratifying the accession of Kashmir with Indian Union, which I haven’t accepted. If I vote, I believe I am betraying my own land. If I vote, I believe that I am antagonising the 70 years of struggle for right to self determination. If I vote, I believe that I will be undermining the sacred cause of those people, who lost their lives in this struggle. Finally, if I vote, I believe that I am a prisoner of my own conscience, who hasn’t any idea of homeland, I reside in which has been witness to the century of tyranny, oppression, miseries, in the name of pseudo secularism and virtual democracy.
The history is testimony to the fact that elections in Kashmir are just a hoax and means to justify the unabated killings, torture chambers and extrajudicial killings. It will be erroneous to say that higher voter turnout in Kashmir means accepting the hegemony.
Another point is to whom should I vote for? To those who have been selling us sweet dreams from so long or to those who exploit our emotions in the name of greater autonomy, self rule, healing touch etc. Should I vote for those who pretend to be sympathisers when out of power, and become the facilitators of tyranny when in power. Should I vote for those people who dance to the tunes of New Delhi? Now if I vote, I will be selling my consciousness to the fetish ideas, they have been feeding us for long. History is witness to that fact, that these politicians are no sympathisers of people but have lust of power.
Well, I am a young adult with all dreams and aspirations just like every other young adult like me elsewhere. I don’t reject electoral politics at all but the fact that stops me from exercising right to vote is the history of my land. I too want to participate in election rallies. I too want to cheer up for my favourite leader but I am unfortunate to be the part of the land where there are no leaders but only agents
Tawfeeq Irshad Mir
Bomai, Sopore SOPORE
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
