Out of millions how many women follow Andrabi? She only represents herself and the 13 other women who hang out with her.

Kashmir has a literary tradition that goes back to thousands of years. It is a place that became a backwater only in the last 300 to 400 years. There is Habba Kadal, who wrote great classical poetry and composed ragas and that was the 15th century.

Part I of the interview: 'I am a Kashmiri and my politics are different'

There has always a tradition of women being participants. Some of the most fascinating characters over the years are women. I don't know any Kashmiri woman who did not go to school.

In fact all the women I know own a master's degree. You put a gun to their heads and they won't sit at home. They may take a Rs 400 job, but they won't sit idle.

But how does such a society leave itself vulnerable to radicalisation? The kind of support that Syed Ali Shah Geelani got in the recent protests was staggering.

Radicalisation is a fairly modern process. Geelani has an Islamist world view. When he talks about azaadi, he wants it to be based on Islam. Islamic ideologues like Geelani have been throughout history and he has modelled himself on them.

When people support him in a rally or cheer for him, it is not for the agenda he is laying out. It is because of his reputation of not being bought over by India unlike other separatist leaders. Na bikne wala, na jukhne wala (we won't sell out or bow down), is his slogan. If he goes out and lays down the details of the agenda, the people are going to say, 'Dude, no chance!'

There was an incident in a shrine and the next day he had to go. He doesn't believe in it, but he had to go and show up there like any other person.

Buy Curfewed Night at the Rediff Bookshop!

Image: Girls in Srinagar's Tulip Garden. Photograph: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images

Also read: The rulers, their doings

Back

|

Next