I log in to Facebook.
A friend's
wall-post pops up.
"I
marvel at the mindset
of Indian
army men
who
rescue
the same
people
who pelt
stones at them
in Kashmir.
He adds,
"I also wonder
at the
morality
of the
Kashmiris
who
clutch
on to the
hands
of the same
army men
at whom
they pelt stones!"
I
read.
There's a
reaction
already in my head.
Sharp.
Instant.
But, I
pause.
Think.
Come back.
and reread.
Like?
Dislike?
Or Comment?
Shall I?
What's the
point?
Will it be a troll?
Shall I
just send
a personal message?
I pause, and Think.
So why a
personal response?
I write,
about my
views,
my
schooling at the army school.
and my
views counter to his.
Or is it
in addition to his?
I
write,
"story
of Kashmir has more to it...
while there
are those
'who rescue
the same people
who pelt
stones
at them in
kashmir',
there are
still those
who rape
and humiliate.
I am not
saying
that all Kashmiris
are victims
or becharas.
But when we
pose
a blanket question
on a
"morality of Kashmiris",
or for that matter anyone else,
I think, there's an opportunity
to dig
deeper
than what
we see.
If we only
present
or
engage
with one
side of the story,
it leads us
to
veneration
or hate.
I
assume
you want none...
and I
hope
what you
seek
is a more nuanced
and
dialogical discourse."
I tell
him, go watch,
I pause.
I read what
I wrote.
Should I
hit send?
Or should I
not?
And then I
hit it.
It's
gone.
Gosh!
Should I go and delete it?
Or edit
something?
I
wait.
I
re-read.
Get up.
Walk away.
Do other
chores.
When I come
back to the screen,
I see the
notification blinking.
A new
comment from him.
He
writes,
"I
agree with you
on blanket
stereotyping.
There is a
big difference
between
'morality of Kashmiris'
and
'morality of the Kashmiris'.
Maybe, I
should have written
'those
kashmiris'
which is
what I meant
with the
definite article
and maybe
you could
take a
pause
before
jumping
to a
conclusion
that the
definite article
was
missing!"
I
read.
And reread.
I
pause,
this time
more intentionally.
as was
suggested.
not to
jump
on
conclusion
or for
conclusions.
You know
those moments,
when you
want to laugh
and express
pity or anger
at the same
time?
This was
something like that.
I pause.
I read.
I hit
reply.
I write,"Sure"
I think,
"no it's not able that definite article.
It's about that judgement
you through
on a group of Kashmiris
whose journeys you don't even know.
It's about the army men
whom you venerated
whose journeys, again,
you don't even know.
It's about these single stories
you hold and regenerate."
It's about these single stories
you hold and regenerate."
I add an
emoji - :-)
and
add,
"thank
you for clarifying,
I think, " You see,
a father who rapes his son
or a daughter
in the night
and still takes
care of him or her
in the day
the child might receive the care,
but could you say
he or she shouldn't throw tantrums?"
I add another
emoji - :-)
And hit send.
P. S. - And while
what's said and what's not
in the comforts of our homes
there may be
some Kashmiris still being raped
and some army men still being stone-pelted.
- Based on a Facebook conversation with a friend.
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