Author: Sunanda Vashisht
Publication: Myind.net
Date: April 7, 2016
URL:   https://www.myind.net/when-paper-flag-nit-srinagar-challenged-anti-nationals

Every Indian has a small personalized cricket story to tell. They will tell you what they were doing when Kapil Dev lifted that world cup in 1983. They will tell you how they forgot to eat and drink when Sachin Tendulkar hit a ton or Yuvraj hit his spate of sixes. Hindus in Kashmir also have personalized cricket stories albeit little different. They will tell you which bed they hid under when crackers were burst outside their homes to celebrate defeat of India. They will tell you which window pane broke when Kapil got a wicket or Gavaskar made a century. They will tell you which friend of theirs was harassed every time India won. These are their cricketing stories and their memories of cricket.

Cricket in Kashmir has always been a volatile issue and an opportunity for Muslim majority to show their hatred for anybody who professes a different faith and hence by virtue of their faith is a representative of Indian State. Now that most Hindus have been thrown out, there are probably not many opportunities to display show of strength after a cricket match.

Non-Kashmiri students of National Institute of Technology got a taste of valley cricket last week during T-20 tournament. These students refused to let the ‘celebration’ of India’s defeat pass by unnoticed and a confrontation ensued. The confrontation died down temporarily and would have faded away till the next cricket match had the faculty next day not returned with some outsiders apparently from nearby Kashmir University. According to students and eyewitnesses, the faculty and some people from Kashmir University indulged in anti-India sloganeering and Pakistan flag was seen. At this point enraged ‘non-local’ students unfurled tri-color and started chanting pro India slogans.

This is where situation begins to get messy. While rest of India must tolerate anti- India slogans like Bharat ki barbaadi tak jung rahegi, jung rahegi, in Kashmir no such courtesy, to tolerate pro India slogans, is to be expected even in educational institutions which by definition must be liberal places. Nobody who lectured Indians that a slogan is just a slogan and India is bigger than any slogans, advised the same to administration and faculty of NIT Srinagar. Students were sent threatening messages from unknown people that ‘the campus will be turned into a grave yard’. Students also revealed that in their hostel rooms stones were pelted and this was done by outsiders.

When the situation spiraled out of control J&K police was called in who began baton charging only one set of students. Those who had tri color in their hand and were chanting pro India slogans became victims of police excesses. Many were grievously injured and had to be transported to the hospitals. The ambulances they were transferred in were also pelted with stones. According to the estimates provided by the students about 100-150 students are injured. Female students were threatened with rape according to the students who narrated their ordeal.

Students are now demanding that CRPF must be deputed in the campus which has already been done. They are also demanding that the exams be postponed. HRD Minister Smriti Irani on twitter announced that some provisions will be made for injured students or those who are terribly disturbed by the situation. Those who want to take the exam will be permitted to do so according to the schedule.  There are also demands that NIT Srinagar should be moved out of the Valley.

What NIT Srinagar has been witnessing in last few days is the mood of the valley. This is not to be confused with unrest in the other educational institutions which is essentially a struggle for domination of one ideology over other, Right vs Left. NIT controversy is just a microcosm of what is felt and experienced outside NIT campus.

In Kashmir, peace is defined as a period of lull between two violent episodes. Strife is just a slogan away and complete breakdown of law and order is usually just a matter of time. Peace is fragile in the state and something as insignificant as a cricket match can shatter the semblance of normalcy.

This is a huge challenge for Mehbooba Mufti government who was just sworn in couple of days ago. This is also a challenge for PDP-BJP coalition because expectations of core base of BJP are diametrically opposite from the expectations of core base of PDP. In the first test of unnatural alliance it is near impossible to keep both sets of supporters happy and satisfied.

However, while political parties can play partisan politics, governments must be fair and neutral. State government and Central government must ensure that peace is returned to the campus and students must feel safe at all times. A show-cause notice must be issued to the faculty who indulged in behavior that is not completely acceptable. State Police who resorted to brutality must also be questioned. This is in the short term.

In the long term, Modi led NDA government has to have a plan for Jammu and Kashmir. The state government cannot and should not compromise on national security. Winning hearts and providing healing touch cannot mean appeasement of separatists and ignoring the aspirations of residents of Jammu and Laddakh.