Daily Times Editorial Oct 30, 2010

No room for dissent?

Booker Prize winning Indian author Arundhati Roy has reinvented herself in recent years as an activist on environmental, human rights, and even political issues (there is after all no Great Wall of China between these). Her interventions practically and through her writings on issues as diverse as controversial dams, forest preservation and the Maoist insurgency in her country have earned her redoubled respect in India as well as around the world. However, she has also gathered more than her fair share of critics, amongst whom the disquiet of the Indian authorities regarding her dissenting views on issues that otherwise command a deadening consensus in India occupies pride of place. Arundhati’s latest foray into the minefield that is Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) has provoked the authorities to consider instituting a case of sedition against her. There could not be a more foolish notion.
IHK is ablaze with an intifada by youth fed up with the extreme repression of the Indian army and security forces. Unjustified killings of even innocent youth (112 civilians have died at the hands of the security forces in recent months) have further fuelled the seething anger and defiance of the Kashmiri people. The slogan “Azaadi” (Freedom) rings out loud and clear in every protest in IHK today. The Indian security forces have responded with firing live bullets at stone-throwing protestors, accusing and charging under the draconian laws operative in IHK such diverse groups from civil society as lawyers, human rights activists, doctors and the media, where more arbitrary methods are not employed (the intimidation of the press in IHK is now a matter of record). But things are not necessarily going smoothly for the Indian authorities, unlike their ‘successes’ in the past.
Omar Abdullah’s government came into power in IHK with the declared intention of applying a healing touch to the troubled Valley. However, no matter how well intentioned, Mr Abdullah’s efforts have been nullified by the hardline approach of the Union government in New Delhi and the considerable military and paramilitary forces deployed by it in IHK. Whereas in the past New Delhi could claim some justification for the huge deployment of its forces and the virtually free repressive hand with which they operated by pointing accusatory fingers at Pakistan and the Kashmiri groups allegedly trained and unleashed by it for the liberation of IHK, that convenient whipping boy no longer seems convincing to a section of aware opinion inside India, in particular civil society. Unfortunately for the Kashmiris and arguably India itself (no nation can be truly free that oppresses others), that emerging awareness and sensitivity has yet to permeate the political class or the media, both wedded since long to parroting South Block’s simplistic formulations on an increasingly complex problem no longer amenable to being wished away on the touchstone of slogans such as ‘atoot ang’ (integral part).
Arundhati Roy’s only ‘crime’ is that she has spoken as the conscience of all that is finest in Indian society: adherence to the norms of democracy, rule of law, human rights and justice. Were she to be hauled up on a spurious sedition charge on this count, it would damage India in at least two major ways. One, the effort since long to keep the real picture in IHK from becoming available to the people of India themselves as well as the world so as to continue repression and the abuse of human rights behind a veil of secrecy (hence the strictures on the media inside IHK) would be breached when a world renowned figure with the credentials of Arundhati Roy is hauled over the coals on a dubious charge. Two, India’s justified pride in its democracy (flaws and warts notwithstanding) would be severely dented by the perception that democratic freedoms, including the right of free expression, is only available so long as the officially certified truth is adhered to. Dissent, especially regarding IHK, seems to be beyond the pale of the Indian polity to tolerate. A sad comment indeed.