Flagging concerns about militancy and the spread of the drugs menace in Kashmir again, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps commander, Lt Gen. D.P. Pandey on Tuesday urged women to boldly come out of their homes to save their husbands, brothers and sons from pursuing this path of self-destruction, and or getting killed by security forces.
Addressing an International Women's Day seminar on the theme “Reclaiming the Voice, Breaking the Bias” at the Chinar Corps headquarters here, Lt Gen. Pandey said: “Women are the backbone and pillar of any strong society. They play a very dynamic role in shaping the home, the society and, therefore, a nation’s destiny. She is the foundation on which a great country like ours has been built and has to be built in the future.”
“You, the women of Kashmir, are endowed with a huge strength, you have persevered this entire 70 years, actually it is 30 years, in this atmosphere and environment of absolute recklessness, lawlessness, terrorism, but I am sure, if you want, you can turnaround the situation in Kashmir,” he added to which there was a lot of clapping and a resounding applause.
Lt Gen Pandey, however, stressed that while winds of change are taking place in Kashmir, with mothers asking their daughters to study and get into business, pursue a career, or a profession, they must not only blame the men for the malaise and ills that exist in the society.
“I see the changes, but I think it is very important that everybody who has come here has blamed the men. I think the women are also to be equally to blame for the conditions that are there. As a mother, sister and wife, you need to train your men, your sons, to respect the woman, he said.
Dwelling specifically on the issues of terrorism and drugs, the army commander said that the youth of Kashmir society were going astray because of existing male-dominant biases, helplessness and lack of involvement of women in taking leadership roles to bring their loved ones back on the right path.
“You are the ones who are to train; you are the ones who are to educate. Unfortunately, we train our men, our boys differently. You have to train them correctly to remove the bias which is ongoing in our country, and more so in our Kashmiri society, because of certain reasons, which you understand for the last 15 to 20 years, what has happened in Kashmir,” Pandey said.
“I feel you alone have the capacity to correct misguided youth and put them on the right path. You can imagine the impact that drugs, violence and the factor of terrorism inflicted on Kashmir. I can assure you that you have seen men destroying Kashmir for the last 30 years, or 70 years. When you know that your beautiful Kashmir is being destroyed by them, you have to step out and take charge and correct this anomaly,” he added.
Recalling the grenade attack of March 6 (Sunday) in the Amira Kadal area of Srinagar in which two persons -- 60-year-old Aslam Makhdoomi, and 18 year-old Rafia Nazir had tragically lost their lives, Lt Gen. Pandey asked, “The grenade was not by whom it was launched; the grenade was again lobbed by somebody who was a son, brother, or father of a woman of Kashmir. When a terrorist lobs a grenade and there is injury and death? who loses – the women of Kashmir. When the terrorist has killed, who loses, the women of Kashmir?
“If you understand this, and through you, I want to send a message to each and every corner of Kashmir, that if you find your son going on the wrong path of drugs, terrorism, terror, you need to correct him. If you can’t correct him, you need to get him behind bars to be corrected. But you have to ensure that your son does not go on the wrong path and gets killed by the security forces, or he doesn’t hurt some other woman, or some other mother, sister, or daughter, by death by his actions or by an act of terror,” he said further.
“So, please find some ways or the other to pass this message and correct this anomaly of terrorism in the valley. Also focus on the drug issue,” he said.
“I know that if each lady is able to protect that man who is going on that wrong path in his house, and she can do it, the entire Kashmiri society will change towards positive and we will have peace, enduring peace, which will stabilse our wonderful and beautiful Kashmir, which will have its place of prestige, which is always there in our country,” the Chinar Corps GOC said.
Urging women from all walks of life in Kashmiri society and in other parts of the country to “reclaim” their voices, he said: “Nobody is going to let you; you have to fight for it….take measures to break this bias. You have the capacity, capability to step up, be a Zeenat, be a Mrs Malik, be the Safina, be Mrs Bhat, be our beautiful rap singer and send a message to Kashmir, to our country, and to the world that Kashmir women are going to lead the way and ensure that durable peace comes back to Kashmir.”
He said that by and large Indian society was still a patriarchal society, “where people like us are going to be dominating, where the politicians, bureaucrats, religious leaders are all going to be men, my dear women, young girls, ladies, you will not get the space by yourself. The space has to be fought for; has to be gained, you will have to take that space yourself. It is us men who have coined quotes like “Behind every successful man, there is a woman standing behind’”.
The Indian Army and particularly the Chinar Corps totally understand the value and respect the women, and their role in the society, and we have made a lot of endeavours…we are trying our best to ensure that women come up front and lead Kashmiri society to its true destination, true empowerment, in our country.
Here in Kashmir, historically, women have played a very key role, the general said, recalling women like Lal Ded (Kashmiri mystic poet of 14th century), Kota Rani (last ruler of the Hindu Lohara dynasty in Kashmir) and Habba Khatoon (Kashmiri Muslim poet and ascetic of 14 the century).
“Their names, their legacies, their saga of bravery, resilience is known to one and all,” he said.
“They (women) are our first teachers as mothers; our caretaker, our guide, our refuge from trouble and for peace for their entire life. I am sure each one of us who is a male, when in trouble, seeks that refuge, either in his mother, or his wife, sister, or even daughter. The women share core values of caring and guiding, It is, therefore, extremely important, that the women are in power themselves, and ensure that the girls are provided the best education and equal opportunities,” Lt Gen. Pandey said.