Hopes of Kashmir's 'Generation Rage' who lost after battling Indian forces on streets for 11 years

ThePrint

17 Sept 202411:58

Summary

TLDRThe transcript delves into the journey of young Kashmiris who, from 2008 to 2019, engaged in protests and stone-pelting against Indian forces, especially following the killing of social media icon Burhan Wani. Many of these individuals, who were once involved in such acts during their teenage years, are now preparing to vote for the first time in upcoming elections. The narrative explores their reflections on past involvement, experiences of imprisonment, and their outlook on politics and the future of Jammu and Kashmir. It highlights how this generation has evolved and their hopes for peace and reconciliation.

Takeaways

😀 A generation of young Kashmiris from 2008 to 2019 was marked by anger and protest, particularly against Indian forces.
😡 The 2016 killing of social media icon Burhan Wani ignited significant unrest in Kashmir.
🗳️ Many young Kashmiris who have never voted before, approximately 2.5 million, will participate in the upcoming elections.
⚖️ Former stone-pelters, once at the forefront of protests, now reflect on their actions and hope for a peaceful future.
💬 One interviewee, Majid, explains that during his youth, he was involved in stone-pelting because everyone else was doing it.
👮 Majid was arrested in 2017, one year after Burhan Wani’s death, and spent time in jail.
😔 He reflects on how his involvement in protests disrupted his life, but now he seeks forgiveness and peace.
👨‍👩‍👧 Majid, now married with children, works as a fruit vendor and hopes the government will pardon his past actions.
🛠️ Another interviewee, arrested in 2010 at the age of 14, shares his experience of spending five years in jail under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
💡 Both men express that they were once driven by hope for Kashmir's independence but now feel the need to live peacefully, contributing to society in their own ways.

Q & A

What significant event in 2016 escalated tensions in Kashmir, according to the transcript?
-The killing of Burhan Wani, a social media icon and a militant leader, escalated tensions in Kashmir in 2016, leading to widespread unrest.
How many young people in Kashmir are expected to vote for the first time in the upcoming assembly elections?
-Approximately two and a half million young people who have never voted in an assembly election before are expected to vote in the upcoming elections.
What was Majid's age when he first got involved in stone-pelting, and how does he reflect on that time now?
-Majid was 16 years old when he first got involved in stone-pelting. He now reflects that at the time, he was immature and influenced by the actions of others, but he has since matured and regrets his past actions.
What reasons did Majid give for getting involved in stone-pelting?
-Majid mentioned that at the time, everyone around him was involved in stone-pelting, and he joined in without much thought, influenced by the larger crowd.
Did Majid ever receive money for participating in stone-pelting?
-No, Majid stated that he and others participated in stone-pelting voluntarily, and no one offered them money to do so.
What is Majid’s current occupation, and how has his life changed since his involvement in stone-pelting?
-Majid now runs a fruit cart and lives a peaceful life. He has a family with four daughters and no longer engages in any form of unrest.
What impact did Majid’s involvement in stone-pelting and subsequent arrest have on his career prospects?
-Majid believes that his involvement in stone-pelting and the resulting criminal cases damaged his career prospects, as he has been unable to secure a stable job.
How does Majid feel about the possibility of the government pardoning his past actions?
-Majid is hopeful that the government will forgive his past mistakes, especially considering his young age at the time, and he wishes to move on with his life.
What were the emotions and hopes of Kashmiris during the time of Burhan Wani's death?
-During Burhan Wani's death, many Kashmiris believed that freedom and change were imminent. However, these hopes eventually faded as nothing substantial came out of the unrest.
How have Majid and his peers' views on politics and Kashmir’s future evolved since their involvement in the unrest?
-Many, including Majid, have now distancedthemselves from the violent unrest of their youth. They are focused on living peaceful lives and are cautiously hopeful that the upcoming elections and political changes may bring some resolution to their concerns, though there is still skepticism about what the future holds.

Outlines

00:00

⚔️ The Young Generation of Kashmir's Struggle and Political Awakening

From 2008 to 2019, a generation of angry Kashmiri youth took to the streets to challenge Indian forces. Triggered by events like the killing of Burhan Wani, a social media icon, the situation escalated in 2016. This generation, once involved in violent protests like stone-pelting, is now gearing up to vote in upcoming elections. Over 2.5 million young voters, who have never participated in assembly elections, hold the key to shaping the political future of Jammu and Kashmir. Interviews with former stone-pelters who served time in jail reveal a shift in their outlook. One of them, Majid, 27, recounts how as a 16-year-old, he was caught in the wave of protests. Reflecting on his younger days, he shares how societal pressures and youthful impulsiveness led him to join these movements, but now, he desires a peaceful life.

05:00

💭 Reflections of a Former Protester on Arrests and Aspirations

Another young man, arrested in 2010 at the age of 14 for stone-pelting, reflects on his journey. After spending 101 days in custody, he continued participating in protests until being jailed again in 2016 for five years. He describes the toll his imprisonment took on his family and how his mindset shifted over time. He once believed that protests would bring freedom, but now, after seeing the futility of the struggle, he works as a tailor, trying to rebuild his life. He acknowledges the high emotional cost his family bore and expresses hope that the government will forgive their past actions as they try to move forward.

10:01

🏘️ Life After Protests: Hopes for the Future

The third section delves deeper into the lives of former protesters. Now grown adults with families, they look back on their tumultuous youth with a mix of regret and nostalgia. One former protester, now a father, reflects on how some of his friends were killed during protests, while he was spared. He acknowledges the shift from violence to a more stable life. Although the situation in Kashmir has calmed since 2019, underlying resentments remain. The upcoming elections are seen as a potential turning point, with hopes that the new government will address the anger and dissatisfaction that still lingers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Generation of Rage

This term refers to the generation of young Kashmiris who grew up during the period of heightened conflict in the region, particularly from 2008 to 2019. Many of them engaged in violent protests, including stone-pelting, as a form of resistance against Indian forces. The term encapsulates their frustration, anger, and desire for political change, which the video highlights through their stories of protest and imprisonment.

💡Buran Wani

Buran Wani was a young social media icon and militant in Kashmir whose killing in 2016 sparked widespread protests and violence. His death symbolized the peak of the generation's anger and inspired many youths to join the protests. The video references his role in amplifying the unrest, particularly through the use of social media, which connected and mobilized many young Kashmiris.

💡Stone-pelting

Stone-pelting is a form of protest used by young Kashmiris, especially during the 2010s, against Indian security forces. It became a symbolic act of defiance and resistance in the region. The video discusses how many of the young interviewees participated in stone-pelting during their teenage years, reflecting the collective frustration and desire for political change.

💡Assembly Elections

The video mentions upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first time that many from the 'Generation of Rage' will have the opportunity to vote. This is a pivotal moment for the region, as 2.5 million young people who grew up amid conflict will participate in shaping the political future, potentially transforming Kashmir's politics.

💡Imprisonment

Many of the young men interviewed in the video spent time in jail for their involvement in protests, stone-pelting, and resistance activities. Their imprisonment had lasting impacts on their personal lives, families, and futures. The video highlights how these experiences shaped their perspectives on politics and their current lives.

💡Reconciliation with Politics

The video explores the shift in attitudes among former protesters who are now considering participating in the democratic process. After years of resistance, they are reflecting on whether the government will grant them political amnesty or address the issues that led to their protests. This theme of reconciliation and potential participation in the elections marks a significant change from their earlier defiance.

💡Azadi (Freedom)

Azadi, or freedom, is a central theme in the protests and aspirations of the youth in Kashmir. Many of the interviewees in the video recount how they believed that their actions, including stone-pelting, would lead to freedom from Indian control. The video illustrates how this ideal has evolved over time, with some realizing that their actions did not bring the expected results.

💡Social Media Influence

The role of social media in mobilizing the youth in Kashmir is a key concept in the video, especially through figures like Buran Wani. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter played a critical role in spreading protest messages, organizing resistance, and connecting young Kashmiris to a broader cause. The video underscores how this digital landscape shaped the conflict.

💡Public Safety Act (PSA)

The Public Safety Act (PSA) is a law under which many Kashmiris, including the interviewees, were detained for their involvement in protests and stone-pelting. The video discusses how this act led to the incarceration of many young people without formal charges or trials, significantly impacting their lives and fueling further resentment towards the government.

💡Hope for Amnesty

Several of the individuals interviewed in the video express hope that the government will forgive their past actions, especially those undertaken during their youth, and allow them to move on with their lives. This reflects a broader theme of redemption and potential reconciliation, as they look to the future with a mixture of skepticism and hope.

Highlights

From 2008 to 2019, a generation of young, angry Kashmiris emerged, challenging Indian forces for control of the state.

Social media icon Burhan Wani's death in 2016 led to a significant escalation in protests and unrest in Kashmir.

For the first time, around 2.5 million young Kashmiris who have never voted in an assembly election hold the key to upcoming elections.

Interviewees who were involved in stone-pelting during their youth are now participating in the elections.

Majid, a 27-year-old former stone-pelter, recalls how he got involved in protests at the age of 16, following the actions of other children around him.

He reflects on how his perception of the situation has changed, acknowledging that their youthful actions were misguided.

Majid was first arrested for stone-pelting when he was 16 or 17 years old, shortly after Burhan Wani’s death.

Contrary to rumors, Majid claims no one paid them to participate in stone-pelting; they did it out of their own belief that something would change.

Majid spent 17 days in jail and now lives a peaceful life, running a fruit cart and supporting his family.

Another interviewee, a 26-year-old, was first arrested for stone-pelting in 2010 at the age of 14 and spent five years in prison under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

He now works as a tailor and expresses regret over his youthful involvement in protests, realizing that it led to no meaningful change.

Both interviewees express hope that their past actions will be forgiven and that they can move on with their lives.

They also express uncertainty about whether the upcoming elections will truly address the underlying grievances that led to their involvement in protests.

One interviewee notes how the situation in Kashmir has shifted since 2019, with fewer violent confrontations between youth and security forces.

However, the issues of resentment and anger that fueled the unrest remain, and the next government will need to address these concerns to build a durable peace.