Comments for Jashn-e-Azadi

Comment on Cornell Screening on April 10, 2013 by kashmirfilm

kashmirfilm — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:35:16 +0000

Thanks for the queries, Ravjit, and I wish the skype link at Cornell had held out a bit longer…
Let’s stand your first question on it’s head – instead of seeing Kashmir, a possible Azad Kashmir of the future, as a fragile, landlocked state, beleaguered by Pakistan, China, and India, why can we not see it instead as a buffer state, a zone of comfort where these nuclear powers meet in friendship and peace? If that is too idealistic, What explains the survival of Bhutan? Or even land-locked Nepal? And in a globalised world who is not economically dependent on other nations for their survival? The role played in Europe by the autonomous province of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, a bridge between north Italy and Austria and Germany, is a worthy example to stare at.
Your second question: the reason we think that the ‘troubles’ in Kashmir only began in the late 1980s is that our media (and our scholarship) have been so completely tied in with the position of the Indian State. Kashmiris have been protesting from as early as 1952, when Sheikh Abdullah was first arrested, and even underground groups (like the al-Fatah) first came into being in the late 1960s, and of course the armed JKLF was set up in 1977 … This is a long history of protest of every kind. Of course Pakistan’s support was heightened once India had inflicted the humiliation of the Liberation of Bangladesh upon the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment in 1971. And by 1989, the US supported Mujahideen (created with the full collusion of the Pakistani military) had triumphed over the Soviet Union, and were looking to extend their sphere of influence.
The answers are endless, but I hope this provides a start, Ravjit

Comment on Cornell Screening on April 10, 2013 by Ravjit Grewal

Ravjit Grewal — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:02:26 +0000

Dear Mr. Kak, I am a student at Cornell and had the pleasure of viewing your movie this evening. The movie was very informative and thought provoking. I wanted to ask a few questions after the movie, but couldn’t do so due to the interruptions. Please see below, two of my questions:

1) The notion of Azaadi was prevalent throughout the movie. My questions relates to what would happen if Kashmir were to be given Azaadi? It would be a state surrounded by Pakistan, China and India. With such dominant neighbors would Kashmir ever be able to survive as an independent state for too long? Even if one were to assume that it would; would it not be completely dependent on its neighbors – economically and politically, thereby defying the entire notion of “Azaadi.”
2) One often talks of the troubles in Kashmir from the late 80’s onwards. I haven’t found much information on what the situation was between 1947 – 1987 (besides a brief war between India/Pak in 1948). One never hears of any resistance in that period. What then triggered such a violent backlash/resistance starting the late 80’s? If it was support from across the border then why did it come at that time and not ever before?

Thank you once again. I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

Comment on slogans on the street by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:36:24 +0000

Kashmiri muslims…..u snatch kashmir form hindus n now talk tht azad kashmir…muslims r cancer to this world…n this cancer @least needed to be ersd from india…Jai hind.

Comment on synopsis by Books Are Fashionable Too

Books Are Fashionable Too — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:34:12 +0000

[...] among them India. As India celebrates 60 years of independence, director Sanjay Kak brings us Jashn-e-azadi (how we celebrate freedom), a documentary that explores the implications of the struggle for Azadi, [...]

Comment on slogans on the street by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:57 +0000

To all those Kashmiri Muslims, who think that what they did to Kashmiri Pandits was right, I want you to think the other way round and imagine your condition if you were made homeless how would you feel?

Kashmiri Pandits are the original inhabitants of Kashmir, their history goes back to more than 5000 years and all of you are converts when Islamic rule came in the 14th century….. go back and find your forefathers…that is way some of you still bear the last names Bhat, Peer, Pandit…

Comment on blog update – Jashn-e-Azadi has a trailer! by farhat

farhat — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:41:45 +0000

Thank U for u kind concern for the oppressed masses but if u really want to help do something for the people who are languishing in jails for foghtong for the oppressed people

Comment on synopsis by Farhat Mehmood

Farhat Mehmood — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:23:21 +0000

I would like to asek the people who are going over the rooftops and shou that maharaja hari singh signed the treaty of acession with india , have any one seen that treaty ever , which as per indian version hhas been lost first go and brush up ur knowldge regarding history of kashmir then u should post ur comments on this issue

Comment on [ poetry ] Loss by pankaj pandita

pankaj pandita — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:47:20 +0000

For the first time i notice tears flowing from my eyes after reading a poem…

Comment on synopsis by sanchitkoul

sanchitkoul — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:57:46 +0000

Long live my motherland, i.e India. Guys we are all Hindus. Even the coverts i m talking to have hindu ancestors. Dont be offended. We are all Brothers and has anybody here visited the somnath temple?? It has been ravaged numerous times but it still stands tall. I call it the might of “Hinduism” or we can call it the might of “India”. Its a symbol of our diversity. Please be cool. Many of you have hindu surnames and are muslims. What does this mean??

Comment on [blog flash] we are 100,000 visitor old by asha kachru

asha kachru — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:00:11 +0000

surely you have touched some hearts.good, but dont forget you still have to do some homework on why you support the ones who believe in violence of the gun.
the film i have seen of your hails the martyrdom and geelani’s appraisal of it.