What Lt Ummer Fayaz's death tells us about Kashmir
Kashmir continues to be turbulent despite best efforts by security forces to rein in miscreants who continue to dance to the tune of separatists. However, what's most appalling is the recent killing of Lt Ummer Fayaz of the Indian Army - he was murdered while on leave for his cousin's wedding. A brave officer and a gentleman of the Army, Fayaz made the whole of Kashmir and India proud by joining the force to serve the nation.
His untimely and unnatural demise sent shock waves in the strife-torn state. Killed by his own, in his own land, so that militants could send a message to other Kashmiris who dared to integrate with the mainstream.
While the mainstream media did its bit by raising the patriotic pitch, local media in Kashmir could have done much more by taking the story beyond the incident. There could have been many more editorials by intellectuals which failed to find a place on Kashmiri news portals.
Fayaz was a role model for other Kashmiris, an iconic figure for youngsters to emulate. At a time when youngsters fall prey to separatist ideology and militant preaching, Fayaz stood out as the man who chose to don the uniform and serve India, making his priorities very clear.
That was his only crime in the eyes of Kashmiri militants. They may have ended his life, but the vision that Fayaz had for Kashmir and Kashmiris must live on and the media must keep the issue alive.
It's time for separatist forces to sit down and re-examine the facets of Insaniyat and Kashmiriyat, because this was just a case of "Haiwaniyat". Fayaz's abduction made headlines as it caused sensation but how many have dug deeper and spent some time pondering what his death means for the turbulent Valley?
Fayaz is the symbol of a large section of Kashmiris who want peace, who want to shun violence and separate from the separatists and lead a normal life. The tragedy is, even if they want to try, they are threatened, their lives brutally cut short. Why should he not be hailed as a hero and only militant get flowery funerals in the Valley?
It's shameful that when Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani died, lakhs of people attended his funeral with militants even giving him a 21-gun salute. It was the same story with Fayaz Ahmad Aishwar, another terrorist who attacked a BSF camp in 2015, killing three civilians and Azhar Mehmood - Kashmiri policeman.
Thousands turned up at his funeral, the Valley again rang with militant gun salutes. Mehmood however was buried with little fanfare. A man who showed exemplary courage and sacrificed his life to repulse a terror attack saw a handful of friends and relatives standing by as they dug his grave. Many fearing terrorist threats, probably afraid to mourn in peace.
A state where bandhs, shutdowns and strikes are common, why didn't we see Kashmiris protesting this? In the recent past, protests have been volatile whenever a terrorist died in an encounter or if any separatist was harmed.
Why a sense of achievement when a member of the Indian security forces is targeted by terrorists and this time your own flesh and blood - a 22 year old Kashmiri youngster? Or was Fayaz sentenced to be a traitor as soon as he wore the Army uniform?
Did you know, a day after Fayaz was killed there were over 4,000 Kashmiri youngsters who showed up at a police recruitment camp in Anantnag and Bandipora? What does that tell you? Fayaz tells a dual story of the Kashmiri youth. One who wants to take up arms against the state, the other for it.
One who wants to pick up stones, the other who wants to pick out a better life for himself and his family. One who wants to hope for a better Kashmir without political strife and hate agenda of separatists and the other who doesn't want change but spoils his own life.
It's time we glorify the choices Fayaz made, because he represents a large part of what the Kashmiri youth really want.