Kashmir: Expectations vs Reality

Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satypal Malik in talk with former chief minister Rajnath singh

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The situation of Kashmir is been told by numerous people with different perspectives each has been emboldened by their own ideologies. There are a tantamount number of misconceptions regarding the situation in overall Jammu and Kashmir. When the name of this beautiful land is spoken people do not listen to it as a place but a melancholy, a catalyst of all the tensions between the two nuclear powers. As of now Indian and Pakistan had fought 3 wars over this piece of land and came on the brink of 4th one after the Indian airstrikes on the Ballakot sector to annihilate the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps in retaliation to the Pulawama Terror attack in which a suicide bomber rammed into a convoy of army vehicles and 40 soldiers martyred in one of the most deadly terror attacks took place.

Jammu is Unsafe

The biggest misconception is regarding the area of Jammu. It is the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu sector is peaceful and it is actually away from the Kashmir conflict. It is just like any other city in which there are ordinary people living the ordinary lifestyle. The first thing which is to be cleared is that Jammu is relatively is just like any other city. The Kashmir valley and Jammu region is polar opposite which I have already explained in this following article Clearing misconception About Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu region is predominantly in the favor of the Indian side and historically it is been the supporter of the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji. This is the region where if the media is not present the demand for independence is just seem to be like the stories of folklore. Due to media people tend to expect that the regions of Jammu and Kashmir are similar and alike as stated earlier.

Kashmir is a land of terrorists

The people of the valley are one of the most hardworking individuals just the fact is that they are being diverted from the mainstream due to this ongoing conflict there is a misunderstanding among the masses that the people of Kashmir are always been pro-independent. If we look towards the past of Jammu and Kashmir in the decades of 80's Kashmir was heavily militarized because it was the need of time and the rigged elections of 1987 become a catalyst in the ensuing war and chaos which ravaged the valley and heaven become a

hinterland. So back in the day when Yasin Malik the ferocious terrorist and cited as one of the first terrorists of the valley who crossed over POK and came back to the valley with arms and ammunition. So as of now in the valley, there has been wrongdoing on both parts. The repeated crackdowns, the killings of innocent civilians in the crossfires have led to the seeds of frustration sow in the minds of the young Kashmiris which has been exploited by the separatist groups. Also not all the Kashmiris are terrorist. It is the land of artisans, poets, and hardworking people. The word ‘Azadi' has not meant for the India or Pakistan but relatively it is been meant for the freedom from the repeated strikes, from the army and from the turmoil and conflict ongoing, for now, three decades. Effects of turmoil can be seen on the most basics level as the overall economy of Kashmir has been shaken up. As the masses of the army started to move during the Loksabha Election 2019 the vital road link of Jammu and Kashmir has been shut for two days in a week i.e. Sunday and Wednesday which led to a massive uproar in the valley. It is one of the examples through which young generations are swayed away from mainstream but as the young Kashmiri is being educated and given opportunities it can be a vital part of the economy. So it is a generally a misconception that every Kashmiri is a terrorist but it is now been a quite opposite case.

Jammu and Kashmir is always cold

It is an odd one out but nonetheless, Jammu and Kashmir have different geographies all together. Jammu is relatively plain with Kashmir valley being flanked by the Pir Panjal ranges and Himalayas. The Jammu region can be very hot in summers with temperatures reaching around 40-degree Celsius. As we go up on the mountains in the valley it is been a quite a change with extremely chilly winter and moderate summers. At last the Kashmir valley is cut by the Pir Panjal ranges and beyond that lies Ladakh region a very cold desert with minimal rain and it is the last tip of the Indian administered territory.


So these are some of the misconceptions and realities which are associated with the land of Jammu and Kashmir. The conflict and the turmoil is present here but also present here is the beauty which is not present anywhere. The masses should know that we are also people and our home is just like any other place and we also crave for peace which comes at any cost. The cold breeze of the valley just seems to be like a hymn and the blazing guns will and should stop in the valley. The kid does not hold guns or stones in their hands but the books and pen which will help in the betterment of the situation of themselves and of the Kashmir as well. It should be understood by the general public of India that there is nothing to be fearful of Jammu and Kashmir; it is just like an ordinary place as in the rest of India or Pakistan.