Author: Ranjana Raina
Tej K Tikoo
“Eyes Wide Open: Story of Tiranga in Kashmir,” is among the latest books written by displaced Kashmiris in exodus, to hit the stands. Published by Sabre and Quil and authored by Ranjana Raina, it is another addition to the Exodus Literature; books written by ethnically-cleansed Kashmiri Hindus and others, who faced a tragic fate in early nineties when Pakistan- sponsored armed uprising took the Valley by storm.
Whereas most books falling in this category of Exodus Literature contained anguished accounts of personal and community-level experiences the writers had undergone or were witness to, this book under review describes the positive changes sweeping the Valley during the last few years.
The author, Ranjana Raina, has solid credentials to write this account. She is a displaced Kashmiri Pandit who spent years in a refugee camp at Jammu. Ranjana is married to Col Rajeev Raina who, after serving multiple tenures in insurgency-hit Jammu and Kashmir state, was posted as a staff Officer at Srinagar Sub Area, the formation responsible for carrying out civic action programs in Kashmir. Here, he not only had a bird’s eye view of the events in the Valley but was an active participant in activities that went a long way in turning the tide in Kashmir in considerable measure. Author of this book and Rajeev’s wife, Ranjana, as part of the women-led initiatives toured the length and breadth of Kashmir rendering a helping hand to common women who had experienced years of fear and bloodshed.
The book gives a detailed account of the numerous initiatives launched by the army under the directions of General Officer Commanding 31 Sub Area, Maj Gen Sanjay P Vishwasrao who, as the book makes it clear, was the central figure of the civic action programs that contributed immensely to bring in positive change in Kashmir. Gen Sanjay was not new to the situation he faced when he was posted to Srinagar in 2021. Having dealt with the situation during his multiple tenures at various levels in the concerned theatre of operations and subsequently, as Military Attache in Pakistan, he had gained a first-hand knowledge of the big role played by Pakistan’s Islamic parties in radicalizing the gullible Kashmiri youth by exploiting their religious sentiments and, above all, of Pakistan Army itself who, during the past 30 years between 1990-2020, had waged a proxy war against India in Kashmir by using its own jihadi cadres inside the valley as also a huge network of its sympathizers, both overground and underground.
Initially, Gen Sanjay took baby steps which sent a clear message to the youth of Kashmir to shun fear and raise their voice against violence and destruction of the fabric of Kashmiri society. The youth were encouraged to take part in events which would help common people, youth, the women-folk, the small-time business community, and the marginalized segments of the society. Gradually, the General built a dedicated group of young men and women to implement his ideas that basically revolved around conveying the following message to the Kashmiri Awam (people):
1.During the past three decades, Kashmiris have suffered hugely. This has mainly been due to Pakistan-sponsored insurgency and the excesses perpetrated on the men and women of Kashmir by its armed cadres.
2. Whereas the ordinary Kashmiri youth were motivated to pick up arms by leaders owing allegiance to Pakistan, their own children rarely did so. In fact, they were well educated and landed cushy jobs in India and abroad.
3.Kashmiri women folk were the worst sufferers of the turmoil as the violence took away their bread-winners and because in their helpless situation they became the victims of the militant’s lust and other forms of exploitation.
4. While India was economically taking great strides, Pakistan, the sponsor of militancy, was falling deep into political chaos and economic gloom. Many generations of Kashmiri youth had been destroyed by picking up arms, joining the paid gangs of stone pelters. This situation needed to be reversed to save Kashmir’s future.
Gradually, through word of mouth, innovative use of social media and some solid work on ground, more and more people joined Gen Sanjay’s core team till it became a self-sustaining movement.
Within a year of launching such initiatives successfully, Gen Sanjay launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahatsov. A 100 feet-long iron pole with Tiranga on one end was hoisted on top of Haeri Parbat within the fort, built by Mughal King Akbar in late sixteenth centry, on August 15, 2021.The author describes in detail the enormous physical work and technical sophistication that was galvanized to have this heavy pole taken up the mountain and have it erected at the right place. It was for the first time that a Tiranga would now be visible to the whole Srinagar city from all directions. Incidentally, I had been asked to provide a brief history about Haeri Parbat to be narrated during the recording of the video of this event. Tiranga now became a ubiquitous presence on many important days of National Importance, i.e., Republic Day, Independence Day, Accession Day, etc. Many women wove the National Tri-color in their homes as part of cottage industry. Such was its popularity. Gen Sanjay Vishwasrao was kind enough to present me one of these.
As far as dealing with the ordinary women of Kashmir, who spend their entire lives in a highly conservative environment, was concerned, Gen Sanjay’s wife Mrs Sanjeevani Vishwasrao took the initiative to address their concerns and as far as possible improve their lot. With the group of Army women, including the author, Anjana Raina, she forayed into unknown territory; first with great trepidation and later with greater confidence as the welfare schemes became popular among the women folk. As more and more women saw the advantages accruing to them through various schemes, many womens’ NGOs and self-help groups lent a helping hand in extending the reach of these schemes to remote and relatively inaccessible areas. The Ex-Servicemen of Kashmir, coming from across the Kashmir Valley, too joined the mission of popularizing these schemes. Ms Ranjana Raina was at the forefront of this activity. In the book, she describes in detail how Mrs Sanjeevani Vishwasrao and her dedicated team of women volunteers carried out welfare schemes in remote and least frequented inland waterways of Dal Lake in Kachari Mohalla inhabited mostly by the Shia community. She describes in detail how the local women of the area were initially reluctant to join such initiatives, but gradually joined in large numbers when it became evident that these schemes were meant for their own good. The change in the peoples’ perception took place gradually till it became visible to everyone.
Two of the most noticeable events that pointed to the changed situation in Kashmir were the complete absence of any protests post-abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A on August 5, 2019, and presence of large number of Tirangas in Lal Chowk, the heart of militancy, dominated particularly by JKLF. It was on August 15, 2022, that five brave women of Kashmir, installed a Tiranga atop the Ghantaghar at Lal Chowk. Since then, Lal Chowk is now buzzing with tourist activity like it was prior to the start of militancy in late eighties.
The book describes in detail the frustration of those whose vested interests were hit by the success of Gen Sanjay efforts at turning the clock of violence and militancy back in Kashmir. The author describes in detail an article that appeared in Caravan Magazine after Gen Sanjay had been posted out of Kashmir in December 2023. Similarly, some other voices too were raised by frustrated elements who could not see common people celebrating Tiranga; something that hit at the root of their industry of violence perpetuated through fear, money, gun, and religious exploitation.
Kashmiris who had become part of Gen Sanjay Vishwasrao’s initiatives and those who had seen a visible and positive change coming over the valley under his guidance, would have preferred to have his tenure in Srinagar going beyond the traditionally followed two-year or so deadline. However, overlooking the contribution made by the General and the need to extend his tenure by at least a year more in national interests, in order to consolidate the gains Kashmiris had made, he was posted out to an innocuous NCC Directorate at New Delhi. It is quite apparent that Army does not see itself performing roles beyond the routine.
