The reality of Indian might
Unless resolved, Kashmir stays as a black mark on the international world’s conscience and morality
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PHOTO COURTESY: SCROLL
The annexation of Kashmir is purely a matter of arrogance and perceived power. The actions undertaken by India under Modi with regard to the region, Pakistan and the hapless people of Kashmir asserts that “might is right” and that it can get away with everything. A lot has been said and written about the Hindutva, the intolerant and racist founding ideology of BJP manifestoes. However, in a change, this ideology is being enforced after the party’s landslide victory in recent elections and the demise of Indian secularism. This murderous ideology and the present state of some elements of the Indian national power are worth exploring to see if India is actually six feet tall, or others are just too cautious to face up to it.
At the societal level, India is a flawed democracy that only shines on billboards. Hindu society is deeply divided along the jati or caste system and other sectarian and ethnic fault lines. There is social and economic inequality between urban and rural India, as well as north and south India. Historically, it has never been a strong polity making it easier for foreign invaders to invade, divide the local population and rule. The secession of Pakistan 72 years ago and the persistent alienation in Kashmir are two manifestations of a failed integration, even after centuries of co-existence. The literature on Partition details the Hindu mindset inspired by the Hindutva and its proponents like Shiv Sena and RSS.
To this day, the ugly monster of communal violence is fed a constant diet of Muslim lynching and church attacks. Prejudice against the Dalits and other low-caste Hindus and Jains, Christians and Buddhists is a way of life in 21st century India — the largest democracy in the world. Viral social media videos of Hindu vigilantes carrying out forced conversions, lynching and forcing people to sing Hindu verses, show a glimpse into a much bigger problem faced in Indian society. Intolerance, bigotry and “India only for Hindus” is a toxic mantra which will unravel one day. In the biggest political and sociological coup of the 21st century, the once Hindu periphery represented by xenophobic forces under PM Modi and the BJP has replaced the erstwhile rational and secular centre. History is a witness to states with so many centrifugal forces crumble of their own weight. It is only a matter of time.
Economically, although the figures are deeply fudged by the expat Indian community sitting in all important positions worldwide; the situation is far from sobering. Poverty, rampant corruption, inequality, unemployment, criminal-politician nexus, difficulty in doing business, tax evasion and smuggling, prolonged power outages, overpopulation, effects of climate change and bleak social indicators (UN Human Development Index) make India a distant contender for regional influence, let alone a permanent seat at the UNSC.
Militarily, it is also not a juggernaut as it claims. The February 2019 stand-off with Pakistan and the consequent humiliation of this much larger military are still fresh. Most military platforms in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are vintage. Replacements that are in the pipeline are prone to budgetary cuts, red-tapism and kickbacks. The army rank and file — after a prolonged and cruel deployment in IoK — suffers from PTSD, higher suicide rates and insubordination. Muslim and Sikhs are not considered completely trustworthy. Low pay, low social esteem and poor HR management result in low morale and compel many young officers to quit in favour of lucrative careers in the corporate sector.
The Indian Air Force has a low pilot to cockpit ratio, low flight safety record and myriad maintenance challenges. The mere fact that the vintage Mig-21, aka “Flying Coffin” was employed in an Air Defence role during the February 2019 crisis, in a sensitive area like Kashmir, speaks for itself. The pilot that was shot down was a much senior Wing Commander (Abhishek Nandan) and not a young flight lieutenant or squadron leader.
The Indian Navy also has basing issues and has inadequate resources to look after a vast area and fleet. Port accidents, substandard maintenance and other problems render the only aircraft carrier, “a force in being” to use the military terminology inside out. It is perhaps the only military, where officers (including the Service Chief) regularly approach Indian courts to redress routine grievances like promotions and changes to the dates of birth, etc. The juggernaut is also beset by crippling inter-service and inter-arm rivalries and prejudices.
Operationally, the military lacks the will and motivation to fight — as it has no just cause in Kashmir. Atoot ang is simply not sellable. Add to this the open source reports of low ammunition stockpiles, war stamina, logistics and the ineptitude of a civilian bureaucracy — that keeps the military under a humiliatingly strict check — and you have the picture of a sullen and ceremonial military. There is no comparison with the battle hardened Pakistan Armed Forces — and our success in dealing with a much deadlier insurgency in erstwhile Fata and with the Afghan-based militants. This is reinforced by our sky-high national motivation and inspiration. Nuclear insurance amplified by our ambiguous nuclear doctrine, are just icing on the cake.
Besides, the annexation of Kashmir is a flagrant violation of the UNSC resolutions and damages the rule-based order, and the moral and ethical standards of international law. This action is also against the Indian conscience as witnessed by some whimpering. India is no Russia — in Crimea — and it is no Israel — in the West Bank. Demographic changes in IoK, as feared, are easier said than done and so is the fallacy of Kashmiri suppression in the long run.
So how does India, the champion of democracy, human rights and non-alignment fare today. It is bereft of a moral authority — so important in today’s conscientious world — where lies are sooner or later torn apart. The world would ultimately ask for a solution to this unfinished agenda of the Partition. Unless resolved, Kashmir stays as a black mark on the international world’s conscience and morality. The brute occupation and rising Hindutva would help undo the Indian dream in due course of time. The fires of Kashmir would ultimately burn all over India. Thus, India has unquestionably bitten off more than it can chew. It is not six feet tall — others are cautious and at times afraid of their own leverages and influencers. Pakistan needs to provide all-out political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in their hour of dire need. For the Kashmiri freedom fighters and Indian Muslims that are tormented by the Hindutva, I would end this piece on a Pashto proverb:
The eyes of the dove are beautiful my son
But the sky is made for the hawk
So cover your dove-like eyes and grow claws
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2019.
At the societal level, India is a flawed democracy that only shines on billboards. Hindu society is deeply divided along the jati or caste system and other sectarian and ethnic fault lines. There is social and economic inequality between urban and rural India, as well as north and south India. Historically, it has never been a strong polity making it easier for foreign invaders to invade, divide the local population and rule. The secession of Pakistan 72 years ago and the persistent alienation in Kashmir are two manifestations of a failed integration, even after centuries of co-existence. The literature on Partition details the Hindu mindset inspired by the Hindutva and its proponents like Shiv Sena and RSS.
To this day, the ugly monster of communal violence is fed a constant diet of Muslim lynching and church attacks. Prejudice against the Dalits and other low-caste Hindus and Jains, Christians and Buddhists is a way of life in 21st century India — the largest democracy in the world. Viral social media videos of Hindu vigilantes carrying out forced conversions, lynching and forcing people to sing Hindu verses, show a glimpse into a much bigger problem faced in Indian society. Intolerance, bigotry and “India only for Hindus” is a toxic mantra which will unravel one day. In the biggest political and sociological coup of the 21st century, the once Hindu periphery represented by xenophobic forces under PM Modi and the BJP has replaced the erstwhile rational and secular centre. History is a witness to states with so many centrifugal forces crumble of their own weight. It is only a matter of time.
Economically, although the figures are deeply fudged by the expat Indian community sitting in all important positions worldwide; the situation is far from sobering. Poverty, rampant corruption, inequality, unemployment, criminal-politician nexus, difficulty in doing business, tax evasion and smuggling, prolonged power outages, overpopulation, effects of climate change and bleak social indicators (UN Human Development Index) make India a distant contender for regional influence, let alone a permanent seat at the UNSC.
Militarily, it is also not a juggernaut as it claims. The February 2019 stand-off with Pakistan and the consequent humiliation of this much larger military are still fresh. Most military platforms in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are vintage. Replacements that are in the pipeline are prone to budgetary cuts, red-tapism and kickbacks. The army rank and file — after a prolonged and cruel deployment in IoK — suffers from PTSD, higher suicide rates and insubordination. Muslim and Sikhs are not considered completely trustworthy. Low pay, low social esteem and poor HR management result in low morale and compel many young officers to quit in favour of lucrative careers in the corporate sector.
The Indian Air Force has a low pilot to cockpit ratio, low flight safety record and myriad maintenance challenges. The mere fact that the vintage Mig-21, aka “Flying Coffin” was employed in an Air Defence role during the February 2019 crisis, in a sensitive area like Kashmir, speaks for itself. The pilot that was shot down was a much senior Wing Commander (Abhishek Nandan) and not a young flight lieutenant or squadron leader.
The Indian Navy also has basing issues and has inadequate resources to look after a vast area and fleet. Port accidents, substandard maintenance and other problems render the only aircraft carrier, “a force in being” to use the military terminology inside out. It is perhaps the only military, where officers (including the Service Chief) regularly approach Indian courts to redress routine grievances like promotions and changes to the dates of birth, etc. The juggernaut is also beset by crippling inter-service and inter-arm rivalries and prejudices.
Operationally, the military lacks the will and motivation to fight — as it has no just cause in Kashmir. Atoot ang is simply not sellable. Add to this the open source reports of low ammunition stockpiles, war stamina, logistics and the ineptitude of a civilian bureaucracy — that keeps the military under a humiliatingly strict check — and you have the picture of a sullen and ceremonial military. There is no comparison with the battle hardened Pakistan Armed Forces — and our success in dealing with a much deadlier insurgency in erstwhile Fata and with the Afghan-based militants. This is reinforced by our sky-high national motivation and inspiration. Nuclear insurance amplified by our ambiguous nuclear doctrine, are just icing on the cake.
Besides, the annexation of Kashmir is a flagrant violation of the UNSC resolutions and damages the rule-based order, and the moral and ethical standards of international law. This action is also against the Indian conscience as witnessed by some whimpering. India is no Russia — in Crimea — and it is no Israel — in the West Bank. Demographic changes in IoK, as feared, are easier said than done and so is the fallacy of Kashmiri suppression in the long run.
So how does India, the champion of democracy, human rights and non-alignment fare today. It is bereft of a moral authority — so important in today’s conscientious world — where lies are sooner or later torn apart. The world would ultimately ask for a solution to this unfinished agenda of the Partition. Unless resolved, Kashmir stays as a black mark on the international world’s conscience and morality. The brute occupation and rising Hindutva would help undo the Indian dream in due course of time. The fires of Kashmir would ultimately burn all over India. Thus, India has unquestionably bitten off more than it can chew. It is not six feet tall — others are cautious and at times afraid of their own leverages and influencers. Pakistan needs to provide all-out political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in their hour of dire need. For the Kashmiri freedom fighters and Indian Muslims that are tormented by the Hindutva, I would end this piece on a Pashto proverb:
The eyes of the dove are beautiful my son
But the sky is made for the hawk
So cover your dove-like eyes and grow claws
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2019.