By Riyaz Wani
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the only internationally recognizable face of the ongoing separatist struggle in Kashmir – the disputed Muslim majority state of India – challenges the western stereotype of a Muslim religious head. He is not only moderate in his outlook but also modern in appearance. Mirwaiz does not sport a long beard, wears trendy clothes, loves photography and is a gadget freak.
In an interview with elan, Mirwaiz talks about the Kashmir problem, his own role as the head of the largest separatist political alliance and his effort to project Kashmir as a peaceful resistance for the rights of Kashmiris.
Q. How would you explain to a global audience what the Kashmir resistance all about?
A. The Kashmir struggle is about the quest of thirteen million people for their right to self determination. It is about being given the right to choose their own destiny guaranteed to them by the United Nations resolutions. The problem goes back six decades and has its origins in the partition of the undivided India into India and Pakistan whereby Kashmir, by then an independent ruled by a Maharaja, had to choose which country to go with. However, we are still to get this right.
Q. You have been an advocate of a pragmatic consensus solution to Kashmir which brings India, Pakistan and Kashmiris together and work out a workable mechanism to co-exist.
A. There has been a whole series of efforts between India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir for the past sixty years. Over the past several years, Kashmiri leadership has also been part of the process on a triangular basis, talking separately with India and Pakistan governments. The positions on Kashmir remain rigid and fixed which make the solution elusive. This certainly calls for the concerned parties to work towards an imaginative solution built on consensus. Only this approach will give us a win-win solution and put the subcontinent on the long delayed road to progress and prosperity.
Q. How could resolution of Kashmir contribute towards regional peace?
A. Resolution of Kashmir will not only usher in regional peace but also contribute to world peace. First, it would end the cause of much violence in South Asia as it would cease to work up emotions among people, bring the bitter foes India, Pakistan together which alone will be a tremendous boost to progress and development in the region. On an international level, it would contribute towards peace in Afghanistan by making India and Pakistan a part of solution in the country rather than a part of problem.
Q. How do you transcend the negative global stereotype of a leader of a Muslim struggle? Some leaders like you are generally known as anti-West and fundamentalist in their outlook. But you are very moderate and progressive in your approach.
A. Kashmiris as a whole do not fit into the newly fangled Muslim stereotype. Our 5000 year history shows us to be non-violent, tolerant and enlightened in our outlook. Even the ongoing freedom movement, though initially violent and religious, has with the force of our distinctive culture stabilized into a more or less peaceful political struggle for our right to self-determination. For me also, the guidelines were laid down by my father and grandfather who believed in a non-violent struggle for the just cause of Kashmir. Besides, we don’t see our struggle as part of any pan-Islamic religious agenda. We also do not see it as a struggle between a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim majority Kashmir. We only want our right as freedom-loving people of the world to choose our own destiny. Kashmir is a problem duly acknowledged in the United Nations resolutions on the state and it requires a solution.
Q. How do you plan to take Kashmir movement forward? What is your concept of political resistance?
A. Resistance movements primarily depend on the support of the masses. Kashmiris have time and again shown their commitment towards the cause. Our movement is being fought on different fronts of which the diplomatic front is very important. We have the support of international organizations like OIC. APHC is fighting diplomatically. We have Kashmir American Council in US, Kashmir centres at London and Brussels. Our people are active at the European parliament. Peaceful resistance is our agenda. India is trying hard to label our movement as terrorism but we have to counter it and project it in the real perspective.
Q. What is your advice for the Muslim youth across the world?
A. I believe the salvation of the Muslim world lies in education. The Muslim youth will need to pursue education and embrace technology to make a mark in today’s world. Muslim world today is generally bedeviled by the massive illiteracy and backwardness which is one of the major reasons for the prevailing turmoil and chaos. I think world needs Islam to re-incarnate the great civilizational role it once played and become once again the force of enlightenment and the progress. And this process can be set in motion if the priorities of the Muslim youth become more constructive. A mindset of the anger and grievance has to give way to one of positive engagement with the world.
Q. Your family is credited for a great educational role in Kashmir, setting up one of the first schools in Valley which besides religious education taught sciences, maths and English also. Do you think madrassas which have proliferated in Kashmir over the past two decades should similarly introduce other subjects?
A. I totally believe that Muslim students have to be well equipped to face current challenges – both religious and formal education is important. The main reason why we are not able to counter the propaganda against Islam is because we lack far behind in sciences and humanities. Madrassas have a very wide reach in society but they should not limit themselves only to Islamic teaching. Not only sciences, but in technical education, they should play an important role.
Q. What does Mirwaiz do when he is not preaching at the mosque, addressing a rally or leading a demonstration against India’s control of Kashmir?
A. I try to spend my time with my family. Now I have an eight month old daugther Maryam. I try to spend as much time as possible with her. I am still a student. My Phd in Sufism is about to be completed. I have been busy with that as well.
Q. How much time does Mirwaiz spend on his Mac?
A. I usually spend couple of hours on my Mac. I am quite a gadget guy, I love Apple and their products. I am looking forward to owning an iPad.
Q. What books are you reading these days?
A. Apart from my Phd related stuff, I am reading Language of Belonings by Chitralekha Zutshi. It is quite a nice read
Q. Was it difficult for you to come into this role? Did you always want to be Mirwaiz?
A. I had just passed high school when I took on the role of Mirwaiz of Kashmir [Mirwaiz’s father was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in 1990]. I was looking forward to joining the college and I had already decided to pursue my career in computer engineering. It was difficult in the sense that as a Mirwaiz, one is expected to have a deep understanding of religion. As a teenager I had just read the Qur’an and did not have much understanding of religion. As the Friday religious sermons in Kashmir are a mix of Kashmiri, Arabic and Persian, it took me some time to learn that. But I must say that the support of the people has all along been an inspiration for me. It was their support and love which gave me confidence to take on the onerous responsibility of the chief preacher of Kashmir.
Q. Have you reached out to Kashmiris living overseas? Are they supportive of your work? What are your thoughts about them?
I must say that despite limited resources and access Kashmiri diaspora has done a commendable job. It is to a large extent because of this diaspora that Hurriyat has representation not only in the Organization of Islamic Countries but has also set up Kashmir centres in US, UK and Europe
Q. You say you are a gadget freak. What is your latest obsession?
As I said earlier, I wanted to be a computer engineer to begin with. Technology has always fascinated me. In fact, it gives me a certain high. In Ipad, I have a new toy. I think it is a very cool gadget. I can even give my sermons using this.
Q. Where do you like to vacation?
Out of the places I have been to Istanbul has been my favourite
Q. What got you interested in photography?
Considering the situation in Kashmir over the last so many years, I have, for a better part of time, remained confined to my house. Sometimes for days on end, I am put under house arrest. I started learning photography through the internet. At first, I started taking pictures around my house and my garden. But now I carry camera with me wherever I go.
Q. For someone who has never been to Kashmir, where is the one place you would tell him/her to go?
Well as I mentioned, I love the city of Istanbul for its architecture, especially that of the mosques. I would say that Jamia Masjid (Grand Mosque) of Kashmir stands out in its architecture and beauty. I have not seen any mosque like this in the entire Muslim world. I would definitely recommend someone who is coming to Kashmir to visit the old city of Srinagar.
Q. What is the best quality of Kashmiri people?
I think it is the Kashmiri hospitality. This is something that Kashmiris are known for all over the world.
Riyaz Wani is a Kashmir-based journalist and reporter for India’s national daily The Indian Express
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