“And when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be
beautiful.”
― Ruskin Bond, Scenes from a Writer’s Life
What’s more beautiful than the innocence of childhood? Laced with dreams of
wonderland and stories of utopian fantasy, it is a time in life laden with
perfection and prettiness of the creative little minds. Everything seems
beautiful in the haven of childhood innocence – far away from the brutal
realities of life. But this innocence of the children of Kashmir is being
snatched at a tender age by the tyrant atrocious cycle of violence whipping the
Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, for the last seven
decades.
Children who grow in active conflict zone like the IOK are deprived of a normal
childhood as they are shoved into the harsh actualities of life too soon. As
they open their eyes,they are exposed to violence and become aware of the
struggle of the Kashmiris for their freedom.There are countless tales of the
sufferings of these children. It’s unfathomable to fully comprehend the horror
these children experience every day. Every trip to the market comes with an
uncertainty if all of the family members will be back safe and sound. Their
homes are barged by the paramilitary Indian forces and they witness their
elders,fathers and brothers being dragged,beaten, arrested and women of the
house disrespected. Going out on the streets,they are unsure of what quandaries
await them. Young boys can be questioned and beaten for no reason at all. Young
girls can be harassed and be subjected to inappropriate behaviour.
Last year, a viral photo of a toddler posed on the slain body of his grandfather
shocked the world. Shooting an elderly man in front of a three-year-old wasn’t
enough, adding insult to the injury,he was made to sit on dead body of his
grandfatheras the photos were taken and shared. The photo was received with
anger and disgust from all around the world. That child will grow up but he
would be traumatized for the rest of his life and that viral photo on the
internet will haunt him incessantly.
The violations of human rights in IOK by the Indian security forces aremassively
determined by their use of pellet guns on theKashmiris. Thousands have been
critically injured and dozens died at the barrel of this noxious weapon.
Hundreds of people including children are blinded. Some of them even got injured
while they were in their home and became victim of stray pellets. Dozens losing
their lives and hundreds losing their sight,Amnesty International compiled a
109-page book displaying the ill-fated victims of pellet guns to draw the
attention of international community. Asrar Ahmed, an avid student and zealous
cricketer was returning home from playing cricket when he was hit whenISF opened
fire at a crowd. Hiba Janonly an 18-month-old baby was playing at home when she
was hit by a pellet damaging her eye.This happens everyday andchildren become
victim of violence.
Violence is not new for Kashmiris. Striving hard, enduring brutalities, they
have lost thousands of precious lives. The number of children enduring physical
injuries and traumas are in thousands. In August2019 New Delhi revoked the
special status of IOK ripping off whatever little autonomous identity the
Kashmiris had. Modi’s oppressive action instigated a strong reaction. As a
result, the valley was caged into a lockdown and curfew was imposed converting
IOK intoa prison. To contain the repercussion, the road connectivity was bunged,
internet jammed and all media and news agencies were barred from the
valley.During the lockdown a fact finding commission stated that around 13,000
boys were picked up from their homes. The girls and women were reported of
sexually molestedduring these raids.
Amid the lockdown, Covid-19 hit badly. The lockdown of one and half years,where
the Kashmirissuffered isolation and disconnection,has affected the
economy,society and mental health.The shortage of basic necessities and means to
buy breadominouslycondensed. Schools are closed since the onslaught of curfew.
Partially curfew has been lifted in certain areas,but parents are reluctant to
send their kids to school in the time of uncertainty as violent street clashes
arefrequent. During the pandemic, theworld adaptedtothe newnormaland
schoolsallaround the worldswitchedtoonlinestudiesandvirtualschool.
Continuingeducationamidthepandemicwasessential not only to retain
children’sengagement withtheir curriculum but also
tokeepkidsoccupiedindepressive environment takingcare oftheir mentalhealth as
onlinestudies warranted them todevelop routine andexertcapabilities in
constructiveandlearning activities.
When the pandemic hit, it was already six months to the lockdown. The UN
declared the access to internet a basic human right. Blocking internet to
suppress the freedom of speech is a declaration of human rights violation by the
Indian government. Therightofeducationis also deniedtothechildrenlivinginIOK as
internet hasn’t yet been restored. At few places, broadband services are opened
up but the speed is kept so sluggish that neither studentcan engage in online
classes, nor canaccess any study materials online. J&K region hasmorethan 2.5
million studentsandaround10,000 schools.Recently, a report compiled by a
Delhi-based group of human rights activists and psychiatristspublished in
November 2020 cites that commotion began in August lockdowns had an intense
effect on children’s lives and their mental health. Quoting health
professionals’ assessments that anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal tendencies, and
symptoms of post-traumatic stress were growing among children: “There is no
school, no routine or structure, no healthy recreation, and no sense of safety
or predictability, which are essential for normal growth and emotional
development.” A research conducted in 2006 found high levels of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)in a group of 100 children ranging between the ages of 3
and 16. A 2016 study by Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience and
ActionAid projected that more than one in 10 people, including adults, had a
mental disorder, ranging from anxiety or depression to PTSD.
Many children suffer anxiety and panic. They cannot go out to playgrounds
anymore as it is perilous. They do not have friends any longer as they do not go
to school or mingle freely with other children in the neighbourhood. They are
being snatched off their childhood. Even if the educators or schools attempt to
produce online content, it is impossible to access those online. As the world
moves forward with stepping into pioneering interactive virtual platforms,
Kashmiri children are left behind.
The entireconception of childhood has suffered a methodicaltransfiguration in
the lives of children in IOK. From these children the right for a normal happy
childhood is cruellytaken away. They do not enjoy kindergarten or learn happy
nursery rhymes while playing with toys. They are not nurtured under the
adoringwarm care of their parents in a setting where they sense freedom and
safety. Relatively their memories of childhood are filled with horrors
inconceivable entailing an environment fraught with fear, endlessgory violence,
insecurity and chaos. They no longer have fantasy filled imaginings of
butterflies and pirates orbig dreams for a buoyanttomorrow; they just dream of
freedom, safety and the security of their loved ones by their side. The chalice
of innocence of the children in IOK is contaminated with the poison of blood,
violence, death and pain.
(The writer is freelance columnist)