India is a success story. India has achieved considerable economic development that has lifted millions of people out of poverty. It is now the world's second-fastest growing major economy and is poised to become a new world power. Indians should rightfully be proud that they live in the world's largest democracy.
Since India's creation in 1947 its leadership has been striving hard to improve the living standards of the population. Freedom of opinion and the press, human rights and equality are all important aspects that have contributed to India's success.
But behind each success, there is also a story. Since independence from the British, India has been left with many challenges of which one is the territorial dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. (Laura Schuurmans, Jakarta)
Your comments:
I have never seen such a shabby article. I wonder why there author compares India with third rate nations like Indonesia and Pakistan. The truth is that India is the only successful example of showing unity in diversity to the world. I believe by the end of 21st century, there will be one super power and that will be INDIA.
Thamizh
India
The title is misleading, which shows how deceptive the writer was. It is only one side of the story and that's too wrong.
Kris
US
This article is written by someone with half knowledge on the subject. First, 90 percent of Indians speak Hindi, they also speak some other language as their first language but 90% speak Hindi. Second, there are 7 million Muslims and 2 million lives in Kashmir and there are 700 million Hindus and 200 million Muslims lives in rest of India.
Now, imagine, if Kashmiri Muslims decided to request a separate country for Kashmiri Muslims, and then two million Hindus would have to migrate forcefully to India and in India, what would 700 million Hindus do to 200 million Muslims if they saw that 2 million Hindus were thrown out of their home in the name of religion?
Rakesh Singh
Mumbai, India
Truth sometimes is bitter and that's what is conveyed in this article. We all know about the facts but few of us have the courage to put these in writing to raise awareness. The biggest democracy in the world is adamant not to extend basic human rights to the population of occupied Kashmir in ignorance of UN resolutions and the world is watching silently.
I laugh at the statement "Kashmir is an integral part of India", it's not just a piece of land or an ornament, its made up of people living there who still have not really integrated after so many years of occupation. It's time to face reality by letting Kashmiris decide their own fate and prove to the world that India is a real democracy.
Bilal
Jakarta
Both India and Pakistan are willing to have peace in the region. But beside Kashmir there are other regions in India that also want independence and they're not Muslim regions (so-called Indian Union).
Why has India failed to resolve these issues? On what basis did the "Maharajah" of Kashmir ceded to Indian government? India describes Kashmir as integrated but should an integrated India have to assign one soldier for every 10 Kashmiris?
Indians (from the upper-class) don't see those videos in which innocent Kashmiris or even Hindus in Indian Union are beaten by Indian Army personnel. UN has passed several resolutions on Kashmir but are "unable" to pressure Indian government.
It's not only Kashmir-dispute that has jeopardized the region but also the internal situation of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
James Blake
Denmark
Kashmir is as much for Hindus as it is for Muslims. The author mentioned how Hindu Raja gave it away at last moment to India, which was rightfully Pakistan's. Questions that need to be asked are what makes Kashmir Pakistani? Why is Pakistan so hellbent on freedom for so-called Kashmiris?
Calling them Kashmiris is divisive. Kashmiris are not just Muslims but also Hindus living in that region. I don't think India has suppressed any religion or their beliefs in thousand of years. Otherwise, how would the Moghul dynasty mingle with Hindus. If it weren't for Moghuls, there wouldn't be any Islam introduced in this part of the world.
Snep
Sydney
India - the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, pluralistic democracy - is very much a reality and not a myth. Despite desperate attempts by Pakistani ideologues to hurt it through wars and terrorism, it is Pakistan that is in ruins.
When we say Jammu Kashmir is an integral part of India we really mean it! The Indian subcontinent hosts hundreds of ethnicities, speaking thousands of languages and practicing all the religions in God's earth. There are linguistic ethnic groups - Sindhis, Gujaratis, Bengalis, Maratis, Pathans, Punjabis, Tamil, Telugus, Kashmiris and so on.
Kashmiri Muslims wanting a separate country seems to have born out of sense of entitlement out of events of partition, UN resolutions, etc. Either that or it was born out of the special racial supremacy some of them feel. Hindus, Shia Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs all living in Jammu Kashmir are opposed to this separation sought by mainly the Sunni Muslims of Kashmir valley.
Raj Dhand
Singapore
Those who are criticizing Laura for writing this article, I would like to ask them one question: What do you suggest can be a method to solve the Kashmir problem? (Other than holding a plebiscite.) I would definitely like to hear that. I am a Pakistani, I want peaceful relations with India, no war or bloodshed, and I believe that the day the Kashmir dispute is solved, the relations between India and Pakistan will be like those between the US and Canada. Peace.
Faraz Liaqat
Islamabad
Talking of great mythologies of the world, the Greeks overshadow all others but I think Laura's myth is even more mind-boggling. To properly understand the problem for India regarding the issue of Kashmir, one has to look at the ground realities. Any flexibility by India on the issue of Kashmir can easily inspire a number of other movements of independence within India.
For how many of these would India be able to accede to for demands of separation? If it says yes to Kashmir, others will be coming forward with similar demand i.e. independence. To top it all, how about the more than 150 million Muslims within India. What inspiration will they seek from the independence of Kashmir, how about the Sikhs and the Nagas!
How about the millions of low caste Hindus who also do not find any favors with the top brass of the ruling elite. Kashmir will create and then help erupt a Vesuvius of internal instability.
That kind of violent eruption will make everyone forget even Pompeii. But yes, one has to agree with the writer that there has to be an end to this stalemate on Kashmir, which has taken hostage millions of people in South Asia and kept them from achieving economic self sufficiency.
For that both Pakistan and India have to show some maturity and take the Kashmiri leadership on board, whenever they talk things out. Kashmiris are the main affected party and they must be given a proper hearing.
Saeed
Islamabad
I am horrified to go through the comments of some of my Indian friends. Why are you trying to say that you are the only people who are blessed with wisdom and fortitude? All of you have reacted as if Laura has liberated Kashmir from you, much as I would want Kashmir to be liberated, she has only given some proposals.
You need to learn from the good deeds of other civilized nations. You cannot make fools of others and fools of yourselves for a long time in the era of globalization, you have to accept that Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and that they will have to be given the right of self-determination.
Saima
Los Angeles
I would thank Laura for speaking the truth once again. India is really incredible no doubt. It is still alarming and sparking flames in South Asia, that more than 700,000 Indian army deployed in a small 40-80 square miles area is the heaviest concentration in human history, and its all without any moral, political and legal code.
The international NGOs Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Asia Watch, Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and others are not allowed to visit (Indian-held) Kashmir. Since 1989 India has killed 93,018 Muslims. The killings must stop!
Timmi
Jakarta
