Says 5,000-year civilisational legacy cannot be selective; calls for respect for all faiths, rejection of bans on books, ideas, revival of Delhi-Islamabad & Delhi-Srinagar dialogue
SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, while interacting with the media after inaugurating an educational consultancy initiative at Lal Chowk, said that Kashmir’s 5,000-year civilisational legacy cannot be selective, and that history cannot be erased or selectively projected to suit a particular narrative, as he spoke on the Amarnath Yatra, the recent ban on books, and the need for India-Pakistan dialogue.
Mirwaiz said that the Amarnath Yatra is a religious pilgrimage, and the people of Kashmir have always respected the religious sentiments of all communities. He said Kashmir has a long tradition of hospitality and mehmaan-nawazi, and pilgrims who come here for their faith should be treated with respect and care. At the same time, he said it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure safety and proper facilities for the yatris, while also making sure daily life of local people is not unnecessarily disrupted and the fragile environment of Kashmir is protected. He expressed hope that the Yatra passes peacefully and safely, and said such religious occasions should not be politicised.
Responding to a question on the government’s ban on books, Mirwaiz said that in a democratic society bans do not work, whether they are bans on books, ideas, or organisations. He said Kashmir has a 5,000-year-old rich and layered history, and Kashmiris are proud of their civilisational legacy, from the Buddhist period to Shaivism and Hindu traditions, and then the Islamic period, which shaped Kashmir’s spiritual, social, and cultural identity. He said that after 1947, Jammu and Kashmir also became a political issue, and this too is part of its modern history.
“You cannot erase history or selectively project only that part of history which suits a particular narrative,” Mirwaiz said, adding that societies grow through openness, discussion, and engagement, not by suppressing books or silencing perspectives.On India-Pakistan relations, Mirwaiz said that since the age of 16, after the martyrdom of his father Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq, he has invested his life in the pursuit of peace, dialogue, and resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said he supported dialogue even at a time when those advocating talks were accused of treason. “We did not back down. My uncle Shaheed Molvi Mushtaq was killed, Islamia school was burnt down, my house was attacked, but I did not give up on my principle even then that dialogue is the only way forward,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that as a new world order is shaping up, it is clear that war is no solution. He welcomed the efforts of civil society voices from India, Pakistan, and Jammu and Kashmir who are pushing for peace and engagement between the two countries. He stressed that meaningful dialogue is imperative between Delhi and Islamabad, and equally between Delhi and Srinagar, for peace, dignity, and a just resolution.