Sir — This refers to the article, “New shape to Kashmir solution” (September 15) by Francois Gautier. The writer has done a good anthropological analysis of the five parts of undivided Jammu & Kashmir. He calls Kashmiri Muslims as Indians in contrast to Central Asian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish or other Muslims. One may argue that before India’s partition, Sindhis, Punjabis and Bengalis were also Indian Muslims. The psyche of the Kashmiri Muslim youth is almost thoroughly brainwashed to hate anything India or Indian.
The writer suggests that Mr Karan Singh’s good offices should be used to resolve the Kashmir problem. With due respect to Mr Singh, I was disappointed at his reported partisan comments immediately after the demolition of the Babri mosque. He, though a great Hindu scholar, never asked the votaries of Islam if they respect other religions, including Hinduism.
The writer has given the example of Yugoslavia. It is well known that, though Christianity and Islam have common origins, they are competitors politically and imperialistically. Hindus have the maximum freedom to worship or not to worship. Hindus not only recognise but respect Christianity and Islam as valid paths to reach out to god. The same is not the case with the other two religions. Unless this mindset changes, no solution is possible in Kashmir or Middle East or Europe or elsewhere.