Courtesy Of "Al-Jazeera"
The site of violent conflict since 1989, Indian Kashmir is seeing a period of relative calm. Peaceful demonstration seems to have replaced armed conflict, despite the continued presence of Indian troops in the region. Protests have become more democratic and artistic expression has become more prevalent.
Since 1949, India and Pakistan have fought over Kashmir thrice. Between those conflicts began an armed resistance to Indian rule that sparked a counter-insurgency program from the Indian military. Between 1999 and 2003, suicide bombings against Indian military targets were carried out by various Kashmiri insurgency groups. In the last few years, however, this sort of violence in Kashmir has largely disappeared.
Not to say that dissent has disappeared in Indian Kashmir, however. On the contrary, it's still being expressed, and frequently - just through more peaceful means. Kashmiris take to the streets in mass rallies, often raising their hands in protest of Indian rule. Sometimes demonstrations result in clashes with security forces however, as some Kashmiris have begun to use the act of throwing stones at security forces as a symbolic form of protest.
The stone-throwing draws a parallel with the Palestinan conflict – a parallel cartoonist Malik Sajad is more than happy to highlight in his work as well. One of his cartoons features a Kashmiri stag facing down an Indian armoured holding a rock in an image reminiscent of the scenes from the Palestinian Territories. Sajad explains that the stag, a symbol of Kashmir, reminds the viewer that Kashmir's wildlife is affected by Indian rule just as its people are. As a part of the growing artistic expression of dissent, Sajad's cartoons and graphic novels visually narrate the collective experience of his community. In one cartoon, a tree labelled "Kashmiri Community" is shown being picked apart by woodpeckers, an image that Sajad says represents the self-destruction of the Kashmiri community.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir, Rapper MC Kash brings the protest movement to music. With a goal to bring attention to the situation in Kashmir, MC Kash raps in English to attract a wider international audience. His 2010 song, "I Protest (Remembrance)", was adopted as a protest anthem and garnered attention outside of Kashmir. Some of the song's lyrics included "these killings ain't random it's an organised genocide" and "when freedom of sppech is subjected to strangulation, flames of revolution engulfs the population." Despite his graphic, politically-charged lyrics, MC Kash insists he's not anti-Indian, only trying to raise awareness of what his community faces at home.
Read more of Al Jazeera's special coverage: Kashmir - The Forgotten Conflict
These are some of the social media elements featured in this segment of The Stream.
Not to say that dissent has disappeared in Indian Kashmir, however. On the contrary, it's still being expressed, and frequently - just through more peaceful means. Kashmiris take to the streets in mass rallies, often raising their hands in protest of Indian rule. Sometimes demonstrations result in clashes with security forces however, as some Kashmiris have begun to use the act of throwing stones at security forces as a symbolic form of protest.
The stone-throwing draws a parallel with the Palestinan conflict – a parallel cartoonist Malik Sajad is more than happy to highlight in his work as well. One of his cartoons features a Kashmiri stag facing down an Indian armoured holding a rock in an image reminiscent of the scenes from the Palestinian Territories. Sajad explains that the stag, a symbol of Kashmir, reminds the viewer that Kashmir's wildlife is affected by Indian rule just as its people are. As a part of the growing artistic expression of dissent, Sajad's cartoons and graphic novels visually narrate the collective experience of his community. In one cartoon, a tree labelled "Kashmiri Community" is shown being picked apart by woodpeckers, an image that Sajad says represents the self-destruction of the Kashmiri community.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir, Rapper MC Kash brings the protest movement to music. With a goal to bring attention to the situation in Kashmir, MC Kash raps in English to attract a wider international audience. His 2010 song, "I Protest (Remembrance)", was adopted as a protest anthem and garnered attention outside of Kashmir. Some of the song's lyrics included "these killings ain't random it's an organised genocide" and "when freedom of sppech is subjected to strangulation, flames of revolution engulfs the population." Despite his graphic, politically-charged lyrics, MC Kash insists he's not anti-Indian, only trying to raise awareness of what his community faces at home.
Read more of Al Jazeera's special coverage: Kashmir - The Forgotten Conflict
These are some of the social media elements featured in this segment of The Stream.
- An infographic from Al Jazeera English's Kashmir: The Forgotten Conflict page that features statistics about the ongoing conflict.
- Below, Kashmiri participate in a rally in support of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Srinagar.
- Kashmiris raise their hands at a rally against Indian rule in Srinagar in the summer of 2010. Protesters demanding an end to Indian rule held massive rallies in 2008 and 2010, leading to confrontations with the Indian army.
- Indian forces take cover after protesters throw rocks at them during a demonstration in Srinagar.
- In this political cartoon by Malik Sajad, Indian Prime Minister Manmahon Singh is depicted as both school teacher and articulator of the narrative of Kashmiri history. The children depicted are international - note the blond hair - suggesting that the author believes the Indian narrative extends beyond domestic borders.
- According to Sajad, this cartoon illustrates the self-destruction of the Kashmiri community as a result of the conflict. The woodpeckers represent self-interested Kashmiris using unrest as a pretext to further their own gains.
- Sajad's artistic representation of growing up in Kashmir with the presence of the Indian military.
- Below is a rock-wielding Hangul (the Kashmiri Stag) facing an Indian armoured vehicle.
- Released in September of 2010, MC Kash's song "I Protest (Remembrance)" was quickly adopted as a protest anthem.
![I PROTEST by MC Kash [HD 720p] [Original]](http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/DFDrRaLcUvQ/hqdefault.jpg "I PROTEST by MC Kash [HD 720p] [Original]")
Kashmir Intifada Exlusive I PROTEST(RAP) BY MC KASH GFX and video by MT'n'MA Support the ongoing Quit Jammu & Kashmir Movement & ask Indian Occupational forces to go back home.Support valor of people on streets of Kashmir.- Zerobridge is a New York based indie band. The band's members include brothers Mubashir and Mohsin Mohi-ud-Din whose parents emigrated from Kashmir. The name Zerobridge comes from a bridge across the Jhelum river in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir's summer capital. Watch as the brothers perform their song "How Long" with the children of the CHINAR orphanage in Kashmir.
Just played our 1st zerobridge show in Kashmir. We are still in shock. A dream of so many years actually happened for us. With the backdrop of Kashmir's mountains, we played to 100s and 100s of Kashmiris both young and old; both boys and girls.- Watch Zerobridge's first live concert in Kashmir.
Zerobridge perform their song 'How Long' with the brilliant children of the CHINAR orphanage. Follow the music and film initiative with CHINAR @ www.dangerville.wordpress.com Support CHINAR : www.chinar.org Zerobridge: on facebook and music on itune www.myspace.com/zerobridge- Thumbnail image: Kashmiri protestors chant slogans on February 05, 2010 on the outskirts of Srinagar. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
![cover[1]](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6029495617_04bd19b3c5.jpg "cover[1]")
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