Burhan Wani: A Young Activist
The Kashmir dispute is currently the world’s oldest unresolved international conflict. India forcibly occupied the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. The Kashmir crisis encompasses more than 13 million people and goes beyond simple geographical boundaries. Indian security have freedom to do whatever they want but on the other hand whoever stand up for their rights is considered as a terrorist or has to face cruel fate. It basically involves the people of Jammu and Kashmir’s right to self-determination. One of the example was Burhan Wani.
Burhan Wani was well known for using social media to spread his beliefs and encourage young generation of Kashmir. He was located in a remote village in the district of Jammu and Kashmir. He was 15 when he decided to raise his voice against the Indian aggression and was able to live almost 7 years in the fierce battle of truth against ISF. He intelligently used social media platforms to propagate his cause and to communicate the internal situation of Kashmir to the outside world. Being a brave and enthusiastic young man on one hand, while on the other hand Politeness, generosity and love for Kashmiris of IIOJK were some other virtues of his personality. He used these platforms to highlight what he considered the light of Kashmiris under Indian rule. This raised international awareness about the situation in Kashmir.
He wanted to inspire many young Kashmiri to take stand for their rights and aspirations for self-determination. Wani effectively utilized social media platforms to highlight Kashmir issues or spread awareness among people. Wani was a true hero and his martyrdom on July 8, 2016, sparked widespread protests in IIOJK, leading to another wave of violence by Indian occupation forces in the region. According to an article published by the Kashmir Media Service, Wani played a game-changing role in the struggle of IIOJK against India.
Burhan Wani was born on July 7, 1994, in south Kashmir. Despite belonging to a relatively well-off family, he trod the path of a civic activist at a young age after witnessing the frequent attacks of the Indian army on innocent Kashmiris. His ability to connect with IIOJK youth, who recognised him as a symbol of resistance against Indian oppression, made him a prominent figure within the freedom movement. On July 8, 2016, Burhan Wani was killed by Indian occupation forces. The news of his death spread rapidly, and thousands of people gathered for his funeral, despite strict curfews imposed by the authorities. The funeral procession turned into a massive protest, with mourners shouting slogans against the Indian government and demanding freedom.
Burhan’s death witnessed a significant escalation of violence in the region with many people martyred and injured by Indian forces. As a result of the curfew in the valley, the internet was shut down and many other restrictions were also imposed and the protest continued for many months. Moreover, the violence by Indian forces continued for months, resulting in a sense of insecurity and fear among the masses. The death of Burhan Wani was seen as a significant loss for the IIOJK freedom movement and a cause of concern about the human rights situation in the territory. Burhan Wani was a martyr and a symbol of struggle against Indian occupation.
The writer Esha Maroof is an Intern at YFK- International Kashmir Lobby Group, and a student of International Relation at UAJK.
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