Now Reading: Kashmir’s August 15 shifts from shutdowns to public participation
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Kashmir’s August 15 shifts from shutdowns to public participation
Independence Day in Kashmir has changed from a day that emptied Srinagar to one marked by wider public participation, Deccan Herald reports. In the early 1990s, roads around Bakshi Stadium were sealed,…
The Story in Brief
Independence Day in Kashmir has changed from a day that emptied Srinagar to one marked by wider public participation, Deccan Herald reports. In the early 1990s, roads around Bakshi Stadium were sealed, shops and buses stopped, and residents struggled to leave their neighbourhoods. Rockets targeted the venue in 1992, while unrest in 2010 and 2016 brought restrictions and prolonged shutdowns. Mobile services were also periodically suspended.
The separatist groups’ ability to enforce Valley-wide shutdowns has weakened since 2019. At Bakshi Stadium in 2023, thousands attended without special passes, traffic moved through much of Srinagar, some shops operated and communications remained active. Times Now News carries a Kashmiri Pandit’s personal account of fear, displacement and hope linked to celebrations around Lal Chowk.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy claim that Kashmir is either permanently normal or unchanged by conflict misses the evidence. Public life has widened, but heavy security and unresolved political questions remain. A Kashmiri Pandit’s hope deserves space, as do memories of fear and displacement, without turning one celebration into proof of reconciliation. The useful test is whether ordinary movement, commerce and communication remain open across the Valley on future August 15s.
Sources (2): deccanherald.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
