Peace for Kashmir: A Worldview, Psychological Intervention
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Peace for Kashmir: A Worldview, Psychological Intervention Farah A. Ibrahim1,2
This paper reviews the current situation in Kashmir, the historical roots of the conflict and considers the possibilities for peace in the region. Given the nuclear arms proliferation in the region, war can have devastating outcomes not just for the people in the region but also for the people and the ecology of our planet. It is imperative that a peaceful solution to the crisis in the region is sought. Further, the situation in Kashmir must be resolved from a human rights perspective and the people of Kashmir must be assisted in achieving peace and safety in their own homeland. It is noted that counselors and psychologists can play a role in bringing about peace using worldview research, and Carl Rogers’ model of conflict resolution. KEY WORDS: peace; rogers; worldview; role of counselors.
PEACE FOR KASHMIR: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES? The people of Kashmir have lived in utter misery for over half a century due to the constant state of siege and war and neglect by the United Nations and the superpowers of the world. Massacres, rapes, mutilation of bodies, rampant abuse, abject poverty, and a constant state of war and terror exists (Fai, 2002a). There is no hue and cry in the world, because the people of this land do not have the money to advocate for their plight. The media has not focused on the plight of the Kashmiri people. We are all responsible for not focusing on how to bring peace to this region. Psychology has significant knowledge and counselors are trained in conflict resolution yet no movement has been taken by our profession to address the humanitarian concerns in Kashmir. 1 Professor and Chair, Teacher and Counselor Education, School of Education Oregon State University,
Corvallis 2 Correspondence
Should be directed to Farah A. Ibrahim, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Teacher and Counselor Education, School of Education, 204 Education Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333; e-mail: [email protected]. 289 C 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 0165-0653/05/0600-0289/0
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Ibrahim
History The British ruled India for over one hundred years. When the British conquered the Punjab region they sold Kashmir to a chieftain, Hari Singh for 50,000 rupees (about $50,000 at the time), in 1857. As the British became convinced that they could no longer hold India hostage and they must leave and movement began toward the liberation of India, a crisis emerged over the fears and anxieties of the Muslim population at the prospect of living in a Hindu dominated society. The most ironic issue that emerged, as liberation became a reality, was that the Hindus and the Muslims may not be able to live together in harmony once the British left India. Both the Hindus and the Muslims feared that due to the unfailing divide and rule tactics that the British had used to control the subcontinent, these two groups could no longer live together. Given the Hindu majority in the Indian subcontinent, the Muslims feared for t
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