BY DR.ABDUL AHAD
It has taken Britain centuries to smoothen its transition from medievalism to modernity and build up its noninterventionist, bubbling ethos and soothing social ecology to bring into existence a robust economy with a huge labour market which played a vital role in alluring external labour force on a scale not seen before or since. Among the emigrants the Africans and the Asians formed a sizeable chunk. The Kashmiris too came to settle there to reap the benefits of new-found British prosperity. These Kashmiris include medical professionals, lawyers, engineers and corporate managers. How do the British Kashmiri Muslims fit in the English environment and negotiate with the circumstances which are totally different from their native land? As Muslims they are undergoing the same experience as their coreligionists (the British Muslims) do. But unlike the latter they are miserably disadvantaged because of their apathy for engaging themselves emotionally with rest of the British Muslim society. They live in their own world over obsessed with mundane affairs of life, having no desire even to cultivate cultural relations with rest of the Kashmiri brethren living in different parts of Britain. Also they have quarantined themselves from the place of their birth by their total indifference to the going-on in the Valley. They have no hand in whatever little noises are seldom made in the streets of London to slam the naked genocide of the hapless people of the disputed Kashmir. It is the few people of other Kashmir who seem concerned to keep the world abreast of the problem that has consumed more than a hundred thousand native souls so far. The British Kashmiri Muslims have totally forgotten Kashmir.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain is truly a very grand Island Nation. It is a country whose mere mention brings to our mind the picture of its greatness it has enjoyed uninterruptedly throughout its history. It evokes memories of its distinct yore, its vibrant culture, its vastness, its architectural grandeur, its ant and literary opulence, and its political stature. It reminds us of its triumphant an unrelenting quest for democracy and its role in triggering off worldwide diffusion of parliamentary system of government. It takes us back to the aeon when it took on the mantle of popularizing Western Civilization globally and extended the blessings of science and technology, through the route of colonialism, to the remotest corners of earth.
And when we actually set our feet on the land of Shakespeare, Chaucer and Dickens and strut around cities, towns and suburbs of Queen’s Empire we are instantaneously overtaken by a unique spectrum which bedecks it awesomely with an inimitable splendour that unfurls its glorious past skilfully through its marvellously fashioned effervescent present. We come face to face with a peerless fusion of old and new; a fabulous mix that gives it a sparkling modern look of course in Victorian demeanour. It welcomes us to King’s dominion: a sweet spot that enjoys loads of peace and prosperity; letting not its people down on account of job and justice, and doing all that is reasonably possible to uphold human dignity and rule of law and espouse what has endowed it with the virtues of egalitarianism, open-mindedness and secularism and brought it into spotlight as a towering nation in the comity of Common Wealth Counties; a most sought after destination of diverse nationalities. The spectre of its transparency parity and seemliness is so real, positive, pleasant, encouraging, unabated and irresistible that it goads you to seek out a similar setting or become a part of it or decline to give it up in favour of the place you have originally come from. It unfolds the secret of inquisitiveness of the people worldwide who seek employment or shelter to live there.
But Britain hasn’t built up this noninterventionist and soothing social ecology, bubbling ethos and brisk economy in one day. It has taken her centuries to achieve this distinction and conquer the summit amidst virulent opposition and a variety of stumbling blocks that raised their awful heads sporadically at intervals. Its success story begins with Glorious Revolution: the earliest upheaval that blew the first whistle of democracy in the world by beguiling the English to unnerve the faltering but all-pervasive British Monarchy to yield to their demands without trickling even a drop of their blood. Strutting to the drumbeats of Reformation and Renaissance-the most significant eras of reconciliation, rectification, separation between Church and State and resurgence-the story culminated in Industrial Revolution’ that completely knocked down the English feudalism to smoothen Britain’s transition from medievalism to modernity and to bring into existence an robust economy with a huge labour market which played a vital role in alluring external labour force on a Scale not seen before or since.
With the onset of English Trading Company, the world’s first Transnational Corporation’, a sizeable number of people migrated with their families to different parts of the Kingdom where life was far better and ample opportunities had become available due to massive manufacturing and commercial activities.
Slowly and steadily they merged with the locals to become an immutable component of their culture which in course of time they augmented and fortified so progressively, effectively and sturdily that the likelihood of its losing ground vanished finally. They contributed to the British economy considerably; making it touch the acme of capitalist entrepreneurship.
The earliest settlers to set the integration going were the Africans, the Asians and the Europeans. Gradually, the synthesis of cultures became so unassailable that, except for their colour, you can hardly set them apart from the indigenous people. Their dress, language and way of life, in fact everything, is absolutely British.
…….to be continued
Dr. Abdul Ahad is a well-known historian of Kashmir. He presents a perspective on the Kashmir issue and talks about Kashmir’s history and individuality and personality.