The on going discussion regarding Kashmir bridging the understanding gap becomes futile and meaningless when the right of the people of whole of the devided Jammu Kashmir state is ignored in any future disposition of the territory. Unless and untill the absolute right of the inhabitants of the former kingdom to determine a political and constitutional future of their choice is recognised , there can be no progress towards a solution in the conflict. The repeated refrain of many Indian intellectuals against the wholesomeness of Kashmiri's demand for, and indeed the inherent and the inalienable right to freedom is down right patronising to say the least. Infact the time and effort that likes of Mr Udday Reddy and others spend in forcing the unwilling Kashmiris to become part of India ought to be utilised in persuading the Indian state of the futility in holding on to Kashmir against the wishes of it's people. It would not do simply to say that India is a democracy and therefore it cannot let go of Kashmir. The very fact that India is a democracy of sorts that she must not keep the two-thirds of the state and it's people within the Indian fold agains their WIL The problem and indeed the tragedy for Kashmir and it's people is the Indo- Pakistan dimension within the equation that is the so-called Kashmir dispute. It is not the Muslim non-Muslim devide in the state. Though it is in the interest of both India and Pakistan however to amplify the communal dimension in the territory. Removal of the Pandit community in early 1990 from the valley by Jagmohan is one clear example of such a strategy. Furthermore not allowing Kashmiris from all religious and political persuasions and from all parts of the devided state to meet and chalk out a common approach for asolution acceptable to all Kashmiris is another example of the policy which keeps the Kashmiris ,from differing religious and political backgrounds apart. Many attempts have been made in the past few years to bring about a consensus of Kashmiri opinion for a common Kashmiri approach towards an equitable and lasting solution of the conflict. The first such attempt was made by Mr Amanullah Khan, the chairman of the JKLF in the spring of 1992 , when he invited over fifty political leaders and notables from all sectins of kashmiri population to meet in Rawalakot. Needless to say that The Indian government refused travel facilitie to those who were to come from the Indian held part of Kashmir. Mr Amanullah Khan tried once again in the autumn of the same year without much success. Others also tried including Lord Avebur y the British member of the House of Lords . Although there would be no shortage of Quisling for India to do it's bidding in Kashmir and also [39 lines left ... full text available at <url:http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/go?choice=message&table=05_1997&mid=2830760&hilit=CULTURE+FUTURE> ] -------------------------------- Article-ID: 05_1997&2824263 Score: 80 Subject: Re: Culture, snobbery, etc. (was Re: 150 reas