This is Akshay Azad, Correspondent Kashmir Times Jammu and Kashmir.

I met you on 1st

of November in the Gadar Party Annual Fair at Jalandhar. I had conducted your interview
for Kashmir Times which was published on the OP-ED page of Kashmir Times of 27th of
November. I am sending you the Interview which has been published in Kashmir Times.
I am highly thankful to you for giving me your precious time and replied my questions.
If there will be any mistake in interview I will be felt sorry for that.

Regards

Akshay Azad
Correspondent "Kashmir Times"
Jammu,
Email : akshayazad23@gmail.com

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A man with a mission: Himanshu Kumar

‘Democracy doesn’t come from barrel of gun’
Exclusive Interview : Himanshu Kumar
Interviewed By : Akshay Azad
For the last 18 years, Gandhian, Himanshu Kumar has been trudging through the jungles of rural
Chhattisgarh, empowering tribals, teaching them how to vote and bringing them access to food
and healthcare through his Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA). Despite living in this Maoist-
dominated conflict zone for nearly two decades, despite its many intimidations, Kumar has never
felt the urge to flee. Until now that is when the might of the State is upon him.
Trouble first began to escalate in 2005 when the infamous Salwa Judum was launched. The VCA
filed at least 600 complaints against human rights violations by the State and fake encounters by
the police. Himanshu Kumar was transformed in the State’s eyes from trusted aide to adversary.
In May 2009, his ashram was brutally demolished by the police. Now he is visiting the villages,
colleges, universities all over the country for the implementation of real democracy in India.
Kashmir Times correspondent Akshay Azad met Himanshu and spoke to him about his struggles
and his take on Kashmir. Excerpts from the interview.
AA: Is Kashmir struggle genuine or not?
HK: In a democratic country all the demands of people are genuine and should be addressed
peacefully.
AA: Considering that Kashmir’s struggle legitimate, are you advocating for disintegration of
country?
HK: It is the Indian government which is disintegrating the country. Instead of resolving the issues
democratically it has been resolving all issues militarily. There are many other ways to redress
the voices of dissent instead of using guns to hush up the voices for demanding their democratic
rights.
Using gun to suppress the voices of resentment should be condemned at all level and from all
quarters. By using gun over the peaceful protesters the image of Indian forces and India
government is worsening with each passing day in Kashmir so it should be stopped. But it is
today reality of democratic India that all the voices of dissent are being suppressed by forces, be
it the tribals voice in Chattisgarh, Bastar, in Kashmir or in north eastern states.
For a true Gandhian it is not primary whether Kashmiris want freedom or disintegration of country
but main question is how Indian government has been behaving with Kashmiris in last twenty
years which was totally undemocratic.
AA: What will be the outcome of suppressing the voices of dissent?
HK: If the voices of dissent will not be addressed in democratic manner then the prevailing
system will be totally crippled. People opined that there is Pakistan interference in Kashmir so the
issue cannot be solved until Pakistan assistance will be stopped, but my question is why the
issues of Dalits, Tribals, farmers and the poor, besides other sections in entire India other than
Jammu and Kashmir, are not addressed peacefully?. The outcome will be disastrous which was
also witnessed in history when masses had overthrown the feudalism. Same will be the fate of
prevailing undemocratic system of India if it would not change itself.
AA: What will be the peaceful resolution of Kashmir?
HK: Dialogue with all shades of opinion of people of entire Jammu and Kashmir is imperative but
Indian government always sidelined from this process. Government of India should apologize for
the atrocities being committed by their security forces in Kashmir for the last around twenty years
and should initiate comprehensive talks with the people of Kashmir to cool down their anger.
Government of India should assure Kashmiris to remain united with India but not forcibly.
Disintegration of any country on the basis of religion should not be considered right by any
Gandhian. If only the Muslims of Kashmir seeks freedom then it is the duty of other communities
of state to initiate talks with them and assure them to remain united.
AA: Are you endorsing Arundhati Roy’s views on Kashmir?
HK: It could be that Arundati Roy is watching one side of the coin and has made her opinion after
visiting the valley. It might be that she would visit Jammu and express her views with them and
people here should also use the same platform to project their issues to entire country. Civil right
activists should be invited by the right activists in Jammu.
AA: Civil right activists never talked about Jammu and Ladakh. What is your take?
HK: Jammu people have the right to come to Delhi and on other platforms to express their
different shades of opinion. Unfortunately rest of the population of the country remains unaware
about the actual situation of Jammu and the things which come fore the people is projected by
only through Bhartiya Janta Party representatives who have their own interests for projecting the
demands. But along with BJP it’s the responsibility of masses of Jammu to raise their voice for
their issues and also made aware entire country about their real issues.
AA: Do you think Kashmir struggle is religious, and Jammu and Ladakh is being discriminated
since long?
HK: Only after visiting J&K, interacting with masses of all three regions and after going through
the history of events of Jammu and Kashmir I would give my comments.
AA: What is your opinion about AFSPA?
HK: It’s a very draconian law. The licence is being given to security forces to kill someone on the
basis of mere doubt can never be justified in a democratic country. Nor the militants nor the
security forces should have the right to kill someone merely on doubt. I am not in favour of armed
struggle by anyone group whether it by Naxalites or by militant organizations in Kashmir valley
but at the same time I am also against the atrocities being committed by forces all over the
country. By using military might the dissent voices against the ruling forces will only escalate.
AA: What about your opinion about Indian democracy? Is it following Gandhi ji’s footsteps?
HK: Indian democracy is in a big danger and is not following the footprints of Gandhiji. We were in
Dantewada and worked for tribals to resettle them in their native villages but we were forcibly
thrown out from Dantewada, our Ashram was dismantled by government. We are fully restricted
to visit same villages of Dantewada where we had spent two decades. 2 of our activists besides
dozens of villagers are in jail for rehabilitation works being executed by us. Around 60 villagers
have been disappeared or killed by security forces. All these atrocities are being committed by
security forces on the orders of successive governments under the aegis of biggest democracy of
country. When on the name of democracy, undemocratic decisions are implemented it was very
disastrous. Such type of democracy which is undemocratic in real sense will not be given
permission to run more.
AA: Kashmiri Muslims are treated anti-national in the entire country. Why is it so?
HK: I will clarify this stance. Some people have a perception that people in Delhi doubt Muslims, I
was also treated in the same manner despite showing all the authentic proofs indicating an Indian
national as I was from Dantewada. When I tried to take house on rent in Delhi, I was refused by
all on the doubt of being Naxalite. After facing lot of hurdles I got success on the documental
proof of my wife. Such type of discrimination was done with poor people by comfortable class and
government. It is the comfortable class and government which termed all the people which
lingering for democratic rights as anti national.
There was a time when there was question of filling the gap between rich and the poor but now
the battle lines have been drawn between rich and the poor. Now elite class is snatching the
water, forest and land of poor, against that exploitation poor are struggling.
AA: What will be the solution of Jammu and Kashmir problem according to Gandhian
philosophy?
HK: Fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir will be the real solution. Government of India should
acknowledge the demand of self determination of masses of Kashmir. If Sikkim could be included
in Indian Union in 1974 then if any state wanted to leave the Union that state should be given the
same.
AA: Can India become super power in 2020?
HK: It is a big lie propagated by comfortable class, rich politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists
but on the other hand around 80 percent masses have been facing scarcity of food. How a
country will become world power when its majority of people having serious grievances which are
still undressed. Mere procuring or accumulating deadly weapons and having nuclear power can
not lead a country towards development and moreover the idea becoming India a super power is
only being propagated by the corporate influenced media.
AA: Gandhi was also the leader of the same Congress Party and you are criticizing the policies of
same congress?
HK: this is not the same congress which was founded by Gandhi. After independence Mahatma
Gandhi had contemplated to change the Congress to an NGO. Gandhi ji was killed by Nathu Ram
Godse otherwise same Jawahar Lal Nehru would put him inside gallows. Gandhiji was also anti
establishment and had the opinion that government must had to help poor and rich will establish
themselves but Nehru did contrary to the philosophy of Gandhi and opined that government
should help rich and help would ultimately reach to the poor. Nehru had an apprehension of the
hurdles being created by the Gandhi during his prime-ministerial tenure. In a very shocking
revelation that the 25 percent of Indian wealth is in hands of 25 families but 50 percent population
is reeling under acute hunger but same congress is fulfilling and appeasing the rich masses
ignoring the poor section of the country.
AA: Is there any ray of hope?
HK: Youth of country should raise voice and come into the streets against the undemocratic
decisions of government. But this is not happening which would prove drastic results in future.
AA: How do you take it when you are asked to be the Naxal sympathizer?
HK: Anyone who has the gun in his hand has the power and how children and women will be
treated by them I don’t favour them. If government will show concern about the problems of
people of tribal areas then democracy will be strengthened but instead of addressing the
grievances of masses government is suppressing tribals voice and they are taking weapons in
their hands due to their compulsion. Naxalism is erupted against the suppression of goverment.
Government is blinded with the power which will automatically compel them to join Naxals
movement. Indian state is following the example of Mao-Tse-Tung, according to him State comes
from the barrel of gun and in the same way Indian Democracy is coming through the barrel of gun
against which the Naxilism is being erupted.
AA: Is Gandhian ideology still relevant in the present time?
HK: Gandhi ji had said that you can silence someone with gun but you can never convince
someone’s with the assistance of weapons. Peaceful struggle of Gandhi ji had won over the
weapons of Britishers. So Gandhiji’s ideology is far ahead of militant struggles of entire world.
AA: But peaceful protests conducted in entire India are being suppressed forcefully then how far
Gandhian philosophy is relevant?
HK: Due to such suppressive policies adopted by Indian state, people in compulsion are joining
the Naxalism. Due to operation green hunt number of Naxalite cadre has increased to double
their number.
AA: What is the alternative?
HK: Indian democracy is in a very tough situation and it’s the duty of youth to come on the roads
for the implementation and execution of democratic decisions. Otherwise Indian system will be
totally collapsed.
AA: Are you organizing any movement?
HK: We are trying for organize such movement and would not allow such anarchist system to
prevail more.
I have already conducted a cycle tour from Bombay to Pune. I have also contemplating for
another cycle journey from Jammu and Kashmir.
AA: Are there any hurdles in your tour?
HK: In Punjab a looting case was framed against me and on our activists whereas in Gujrat we
were thrown out of the state at 1:30 am during night and shifted to Mumbai. In Gujrat 176
corporates were given same forest land which was occupied by tribals since last many centuries
but tribals were evacuated from on the name of forest act but corporates were given forest land.
E-TV has been given around 1.2 lakh acres of land in Gujrat. The Nano factory which was
established in Gujrat was established by dismantling the SADAN University.