History in Geography 

J&K is a problem of inheritance. It is a Geographical question mark. Siachen, Agsai Chin, Arunachal, Bangladesh. The blame game shall never end. Name anything, there is History in Geography. All our Countries, have been shelling huge monies to maintain virtual control over these geographies – wooing it’s people. If calling them with a nationality, which they do not subscribe to, is against the the tenets of freedom, then there would have been many more countries, not 196.  Do you know we are the goto nation for Nepal, Bhutan,  Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even Afghanistan. Our territories, Lakshadweep and Andamans too might cost us dear, to maintain within our geography. All of these were once considered geographical vantage points by our leaders. Don’t try to prove them wrong.  Appreciate their wisdom of their era. That was the wisest thing to do under the given constraints. If you do not agree, then pick the ‘two-envelopes’ metaphor that is given during any change of command. Blame the predecessor and then move on.

Media has been bursting with curses for government’s inaction over the J&K pelters, Maoists for killing 25 CRPF men, impending action in response to Kupwara killings. Modi, congress and almost everyone in the political fraternity are seen as responsible for being consistently irresponsible over the years. As matured human beings, with lot of increasing information garbage with the current day media, we tend to forget events of history very easily, and go by the most virally liked/ viewed posts.  In Hasan Minhaj’s words, “Today, Trust is more important than Truth”.

Trust in action. Inaction, or restraint in some parlance, has seen more damage than good. Spending on people who do not consider you their own, to me is sheer waste. It is time to decide. Decide on whether the geography is advantageous. If yes, costs and benefits. If the benefits are larger, then fencing, in every sense of the term, territory in the larger interest – come what may. If costs outweigh benefits, call it a day. Exit. Fence the balance of the geography so strongly that we don’t have to relearn the same lessons of history again and again. At least, avoid duality of being friends and foes at the same time. This would again create a history in geography.

In-house, clean up the mess of maoists, increased poaching for ISIS, and most importantly corruption that has consistently grown at all levels. These have accumulated due to neglect over period.  I have read, some cancers need surgery and won’t heal to therapy. It is essential to save the non-malignant.  Any further delays to act against them will affect the trust, hopes and aspirations of the law-abiding citizens.

The whole world arena has split into smaller countries and states are made into smaller states. Be it for the administrative convenience or for riddance of souring stakes. North and South, East and West. This would further disintegrate into smaller fragments in the wake of more powerful arms race and conflicts and widespread devastation.  On the other hand, a nexus of purpose is increasingly visible to fight for larger common goals. For example, getting united against the brat in North Korea. 

This gives rise to new hopes.  Work together towards commoner goals. Setting differences aside. Liberate the world from diseases and poverty. Take accountability and work together for de-nuking the world. Join hands against global warming and its imminent dangers that is looming large at us.  Respect for each other’s space would have naturally evolved by then and wouldn’t need to be fought for. Borrowing the phrase from MJ, “We are the World”. Then, Geography in this context would have been History.