Parveena Ahanger as a human epitomizes the gracious words like “Struggle”, resoluteness and unprecedented determination. Having a legacy of simple background and after being married at a very tender age, Parveena by displaying utmost courage transformed her personal tragedy into a struggle for the rights of the whole oppressed community. On the frightful night of 18 August 1990, Ahanger’s 16-year-old son disappeared after he was picked up from her house by troops in 1990.
She has been struggling and fighting for not only his whereabouts, but of all the ten thousand odd disappeared persons. It has been an extended, trying and endless fight; the one she converted into a fight for all of Kashmir’s disappeared. In 1994, she founded the Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), where the victims gathered not only to fight together but also to comfort each other. Her gracious worth has been applauded by one and all.
In an exclusive interview with The Kashmir Scenario, Parveena Ahanger talks to Shahzad Hussain Hamdani, Rameez Makhdoomi & Shreen Hamdani
Tell us something about yourself?
I had a very simple background. Hailing from Srinagar’s downtown you could very well comprehend that my upbringing was very much traditional and simple. The frightful night of 8th august 1990 changed it all. My son Javed Ahmed Ahanger who was my hope was arrested by NSG, on the basis of mistaken identity in place of Javed Ahmed Bhat living in our vicinity. After this frightful episode my world changed, I searched for him in almost all the police interrogation centers and military garrisons but to no avail. My son was not associated with any subversive activity and was quiet gentle and kind in temperament. This incident and its aftermath propelled me to form and lead an organization dedicated to the cause of disappeared persons of Kashmir.
Why do the statistics and estimates related to enforced disappearances vary?
There are no separate estimates we have surveyed large number of cases. You have to bear in mind that different security agencies are responsible for the disappearances of our youth like CRPF, BSF, RR etc. and different organizations work over the issue. The fact of the matter is thousands have been disappeared .The area of impact is large and the association like ours is trying to cover this area. We are also faced with shortage of resource as this burning issue of disappearances is spread throughout the state from Srinagar to Chenab belt. The need of the hour is to punish these culprits in security agencies who have disappeared our near and dear ones.
How do you view the issue of mass graves in context of disappearances?
It is a burning issue and if some of the disappeared youth are in these mass graves. I have been stressing time and again to carry out the DNA tests to identify the same. But even this burning demand is being ignored.
Sometimes it has been stated that some disappeared youth could be on the other side of border. Your take?
I have soaked this Association of Parents of Disappeared persons (APDP) with my blood and our minute survey have shown via interactions with parents of all these disappeared youth that almost all of them have been disappeared by different security agencies and there is no question of them being on the other side of line of Control.
How has National Media supported your cause?
Indian media has been a big failure with just one aim to project our reality as falsehood to the world. I was nominated by prestigious Indian media Channel CNN IBN for a coveted award which I rejected on account of the deceit approach adopted by Indian media over the pain and tragedies of Kashmir. They have blindfolded themselves to disappearances and other grave atrocities committed by security forces out here.
Parents whose sons got killed in 2008 and 2010 agitations are mulling to form an association to seek justice. Would your association coordinate with them?
Yes, I have been in coordination with them and facilitated their meetings with important human rights personas so that world could know how cruel India has been towards Kashmiris. Ours is slightly graver problem as we have not got even dead bodies of our young ones.
How has present Chief Minister reacted to your sufferings?
Omar Abdullah has totally failed .What can he do as his father Dr. Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister is responsible for 4000 disappearances. They all have failed be it Muft Sayeed , Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti in addressing the grave human rights issues.
Have you encountered humane hearts in India that express solidarity towards sufferings of Kashmir?
There are number of humane hearts in India that are sensitive to our pain and sufferings and support our cause. They support me whenever I organize meets outside and offer their respect for the work I have done.
A number of students come to APDP from different parts of India to have internships .What impressions they take?
You cannot imagine that when I go to Delhi or any other part of India these students take me to their homes and remain awake with me for nights together. They state that my work stands a great inspiration for them in their own struggles for justice.
What is your take on the total Disappearance count and response of successive governments towards it?
It is an interesting question. According to our estimates at least eight to ten thousand men are missing owing to illegal disappearances .But, all the governments have tried to cover up this issue and are quiet shamefully always engaged in downplaying the total count and passing on the buck of responsibility to their predecessors. Disappearance phenomenon is just like a societal cancer. If your son is martyred you can get solace near his grave but for a kind of disappeared person they are neither dead nor alive and nor is there any sign to provide solace.
You have frequent interactions with youth, what are the reasons for some youth again adopting violent path?
India has converted by propaganda our realities into falsehood .It has tormented our youth since long, the recent examples been 2008, 2010 killings. The injustice committed by India and failure to provide justice has forced the youth to brink.
What hurdles have you encountered?
The journey for justice has been full of grave hardships. I was on several instances called by senior officials to wind up my noble cause in lieu of handsome financial package but I always have told them on the face of it that let them face the tyranny and trauma associated with the disappearance of a near one they would come to know the gravity of the problem.
When United Nations released grant for APDP even I was threatened by different agencies, but I have a firm faith in Allah (SWT) and am not afraid of these oppressive powers. I would also like to appreciate the sport rendered to my cause by the local media fraternity.
What is your message?
My message to my nation is to show large heart and some of whom who have callous heart should introspect and show solidarity and dedication to the sufferings of this oppressed nation.