The mothers of Kashmir have, through the ages, acquitted the responsibility with exemplary resilience and courage. They have made supreme sacrifices during long periods of turmoil and faced insurmountable challenges to keep their families intact, safe and morally righteous.
The cult of terrorism, disruption and divisiveness that Kashmir is facing may well be the most formidable challenge so far. It is all the more menacing due to the involvement of a determined foreign enemy who is ready to go to any immoral and evil extent to gain control of the region. He has no interest in the people; his interest is only in the land, its abundant natural resources, its beauty, its strategic significance and most of all its water resources.
The enemy has found in the youth of the region a lucrative target in furthering his evil agenda. He is taking advantage of the vulnerability of young minds to further his objective.
This is the time for the mothers of Kashmir to reflect on the huge responsibility that rests on their shoulders. It is only they who can turn round such youth who are being indoctrinated into following the evil and self destructive path of terrorism.The scope of the challenge is so huge that mothers cannot be expected to face it alone. They require the support of the Kashmiri civil society as a whole. It is here that political leaders, elders, intellectuals, religious teachers’ et al have a big role to play in support of the mothers.
While mothers exercise the most essential element of soft power, it is the elders who will have to articulate the negative impact of the foreign sponsored invasion and impress the same upon the younger generation. It is the duty of those in authority, whose word is listened to and respected, to expose the evil designs of foreign powers and convince the youngsters against being misled by propaganda.
