The elections of the Legislative Assembly of this divided and tormented region were not just about choosing representatives but reclaiming peace and inclusivity.
by Marco Respinti
The territory designated as Jammu and Kashmir is today part of the federal republic of India. It is not a state, but a union territory. As such, it does not have a local government but is administered by New Delhi. Today, there are eight union territories of India while the states are twenty-eight. Jammu and Kashmir is the southern part of historic Kashmir, located in the north of India, which today is divided into parts subjects to India, Pakistan, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Many are the disputes over boundaries and sovereignty between India and Pakistan since 1947, when the latter was born out of a confessional separation from the first, and between India and the PRC since 1949, when the Chinese Communist party took power in Beijing.
Jammu and Kashmir has not always been a union territory. It was a state, but its statehood was revoked by New Delhi in August 2019, together with its special status as an autonomous entity granted by Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This was basically done, the Indian government maintains, to facilitate a formal division of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: what is today the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the union territory of Ladakh. The Indian government also underlines that Article 370 was problematic: giving a special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, it provided Pakistan a tool to provoke the people of the state towards separatism.
Between September 18 and October 1, 2024, Jammu and Kashmir held elections, in three phases, to elect ninety members of its Vidhan Sabha, or Legislative Assembly. It is a unicameral body, substituting the bicameral local parliament that existed prior to August 2019. That was the first election held by that territory in a decade and the first after the suppression of its statehood.
The INDIA alliance, a leftist cartel including progressive parties and Marxist forces, won the majority of seats against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which gained the majority in the popular vote. Political balance in the region is a very important feature, but another point catches the eye. It is the clear enthusiasm of the local people for the democratic process of voting, highlighting the progress and stability that have taken root in this picturesque Himalayan region.
The return of democracy
The electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir has been bustling with activity. Long queues of eager voters at polling stations paint a vivid picture of a populace determined to exercise their democratic rights. The Election Commission reported an impressive voter turnout of 58.85% by 7:30 pm on the first day of polling, surpassing the participation levels seen in the recent Lok Sabha elections held from April 19 to June 1, 2024. (Lok Sabha, or the House of the People, is the lower house of India’ bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha, literally meaning “States’ Assembly”).
The elections have been conducted across 3,276 polling stations in 24 Assembly constituencies, spanning seven districts. The meticulous preparations by the Election Commission, have ensured a smooth and secure voting process. The implementation of webcasting in all polling stations and the deployment of 32 Central Observers underscore the commitment to transparency and fairness in these elections.
Young and women voters actively participated in the process, signaling a resounding rejection of calls for boycotts and violence that have been heard in a region which already experienced too much of it. To the observer, this shift in attitude reflects a growing desire for peace, stability, and progress among the region’s populace.
The elections have also seen innovative measures to ensure maximum participation. The introduction of home-voting facilities for senior citizens above 85 years and persons with disabilities has made the democratic process more inclusive. Additionally, the establishment of women-managed and password-managed polling stations in every constituency of the Assembly has created a more comfortable and accessible voting experience for all segments of society.
The Pandits question
This vibrant electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir stands in sharp contrast to the situation in the part of Kashmir which lies today under Pakistani authority—“the occupied part of Kashmir,” as Indians call it.
While the Indian side of Kashmir buzzes with democratic activity, economic development, and cultural rejuvenation, the Pakistan-administered region continues to grapple with economic stagnation, limited political freedoms, and a lack of substantial development. The stark difference between the two regions serves as a powerful testament to the situation of that area of the world.
In the midst of this democratic fervor, the role and importance of Kashmiri Pandits in the region’s cultural and political fabric cannot be overstated. “Pandit” is a Sanskrit word indicating a person who has a specialized knowledge in a particular field or a teacher in one aspect directly or indirectly tied to Hindu philosophy and beliefs or Indian culture in general. The word even entered the common use of the English language, especially in mass-media (where it is spelled “pundit”) to indicate an authority in a specific field.
In historic Kashmir, pandits where a group of Hindus from a local community of Brahmins, or one of the castes in the Hindu social system, chiefly priests, originating from the Kashmir Valley. The Kashmiri Pandits, also known as Kashmiri Brahmins, gave then their name to the local Hindu people of the region to these days. Over the course of decades, though, this Hindu native people became a minority, due to a large-scale conversion to Islam. The insurgency of an Islamist militancy in the 1990 caused a large number of Kashmiri Pandits to leave and occasioned gruesome incidents that cost the lives of many. Given the nature of the confrontation, and the alleged aim of wiping all Pandits out or the region, by killing them or forcing them to leave, what happened at that time is under close scrutiny as it could possibly amount to a genocidal attempt.
As the original inhabitants of the Kashmir Valley, Kashmiri Pandits represent an integral part of the region’s rich cultural heritage. Their participation in the recent elections, both as voters and candidates, was crucial for the restoration of Kashmir’s multiple culture and the healing of historical wounds.
In fact, the return after the forceful exodus and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits have become key issues in these elections. Political parties have been called upon to present concrete roadmaps for addressing the community’s long-standing concerns. Demands include the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the passage of the “Temples and Shrine Bill” (which would permit the preservation of the religious and cultural heritage of Hindu Kashmir), and improved living conditions for those residing in refugee camps. These demands reflect the community’s deep-rooted connection to their ancestral land and their desire to reclaim their place in Kashmir’s societal tapestry.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Many Kashmiri Pandits express frustration over unfulfilled promises and slow implementation of rehabilitation schemes. Issues such as unemployment, inadequate housing, and the need for better job opportunities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s package continue to be points of contention. However, the very fact that these issues are being openly discussed and debated in the electoral arena is a sign of a maturing democracy.
Mortgaging the future
The elections also highlight the evolving relationship between Kashmiri Pandits and the Muslim community. Despite the traumatic history of displacement, it seems there are encouraging signs of reconciliation and mutual respect. Many in both communities express a desire for coexistence and the revival of Kashmir’s traditional harmony. This sentiment is particularly strong among the younger generation, who envision a secular and prosperous Kashmir where all communities can thrive together.
Today, after the elections, the eyes of the nation and the world remain pointed on Jammu and Kashmir. It is an experiment, and it is important that this experiment works.
The high voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the polls sent a powerful message about the region’s stability and its people’s aspirations for a better future. The ninety elected officials of the Vidhan Sabha have an historic role to perform. The future will say whether ideology will prevail over the common good, or a measure of justice for all will be finally granted.
The Kashmiri elections of 2024 were not just about choosing representatives. They were about reclaiming a narrative of peace, progress, and inclusivity. Did the world notice it?
Marco Respinti is an Italian professional journalist, member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), author, translator, and lecturer. He has contributed and contributes to several journals and magazines both in print and online, both in Italy and abroad. Author of books and chapter in books, he has translated and/or edited works by, among others, Edmund Burke, Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, Russell Kirk, J.R.R. Tolkien, Régine Pernoud and Gustave Thibon. A Senior fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (a non-partisan, non-profit U.S. educational organization based in Mecosta, Michigan), he is also a founding member as well as a member of the Advisory Council of the Center for European Renewal (a non-profit, non-partisan pan-European educational organization based in The Hague, The Netherlands). A member of the Advisory Council of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief, in December 2022, the Universal Peace Federation bestowed on him, among others, the title of Ambassador of Peace. From February 2018 to December 2022, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of International Family News. He serves as Director-in-Charge of the academic publication The Journal of CESNUR and Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights.
