5th of February…. It’s not just a date. It’s not a day. It’s a pulse. It’s heartbeat steadfast, defiant. It’s a breath. A breath drawn in for too long and then let out in protest. It’s a cry carried by the wind. It’s the echo of footsteps on snow-covered peaks that reaches to distant corners of the world where ears are ready to listen, eyes are honest to see and hearts still beat for justice. It’s the whisper of rivers that refuse to forget. Kashmir is not just a place. It’s not a border on a map. It’s a mother’s hope, fierce and unbroken, waiting for her son. It’s a child’s memory, tracing a father’s face lost to prison walls. It’s prayers whispered in the dark, under curfews, under fear. It’s courage woven into every heartbeat, stronger than the fear that tries to stay. It’s a pain, but it’s also resistant. It’s silence, but it’s also a voice. It’s a loss, but it’s never without hope. It’s the hope that blooms even in darkness. It’s the world’s quiet promise. We see you Kashmir. We hear you. And we stand with you in solidarity and in commitment to justice.
Hence, on February 5th every year a global call is made. It sings out to stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The world is called to pause for a declaration. A declaration that Kashmir will not be erased from history. It’s a day to remember their struggles, honor their cries for help and ignite a movement for human rights. A movement that transcends borders. A movement that transcends politics. And that transcends time. A movement of justice. A movement of self-determination. A movement that no force in this world can suppress.
Kashmir is a reflection of a one hundred years’ long narrative that began in 1947. That era when partition of the Indian sub-continent inscribed not borders but fate for millions. After partition, a Muslim majority state, Kashmir, was taken out of its native location. An annexation that overlooked its citizens’ desire to become part of Pakistan. And with that, a one hundred years’ long narrative began.
This struggle is not a political dispute. It’s not a dispute over a mere plot of land. Never was. It is a battle for identity. For dignity. For freedom. Kashmir’s people are fighting for their very souls. Over a hundred thousand people have been martyred. Their lives stolen by the forces that occupy their land. But these losses, this bloodshed has not broken their spirit. It has not quelled their determination. The spirit of Kashmir is unyielding. It will never be crushed.
But today, along with many others, we continue to wonder. Why is the paradise environment dominated by fear instead of tourism? Why is the beauty veiled in sorrow? Why are the hearts heavy and with scars? Why in darkness are the echoes of footsteps running in fear? Why are breaths heavy and eyes searching for escape? Why lost in the world of terror fleeing yet never free? Why has Kashmir faced 76 years of bloodshed with little international action? What’s stopping world leaders from intervening in the conflict? Why is the free media not covering the full extent of the violence? How can the international community prioritize their needs including their basic rights? Why have they lived under military occupation for so long? In this technology driven world, during their curfew times can’t technology be used to help people access basic needs like healthcare and food? Why do citizens continue to face disappearance, detention, and torture? Shouldn’t the world, media and India represent Kashmiris more accurately?
The story is not just of tyranny. But also of resistance. Of survival. Of resilience. Of an unquenchable will to survive at any price. Over decades Kashmiri people have continued to resist . They continue to seek freedom through self-determination.
Kashmir Solidarity Day is not a commemoration day. It is also a pulse and a beat of a global movement. It is a clarion call. It is a call for all who believe in justice to stand with Kashmir. It is a call for the international community to stand with Pakistan in holding India responsible for its genocide. Kashmir Solidarity Day is a spark that can ignite a global campaign for justice, for freedom and for self-determination for a nation that waited far too long.
This movement doesn’t have a geographical boundary. It is a demanding call for justice. It must echo in all parts of the world. Pakistan being the greatest supporter of Kashmir has been constant in its solidarity . On all forums and through all platforms it has raised its voice. It’s demanding the world not turn a blind eye to its suffering. The people of Pakistan know this struggle is not just Kashmir’s. But it is the struggle of all humanity.
However, the fight for it is not just of Pakistan’s. Nations and leaders worldwide have voiced their support. Those people stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir who understand that when one group’s freedom is denied the freedom of all is at risk.
But still, the matter is grave and deserves immediate consideration. There is a moral and political imperative for the international community to uphold its values of self-determination and human rights. The UN promise of a plebiscite to the Kashmiri people is not a promise, but a moral imperative that cannot but be honoured. Let them have a say and have their aspirations fulfilled. The future of Kashmir must be decided by the people who live there not by the forces that seek to control them.
It’s time to make a difference. You do not need to be an activist to make a difference. Every voice matters. Every truth spoken is a step forward. Every act of remembering is resistance. Silence is not neutral. It helps the oppressor. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Kashmir’s struggle is part of the world’s struggle. It is part of our shared humanity.
When this day ends, the world may move on. But in Kashmir, the struggle continues. The banners may come down. The crowds will go home. But the valleys of Kashmir will still echo with longing for freedom, for justice and for peace. Our duty does not end when the day does. Solidarity is not a one-day event. It is a lifelong commitment. Till the Azadi of Kashmir.
Hum lay Kar rahien gay. Azadi.
Hum Kia chahty Hain? Azadi
Hum lay Kar rahien gay. Azadi.
