Presented By: Isabel Puente Mingo, James Schmitt, Jordyn Phelps &

Dennica Worrel

Dynamic Change in the Midst of Tradition:

Indian Perspectives on the Kashmir Conflict & the Role of the Caste System In Shaping Indian Politics and Society

Analysis of Indian public’s perspective on Kashmir through a media analysis◦ Presenter: Jordyn

Effects of the Afghan-Pakistani Relations on India◦ Presenter: James

Role of the Caste System in Indian Society and Politics◦ Presenter: Isabel&Dennica

Joint Analysis & Conclusions ◦ Presenter: Isabel and Jordyn

Presentation Outline

Methodology of Study

◦ Limited search to 2010 Sources: Lexis Nexus and newspaper archives

◦ Limited to two of India’s prominent English newspapers The Times of India The Hindu

◦ Selection Process Central focus on Kashmir conflict Extensive Syndicated articles and Editorials excluded

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

Brief Historical Overview of Conflict

9th to the 12th century- Prominent center of Hindu culture 1346- Kashmir comes under Muslim rule 1947- Partition Ruling Prince of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu, sought

to delay decision; ultimately backfired◦ Majority Muslim◦ Pressured to join India, Pakistan doesn’t accept

Late 1947- Pakistani tribesman invade 1948 (April) UN Resolution; January1949-cease-fire 1949-India builds Line of Control Limited armed conflict since 70s

◦ 1999 Invasion

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

The Hindu Fairly thorough in establishing background and

context free of obvious bias Notable lapse when explaining summer of 2010 “About 110 people, mostly youth, lost their lives as

the police and security forces tried to break the vicious cycle of violence by firing at the protesters and stone-throwing youths,” one article says.

Do not offer alternate event perspectives from security forces

No discussion of possible Indian concessions

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

The Hindu, continued Repeated use of Facebook Actual Kashmiri residents as sources

◦ Express sense of frustration and desire for peace Kashmir resident Dr. Altaf Hussain, a

pediatrician and civil society activist:◦ “Just because you don't see a protest today does

not mean we are back to normalcy. People's anger, frustration and agony remained undiminished and it will remain as long as Kashmir remains an unresolved issue.”

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

The Times of India Saw greater editorial variety between articles In general, context laid well

◦ M Saleem Pandit notable example reports that the summer protests were sparked “over

an alleged staged encounter and the killing of a teenager in police action in mid-June”

Also quotes Kashmiri journalist who tells of Indian security forces muzzling media

Generally, though, reliant on Indian government sources for article perspectives

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

The Times of India, continued One article discusses Indian government

peacemaking attempts◦ Only Government sources◦ Sonia Gandhi:

"We must give them hope, we must understand and respect their legitimate aspirations. This should be reflected in what we say and decide.”

Another article sensational/fear tone◦ Lead sentence

Home Minister P Chidambaram “warned of ‘dark forces’ across the border that were implacably opposed to India and which would stop short of nothing less than forcible annexation of Kashmir”

Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict

The hindu vs. times of india

The Hindu The Times of India

Interesting use of Facebook

Real Kashmiri residents as sources

Reliance on Indian security forces’ official opinion

Context decent; ignored some facts

Tone of resolution being sought

More reliant on government sources generally

Wide variance in reporters

Examples of strong context and background

Tone of resolution being sought

Difficult to make hard and fast conclusion◦ Coverage varied between papers and even within

papers Wide variety of coverage

◦ Perhaps reflection of democratic nature of India General tone of wanting resolution; no

discussion of what a resolution may look like or concessions it might entail

Silent in discussing potential faults or human rights violations by Indian security forces

Conclusion

Background Pakistan and Terrorism India and Terrorism Policy Prescriptions

Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan

Outline

Background

History of the Kashmir Conflict◦ Partition and Religion

The Durand Line and Afghan-Pakistani Relations◦ Pakistan’s Weak Borders

The Cold War, India, and the United States◦ Geopolitics in South Asia

Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan

Pakistan and Terrorism

Formation of the ISI◦ Influence on Pakistani Government

Goals in Afghanistan◦ The international Taliban

Goals in Kashmir◦ Terrorism in the 21st Century

Associated Groups

Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan

India and Terrorism

Non-Kashmir Conflict◦ Khalistan Movement

Early Kashmir Conflict◦ Partition and Conflict

Lashkar-e-Taiba◦ Domestic Terrorism

India and Pakistani Terrorism

Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan

Security Dilemma Lack of Communication American Signaling Stability in Afghanistan

Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan

Policy Prescriptions

Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of occupation, endogamy, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power.

Caste system in india

Origin: Doctrine developed by the Hinduism. Social change throughout the years:

◦ Sanskritization◦ Westernization

Main points of independent India:◦ Democratic◦ Socialist◦ Secular

History of the Caste System

Structure of the Caste System

The Latin word Castus translates to “pure” – from this, the Portuguese utilized Casta to denote the Indian social classification that they thought was to preserve the purity of blood.

In Untouchability and Caste System in India by A.R. Naronakar, the word “caste” is defined as: A corporation equipped with tradition that exercises the sanction of certain penalties

Linguistics and the Caste System

Amnesty International:Abuses against dalits are numerous and take many different forms, they include (but are not limited to):

Socioeconomic discrimination Beatings, slashings, and other forms of torture Arson -- the burning of dalit communities Violence against women

◦ Rape, gang rape, and the parading of women through the streets naked As a form of punishment As the right of the upper-caste male To punish or embarrass the woman's family

◦ Beating and torture of women Summary execution, many times by burning alive Bonded labor Denial of rights, especially land rights Police abuses against dalits, custodial abuse

Abuses committed against Untouchables

• In rural areas, 37.8% of government run schools make Unthouchable children sit separately from other children

• In 27.6% of rural villages, Untouchable are prevented from entering police stations

• In 33% of rural villages, public health workers refuse to enter Untouchable homes

• 48.4% of Untouchable villages are denied access to water sources

• In 70% of rural villages, Untouchable and non-Untouchable people cannot eat together.

In rural India, 70% of Untouchable women are illiterate

Statistics

Weekly 13 murders 5 Untouchable homes burnt 6 Untouchable people kidnapped or

abducted 21 Untouchable women raped

STATISTICS

Religious groups as percentages of the total Dalit population of India

What should the Indian government do to solve this conflict amongst its own people?

Do you think that the methods used to abolish slavery and increase racial equity within the United States could be applied to India to eliminate the discrimination based upon the caste system?

How can the Untouchables and other Indians escape the cycles of oppression? (The British oppressed the Indians, Gandhi further oppressed the Untouchables, etc) What would you do if you were a Dalit?

Discussion