Peace: The Summum Bonum

What is the right solution to the Jammu and Kashmir problem? I have done extensive research on the Kashmir issue and my firm opinion is that it was a relatively simple matter, which became complex because of the immature leadership of Kashmir. If the real context of an issue is changed, it becomes complex. The issue of Kashmir was secular in nature, but it was made religious and this is what made it complex. The Kashmiri leadership made it an issue of establishing Nizam-e-Mustafa (establishment of Islamic Shariah). For example, Muslims in India participate in all aspects of life and avail all benefits, but if Indian Muslims were to start a campaign to establish Nizam-e-Mustafa in India, they would lose everything. Muslims cannot think of progressing separately from the rest of the country, that, if they isolate themselves from the rest of India, they certainly cannot develop. The Kashmir issue was a secular issue and it had to be solved within the secular parameters. The Indian Government had taken the right stand in this matter by offering to grant a special status to Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The then Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narsimha Rao, had defined it as a case of autonomy and had given Kashmir the right to be an autonomous state while still being a part of the country. This was a great opportunity for Kashmir. This is similar to the fifty states of the US, all of whom enjoy autonomy. This has been the secret of America’s progress and would have become the secret of success of Kashmir had its people opted to accept the offer of the Indian Government. Unfortunately, the leadership of Kashmir could not take the right decision and this best offer was rejected. Is the concept of ‘religion’ to be blamed for the chaos in the world? T he source of chaos in the world is not religion. Its source is misuse of freedom by human beings. God bestowed freedom upon mankind in order to put us to the test in this world. It is the misuse of this God-given freedom which creates all kinds of problems in society. Evil is not a part of creation. It is a result of misuse of freedom by man. Would the world be more peaceful, without religion, borders, common culture and one language? I t is a mistake to believe that the world would be a more peaceful place if there were just one culture or one language, without religions and without borders. This will never happen because difference is part of nature; it has no existence in the external world. There are two key aspects of human knowledge: humanities and physical sciences. Physical science does not have any differences, for instance, water shall always be H2O, and every scientist will always end up with the same conclusion through different experiments. In the