Pahalgam’s bloody wake-up call: How long before India names the real enemy within?

By: Salil Gewali

This past Tuesday –22/4, turned into a blood-soaked nightmare in the scenic meadows of Baisaran in Pahalgam, Kashmir. In just a few minutes, 26 innocent lives were brutally gunned down, among them travellers from the UAE and Nepal. The brutality of the attackers was pre-planned, allegedly with the support of the locals. Only those belonging to their religion were spared by the terror group. The serene tourist spot, just filled with fun, laughter and wonder some moments ago, was reduced to a grim canvas of pain and loss. In the videos that went viral, survivors spoke of a strange silence that followed the gunfire. One woman, whose husband was killed right in front of her and her child, wept uncontrollably and begged the Indian Army personnel to end her life too. Another woman, who married just six days ago, lost her husband in the carnage. Just imagine the trauma and agony that the survivors and injured will endure for the rest of their lives. Such attacks by terrorists targeted against innocent civilians, particularly Hindus, in India are not new.

This heinous act of terror unfolded just as the Vice President of America, JD Vance, was visiting India, casting a dark cloud over an otherwise significant diplomatic moment. U.S. President Donald Trump described the carnage as “deeply disturbing”; he said, “The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies.”

In a strong show of solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin also wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveying his heartfelt condolences over the tragic loss of lives in Pahalgam. In his message, he firmly stated --- “This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organizers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment. I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

Yes, we boast of modern civilization --- with AI, space missions, and an endless array of sophisticated gadgets for convenience and luxury. And yet, on the other hand, we continue to witness “medieval brutality” being inflicted on hapless populations. What an irony --  we touch the stars but cannot touch our own humanity. Is it not totally contradictory? Has it not practically torn down the very foundations of “compassion” and conscience that bind us as human beings in modern civilization? Further, why is it that only people from a specific religion can harbour such “savage hatred” and enmity towards other faiths? Why, despite centuries of so-called progress, does blind fanaticism still outpace reason, compassion, and common sense?  Why are we still unable to pinpoint the fault line behind the rampant rise in religious radicalisation among this specific community? True, many countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and Australia, are now enduring the onslaughts of religious extremism.

Well, in this hour of nationwide grief everyone should speak out, regardless of their religion, caste, or nationality, to condemn such terror attacks and inhuman brutality against humanity. Of course, the Modi government has already initiated decisive steps to show that such cruelty will not be tolerated. The government is now determined to stop sharing river water with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty and shut down the Attari-Wagah border crossing. All Pakistani diplomats have been sent back, and visas given to Pakistani citizens have been cancelled. Trade and business relations between the two countries have been completely severed. In Jammu and Kashmir, a large search operation has begun, and over a thousand suspects were detained. Helicopters were used for security and surveillance. Promptly, Prime Minister Modi also reached out to world leaders, seeking their support to fight against terrorism and also those countries that support terror groups.

Terror Within: A Deeper Rot Unchecked

However, here is a million-dollar question: Are superficial measures enough to heal a festering wound? Will these warfare actions against Pakistan alone truly guarantee peace in the country and safety for Hindu citizens? Will our leaders, who often display a special affinity toward the Muslim community --- even those linked to terror groups — ever stop addressing dreaded terrorists as "Hafiz-ji" and "Bin Laden-ji"? Wrapped in the cloak of victimhood with the silent support of the media, followers of these extremists unleashed violence on innocent Hindus and destroy their properties -- incidents we’ve seen far too often, including recent riots in Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, Sambhal, and elsewhere.

Selective Outrage and Judicial Blindness

Furthermore, will the government finally muster the will to crush bigoted elements by charging those who brazenly chant blood-curdling slogans like “Pakistan Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad” and “….sar tan se juda, sar tan se juda” with sedition, treating them as enemies of the nation rather than mere lawbreakers? Sadly, such anti-nation and barbaric chants never at all ruffle the conscience of the judges of even the Supreme Court! Look at how a Chief Minister like Mamata Banerjee, with her MLAs’ overt anti-national overtures, can put the entire Hindu Bengali population at the mercy of barbaric mobs who have turned natives into refugees in their own land.

Many sane citizens believe that Nishikant Dubey is absolutely right in criticizing the judiciary for allegedly being biased, overstepping its boundaries, and contributing to "inciting communal animosity" in the country. Yes, for decades, the country has witnessed a dangerous trend where the judiciary appears to deliberately turn a deaf ear to the treasonous rants of the likes of Salahuddin Owaisi, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, and Asaduddin Owaisi while harshly reprimanding and humiliating erudite scholars like Nupur Sharma for merely quoting from the holy scripture to establish her stand. Selective outrage, it seems, has become the “new brand of justice” in India. Instances of ominous double standards by our esteemed “Milords” have become too many to ignore.

Yes, have these courts of justice not also allowed the depraved Bollywood and media journalists to heartlessly belittle Hindus and denigrate their cultural ethos for several decades? Therefore, so-called biased historians and intellectuals have written the history of the land at whim, where the patriotic strengths of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Rani Durgavati, and Guru Gobind Singh were undermined, while eulogising Ghazni, Khiljis, Mughals, Tipu Sultan, and so on.

Indoctrination masquerading as education must be brought to an end

A disenchanted women’s rights activist, Supreme Court advocate, and noted Islamic scholar, Nazia Elahi Khan, never minced her words, asserting that the seeds of hatred and intolerance are planted early within sections of the specific community, particularly through religious indoctrination. From a young age, children are taught to believe that non-Muslims are disbelievers of the Almighty and, therefore, undeserving of respect — if not to be openly looked down upon. Such teaching in the special academic institution is openly encouraged by leaders who claim to be secular.  When hatred is instilled at the cradle, it grows unchecked into adulthood, shaping minds that see division, not unity, and hatred for others.

Therefore, any educational institutions suspected of spreading such divisive ideologies, deepening communal rifts, or fostering hostility toward other faiths must be completely banned from operating within the country. Given the recent Pahalgam massacre, one hopes the judiciary will not interfere this time onwards in the name of upholding secularism.

One senior doctor from New Delhi aptly remarked --- “True peace cannot be achieved merely by tightening borders or bringing Pakistan to its knees. It demands a courageous, almost surgical transformation of the mindsets of a major section of the population, long poisoned by centuries-old prejudices allowed to flourish unchecked. Unless we uproot the age-old practice of indoctrinating such pernicious thinking, violence and hatred will continue to erupt from within — no matter how high or strong the border walls we build around us.”

The country will never truly know peace, nor will it ever be truly safe, until the courts of law and so-called leaders stop hammering "secularism" exclusively down the throats of Hindus, while handing out free passes to those who insult, vilify, and even snatch away Hindu lives with heartless brutality. Let it be noted clearly --- these secular leaders and the esteemed Milords of the courts have never shed a single tear for the likes of Ankit Sharma, Dhruv Tyagi, Kamlesh Tiwari, the Palghar Sadhus, or Umesh Kolhe. Wake up, wake up — before this lopsided system of governance and judiciary turns Hindus into orphans in their own sacred homeland.

About writer: A writer and researcher based in Shillong, Salil Gewali is best known for his research-based work, Great Minds on India, which has earned worldwide appreciation. His book has been translated into fifteen languages – with a preface by a world-acclaimed NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Kamlesh Lulla of Houston, USA. Gewali is also a member of the International Human Rights Commission, Zürich, Switzerland.