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

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

2. Presentation Outline • 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

3. Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict • 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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. AltafHussain, 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.”

7. Indian Public Opinion on the Kashmir Conflict The Times of India • Saw greater editorial variety between articles • In general, context laid well • M SaleemPandit 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

8. 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”

9. The hinduvs. 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 The Hindu The Times of India

10. Conclusion • 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

11. Outline Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan • Background • Pakistan and Terrorism • India and Terrorism • Policy Prescriptions

12. Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Policy Prescriptions Kashmir and Kabul: Indo-Pakistani Relations and Afghanistan • Security Dilemma • Lack of Communication • American Signaling • Stability in Afghanistan

16. Castesystem in india • Casteisanelaborate and complex social systemthat combines elements of occupation, endogamy, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and politicalpower.

17. History of the Caste System • Origin: Doctrine developed by the Hinduism. • Social change throughout the years: • Sanskritization • Westernization • Main points of independentIndia: • Democratic • Socialist • Secular

18. Structure of the Caste System

19. Linguistics and 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

20. Abuses committed against Untouchables 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

21. Statistics • • 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

22. STATISTICS Weekly • 13 murders • 5 Untouchable homes burnt • 6 Untouchable people kidnapped or abducted • 21 Untouchable women raped

23. Religious groups as percentages of the total Dalit population of India

24. Discussion • 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?