Affective Politics and Disappearance in Kashmir

During fieldwork along the Line of Control (LoC) -the de-facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan 1 -I attended a ghaibana janaza.This is a particular type of Muslim funeral (literal translation as a funeral in absence) for those who, in all likelihood, have passed away, but their bodies are not recovered.For example, people who may have drowned or burnt to death, leaving no bodily trace behind.In this instance, it was the ghaibana janaza for Mirza sahib, the husband of Gul Nisa, who disappeared some twenty years ago while assisting Kashmiri mujahids (freedom fighters) cross the LoC into Indian held Kashmir.These crossings were frequent during the peak of the armed insurgency against Indian occupation.Since the residents of Neelum were well-equipped in navigating the pahars (mountainscapes), many volunteered to help the mujahids overcome the forced separation of the heavily guarded LoC.Mirza sahib was one such volunteer.Gul Nisa explained this was her husband's modest way of contributing to the struggle for freedom and dignity of his Kashmiri kin across the LoC.However, one day, Mirza sahib did not return.Twenty years have passed, and his family has no information on him.He could be dead.Or he could be alive, languishing in an Indian prison or forced to live under another identity across the LoC, unable to return home.Despite the lack of any evidence, Mirza sahib's family finally concluded that he is dead.They wanted to have a funeral for him before Gul Nisa, now old and ailing, also passes away.For Mirza sahib's family, the funeral is not an indication of giving up hope, rather, realizing that perhaps there is another way for Mirza sahib to be reunited with Gul Nisa.By declaring Mirza sahib as deceased, they wanted to ensure that 1 See, Aijazi, O

Political science · Politics · Cambodian History and Society · Law · Psychology · South Asian Studies and Conflicts · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies

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