Identity, activism, and political violence: A psychosocial perspective on Kashmiri militants

Abstract

This chapter explores the emergence and development of political violence through a study of the lives of former Kashmiri militants. The findings are discussed from a perspective that is psychosocial and process-oriented. The vicissitudes in subjectivity, identity and othering are described in terms of the themes that emerged in the pre-militant, militant and post-militant periods of their lives. In the pre-militancy period, developmental issues of youth—identity, autonomy and authority- interweave with the socio-trauma that characterised their social and community context, along with a marked sense of victimisation. The militancy period is marked by themes of danger and fear along with adventure and friendship, and the emergence of masculine and heroic ‘warrior’ identity themes. The secrecy and isolation of militant lives facilitates a hardening of the militant ‘mindset’. Capture or surrender are invariably associated with a renewed sense of victimisation due to humiliation and torture and this is reinforced by the treatment they receive at the hands of security forces and society at large in their post-militancy years. There is thus the possibility of reentering militancy. There is also the possibility of recasting ‘political violence’ in terms of activism that is violent but with the potential to be channeled along nonviolent lines.