A thawing up north

It says a lot about Kashmirs current mood that elections can endow legitimacy on Lones politics. Not just the fact that elections are a constructive alternative to voice disaffections,and a way to wean away more pragmatic members of such groups into the mainstream and splinter their solidarity. The 2002 assembly elections held out the promise that it was possible to conduct the democratic contest with sincerity and fair-mindedness,and by now there seems little doubt that Kashmiris are emphatically choosing every option available to make their presence felt. The last assembly elections were also remarkable and rousing,drawing a record number of voters. Lones decision to contest should not be an occasion for some elsewhere in India to crow,or draw hasty conclusions about the waning of the separatist impulse,but a reminder of the tremendous trust reposed in Indian democracy one that it must try its damnedest to live up to. For now,were entitled to feel a historical frisson in the enthusiasm of young,first-time voters rallying around Lone and pulling out all the stops for an electoral fight.

Meanwhile,not far away from there,Ralakung and Phema in Ladakh are also voting tomorrow,with the help of two polling teams of 12 trained trekkers,who will trudge through the snow and thin air to make sure the people get to exercise their franchise. There are so many lessons for the rest of Jamp;K,indeed,for the rest of India,from the residents of these distant plateaus: an isolated little border town near Ladakh,after all,was the first place in independent India to enact this momentous democratic ritual,by casting the first vote in 1951.