Mainstream should discuss taboo subjects of right to self determination: Shah Faesal

Dr Shah Faesal, 35, created history when he became the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exams in 2010. Nine years later, he decided to call it a day in protest to the "unabated killings in Kashmir". Come elections, Dr Faesal has decided to don a politician's hat and contest polls. Excerpts from an interview:

You gave people hope when you cracked the civil services exam. Why quit then?

I am reinforcing the hope that I created. My work, as somebody who is not in the civil service, is the extension of the work which I was doing as a civil servant. During 10 years of service, I understood newer realities of life and newer possibilities of change in Kashmir. So that is something that has encouraged me to quit the service and look for something else.

Are you floating a new party?

We are getting closer to making our own party. It will have a USP. Many people who believe in change, many youngsters who did not find any opportunities anywhere else, many people who did not associate with the existing parties because of legacy issues, I think those people will find a political anchor here.

Will you discuss taboo subjects such as 'azadi' and 'right to self determination'?

We are saying the conversation about taboo subjects should also be allowed. We are in a crisis situation. People are dying here. If you are trying to find a solution, everything should be discussed on the table.

You have said you were in jail during the last 10 years. How is politics going to be easier?

When I said I was in jail, I meant that I was not able to speak about certain issues because of conduct rules. Civil services conduct rules do impose a kind of discipline on government servants, and rightly so. In politics, there is far greater freedom of expression.

You said people have lost faith in mainstream electoral politics, yet you are joining it. How would you bring about change?

It's not that no one from the mainstream is working for the good. There are voices in electoral politics. But due to the peculiar political situation that we are in, electoral politics is losing traction, though not relevance. Wrong people are coming into electoral politics. I believe I will be an additional voice and I would be constantly urging people to help bring in the right voices.

How you will bring about change. Do you have any formula?

First, I am bringing in experience of the past 10 years as an officer, who has been looking at the situation from the other side. I bring in a little bit of sacrifice. I also bring optimism because we feel we are living in times of despair. I am optimistic about making a difference.

What is the sentiment that you will represent?

Sentiment is that there is a need for dispute-resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. It is easy for any politician, who has been elected, to acknowledge this reality. There is no complication in telling people that Kashmiris want the resolution of dispute as per their aspirations.