Let God Sort Them Out

August Heinrich

English 241

April 16, 2013

Let God Sort Them Out

            I was struck by the egregious military tactics taken by General Kachhwaha and the Indian army in Kashmir after the political echelon deemed it a “disturbed area.”  Suddenly any and all basic human rights in Kashmir dissolved.  The introduction of “President’s Rule” granted the Indian army total immunization from ramifications or sanctions implicated during their control over the city, and led to inhumane practices of torture and interrogation that threw all of Kashmir into a dreadful state.  The statement in the text sent from the political echelon reads, “Every Muslim in Kashmir should be considered a militant.  The bullet was the only solution.”  This reminded me of the famous saying, “Kill them all and let God sort them out,” a variation of Arnaud Amalric’s answer to a question regarding Catholic “friendlies” as opposed to enemies during the crusades around the 12^th century, in which he stated, “Kill them all, for the Lord knoweth them that are his.”  The tactic posed no serious benefit to the Indians besides an augmented sense of control and instilled an intense feeling of fear in Kashmir.  “Kill one, scare ten.  Kill one, scare ten.”  It seems as if during this period General Kachhwaha becomes more vicious than anytime previously in the novel, growing increasingly vindictive towards the Kashmir inhabitants.  It seems as if his strategy only feeds his insatiable need for revenge on Kashmir, which may not even be quenchable.