Kashmir’s educational authorities have banned students in the State from visiting hotels, coffee houses and restaurants. Even when their parents wish to take them to these awful places, the permission of the authorities must first be obtained. It is touching to know that mere educational authorities are more concerned with the moral standards of young people than the young people’s own parents. But what is more significant to our mind is the utter emotional identity that apparently exists between Kashmir and the rest of India. It is well-known that over large parts of India, valiant campaigns are going on to safe-guard the mental health of people. We are removing unhealthy posters from public places, relentlessly fighting the evil that is desi phillim and of course strengthening prohibition. Against these goods things that we are doing, the bad things that Shri Chavan recently did when he extended the closing time of Bombay restaurants becomes excusable. And now Kashmir’s authorities have proved that in emotional and moral matters, they are of the same stock as the rest of us. What further proof does the world want to show that Kashmir is an integral part of India, the China-Pakistan axis not withstanding?
January 21, 1961
