Description
The paper examines the repercussions of Enforced Disappearances on the notion of Home in secessionist movements within the Kashmir region of India. In these conflict zones, encompassing combatants, insurgents, and civilians, a significant transformation occurs in the understanding of Home. Focusing on the aftermath of violent secessionist conflicts, this paper delves into the consequences of shattered homes resulting from unresolved demands for secession and the subsequent resistance against such aspirations. The anticipated return of disappeared militants or non-combatant civilians, which ultimately fails to materialize, fundamentally reshapes the meaning of Home. Numerous individuals subjected to enforced disappearance, including former militants, stone-pelters, and individuals branded as ‘troublemakers’ by the state, remain untraceable. Among them are married men with families, leaving their wives in a perpetual state of uncertainty regarding their marital status. Referred to as 'half-widows', these women find themselves unable to move forward as traditional widows do, trapped in the expectation of their husbands’ return. In a deeply patriarchal society where men traditionally shape the dynamics of home, the absence and uncertainty surrounding these men instigate profound changes in the lives of these women and their perception of Home. Drawing on narratives of half-widows, this paper delves into the experiences of half-widows. By illuminating the altered meaning of home and the challenges encountered in post-conflict reconstruction, the study highlights the enduring longing for return that remains unrealized. These half-widows bear the burden of their husbands’ disappearance, caught between yearning for their return and the inability to forge ahead and rebuild their lives in today’s post-conflict Kashmir. This paper provides a distinct lens to examine the notion of Home when the anticipated return fails to materialize. It advances understanding of the extensive ramifications of unresolved conflicts and the intricate process of rebuilding homes.
