The Right to Fight: Husband-Wife and Article 007

Article 370 is history

The abolishment of Article 370 has created a tense atmosphere in the country. Some in the state of J&K are ready to fight while some supporting them are saying they have the right to fight. Peace-loving people are annoyed while argumentative people have got a new topic to debate. But I am surprised as to why this hullabaloo over a three-digit number 370.

Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places on earth and how could India not be in love with this damsel. The love story between India and Kashmir blossomed in the year 1947 and to date, it is still going strong. The marriage between both got legally registered with Article 370. The Maharaja of Kashmir gave away his right to fight by signing a pact with India. While marrying his daughter “J&K” to India, the ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh signed an instrument of accession that gave India the power to retain control over Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance and Communications. The Maharaja ensured that the daughter “J&K” retained her fundamental rights and all the property which she would inherit from him.

To know more on Article 370 you can log onto:

/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/understanding-articles-370-35a-jammu-kashmir-indian-constitution-5610996/

1991 A Love story

A similar love story happened with me and my wife way back in 1991. It was not “Love at first sight” as the matrimonial column of Times of India took the credit for the same. Love blossomed gradually and finally, it was agreed that both of us should settle for lifelong. The parents from both sides ensured a small ceremony under which the two of us had to take 7-vows under Article 007. Article 007 is in common use in the Hindu marriage act. As per this act, the groom has to take seven pheras with the bride around Agni(Fire) along with seven vows.

The understanding with my wife

In this long association, both of us retain our freedom as well as the right to fight. However, there are 4 major areas (same as between Centre and J&K under article 370) where we often end up in dispute and it is Article 007 which finally resolves it.

The fundamental right to fight revoked on issue of finances

Under Article 370, the central government retains the right to finance. Similarly, being the earning member, I have to take care of the finances of my home. Like Centre, I handover a lump sum money to my wife (in this case the CM of state Assembly of J&K). How she spends it is not in my hands as the entire members of the assembly (family members) come into the picture.

There are times, I feel that the funds are being misused by the assembly members(kids) but since I have no role in state finances, I don’t have much say. Keeping in mind my right to fight, I have sometimes threatened the CM with Presidential promulgation in case the finances go out of hand. But not even once it has been taken seriously.

Foreign Affairs

This is one department where I am extremely weak. In case, if left to me, my relationship with the world would be somewhat similar to Pakistan (which can just count on China as a friend). In my case, I would end up having good relations only with my drinking buddies. It goes to the full credit of my wife that she maintains an excellent foreign affair with my family relatives.

In Foreign affairs matter, it is the relatives who have the right to fight. Family relatives are like our neighborhood countries. Some are peace-loving like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka while some are always threatening like China and Pakistan. The moment our family gets close to a particular family, few relatives start making noise that we are ignoring them. It is like China making noise, the day India reinforces its territorial claim over Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Few relatives even threaten to take the case to the United Nations (my parents) just like Pakistan.

Defence- surrendering the only way to quash the right to fight

This is an area between husband and wife, where the right to fight reaches its extreme proportion. The right to fight begins on trivial issues. It can be like who will open the main door early in the morning when the maid rings the bell. Another one is when I am about to leave for the office. At that particular moment, I am ordered to drop a parcel to a destination which is on the way. A simple refusal on the pretext that I will get late for the office is taken to heart. Reason being that the destination is my sisters-in-law’s house.

At times, even I am also the culprit. A phone call during office hours by the spouse is never answered properly by me. There are times when I make a last-minute announcement of having dinner outside with friends. This is like a nuke striking into the heart. What will happen to the dinner that has already been cooked?

The only way to defend the issue is to surrender and sign a peace accord. But who will surrender is the big question?

Communication – The trigger for right to fight

Communication in J&K is a challenge at times due to the difficult terrain. Putting cell towers at such heights requires a lot of capital expenditure. Same way in my house the Wi-Fi connection doesn’t reach every nook and corner of the house. This at times leads to a lot of arguments with the broadband service guy. It’s a separate issue that even the best of broadband services will slow down if 5 connections are live at the same time.

Communication is an area of dispute at a lot of homes across the country. The kids feel that being connected to friends 24/7 on their mobile is one of their fundamental rights. There was a time when mom and dad used to enforce their parental rights giving instructions to kids of not spending too much time on their cellphone. The situation has reversed and these days kids are enforcing the same rights and tutoring their parents.

But the ultimate sufferer is the Centre as it has to settle huge bills of communication. A communication that he considers unproductive. But just to keep the balance he decides to keep quiet.

The Bond continues forever

It was easy for the Center to abolish Article 370. It is difficult for a husband and wife to revoke it as the 7^th vow in Article 007 is all about love and friendship. The vow is all about remaining friends forever not only in this life but in many more lives to come.

I would love to see you reading and smiling:

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