Where the stream flows in raps of melodious music,
Where the sun glows in reddish orange,
Where the birds fly high up in chirps,
Where the snow falls like whites of blessings,
Where little girls with fair wrists dance in green bangles and smile with pink blush,
Lies our land of pride and beauty,
Lies our Heaven,
Lies our Kashmir.
The glowing lights of celebrations are transforming in the darkness of mournful times. The soothing calmness of a valley is changing into the cries of rage and grief. The heavenly beauty is turning into a burning place. The celestial Kashmir is unfortunately heading towards a fearsome and violent city. Kashmir no more is Kashmir.
Kashmir being an integral part of my nation makes it mandatory for me to question on what is happening to my people. It makes me concerned over what is happening to a place which is known to be heaven on earth. The gorgeous picture of Kashmir painted in our eyes is now turning into a void, white yet black canvas.
It is Bakra Eid tomorrow and and I was taken aback when I read that Kashmir is not even a state to celebrate one of the most auspicious and important festivals of Islam. It is truly painful to know that a place which was painted in green every year, a week before this festival is now red in blood of the lost lives of so many innocent people. Our people. Curfew has been imposed in 10 districts of Kashmir. How sad it is that curfew has been imposed on a festival which has to be full of celebrations and feasts. People are asked to stay locked in their houses on such a vibrant day. Days when the sale of goats was hiked up to an amount of 2 lakhs per family is now in a phase where 90% of families are not even buying the animal for the sacrifice. It is utterly painful. Very painful. The streets used to be filled with people dancing around, purchasing clothes, food and tons of other things. And today there is not even a bird who is courageous enough to fly free and wave it’s wings in happiness for the festival. The man who took his children out for fares and feasts and bought a dozen of green bangles for his begum today is locked up in his house lost in grief seeing his place in such a burning condition. Crying in fear to protect his family from any other violent protest that could happen.
Kashmir is lost. Lost in anger. Lost in violence. Lost in pain. Lost in silence. The happiness and enthusiasm of these innocents has been put to a brake. Melancholic it will be to see Kashmir silent tomorrow. Melancholic to see it in tears tomorrow. The children won’t run around in the neighborhood hugging each other of affection. Little girls won’t have their soft cheeks red in blush while preparing for the family feast. Instead will be sitting in their houses stricken with moist eyes.
Not that I blame the government for it. There has been such ugly lack of communication and understanding between the people of Kashmir and the government of India. Of course the approach of our BJP and PDP alliance has really turned out to be disastrous towards the sensitivity of Kashmiris. The Indian army in order to maintain peace went completely wrong in distinguishing between the lives of innocents and lives of terrorists who threaten the sovereignty of India.
The encounter of Burhan Wani fuelled up the anguish of people. They thought ‘one’ of them was killed. The sad part is our government failed miserably to make them understand on how that man was anti them, not their own country, India. Amidst all the pain that Kashmir and entire India was facing, our neighbouring country took immense pleasure in utilising the opportunity of this miscommunication between the people and the rulers. They made sure that the situation worsened in our country by portraying sham dialogues of sympathy towards our people. Sitting in front of press and passing comments on the brutality of Indian army towards the innocents is easy and pleasurable. But here what our army is doing and sacrificing to pacify the situation in Kashmir and to bring back the smiles of our people is tough. Very tough.
Separatists do not ponder on how will it help if they disrespectfully close the doors on the faces of leaders who are trying hard to develop a conversation with them. All they want to know is what are they not giving to Kashmir that is leading to such a hazardous environment.
The neighbours do not have any sentiments of love or sympathy for Kashmir but mere lust. Lust for power. Lust for it beauty. Lust for its blessed resources.
I urge the people of Kashmir, the people of India, My people to trust the government and its democracy once. To tell clear and straight on what their demands are. To embrace India as a whole once and see how we are ready to give everything that it takes to get peace back. Because it is only peace that can help and nothing else.
India is their country and we are their people. We want Kashmir to shine like a star in the sky called India. Not because we just need it’s incredible beauty. But because we want them. We want our people to be happy.
We no more want them to be called the residents of a disputed place. How can a place where God himself showers his blessings through the sun that rises every morning and paints the city in gorgeous orange be disputed? How can a place be burning where the white balls of snow fall from heaven itself? How can a place have noises of cries where the bustle of flowing stream lightens the burden of every heart? How can a place be mourning where the Almighty itself sends gifts of smiles with the chirping of birds?
I being an Indian send my wishes for Eid to all my fellow Indians, My people to illuminate their lives again with a glowing beam of hope as well as with a platter of trust on the love that the entire India holds for them.
When pain falls, let complaint follow it and not violence. We are here. Right here to listen to them and rectify our errors. We are here to apologize for everything we did to hurt them though unintentionally. We are one and in the happiness of Kashmir lies the pink blush of India.
