Well to get started, i am not a professional writer or a someone who is widely active on social media, commenting , posting or expressing views. So whatever i write here is out of my heart, what i feel and words used here merely express the same.
Kashmir, A paradise on earth: This is what people call it. Being my birthplace, i always used to feel proud of being a native of this place. But times changed, and so did this place. From being a land full of peace, beauty and communal harmony, it turned into a place of communal hatred. Killings, blood, atrocities on people, exile of pandits, army, police, tourists, this place has seen it all.
I hardly remember the time when we used to live in Kashmir. For a 3 year old child, such old memories are hard to retain. But i have the blur, faded images of what used to be our big house, garden, adjacent temple of Saint Reshi Peer.
For 15 years these images remained blur until i had a chance to re-visit those memories. But did i really enjoy the time there, i guess i am not sure. Since everyone back home was scared. Scared of me being in Kashmir of which the last images they had seen were of fires, blood and killings of near one's.
Despite all these, i say this was a wonderful experience. People welcome you with both arms open. I used to think why we ever left this place. Guess, the era of hatred, bloodshed is over, everyone wants to start a new era with people of all caste and religion living together, rejoicing and even crying in sorrow together.
Over the years, i have had many friends visiting Kashmir who will come back and narrate their experinces of getting a chance to see the beauty on earth. And i will always feel proud. And why not, i was born there and i am part of Kashmir.
But now what i see is either a dream or i was living in a dream. With the nature punishing us, i guess for all the harm we had done to this heaven on earth, the paradise is lost.
Kashmir is now flooded with water everywhere. People crying, starving, yelling in frustration.
Now why i say paradise is lost, not because its flooded with water everywhere but i can see it being flooded with hatred everywhere.
I always was of the apprehension that this calamity shall either strengthen the bonds of people or tear them apart. And as i was taught in school, to break is an easy task than to make.
Social media being flooded with anti-India messages. People robbing the deserted houses which might have taken the sweat if dwellers to turn into a home from just bricks, stones pelted on rescue choppers, hate filled banners...i wonder what are we doing. This just wasn't the same place i was born in and nor are these the same people my parents had grown playing and celebrating festivals.
For any helping hand offered in need should be welcome. To raise a hand against anyone is easy but to offer a hand needs courage and commitment which Indian army and all those who are risking their lives to save people are showing.
Kashmir is a beautiful place and so are the people there. We can come out of any calamity and any catastrophe but important is to stay united, and beleive in our selves.
And remember the older school prayer we used to sing together...
mazhab nai sikhata aapas main bair rakhna, Hindi hai hum watan hai, hindostan hamara hamara...
saaare jahan se accha , hindostan humara....
We are all Indians first and Kashmir is a part of India and shall always be.
Lets us join hands and bridge the gaps against our religions, castes, to make this place what it is known as : The Paradise on Earth.
