कुछ ज़ख्म अभी भरें नहीं हैं!

“When the power of love overcomes the love for power, the world shall know peace.” I m reminded of this famous quote as we drove around the Dal lake. As we were rowed around in the shikara, I could  hear the birds crying for a safe haven and the quieted waters begging not to be turned red with blood and malice.

The beauty of nature’s bounties is so miserably undervalued.This valley which is sandwiched between two nations at loggerheads has been bitterly misunderstood. So, I put down my pen to paper to tell their story! 

Most of the people in Kashmir independent of caste and religion don’t have any hardliner opinions as the governments make it out to be. The major consensus is not to join Pakistan or become an independent state. What they demand is instead very simple and fundamental! They want to be respected as free citizens. I shall elucidate the exact meaning of freedom in this context using a few anecdotes.

The Kashmiri youth is facing high rates of unemployment and it is this absence of a stable source of  income which motivates them to rebel and resort to anti-government activities. These young pass outs from degree courses and diplomas feel cheated when they aren't able to get jobs. Recent National Sample Survey  data revealed that J&K had a high unemployment rate of 5.3% which is highest amongst its 4 other neighbouring states. There are more than 80,000 vacant posts in the state government alone which shows that it is the lack of contact between  the employer and the prospective employees which has led to the emergence of the jobless cohort.  The common man here doesn't wish for the moon and stars but just a means to work hard and earn a meal for their family. Hence, the inability to gain economic independence arouses bellicose fervour amongst them. 

Another example shows how our welfare policies are unable to ameliorate the concerns of the people they are meant for.  Bandipora district, a few miles from the main town of Srinagar, has a huge section of 2,40,000 tribals who have been appealing for ST(Scheduled Tribes) status. However, the government seems to be turning a deaf ear. This deprives them of the little help that they could have used to break free from their economic backwardness. Since they are unable to get proper education and skill training, they are forced to take up informal means of livelihood.  The  Wuller lake is their sole support because it provides them trout fish and also is the growing ground of chestnut which is traded to other states. 

Another story I heard of was equally heart rendering. While we were tasting the Wazwan meal, the cook told us of his painful story. He said that when the floods happened last year, he was at home with his wife and four children. As soon as they were warned of the water level rising, they moved to the first floor. But in no time they could feel that their house was completely submerged in water. In panic, they climbed onto the dish towers with nothing in hand. Sitting up there, they could see their belongings swayed away by the flood water. All they saw was water all around. I was reminded of the line from Rime of the Ancient Mariner, “Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink!” For the next few days, they survived on the air dropped packets which they had to consume sparingly. It's been more than a year but these people are still waiting for some compensation and relief money. Back then they were told that lot of funds have flown in from PM relief fund and other NGO’s. “Janaab, bade logon ne to ghar phir se khada kar liya hai, humari baari kab aayegi?” Connecting the dots, I realised that while driving down from the airport to our place of stay, I actually didn't notice any broken buildings. All were now standing tall, as if no tragedy had touched them. It was perhaps the sight behind them which I had to see. 

Coming to the point, I intended to write this to say that the intervention of a third party in Indo-Pak talks and the slight changes in the diplomatic agenda will certainly seem trivial issues if we know exactly where the problem lies. I don't wish to undermine the significance of our international relations but I firmly believe that we are wasting too much time on such matters, driving us away from our main focus. Jammu and Kashmir is one state which I feel needs both “More government and more governance”. We need to handhold our brothers and sisters in this conflict torn area to help them feel safe in their own homes. It is difficult to believe for Delhiites like us that people in Srinagar don't  venture out after 8 pm. It is the setting of the sun that decides the end of their day and not their own will. When I think about all this, I am never surprised to hear about the stone pelting that happens in Downtown area or the endless bandhs and strikes that stop the city every third day. 

Kaifi Azmi, a revolutionary poet  has poignantly written a poem which I feel  expresses the heart of all Kashmiris: 

 “Koi toh sood chukaye, koi toh zimma le;

Us inquilab ka jo aaj tak udhaar sa hai!”

If we give them an anchor to sail across, they won't ever wish to change the direction of their ship! We must hear their voices lost in the high rise mountains enveloping the valley!