[Reader-list] Fw: Re: Gowhar Geelani calling for the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in 'Greater Kashmir'

[gowhar fazli]

Your passage is too profound for me
to venture a response.
 
 Translation of Saidi's couplet:
 
 On impossibility of return or to "restore things"...
 
  Raftam ki khaar az pa kasham,  mohmil nihan shud az
 nazar!
  Yak lahza ghafil boodam o sad saalah raham door shud!
 
 I went (aside) to pull a thorn out of my foot,  and
 lost track of my (she) camel (in the desert)
 A moments lapse, and I lost a hundred a years of my way!
 
 I thought transitoriness of truth or for that matter
 intimacy between people, lost in a lapse made in moments and
 becoming irrecoverable has been finely captured in this
 verse.  Also the struggle for Azadi can be compared
 with the pulling of a thorn out of ones foot and losing the
 track... with the loss of intimacy and common culture with
 Pandits nurtured through hundreds of years of living in
 close proximity...  Conversely it could have similar
 meanings for Pandits too...
 
 
> --- On Sat, 9/25/10, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > From: Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Gowhar Geelani calling for
> the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in 'Greater
> Kashmir'
> > To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010, 2:09 PM
> > Dear Gowhar
> > 
> > translation please,
> > 
> > i see suspending my own reasoning against attempts to
> > translate:
> > verses and other things,  but it is again a very
> > complicated question,
> > may be we connect it to wider kashmir discourse. but i
> come
> > back :
> > 
> > Ls sar kar daappan maan chi sippar, kafir sapdit
> korum
> > iqrar ( my nude
> > performance at LTG organized by Sarai in 2007, when i
> > filled little
> > (maitsch ) earth ,in my mouth to resist its
> translation
> > while its
> > audio was played on the screen. i distributed
> fragments of
> > poem to the
> > audience)
> > 
> > this radical poem by Zargar sahib attracted fatwa once
> in
> > Kashmir, but
> > sung by local folk chakri singers, and the CD is
> available
> > in the
> > market at the moment. it will be its english
> translation
> > that will
> > turn it into gun power. Here i think if Satanic Verses
> was
> > written in
> > Arabic, perhpas, it would not have attracted hostilies
> all
> > over the
> > world. There are some guys in kashmir who write
> erotic
> > poetry in
> > Arabic. fantastic, but it will not be easy for them
> to
> > publish, and
> > yes its translation.
> > 
> > So, a paradox. but a good one to start about the
> Kashmir
> > discouse itself.
> > Right now the  'Kashmir issue'  has been
> > translated from end to end,
> > easy for others to manipulate it, because the very
> > projection of it
> > has  perhaps,drained it from the very force that 
> > it is composed of.
> > what i means to say here, is that when culture (
> culture in
> > deeper
> > sesne, including contemporary) is detached from the
> naked
> > grand
> > narrative of the conflict it becomes easy for its
> lovers to
> > play with
> > it. The devil is in the detail, so one need to bring
> him
> > closer to
> > know to engage, to drive him away even. The
> translation
> > banishes the
> > existing detail to operate effectively, and
> incoporates a
> > new detail
> > which may be a something alien to its translators
> even. It
> > is not
> > about originality versus fake, but something
> more.....
> > 
> > Theoritically, i see a freedom moment, as you said is
> like
> > a romantic
> > affair , so therefore, to be handled very sensibly. A
> > single foot
> > print of the beloved becomes part of the shrine, ( the
> new
> > idea of
> > free Kashmir ). A total tilt towards the concpet that
> > violence as
> > methodology is temporary, but necessary to challange
> the
> > state that
> > occupies, would be problematic in the long run. I may
> look
> > Gandhian,
> > but one needs to discover some Gandhigiri in the
> least, to
> > sustain the
> > discourse, that is possible if it begins to turn
> creative
> > in approach.
> > That is the challange, but worth to think about, i
> guess.
> > Here, sufi
> > present/past would be handy to make it happen, i
> believe.
> > 
> > There is one work by Marcel Duchapm titled . "The
> bride
> > stripped bare
> > by here bachlors, even." It is very complex work done
> > before world war
> > II, but one of the most profound works by this avant
> garde
> > artists.
> > 
> > The lovers of AZADI ( Azadi as muse , let us say for
> a
> > while ) need to
> > realize that giving freedom to muse actually will
> result
> > into one
> > sided affair, S/he needs  freedom to dance, to sing,
> > to meet
> > homosexuals, which would be  challange to  some
> > phallus oriented
> > lovers even. But a lover need not to be possessive and
> at
> > the same
> > time, the love affair should be unconditional.
> > 
> > I want to know if the desire for a free nation is akin
> to
> > the simple
> > desire of a body for other body. I have no idea of
> > sprituality that
> > does not engage material of the body and soul.
> Religous
> > sermons on
> > this sprituality only contaminates, but that is the
> > challange.
> > 
> > Something at individual level even, one may need to
> > raealize how
> > profound is the concept of Azadi, similar to the
> > understanding that
> > how a private lover affair is actually healthy for
> any
> > society to
> > grow.
> > 
> > That is why i want the concept of Azadi to flow like
> River
> > in the
> > minds of people in kashmir, which can liberate their
> very
> > souls.
> > 
> > I think i was myself very predictable in my previous
> mail,
> > so this
> > 
> > love
> > but tranaslation please
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On 9/25/10, gowhar fazli <gowharfazili at yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> > > Inder, I second you.
> > >
> > > On impossibility of return or to "restore
> things", i
> > wish to share Sheikh Saidi's couplet:
> > >
> > > Raftam ki khaar az pa kasham,  mohmil nihan
> shud
> > az nazar!
> > > Yak lahza ghafil boodam o sad saalah raham door
> shud!
> > >
> > > love gowhar fazili
> > >
> > > p.s.  I am not sure Gowhar Geelani is on this
> > list.  In case he is not, I will however share your
> > response with him.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- On Fri, 9/24/10, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > From: Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Gowhar Geelani
> calling
> > for the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in
> 'Greater
> > Kashmir'
> > > > To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Date: Friday, September 24, 2010, 12:10 AM
> > > > Dear Gowhar
> > > > thanks
> > > >
> > > > the most magical thing would have been a
> > non-violent
> > > > struggle in 1990
> > > > itself. alas...
> > > >
> > > > but i guess, we have a long history of
> getting
> > things done
> > > > through the
> > > > barrel of gun, earlier it was sword.  What
> > the
> > > > violence has achieved
> > > > so far:  affluent class from Kashmir are
> > constantly
> > > > thinking to have
> > > > an alternative space outside Kashmir, in
> Delhi or
> > in Jammu
> > > > even,
> > > > leaving behind the rural poor masses to face
> the
> > music.
> > > > People in
> > > > Kashmir  need to restore the confidence of
> > the its own
> > > > intellectual
> > > > class, who inwardly yearn for a more
> democratic
> > voice. The
> > > > more
> > > > violence is there the more people will
> think
> > about material
> > > > security,
> > > > the more it can corrupt the mind...  which
> > is actually
> > > > happening... it
> > > > is besides the point that why security
> forces are
> > trigger
> > > > happy in the
> > > > valley
> > > >
> > > > . ( for a while i am holding back the
> profound
> > nature of
> > > > what VIOLENCE
> > > > actually means to us... )
> > > >
> > > > The trouble is that we are never in a
> position to
> > restore
> > > > the things
> > > > lost, exactly as we once experienced... 
> > Things change
> > > > at a very rapid
> > > > pace every time, every day, every year..and
> when
> > at
> > > > thisjuncture we
> > > > have a violent protest minus gun, it should
> be
> > an
> > > > opportunity to all
> > > > the stake holders to start something fresh.
> > Taking
> > > > about kashmir
> > > > about Indian and anti indian position would
> > actually limit
> > > > its scope
> > > > to open up spaces for other voices to
> join. 
> > Kashmiri
> > > > stuggle should
> > > > have a unique indigenous voice, and i dont
> think
> > they need
> > > > to be
> > > > dependent upon moral and political and
> material
> > support
> > > > from Pakistan
> > > > .
> > > >
> > > > Kashmris perhaps need to shun the Gun
> culture
> > once for all,
> > > > and think
> > > > creatively about the Kashmir issue, 
> rather
> > something
> > > > which is based
> > > > on long term strategy. The question why
> AZADI ?
> > needs a
> > > > sincere
> > > > discourse to disseminate the idea of new
> free
> > Kashmir. What
> > > > is
> > > > pressing for most of the educated youth
> that
> > whether they
> > > > should
> > > > listen to people like Dr. ZAkir Naik or
> about
> > what suits
> > > > them
> > > > actually.
> > > >
> > > > Riding on the shoulders of faith will be
> again a
> > temporary
> > > > repreive,
> > > > since people finally dont need a straight
> > jacketed belief
> > > > system to
> > > > carry on their routine,  I am not too
> > optimistic here,
> > > > but still, i
> > > > love the kashmiri way of life, which is its
> > own... not like
> > > > Iraqi, or
> > > > Punjabi, Sindhi etc...
> > > >
> > > > so, to weave the Kashmir discourse with the
> > Kashmir
> > > > culture  will
> > > > perhaps salvage the psyche of Kashmiri youth
> who
> > are really
> > > > hurt by
> > > > the violence unleashed by all agencies...
> > > >
> > > > Kashmir discourse is beyond vengeance of
> recent
> > innocent
> > > > killings, even. .
> > > >
> > > > shall keep on thinking myself.....
> > > >
> > > > love
> > > > is
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM, Bipin
> Trivedi
> > <aliens at dataone.in>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > Dear Inder,
> > > > >
> > > > > I appreciate your attitude towards
> Pandits
> > and so many
> > > > are their like you in Kashmir but could not
> dare
> > to come out
> > > > fearing of militants or separatists. If
> everyone
> > thinks like
> > > > that in Kashmir there want be any problem
> and
> > Kashmir will
> > > > be on the right track. Thanks accepting
> about the
> > beginning
> > > > of Pak sponsored gun culture for which you
> give
> > reason
> > > > rigging of election. However, the tense
> situation
> > initiated
> > > > by Pak will be there even if election
> rigging was
> > not there.
> > > > So at one place it is proved that Pak with
> the
> > help of few
> > > > local Kashmiri played key role to push out
> > Kashmiri Pandit
> > > > from valley.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks
> > > > > Bipin Trivedi
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net
> > > > [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net]
> > > > On Behalf Of Inder Salim
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010
> 12:25 AM
> > > > > To: reader-list
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Gowhar
> Geelani
> > calling for
> > > > the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir
> in
> > 'Greater
> > > > Kashmir'
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks dear Shuddha for this wonderful
> > forward
> > > > >
> > > > > Lot of people on the list have this
> > impression that
> > > > all the Muslims in
> > > > > the valley think that Pandits left the
> > valley on their
> > > > own, or
> > > > > Jagmohan convinced them so.....
> > > > >
> > > > > But that is  not the fact. Majority
> of
> > Muslims in
> > > > valley miss Pandits,
> > > > > and want their return to kashmir. Both
> the
> > communities
> > > > love each
> > > > > others simplicity and want to restore
> that
> > > > co-existence in the valley.
> > > > >
> > > > > It was in 1986 that congress J&K
> Chief
> > Mufi Mohd
> > > > Syed thought to
> > > > > outwit the NC-Congress alliance by
> > instigating
> > > > communal riots.  The
> > > > > subsequent rigging of elections ensured
> the
> > beginning
> > > > of Pakistan
> > > > > sponsored Gun culture, which
> automatically
> > pushed out
> > > > Pandits from
> > > > > Valley. Qazi Nissar was MUF canditate
> (
> > killed by
> > > > militants later )
> > > > > who never said a word against Pandits
> in
> > his
> > > > lectures.
> > > > >
> > > > > When passion for Azadi was really at
> peak,
> > that time
> > > > even, neighbors
> > > > > helped Pandits to move out safely. But
> now
> > when lot of
> > > > Muslims
> > > > > brothers have suffered,( first by
> securities
> > excess
> > > > then by rogue
> > > > > militans, then by both, and now by SOG
> and
> > all that...
> > > > ) sincerely
> > > > > want Pandits back in their homes. That
> is
> > my
> > > > feeling...
> > > > >
> > > > > But the problem with Pandit leadership
> is
> > that they
> > > > have different
> > > > > priorities: one of them is extreme love
> for
> > Indian
> > > > Nationalism,  its
> > > > > Tricolour etc, which is not a sin, but
> in
> > Kashmir it
> > > > complicates the
> > > > > problems, since Kashmir is a conflict
> zone
> > between
> > > > differnt parties.
> > > > > But  the bonds between Kashmiri
> Muslims
> > and Kashmiri
> > > > Pandits is based
> > > > > on shared cultural heritage, music
> > food,  simplicity
> > > > and above all
> > > > > language, and not because of some
> conflict.
> > > > >
> > > > > So, Pandit communty need to decide what
> is
> > good for
> > > > them . My humble
> > > > > suggestion is that both the communities
> need
> > more
> > > > visibility through
> > > > > multiple interactive cultural
> sessions 
> > ....
> > > > >
> > > > > I dont see any political role for
> Kashmiri
> > Pandits to
> > > > play in Kashmir
> > > > > or outside. The number game is quite
> vital
> > in any
> > > > democratic form of
> > > > > politics, as we know, and Kashmiri
> pandits
> > are very
> > > > few, that too
> > > > > scattered all over the country.
> > > > >
> > > > > The interaction is already happening at
> a
> > very
> > > > personal level. There
> > > > > are exchanges and friendly  meetings
> > even during this
> > > > time.
> > > > >
> > > > > Both the communities are nostalgic
> about
> > their past,
> > > > one can only wish
> > > > > a happy new beginning between the
> two..
> > > > >
> > > > > with love
> > > > > is
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 10:22 PM,
> > Shuddhabrata
> > > > Sengupta
> > > > > <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >> Dear All,
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Here is a forthright and moving
> piece by
> > Gowhar
> > > > Geelani in today's Greater
> > > > >> Kashmir newspaper. Notice how he
> takes
> > 'personal
> > > > responsibility'. And how he
> > > > >> talks about the value of repeated
> > entreaties.
> > > >  Hope it will be of interest
> > > > >> to all.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> best
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Shuddha
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> -----------------------------------
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Come home,  Come soon : On the
> > hoped for return
> > > > of Kashmiri Pandits to
> > > > >> Kashmir
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Gowhar Geelani - Greater Kashmir,
> 22
> > September
> > > > 2010
> > > > >> http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Sep/22/return-of-kps-34.asp
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I vividly remember my favourite
> school
> > teacher Ms.
> > > > Anita. As her name would
> > > > >> suggest she was a Kashmiri Pandit.
> She
> > was my
> > > > form-teacher at school. I
> > > > >> remember my others Pandit teachers
> too.
> > Mrs Bharti
> > > > Koul, Teja Ma'am and Usha
> > > > >> Ma'am. I owe a lot to all of them
> for
> > what I'm
> > > > today. I remember how Anita
> > > > >> Ma'am would ensure that I secured
> first
> > position
> > > > in my class. I also
> > > > >> remember how Teja Ma'am would want
> me to
> > be the
> > > > best of the lot! I remember
> > > > >> everything.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Those were beautiful and peaceful
> days
> > in our
> > > > Kashmir, full of sweet
> > > > >> memories. Muslims, Pandits and
> Sikhs
> > studying in
> > > > the same school, playing
> > > > >> together in playgrounds, sharing
> their
> > lunches,
> > > > attending marriage
> > > > >> functions, birthday parties,
> offering
> > condolences
> > > > when someone in the
> > > > >> neighbourhood died, sympathizing
> with
> > each other
> > > > and even engaging in
> > > > >> smaller verbal brawls as friends
> > normally do.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> 'Music of bullets replaced school
> > bells'
> > > > >> Then, all of a sudden,
> tranquillity
> > vanished in
> > > > thin air. Peace didn't stay,
> > > > >> it was blown away into pieces. My
> > beautiful
> > > > memories in 'Angels Public
> > > > >> School, 'Abhay Public School',
> 'Light
> > Public
> > > > School' and 'Shaheen Public
> > > > >> School' in Srinagar soon started
> turning
> > into
> > > > nightmares.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> The huge paintings of greats like
> Dr.
> > Allama
> > > > Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and
> > > > >> Rabindra Nath Tagore hanging on
> the
> > walls of my
> > > > school were now being hit by
> > > > >> stray bullets on a regular basis.
> Music
> > of bullets
> > > > replaced the 'recess' and
> > > > >> 'period' bells in my school.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> 'My beautiful garden isn't
> attractive
> > anymore'
> > > > >> Life was not the same again after
> 1989.
> > Everything
> > > > changed, dramatically. I
> > > > >> remember everything. How Indian
> > troopers
> > > > humiliated my elderly people, day
> > > > >> in and day out; how they slapped
> me
> > after on their
> > > > directions (read orders)
> > > > >> I'd read a poster of a popular
> militant
> > outfit
> > > > pasted on an electric pole in
> > > > >> our locality; how they stared at
> me,
> > abused,
> > > > hurled choicest invectives and
> > > > >> threatened me while walking on my
> > streets for no
> > > > fault of mine; how they
> > > > >> made me to bend on my knees and
> walk on
> > my elbows
> > > > on an undeclared curfew
> > > > >> day, when I and my other classmates
> were
> > to appear
> > > > in class 10th papers at
> > > > >> Bemina Degree College, Srinagar. It
> all
> > happened
> > > > in early years of 1990's.
> > > > >> The memories of their abuses and
> slaps
> > haunt me,
> > > > still.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I remember the Army crackdowns,
> > operation 'Catch
> > > > and Kill', the firing
> > > > >> incidents, cross-firing incidents,
> > grenade blasts,
> > > > mine blasts, encounters,
> > > > >> massive anti-India protest
> > demonstrations, slogans
> > > > for freedom from India,
> > > > >> slogans in favour of militants,
> even
> > some slogans
> > > > against Pandit brethren.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> And I also do remember Pandits
> leaving
> > from my
> > > > Valley. That was a painful
> > > > >> memory.Many blame Mr. Jagmohan, the
> then
> > notorious
> > > > Governor of the
> > > > >> strife-ridden Jammu and Kashmir for
> the
> > exodus of
> > > > Kashmiri Pandits.
> > > > >> But, I will blame myself
> > > > >> Yes, I know I was a school-going
> boy at
> > that time,
> > > > not influential enough to
> > > > >> be responsible for their migration
> or to
> > prevent
> > > > their exodus; but I still
> > > > >> blame myself. I strongly feel and
> > believe that we,
> > > > as a proud Kashmiri
> > > > >> nation, should have prevented
> their
> > exodus. Yes,
> > > > it may be my idealism. Yes,
> > > > >> I know those were not ideal times.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Who's responsible for this?
> > > > >> Today, there are television debates
> on
> > Indian
> > > > media about 'Kashmiriyat'.
> > > > >> Who's responsible for the exodus
> of
> > Pandits? We've
> > > > too many answers coming.
> > > > >> Many Pandits blame their own
> Muslim
> > brethren, some
> > > > blame militants and
> > > > >> pro-freedom forces active in
> Kashmir,
> > yet others
> > > > blame the unfortunate
> > > > >> circumstances of 1989. Many
> Muslims
> > blame former
> > > > Governor Mr. Jagmohan,
> > > > >> others say Pandits shouldn't have
> left
> > Kashmir
> > > > while few others maintain
> > > > >> that what happened was unfortunate
> and
> > should
> > > > never have actually happened,
> > > > >> but the migration could not have
> been
> > avoided
> > > > during those hard times.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I've a different take on the issue.
> I
> > believe that
> > > > I'm responsible for the
> > > > >> exodus of Pandits. I believe
> Muslim
> > community of
> > > > Kashmir as a whole is
> > > > >> responsible for the migration of
> > Pandits. I also
> > > > believe that Pandits too
> > > > >> are responsible for their
> migration. For
> > the
> > > > simple reason that together we
> > > > >> shared beautiful history of
> elegant
> > bonds,
> > > > exemplary friendships and
> > > > >> harmony, and we, as a great
> Kashmiri
> > nation,
> > > > should have never allowed the
> > > > >> circumstances dictate our
> decisions, our
> > lives,
> > > > our history; and above all
> > > > >> our great cultural bonds! But they
> did.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Was it possible?
> > > > >> Though in my previous articles I
> may
> > have pointed
> > > > fingers at the politics of
> > > > >> Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman
> of a
> > faction of
> > > > pro-freedom alliance
> > > > >> Hurriyat Conference and another
> leader
> > Sajad Gani
> > > > Lone, but here I must
> > > > >> shower praises on both of them.
> Mirwaiz
> > Umar lost
> > > > his father, Mirwiaz Molvi
> > > > >> Farooq to bullets on 21st May,
> 199o;
> > while as Lone
> > > > brothers lost their
> > > > >> father, Abdul Gani Lone to bullets
> on
> > the twelfth
> > > > death anniversary of Molvi
> > > > >> Farooq; 21st May, 2002. Mirwaiz
> Umar,
> > Sajad Lone
> > > > and Bilal Lone too had an
> > > > >> option to leave Kashmir and get
> settled
> > down
> > > > abroad, far away from hell in
> > > > >> Kashmir; but they didn't, instead
> chose
> > to face
> > > > the challenges the
> > > > >> circumstances had thrown before
> them.
> > Kudos to
> > > > them!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Leave these brave leaders aside for
> a
> > moment.
> > > > During late 1990's my mother
> > > > >> was seriously wounded when
> militants
> > hurled a
> > > > grenade towards a bunker of
> > > > >> Indian troopers at Safakadal,
> Srinagar.
> > The
> > > > grenade missed the intended
> > > > >> target, as would quite often
> happen
> > during those
> > > > days, and thus like many
> > > > >> other pedestrians; serious injuries
> were
> > inflicted
> > > > on my mother too. Her
> > > > >> left foot was badly wounded and it
> took
> > almost
> > > > four years to heal, though
> > > > >> not permanently. Our family did
> not
> > leave Kashmir.
> > > > We too had the option.
> > > > >> Because my father had his shawl
> business
> > running
> > > > successfully in Kolkata
> > > > >> since almost three decades.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Should Pandits too have braved the
> 'come
> > what may'
> > > > and avoided leaving
> > > > >> Kashmir, our beloved motherland?
> Well,
> > debatable.
> > > > May be it wasn't possible.
> > > > >> Or, may be it was. Perhaps yes,
> perhaps
> > no!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> 'Life hasn't been easy'
> > > > >> Life hasn't been the same for
> Pandits
> > after
> > > > migration. It hasn't been easy
> > > > >> for them in the migrant camps of
> Jammu
> > or in
> > > > different parts of India.
> > > > >> Sameer Bhat, my former colleague
> at
> > Eenadu
> > > > Television in Hyderabad, India in
> > > > >> 2003-04, would often narrate the
> painful
> > stories
> > > > of migration. Sameer, his
> > > > >> wife, ailing mother and kids would
> bear
> > the
> > > > scorching heat of Jammu while
> > > > >> sitting in a temporary shed that
> > consisted of only
> > > > one-room. His stories
> > > > >> were very moving and would often
> leave a
> > pang in
> > > > my heart. Like hundreds of
> > > > >> other Pandit families, his family
> too
> > had left
> > > > Kashmir in early 1990's. A
> > > > >> close Pandit friend of my father
> in
> > Rainawari,
> > > > Srinagar, too had to leave
> > > > >> Kashmir alongwith his entire
> family.
> > Their house
> > > > was burnt down and reduced
> > > > >> to ashes. This friend of my father
> also
> > used to
> > > > buy shawls from us. At the
> > > > >> time of migration he owed us a lot
> of
> > money, the
> > > > cheque he had given to my
> > > > >> father bounced. After apologizing
> he
> > promised to
> > > > repay every single penny in
> > > > >> installments once he settled down
> in
> > Kolkata. My
> > > > father offered all possible
> > > > >> help and said to the family that
> they
> > need not to
> > > > pay our money back,
> > > > >> because we understood what they had
> gone
> > through.
> > > > But, as an honest
> > > > >> businessman he kept his word, his
> > promise; and
> > > > repaid all due amount in
> > > > >> smaller installments in the
> following
> > years. That
> > > > is Pandit pride! My
> > > > >> father's friend kept the
> friendship
> > going, his
> > > > Pandit pride alive and with
> > > > >> it the reputation of an honest
> trader
> > too.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> 'Burden of unique expectations'
> > > > >> Kashmir is a special place having
> its
> > unique
> > > > history. During our marriage
> > > > >> ceremonies we extend invitation to
> > guests in a way
> > > > that is unique. It is
> > > > >> unparalleled. No where else in the
> > world
> > > > invitation is extended or expected
> > > > >> like as in Kashmir. Even in this
> age of
> > facebook
> > > > and twitter; an information
> > > > >> and technology age, particular
> members
> > of a
> > > > Kashmiri family- that has fixed
> > > > >> marriage of a son or a daughter-
> go
> > personally to
> > > > homes of their close
> > > > >> relatives, friends and neighbours
> to
> > extend an
> > > > invitation. Then, some
> > > > >> two-three weeks before the marriage
> an
> > invitation
> > > > card is sent; as the
> > > > >> marriage date comes closer several
> > telephonic
> > > > calls are made, and then a
> > > > >> final call too. At times, even this
> may
> > not be
> > > > enough and that is perhaps
> > > > >> why many relatives or friends
> throw
> > their tantrums
> > > > during marriage
> > > > >> ceremonies; you may call it an
> > attention-seeking
> > > > tactics!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> If all relatives, neighbours and
> friends
> > come and
> > > > attend the marriage
> > > > >> ceremony, it is considered a
> miracle! If
> > all of
> > > > them do not come, no one is
> > > > >> surprised! That is Kashmir. It is
> not
> > that
> > > > Kashmiri Pandits or Kashmiri
> > > > >> Muslims are at war with each other
> after
> > 1989. It
> > > > is the result of their
> > > > >> great and unique tradition and
> history
> > that
> > > > they've such huge expectations
> > > > >> from each other. As a matter of
> fact,
> > they're not
> > > > blaming or accusing each
> > > > >> other, instead throwing tantrums,
> > seeking
> > > > attention and expecting a lot!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> To me what actually Pandits are
> asking
> > is this:"If
> > > > we left Kashmir, why
> > > > >> didn't you call us back? Are merely
> one
> > or two
> > > > calls enough? Shouldn't you
> > > > >> be doing more and calling us back
> and
> > receiving us
> > > > with open arms?" And
> > > > >> Muslims are replying:"Why did you
> leave
> > us when
> > > > things were tough here, you
> > > > >> shouldn't have left us alone in
> the
> > first place?
> > > > Shouldn't you've faced the
> > > > >> challenges of the circumstances
> like we
> > did?
> > > > Shouldn't you have stayed and
> > > > >> never gone?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Both actually expect a lot from
> each
> > other! There
> > > > is no communal disharmony
> > > > >> in Kashmir. Only circumstances
> have
> > been
> > > > challenging and the going has been
> > > > >> hard and tough. The movement for
> freedom
> > in
> > > > Kashmir is not against Kashmiri
> > > > >> Pandits or Sikhs, it is not against
> the
> > Indian
> > > > people, it is against the
> > > > >> Indian state and its wicked
> > state-craft.
> > > > >> Today, I once again extend an
> invitation
> > to all of
> > > > them. Please come back.
> > > > >> 'Walev Yeyev Wapas'!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> (Gowhar Geelani is a Kashmiri
> journalist
> > based in
> > > > Bonn, Germany since 2006,
> > > > >> where he works for Deutsche Welle
> [Voice
> > of
> > > > Germany] as an Editor.
> > > > >> gowhargeelani at gmail.com)
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > > >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > > > >> Raqs Media Collective
> > > > >> shuddha at sarai.net
> > > > >> www.sarai.net
> > > > >> www.raqsmediacollective.net
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > _________________________________________
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >
> > > > > http://indersalim.livejournal.com
> > > > >
> _________________________________________
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> > > >
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> > 
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> > 
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