Kashmir a lost heritage
Kashmir once
known by the name of Reshveer meaning Reshi Munyu ki Basti the dwelling place
of saints and scholars, many great scholars and Saints took birth in every nook
and corner of valley as is evident from the fact that meadows, beautiful
landscapes, rivers and lakes have always attracted/captivated the mind and soul
of great saints and scholars, in the era of Shakul Aalam and Lal Ded Kashmir
was an intellectual hub. If we analyze contemporary Kashmir it is evident from
the fact that at the banks of river Jehlem and other rivers or lakes we either
find a masjid, dargha or a mandir, this portrays Kashmir valley as a spiritual
and intellectual hub. These spiritual and scholarly people of Kashmir had an
immense impact in enriching the collective knowledge of our society and
reshaping the life style of common man.
We the
people of Kashmir owe a gratitude to these saints viz Shakul Aalam, Lal Ded,
Mehjor, Shams Fakeer etc. The master piece poetry by Shakul Aalam itself
embodies Quranic verses, kalame Shakul Aalam is also known as Kashur Quran.
Poetry by Lal Ded shows extreme and exotic form of spirituality.
Inklings
taken from the past Kashmir was a heritage of peace tolerance and intellect,
people were compassionate, loving and simple.
After the
passage of time since the times of Shakul Aalam and Lal Ded people of Kashmir
have changed drastically, materialism has replaced our spiritual behavior,
corruption has mutated our scholarly behavior; Black Magicians have replaced
our Fakeers and Darveshs. Intolerance and sectarianism has taken a heavy toll
on our integrity and unity, our teachers who in the earlier times were
considered to be the incarnation of god and were respected but now in
contemporary Kashmir even some of them are corrupt and materialistic.
Our Reshvar
is now at the mercy of corrupt politicians who are further scapegoats of two
great south Asian nations; these politicians are alienating their own people by
receiving hefty sums from army and other intelligence agencies of both the
countries leaving the common man in lurch. Corruption and Materialism find
roots in the DNA of our society everyone in Kashmir is affected whether
directly or indirectly.
These
corrupt politicians sold our water resource in Indus water treaty which has
capacity of generating 20000 mega watt hydel power, our fruit industry is dying
a slow death by the spurious pesticides sold under the cognizance of
authorities.
Divide and
rule policy was devised and formulated by English man long ago but this policy
has been copied and implement in present day Kashmir by new Delhi so as to
undermine and subjugate the aspirations of people of Kashmir. People here are being
divided into many sects; sectarian conflicts are being plotted by intelligence
agencies so as to weaken the unity. The recent conflict between sunni and shia
Muslims was a direct result of initiation and adding fuel from the people with
vested interests and this conflict rendered hundreds of families from each sect
homeless. Not only people are divided but also their so called leaders are
divided, Hurriat conference which had emerged as a main front to oppose the ongoing
Indian occupation in Kashmir has been divided into many factions hence their
credibility and potency of action remains doubtful. Kashmiri youth are leader
less how can a nation progress if its youth are leaderless.
Kashmiri
culture its heritage its tehzeeb its integrity, compassion, tolerance, empathy,
honesty is dying a slow death. Need of the hour is to rehabilitate ourselves
and get inspired by the doings of our ancestors, so that people from outside
start respecting us again.
I overpowered and subdued
My vile heart.
Twisted my liver.
And renounced all I had.;
Thus, giving up all my
Worldy possessions,
I became Lalla for all
My vile heart.
Twisted my liver.
And renounced all I had.;
Thus, giving up all my
Worldy possessions,
I became Lalla for all
Lal
ded translation by R.C. Temple
Tha-rah
tha-rah chham ma-rah sha-yad
shar
meh ji-gu-rook drav-nai
Khosh
yi-von nunda-bon, ve-si-yae
Myon dil-bar aav nai
Rasool mir
