Kashmir a lost heritage

                                                                

 

peri mahal

 

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

                                                                         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