Kashmir

The seven days I got to spend in Kashmir were heavenly, to say the least. I attended a two-day seminar on Human Rights in Kashmir organized by the Army (what does this say?) at Srinagar. It was a well thought out program with learned panelists interacting with a very active audience, which besides the men in olive green also had students and teachers from the Kashmir University. The panelists included Sadia Dehlvi, Dr Manoj Joshi, Cok Ajay Shukla (Retd), Farooque Andrabi, Dr Riyaz Punjabi, Dr SM Sahai (IG Police), Prof Siddiq Wahid, Justice BC Patel, Gen Patankar (Retd), Dilafroz Qazi,and others, none any less. They put forward their views and took questions graciously. All this has come about as an initiative taken by the army to bring about a change in the atmosphere prevailing in this State, and the change is perceptible. This paradise does not deserve to be mauled by self interested parties destroying the very fabric of Kashmiriyat.
The visit to the city showed up a vibrant place teeming with tourists and there was no trace of fear or tension in the area. I had my fill of qahva. The shikara ride on the Dal Lake brought back memories of my visit to this place 25 years ago. Of course there was no coffee joint like Coffea Arabia here back then, where I enjoyed the cold coffee and paneer shwarma along with the peppy ambience.
I then spent some time with my friends in Kupwara and what a way to connect with nature. The mountains green with pine trees, the swift flowing Lolab, the apple trees already full with tiny apples, the chinar trees, wild strawbwrry flowers encountered on our treks, the clear air and sky along with the lovely company - it was indescribable. Go visit Kashmir and you will know what I mean.