The Holy Amarnath Cave
Hurrah!...Bravo!...The State Government finally succumbed to the massive public pressure and decided to revoke it's land tranfer order (rather land grab)...
A true example of a living and breathing Kashmiri Natioinalism...We got together and fought together for one common cause...we stayed united and WE DID IT....we got our land back...
The scene on the streets depicts a sense of pride and celebration amongst the people with fire crackers going off in the air every now and then as if last two decades had never happened..!
The spirit of the people finally won against all the odds and opposition forces....A perfect proof of people power...
But we must not forget the huge cost of this victory...It cost us 5 precious lives...5 Kashmiris had to lay down their lives to get us our land back...they are the real heroes of this victory...I salute the BRAVE families which had the heart and courage to give us such martyr's who could sacrifice their lives for our soil...
A tribute to all those who lost their lives in this battle against oppression and aggression...
Well, coming on to the issue....We might have won one single battle but we are in a WAR...A war against brute aggression and oppression...a war against human rights vioalation...a war against the propoganda carried by some communal forces portraying Kashmiris as communist...A war against media who only reports one side of a story...a war against the way BJP and VHP has communalised the whole issue and the way it killed this tourist season....a war to save our forests and rivers...a war to be regain our lost identity and freedom
Although the State Government might have dared to take a blow by going against BJP or VHP who supported the 'land grab' and destrengthening of SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board) might have sent a wrong message to the rest of India and it added to the problems of the government...
anyways it still means the same thing other way around...First, the SASB would have constructed the CONCRETE structures over our virgin forests and destroyed the whole landscape but now it's the state government which has got the licence to cut through all the beautiful and dense PROTECTED forests and convert the tourist resorts of Pahalgam and Sonamarg into concrete jungles...
We need to stand up ONCE AGAIN to fight against the odds, this time the issue is of global recognition...the issue is to save environment
The media along with BJP has played a villainous role by reporting only one side of the story thus sending a wrong message out that Kashmiri people are against the Yatra and against the Hindus...when the truth is that we Kashmiris are the most tolerant and hospitable community in the world...and by kashmiris I mean all our Pandit brothers, the Sikh brothers, and the few Budhist and Christians...such a religious harmony..
India curently a growing world power has to play a major role in global issues such as global warming and environment degradation...After all, India is a part of the 'BRIC' nations..that means we are on the verge of being called developed nation....so why can't the Indian government come up with an alternative solution to accomodate all the Yatris and leave our forests untouched...?
Yes, we all agree that the Yatris need some world class infrastructure....But no, not at the cost of forests....
Dare I say, the Hindu God's living in the mountains won't be too pleased to see all their trees being chopped off.....(sorry if I might have sounded rude or unintentionally disrespectful, but I think no religion will ever allow us to ruin nature)
I don't know how many of you would be knowing it because it hasn't been yet popularised in the media...but there is an amazing fact...When one reaches the Holy Amarnath Cave and looks behind at a mountain with concentration...there it appears...carved into the mountain with coloured stones (mostly white)...naturally carved on one side of the mountain is beautifully written "MOHAMMAD" (in Arabic script)...I SWEAR, IT'S TRUE....I have seen the photographs myself...and my dad who once went to the cave in search of that very mountain, actually found it...very few locals (Gujjars and Bakerwals) know it..in fact it was one horse owner who showed my dad the mountain....such a tremendous proof of the holy harmony between all the religions.......with holy Shri Amarnath cave on one side and Mohammad NATURALLY carved into the mountain on other side...It's a miracle...This truely is God's own country
Our Hindu brothers and rest of India must realise the way BJP and VHP are communalising the whole issue and the way media is reporting only one side of the story...otherwise we Kashmiris might be left with a tarnished image which would kill our already struggling tourism industry...
If God created this paradise on earth...He must have created it for himself...
All you devotees out there on a pilgrimage to this valley...WAKE UP...awaken your conscience, elevate your minds, purify your souls....Join our hands to raise one single and united voice to save environment...
Allow God to breathe.....!
let's hope for a DIVIN3 intervention......
4 comments:
Analysis: Haj vs. Amarnath
The unfortunate events in Jammu & Kashmir regarding the transfer of land by the government to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board call for each one's urgent attention and involvement.
What began as a simple effort to facilitate Amarnath pilgrims has suddenly developed communal and political overtones. This is appalling when compared to the facilities offered to the Haj and the Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
In an attempt to bring this to the attention of every responsible citizen of India, we would like you to have the benefit of some facts stated below.
In keeping with public policy statements, the Government of India makes elaborate arrangements for the welfare of Haj pilgrims and strives to improve the facilities provided to them every year. That is how it should be. The Government of India, and the ministry of external affairs in particular, deserves credit for providing perhaps the best arrangements that any government makes for their Haj pilgrims.
For eg: As reported in a newspaper article, here are the facts about the facilities provided to Haj pilgrims.
1. To begin with, the government provides an airfare subsidy to about 100,000 pilgrims selected by the Haj Committee of India who go for Haj annually. Pilgrims pay only Rs 12,000 for their air travel. This figure has remained unchanged for at least a decade or more. According to official figures, this subsidy was Rs 280 crores in 2006, or about Rs 28,000 per pilgrim. Today, with rising fuel prices, this figure would have gone up to Rs 350-400 crore. There is also a seperate Haj Terminal at Delhi International Airport.
2. There is a separate Haj cell in the ministry of external affairs. The Haj Committee of India has its own premises in Mumbai. Similarly the State Haj Committees have their own premises in various other Indian cities. These facilities have been built on land provided by the state governments.
3. Accommodation in Mecca and Medina is decided keeping in mind the need to provide maximum convenience and comfort to the pilgrims. Typically, all accommodation has lifts, telephones, running water, electricity and telephone at the minimum. There is total computerisation of pilgrim location and movement.
4. For Haj 2007, a contingent of 115 doctors (including 63 specialists with post-graduate degrees) and 141 nurses and other para-medical staff, 3 coordinators, 46 assistant Haj officers, 165 Haj assistants and 186 Khadimul Hujjaj were sent from India on short-term deputation to Saudi Arabia. Special attention is given to medical facilities for the pilgrims.
5. Some of the facilities provided by the government are: arrangements for polio, meningitis and influenza vaccinations for pilgrims before departure; a 75-bed hospital and 12 branch offices-cum-dispensaries in Mecca; a 15-bed hospital and 6 branch offices-cum-dispensaries in Medina; three medical teams at Jeddah airport to provide medical care round the clock to Haj pilgrims; 17 ambulances in Mecca and Medina; supply of medicines, medical supplies and critical medical equipment from India. All this adds up to the total money spent by the government to facilitate a hassle-free Haj pilgrimage each year for tens of thousands of Muslims from India.
What is due to one community by logic and fair practice is due to another. And yet in a discriminatory treatment lakhs of pilgrims who have been going to Amarnath for years have been denied basic human facilities. The question is what took them so long to consider these facilities and not whether or not they should be provided.
There isn't any adequate medical and sanitary facilities for the pilgrims of Amarnath Shrine. As the agitation continues, it has been reported that a water bottle costing Rs 14 was sold at Rs 70. And a khacchar or a pony that took pilgrims at the cost of Rs 1,500 charged an abominable Rs 10,000. Compare this with the subsidies for Haj Pilgrims. Buses of pilgrims were also stoned by unruly elements.
The whole agitation was started by the Peoples Democratic Party on the absurd presumption that providing these basic facilities to the travelling pilgrims will result in a changed "eco-cultural character" of the state. Does this imply that Kashmir only has a "Muslim" character?
Kashmir originally and lawfully belongs to both Hindus and Muslims. Nevertheless, 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir and are living as refugees and now even the very thought of Hindus settling in Kashmir is creating such violent repercussions. Is this a sign of a secular, healthy, fair society?
Even if we were to presume that it has a Muslim character, how can travelling pilgrims possibly change eco-cultural character of a place. Can there be a likelihood of someone settling down at the height of 13,500 ft? There can not be any possibility of Hindus settling down in the proposed land.
It is ironical that though the Hindus are being denied basic hospitable facilities to enable their pilgrimage, the temporary, pre-fabricated shelters built by the Amarnath Shrine Board were dismantled and sent for emergency relief operations during the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005. "About 60-70 pre-fab shelters were sent to Uri and Tangdhar, where they housed thousands," a senior Government official is reported to have said. "The Amarnath Board also sent pre-fab toilets. There was no objection from any political party at that point."
For centuries pilgrims have been making the arduous trip to Amarnath cave without any benefit from the state. They have to depend to private philanthropy for food, accommodation and other facilities. It is shameful that people have lived in torn taurpaulin tents. But a caring State in independent India can and should do more.
Please also view online exhibition on exodus and selective killings of 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir. Click http://refugees-in-their-own-country.blogspot.com/ to view.
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Ramesh Naidoo
www.rameshnaidoo.blogspot.com
Mr Naido --We respect your belief and your birthright for your land.But come out of cycle of hatred --who stopped you from performing yatra,just give me a single instance.One Arun kumar an outsider is trying to prove you that he is your benefactor and showers abuses on kashmiri muslims .You forget that for 150 yrs-- who supported yatra-it was local population.
For so called migration of kashmiri pandits from kashmir-it is a-open book--truth speaks-dozens of KP friends of ours-revealed- how under a proper plan they were shifted out-I advise you -let all kashmiris come to terms on common points -that is only way out.
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