July 12, 2008

Abraham Lincolns letter

I found this letter during my school days in my English text book...This is a letter which Abraham Lincoln wrote to his son's teacher...I was so moved by the letter that I still keep a copy of it with me and read it when ever I feel down or lonely...This letter conitnues to give me inspiration when ever I feel lost...This letter really keeps me grounded when ever I feel like I ain't in control of myself...This letter is a gift to this world and all its students...
A truely D!V!N3 letter...!

He will have to learn, I know,that all men are not just,all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy,if you can,teach him the secret of quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,bees in the sun,and the flowers on a green hillside.
In the school teach himit is far more honorable to fail than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,even if everyone tells him they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people,and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth,and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him if you can,how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his earsto a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,but do not cuddle him,because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courageto be impatient…let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order,but see what you can do…He is such a fine little fellow,my son!

This letter might be a solution to all the 'modern' social and moral problems in the Kashmiri society...

July 3, 2008

Let God breathe...( The Holliest Pilgrimage )


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......