"BECOMING A STONE-PELTER"

"I am from downtown Srinagar born in 1991. I was admitted to one of the best school of valley. As a child I had dream to become engineer. Whenever somebody used to ask me about my aim I would proudly say engineer. As I started to grow up I started to become familiar with many words which everyone used to talk about that among them few were "Azadi" (freedom), "hartal" (shutdown) but I was unable to understand the meaning of these words. I loved the word hartal as it was holiday, so I always wished for hartal. As I grew up I came to know about mujahids. I used to listen to the stories of mujahids. I would often ask my elders to tell me about mujahids. They told me stories of many mujahids like Isaaq, Ishfaq, and Jan Malik which I liked to share with my friends. 

Even I was named after a Shaheed Mujahid (martyr fighter) who was killed before few weeks I was born. Then Came the summer of 2007, I was passing by Nowhatta, It was month of Muharram. There was heavy stone pelting going on. I found it very interesting. I saw youth pelting stones and shouting freedom slogans. Initially I was afraid to go in front and pelt stones on Police and CRPF.

I used to think they are some angels fighting on the front. Days passed. Now I too had gathered guts to pelt stones on the front line. It was now 2008. I was busy with my exams. I heard about Amarnath Land Row. Things started changing very fast I had never seen kind of hartals (shutdowns) before. I had never seen kind of stone pelting before. It was totally new experience to me.

Now tear gas shell wasn't shot anymore, now bullets were fired directly. I saw many boys hit by a bullet and dying on spot. I was disturbed by this. I asked my grandfather once why they directly shoot on us. His answer was "Tse chuk mangaan azadi" (You are asking for freedom). This answer changed my mind. I started realizing neither we are part of India nor India considers us their part
.
Now I started reading history about our freedom struggle. I came to know about many things about the Kashmir struggle. Now I started reading newspaper, magazines very keenly. I started observing everything about the political system. I wept when I read about Gawkadal, Zukura, Hawal, Bijbihara, Sopore, Kupwara massacres. I too wanted to become Mujahid.I once joked with my mother that I will become Mujahid, her answer was pain full, first give me poison then you will become Mujahid.

Came 2009 I again started to remain busy with my studies but whenever there was stone pelting in Nowahatta I used go there and pelt stones. Stone pelting for me now, has become a reaction to the atrocities and d illegal occupation of India. I do it for a cause.I was once caught by police and was put in custody. I was also beaten but that also couldn't break me. When I was released I again started pelting stones. A policemen in custody told me why you pelt stones, do you think you will get freedom by pelting stones. If it is the case I am also ready to pelt stones, he said.

But still it is the only thing which makes me feel that gun or bullet cannot suppress my thoughts my sentiments to live free and to get rid of this occupation.I am happy when I pelt stones because I want to take revenge for every innocent killing. I know my stone won't harm them but remember it is not stone it is my feelings. I pelt stones because we are oppressed.

It was June 2009 Shopian rape had occurred. It was unbearable to hear rape and murder case of a girl and her sister in law. Tears rolled from my eyes when I read story of Asiya in newspaper. Once again hartals, stone pelting emerged with more boys felling to bullets to a response for protesting for justice from brutal Indian military.I watched a press conference of Omar Abdullah on news channel promising to bring culprits in front of people and punish them in 24 hors. Honestly I was happy with his promise I saw a hope in him in bringing justice to the duo.

But nothing happened instead of justice their relatives were beaten. This made me more aggressive I wanted to take revenge, I wanted to punish murderers. More ever I considered cm for all this because his behaviour made me much aggressive much angry against India and their brutality here.After one month of continuous strikes life was back on track. Again we started to remain busy with our studies.

But I always used to think why didn’t the duo got justice I once had seen news of a 14 year old girl from Delhi who was killed by unknown person in her bedroom. But Police wasn’t able to solve the case. It was then handed over to CBI who arrested the culprits in few weeks.But in case of Kashmir CBI solved the case differently they didn’t arrested the culprits but made a funny story of the victims that they died due to drowning in stream whose depth was hardly unto knees. This clearly showed policy of India in Kashmir.

But whom could I ask these questions why didn’t they get justice? Why they shoot us if we protest for seeking justice? These questions always were in my mind. By pelting stones I dint got answer but I was happy I felt I am taking revenge by pelting stones but what else I could do who was their to listen me. I felt satisfaction by pelting stones by pelting stones I wanted to say them give us justice leave our Kashmir let us leave in peace let us live in place where no mother has fear that her son may return dead. These are not stones these are my feelings.

Came 2010 it was January once I saw Wamiq Farooq, He was a neighbour of one of my relatives residing at Rainawari area of Srinagar. Wamiq was very good boy he used to offer my times prayers. He used to call me bhai (brother).After few weeks on one Friday evening I heard that a boy has been martyred after hitting by tear gas shell but I didn’t know unfortunately it was Wamiq the same guy whom I had seen before a day. When I woke up next morning I saw a picture of boy whose identity was yet to be revealed in newspaper. After few minutes I got call from my cousin that Wamiq has been martyred. For few minutes I totally froze I wasn’t able to speak. A boy hardly 13 was no more. You can understand how it feels when you hear death of person whom you know.

Wamiq was like my little brother I had never thought an innocent young boy will fall prey to their brutality. Once again hartals (strikes) and stone pelting emerged with more boys getting injured and martyred. Indian occupational forces were responding with more brutality, they are occupational forces their cruelty and brutality is not a surprise to us but I was surprised by the role of Jammu and Kashmir police our local police they are playing absurd role. One fails to understand the cause of their cruelty and brutality, Is it they want to show more loyalty to India or they are killing their brothers for money. What ever the reason is but the way they behave with their own countrymen is painful. Maybe they have became blind because of power government has given to them.

Wamiq's death gave birth to a powerful revolution. The revolution shook the existence of Indian rule in Kashmir. Now India started to show their military power to unarmed civilians. The way they deal with protests is answer to those people who call India integral part of Kashmir.India has started to engage its every front to curb this revolution from politically to technically even media is being used to curb this revolution.
Streets of Kashmir have become red with the blood of innocent people. Jhelum has become red with blood of innocent people.

I know one day may be I will also fall to their bullets even I am mentally prepared for that because I have attained extreme limit of stone pelting. But remember my death will give birth to hundreds of kale kharab (hotheads). As I became kale kharab (hothead) after death of innocent boys from last three years. 65 deaths have already given birth to hundreds of kale kharab (hot head) who are ready to fight till their last breath. These kale kharab (hothead) are present at every corner of Kashmir. What ever will the future of present intifada but the struggle to free Kashmir will continue even if takes 100 more years. Next generation will produce more dangerous kale kharabs (hot heads) to free Kashmir."


Source : Knowing Kashmir

I wept- with me wept the Dal Lake

Dal Lake needs no introduction. The most famous and often quoted symbol of Kashmir is in fact the Dal Lake. It would not be wrong to say that most parts of Srinagar city lie in the vicinity of this lake. The crown of kashmir unfortunately is breathing is last. It has shrunk to almost one sixth of its original size. Human greed, callous authorities and criminal neglect by all residents of kashmir have brought it almost to the point of being consigned to the dustbin of history. Kashmir is the only place on earth where lake dwellers have filled the lake over the years and have earned legal rights too.They are being compensated for plunder and enchroachment of public property and national treasure. The level of pollution in the Dal lake is now beyond definition by any statistics. While token protests and half hearted attempts have been going on, radical measures are warranted. Swift and abrupt end to the floating gardens. should be the first priority. They are the most convenient and frequently used way of enchroaching the lake. Demolition of all habitations within the lake which have no legal basis. Lake dwellers have rights to live in boats and not in houses within the lake.Limiting the number of house boats and ensuring that each one is fitted with latest sewage treatment facilities. Stopping all sewage from flowing into the lake.

It may seem to be a tough ask. Yes it is. But it is not only Dal lake but the kashmiri nation which is dying.We have to race against time to save ourselves by salvaging the Dal lake. When Delhi, a city of 15 million can transform its whole public transport within a few months, why cant we do something about our priceless treasure. Delhi is the first city in the world which has less polluting fuels for whole of its public transport system. We should Invite foreign consortia. Fund raising can be done to supplement the funds already earmarked for the lake.Moreover, international financial assistance can also be sought.We can impose a special levy or cess to raise funds over a ten year period exclusively for the conservation of the Dal Lake on the analogy of the education cess to raise funds for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan at the central level.
Build a system of roads and parks on the whole boundry of the lake. This will put an end to the enchroachment and conserve the lake for posterity. We must wake up.

Tel Bal Nallah


The tel bal nallah is extremely important for the sustainance of Dal Lake. Not only is the water level in the lake regulated by its flow, the breeding of fish thriving in dal lake depends on the nallah to a great extent.The nallah , has unfortunately got badly polluted and is adding to the woes of the lake. Here are a few glimpes of the rot at the mouth of the nallah and the settling basin at the foreshore road.

Dal Lake Proper

This may soon be a forgotten site.

Foot wear is found floating in abundance in the lake.

A drain emptying directly into the lake.

Thick algal blooms have suffocated the lake.

                    

        

                    

The Life line of the lake, the countless springs on the shores of the lake which used to nourish the lake are all but dead.They cry for conservation and attention.

A spring on the shores of Dal Lake which has dried up and has not been conserved .

This used to be a spring right on the shores of the lake. Now in disuse and damaged.

                   

Lost Glory

Sad Sight

stagnant despair

Source : Environment and Food Security Concerns