A for Apple, B for Blockade!
The fall of apple led Newton to discover the force of gravity. But in Kashmir, the fall of the apple results in the fear of gloom. The fruit that promises prosperity now dangles in delay and danger. As all the boxes are ready, the journey of apple is haunted by the monster of road blockade.
Apple is embedded in economy as well as emotions. Acting as the lifeline for the orchardists, apple is more than just a fruit. The crate is not boxed with apples only, but is packed with the dreams and prayers of the growers. Apple is not a product. Apple is a promise of prosperity. Apple symbolizes the months of backbreaking labour. Behind every glossy apple lies the stamp of sweat and silent hardships of a grower. Orchards are more than a piece of land that lull the growers like a mother’s lap. Nurtured with devotion, fed with sweat - yet too often left helpless before the fate.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But an apple a day – stranded on the blocked road keeps the grower awake. It takes months for the fruit to ripe, but it only takes a blockade to get it rotten. The dreams shatter. Hopes die. The master behind the marvel of world famous apple is reduced to a lonely mourner behind the funeral. The garden for the grower now haunts like a grave of grief.
Ironically, Kashmiri apple is romanticized, paraded in the speeches and showcased at the stalls. The texture and taste find it portrayed in juicy vocabulary. Unfortunately, in this ordeal of the orchardist laments lonely– unheard and unseen.
The apple manages to survive in the hostile neighbourhood of many enemies. Be it pests, hailstorms, dry weather, teasing temperatures, and stormy winds - the apple battles out the odds to reach the prime of its harvest – unhurt. Thanks to the painful efforts and sacrifices that growers invest tirelessly throughout the year. The guardian of the garden heaves a sigh of relief at the time of harvest. The shine and the smell of the apple replace exhaustion with enthusiasm. Alas! The marathon to reach the market turns into a nightmare as road blockade announce its untimely arrival.
As days turn into weeks, the blockade weakens the chance for apple to survive. While the apple is abandoned at roadsides, the grower’s anxiety amplifies. The delay to reach the destination leaves him dejected and devastated.
Traffic jams and landslides aggravating road blockades need permanent solutions. Advisories need to be augmented with alternatives. Short cuts are to be replaced with sustainable solutions. The ambit of assistance has to encompass cold storage, reliable roads, rail connectivity, air cargo and other possible way outs.
Orchardist deserves applause, not apathy or any indifference. Solidarity is a necessity not just a slogan. The priorities need to be translated into policies. Promises must ripen early before the fruit rots. It is time to rescue the apple from the fatal fall!.
