A Testament to Courage and Unity
Although massacres of innocent native Kashmiris and guests from rest of India/world have taken place many times since the onset of the terrorism in Kashmir, the frightening ambush that claimed lives of 26 tourists and an equal number of people wounded on 22 April 2025 in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam has been the most cowardly and heinous to date. This piece humbly bows to the fallen and with all humility wishes to place our tribute to these innocent fellow countrymen. Issues of security lapses, efficacy of counter-insurgency grid, border management, surveillance of the routes of ingress along the LoC, obligations of the civil administration towards safety of the visitors, governance vacuum, covert security infrastructure along these gorge-like plateaus frequently trodden by tourists, credible local human intelligence networks, and other related issues demand a separate and detailed treatment, which we will undertake sometime later. But for now…….
In the serene Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, where the gentle breeze once carried the laughter of families and the excited chatter of children, a dark shadow fell on the fateful day of 22nd April. The verdant valley, known for centuries as a haven of peace and natural beauty, became witness to an act of unspeakable barbarism that would forever change the lives of countless families although the barbarism started in December 1989, and continues to date.
On what began as a perfect spring morning, with the sun casting its golden rays upon the snow-capped peaks, innocent tourists from various states of our country had gathered to celebrate life in its simplest form. Children ran through the wildflowers, some taking ride on ponies, their innocent giggles echoing across the dale. Elderly couples sat on blankets, sharing stories of their youth, watching their progeny enjoy the nature’s bounty. Newly-weds posed for photographs against the backdrop of majestic mountains, their eyes filled with dreams of the future. It was a tapestry of life in its most beautiful form - diverse, merry, and full of hope.
Then, evil descended upon this paradise.
The terrorists, driven by their dogmatic beliefs that know no mercy, disguised their hatred in military uniforms - a cowardly attempt to sow confusion and maximize casualties. They opened fire indiscriminately, their bullets tearing through the fabric of humanity itself. In those horrific moments, 26 precious lives were extinguished in one fell swoop, and 17 more were left bearing physical and emotional wounds that may never fully heal.
Among the victims were grandmothers who had spent their lives nurturing families, their wisdom and love now forever silenced. There were young couples, barely beginning their journey together, their shared dreams shattered in an instant. Children, whose only crime was their innocence, were robbed of their futures. Each victim had a name, a story, a family that loved them, and dreams that will now remain unfulfilled.
Shubham Dwivedi (31), married to Aishanya on 12 Feb this year, had come from Kanpur along with his 11-member family to enjoy the cool summer. This was his second trip. A young and promising life from Kanpur felled in the prime of his youth. Dinesh Mirania (42), from Raipur, along with his wife Neha, their 17-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter, were in Pahalgam to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Dinesh too fell to the assassin’s bullet leaving the family shell shocked and forlorn. Young Rajeev, just 7 years old, had been excitedly collecting pinecones for his school project, now emotionally traumatised for life. A few couples were on their delayed honeymoon. These are not just names; they represent the beautiful diversity of life that terrorism seeks to destroy.
The targeting of Hindu tourists was a calculated act of hatred, designed to tear at the very fabric of India’s secular democracy, and centuries old syncretic culture of Kashmir. But in their blind hatred, the terrorists failed to understand a fundamental truth: they may have taken lives, but they cannot kill the spirit of a nation that has weathered countless storms throughout its history.
Yet the cruel irony of such attacks is that they inflict the deepest wounds on the very people the terrorists claim to represent. When tourists flee, it is the local Muslim ponywallahs who watch their animals grow thin from lack of work. It is the small shopkeepers who must close their shutters, unable to feed their families. The taxi drivers sit idle by empty roads, their children’s school fees unpaid. The hotel workers lose their jobs, and proud artisans are reduced to penury. The dastardly massacre has effectively put paid to the ensuing tourist season in Kashmir, and with that the dwindling economy will further suffer.
As Eliot wrote in “The Waste Land,” they “show you fear in a handful of dust” – and here, that dust is the crumbling dreams of ordinary Kashmiris whose livelihoods depend on the very tourism that terrorism destroys. Like the profound injustices depicted in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” where systemic cruelty destroyed both the oppressed and ultimately the oppressors, terrorism in Kashmir creates a cycle of suffering that spares no one.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, we saw the true character of humanity emerge. Local Muslim residents rushed to help the wounded, offering their vehicles as ambulances. People of all faiths stood together, united in grief and determined in their resolve to not let hatred win. One of the killed was Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who ferried tourists on his horse from the parking lots to the Baisaran meadow. As the tourists scrambled to escape volleys of bullets, Adil pounced on one of the terrorists to snatch his gun to stop further killing, disregarding personal safety and displaying exemplary courage, and in the scuffle lost his life. Men like Adil are the true emblems of humanity. They are our heroes truly deserving of our obeisance and heartfelt gratitude. Long live their creed.
The mountains of Kashmir have witnessed both great beauty and terrible tragedy. They have seen empires rise and fall, conflicts come and go, but they have also seen the enduring spirit of the people who call this land home. Today, these ancient peaks stand as silent witnesses to our collective grief, but also to our unwavering determination to overcome this darkness.
To the families who lost their loved ones, we offer not just our condolences but our solemn promise: your loss will not be in vain. The memory of those taken from us will fuel our resolve to build a world where such barbarity has no place. We will remember them not as victims, but as symbols of the peaceful, diverse India that the terrorists sought to destroy.
Let us honour their memory by refusing to succumb to fear or hatred. The terrorists want us to retreat into our homes, to view each other with suspicion, to abandon the very freedoms that make our society vibrant. We must deny them this victory. We must continue to travel, to celebrate, to embrace life in all its fullness. Every family picnic, every pilgrimage, every act of crossing religious and cultural boundaries is a defeat for those who peddle in terror.
To the brave security forces who risk their lives daily to protect us, we offer our gratitude and support. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed. To the people of Kashmir, who have endured so much yet continue to extend hospitality and warmth to visitors, we stand with you. Your resilience is an inspiration to us all.
As we move forward, let us transform our grief into action. Let us strengthen our intelligence networks, enhance our security measures, revisit our strategies for forthcoming Amarnath Ji Yatra with realism and “what has been left unattended”, and remain vigilant. As a 2nd Lieutenant, my Commanding Officer would always say; “Son, whatever you have not inspected, you have ignored”. Let the bosses in our security apparatus take cognizance of this pearl of wisdom from the Indian Army and update their plans and strategies to ensure that the forthcoming Yatra runs its cycle smoothly and peacefully. But let us also invest in education, promote interfaith dialogue, and address the root causes that allow extremism to grow. We must build bridges where others seek to create division.
The Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam will bloom again. Children will once more run through its flowers, families will gather for picnics, and love will triumph over hate. This is not naive optimism but a testament to the indomitable human spirit. We have seen it throughout history - from the beaches of Mumbai to the streets of Paris, from the markets of Baghdad to the churches of Sri Lanka - humanity always rises from the ashes of terrorism stronger and more united.
To those who lost their lives on that tragic day, we make this promise: we will live the lives you were denied. We will love more deeply, laugh more freely, and embrace each other more tightly. We will teach our children about your sacrifice and ensure that the values you lived for - peace, harmony, and mutual respect - continue to flourish.
In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” Today, in our darkest hour, we choose to sing. We choose to believe in the dawn that will surely come. We choose to honour the memory of the innocent by building a world where such tragedies become impossible.
Let the meadows of Pahalgam become not just a memorial to those we lost, but a testament to our collective resolve. Let every flower that blooms there remind us of the lives cut short and let every sunrise over those mountains strengthen our determination to create a world free from the scourge of terrorism.
We will remember them. We will honour them. And in their memory, we will prevail.
May their souls rest in eternal peace, and may their sacrifice light our way toward a future where love conquers hate, and peace prevails over violence.
Colonel M M Shah, Recipient of Rashtriya Gaurav Saman
