Face to Face with Kashmiriyat

For the world it is one thing, for a native it's another. But for me Kashmir is something entirely different. At least, I decoded Kashmir in a different way. As I have completed the first year of my marriage to an army officer, it’s very much required to pen down my reflections about Kashmir. Something stationed in my heart.

I was married to someone posted in Kashmir. That is how I landed in the most beautiful place on the globe. But the most guarded cantonment as well. A place where world was different, and hardly any interaction with the outside. For most of the Army officers there was hardly any interaction with local Kashmiris. But my story was different.

I went there like a daughter, and remained like a daughter to the place. How can I forget my welcome at the airport by a Kashmiri Chacha? Warmth and affection I can still feel in my heart.

From a synthetic menu in Delhi restaurants, to natural mouth watering dishes in Kashmir. Rogan Josh was a reality on my plate. Kashmiri Dam Aloo was something unique to taste. Everything I used to eat was from trained hands. I had it with locals and that too made with their hands only. Now I realised, you have to be firm to say no when you are full; otherwise eating is a never ending story. That is called taste.

Dal Lake, Phiran, House Boats and Kashmiri music; all I used to see in Cinema was in front of my eyes. But such a beautiful place guarded by security forces, with deployment of forces everywhere!

One thing I realised with time; not even a single Kashmiri is bad. They love others, and want to be loved. That is their soul. My only anxiety, something to be really researched into, is that who is creating this divide? I don’t want to be into the politics of this, but best of the humans have been portrayed in back light.

Today we need to understand one thing; this beautiful place is nothing but love. Kashmiriyat is much bigger than anything else, this is what I learned during period of my stay. I’m the daughter of Kashmir, because I got my extended family from parents' side there only. There was no Hindu- Muslim divide. Their festivals are our festivals.

We are entering a festive season and I’m not in Kashmir. I want to wish everyone there a very happy Diwali, deep from my heart. Let no mother lose her son. Let the light of this festive season always remain in your hearts. Any festival should bring happiness to us all.