Kashmir is still the same unfortunate people – our sons were martyred and fathers left to bear their coffins when it should have been the opposite.
Irfan Tramboo
An orchestra of 100 musicians coming to heal our wounds, oozing out blood. Coming to entertain us, nay mock at us, to rub salt into the wounds of those mothers whose sons were killed in front of them or arrested and never sent back.
Zubin Mehta et al from Germany are coming to play at the Shalimar garden. Peace? Yes, why not, they are coming to sing over the graves of our martyrs. So ready yourselves my fellows, they are coming.
The Germans and our so-called mainstream politicians have insisted that this event is not going to dilute the disputed nature of Kashmir, but that it is an event which will boost tourism in this economically weak region.
But let them know that we have yet to come over our grief. We are still mourning, and rivers are still bloody. We offer funeral prayers for our dear ones every day, there is no end to our miseries.
We Kashmiris have still not changed. We are still the same unfortunate people – our sons were martyred and fathers left to bear their coffins and take part in their funerals when it should have been the opposite. Who can bring them back, you Mr Mehta?
We are an oppressed nation, occupied and there is nothing called entertainment for us.
We are still a nation where you will find a good percentage of orphans. Here you will find the maximum number of enforced disappearances. Kashmir is the only nation in the world where the term “Half-widow” is used. Does Germany know the feelings of these half-widows?.
O’ Germans you have no right to organize this event, no matter what banner you will use for this. We are all adequately aware of your ill intentions. Please stop beating this drum of ‘peace’.
Being an oppressed nation, we will not be able to stop the event. But at least we show our resentment by opposing it. Here all our rights, including the right to life, have been usurped. But the least we can do is protest. Yes we do!
(Author is a freelance writer. Views are his own. For your contributions write to [email protected])