So, this is about Bushra. Bushra is my friend from Kashmir. I am in love with her
name. Like myself, Bushra is also 19 years old and has been staying in Delhi for
her higher studies.
I remember when I first saw her, I was taken aback by how beautiful she was.
Hijab clad, nervous Bushra. I approached her and offered if she would like to
explore the campus with me. Hesitantly, she agreed.
I tell her that when I think about Kashmir, the first thing that pops in my head is
the beautiful shikaras in Dal…beautiful Kashmiri girls wearing phirans and drinking
hot, steamy kahva. Being a foodie, I tell her, Kashmiri cuisine is a delight. Those
red, shiny apples…so succulent and tempting. To this, she comments, “ the valley
is splashed with the colour red of late. And its obviously not because of the apples”.
She tells me, it is very difficult for a Kashmiri to not be wary of what the
government promises for their betterment. After what they have been through,
one cannot really blame them. For the rest of the Indians, Kashmiris have mixed
feelings and not much are pleasant. That Kashmiris have been wronged, is old
news. The patriotic Indian in me, very much wants Kashmir to be a part of India
no matter what. But the human in me nods in disapproval when I see the
selfishness with which our government has handled the entire situation.
Bushra tells me, how she hates coming to college everyday as it’s a very new
concept to her. I ask her was she not used to going to school everyday and she
looks away. I ask her what happened and she tells me, “Every other day, there
was some protest, security issue and schools, colleges etc. would remain close. We
hardly had school for four days a week!”. I did not know whether to envy her
because she got more stay-in-bed time in the morning or feel sad for because she
got less days to create the beautiful school days memories. This is how it was with
Bushra, initially. I did not know what to feel for her. I surely did not want to pity
her. I surely could not empathise with her. Sympathy, maybe? I tried.
One day, we were in her room and she was showing me her novels’ collection( both of us are avid readers, one of the main reasons why we hit it off instantly). On the last page of her tattered copy of a ‘thousand splendid suns’, was written:
‘In the bitter chill of winter shivers his naked body Whose skill wraps the rich in royal shawls1 ’
I asked her in what reference did she write that and she told me, it was for the poor Muslim shawl weavers in Kashmir who are highly underpaid for their unmatched craftsmanship. I looked away.
I asked her one day, what were her feelings on Kashmir being part of India. This is what she said: ‘Rest of the Indians feel that just because we have been given a ‘Kashmiri migrant’ quota, we have no right to voice our grievances. When I was a kid, I did not understand two hoots about curfew and plebiscite. My only concern was why I could not play ball outside with aapa(elder sister) after 5:00 p.m.
Our neighbors, the Rizvis, were very dear friends. The Rizvis were a family of four. Husband, wife and two sons. Khaala, I would call Ms. Rizvi. She was a plump, cheerful woman who made the best kebabs in the world. Well, not anymore. I still remember that day, aapa, Aftaab, Shoib(the Rizvis) and I were playing ball outside our house when Shoib went to get the ball. The aroma of kebabs coming from Khaala’s kitchen filled the street. I was so happy to have kicked the ball far enough for it to be lost! That was the last we saw the 15 year old Shoib.’ Bushra has a haunted look in her eyes. She still blames herself.
Shabana khaala gave up everything and became an active member of the ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS FOR DISAPPEARED CHILDREN leaving behind Mr. Rizvi and Aftaab to fend for themselves. That was the last the Rizvi household smelled of kebabs.
The evenings that I spent combing my Barbie’s hair, Bushra was busy trying to make sense of words like ‘AFSPA’, ‘Independence’,’Militant’. She tells me, the kashmiris are appalled by the audacity of the Indian government to have established such an autocratic rule over Kashmir.
“What about the emotional speech Pandit Nehru gave at Lal Chowk? The accession was supposed to be a temporary arrangement! The Indian government sees elections as acceptance of Indian rule by Kashmiris whereas Kashmiris vote and elect merely to have governance for day to day activities. ‘The Indian government fears that if they let a plebiscite happen, we will choose Pakistan and that would be a blow to it’s inflated ego. This is far from the truth. Honestly, neither do we want India nor Pakistan. We just want to live a peaceful life.
A life where we can also have a Cannaught Place, where we can go out at 2:00 am for ice cream and not be afraid of being frisked by the army…’ I interrupt and argue that Indian army is supposed to be the saviour and its there to protect them. She gives me her usual wary look.
AFSPA or the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, she says, has resulted in grave violation of the human rights. What the army terms as ‘collateral damage’ are innocent civilians who had just as much right to life as you and I. They say, we can’t do away with AFSPA because that would result into serious infiltration. She says, if such brutal handling of civilians continues, the number of militants is going to increase to such an extent that infiltration is going to be the least of our concerns.
If, not then let the world remember that there was a time when Kashmir was a part of India in the past.
Bushra is a lot of people that I know from Kashmir. She has gone through more than what you and I can’t even imagine. For what reason, I ask. Just because, she was born on a land that has become a toy for India and Pakistan to fight over? Does that mean she has to bear the brunt of it, her entire existence? When are the decision makers of our country going to realise that there is no point in increasing our land area if we keep losing out on people’s faith?
Love,
Sakshi!
One day, we were in her room and she was showing me her novels’ collection( both of us are avid readers, one of the main reasons why we hit it off instantly). On the last page of her tattered copy of a ‘thousand splendid suns’, was written:
‘In the bitter chill of winter shivers his naked body Whose skill wraps the rich in royal shawls1 ’
I asked her in what reference did she write that and she told me, it was for the poor Muslim shawl weavers in Kashmir who are highly underpaid for their unmatched craftsmanship. I looked away.
I asked her one day, what were her feelings on Kashmir being part of India. This is what she said: ‘Rest of the Indians feel that just because we have been given a ‘Kashmiri migrant’ quota, we have no right to voice our grievances. When I was a kid, I did not understand two hoots about curfew and plebiscite. My only concern was why I could not play ball outside with aapa(elder sister) after 5:00 p.m.
Our neighbors, the Rizvis, were very dear friends. The Rizvis were a family of four. Husband, wife and two sons. Khaala, I would call Ms. Rizvi. She was a plump, cheerful woman who made the best kebabs in the world. Well, not anymore. I still remember that day, aapa, Aftaab, Shoib(the Rizvis) and I were playing ball outside our house when Shoib went to get the ball. The aroma of kebabs coming from Khaala’s kitchen filled the street. I was so happy to have kicked the ball far enough for it to be lost! That was the last we saw the 15 year old Shoib.’ Bushra has a haunted look in her eyes. She still blames herself.
Shabana khaala gave up everything and became an active member of the ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS FOR DISAPPEARED CHILDREN leaving behind Mr. Rizvi and Aftaab to fend for themselves. That was the last the Rizvi household smelled of kebabs.
The evenings that I spent combing my Barbie’s hair, Bushra was busy trying to make sense of words like ‘AFSPA’, ‘Independence’,’Militant’. She tells me, the kashmiris are appalled by the audacity of the Indian government to have established such an autocratic rule over Kashmir.
“What about the emotional speech Pandit Nehru gave at Lal Chowk? The accession was supposed to be a temporary arrangement! The Indian government sees elections as acceptance of Indian rule by Kashmiris whereas Kashmiris vote and elect merely to have governance for day to day activities. ‘The Indian government fears that if they let a plebiscite happen, we will choose Pakistan and that would be a blow to it’s inflated ego. This is far from the truth. Honestly, neither do we want India nor Pakistan. We just want to live a peaceful life.
A life where we can also have a Cannaught Place, where we can go out at 2:00 am for ice cream and not be afraid of being frisked by the army…’ I interrupt and argue that Indian army is supposed to be the saviour and its there to protect them. She gives me her usual wary look.
AFSPA or the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, she says, has resulted in grave violation of the human rights. What the army terms as ‘collateral damage’ are innocent civilians who had just as much right to life as you and I. They say, we can’t do away with AFSPA because that would result into serious infiltration. She says, if such brutal handling of civilians continues, the number of militants is going to increase to such an extent that infiltration is going to be the least of our concerns.
There has been immense trampling of democratic rights which planted the seeds
of the Kashmiri nationalism. People today, neither want to be a part of India nor
Pakistan. I know that it would be irrational to grant self determination to Kashmir
in purview of present international security issues but how does that authorise us
to deny them of something that our Prime Minister promised them.
The Indian government needs to get its act together. If it plans to go on denying
the Kashmiris of the promised plebiscite, then it has some mammoth amends to
make.If, not then let the world remember that there was a time when Kashmir was a part of India in the past.
Bushra is a lot of people that I know from Kashmir. She has gone through more than what you and I can’t even imagine. For what reason, I ask. Just because, she was born on a land that has become a toy for India and Pakistan to fight over? Does that mean she has to bear the brunt of it, her entire existence? When are the decision makers of our country going to realise that there is no point in increasing our land area if we keep losing out on people’s faith?
Love,
Sakshi!
