Defining Moment

There is a defining moment in every nation's existence. These moments define the character of a nation and what it stands for. One such moment that the nation of Kashmir is facing today is the fate of Dal lake.
We are fortunate enough to have been blessed with a land of unparalleled beauty. With this blessing comes the responsibility to preserve this beauty. So far we failed to do what is right. Dal lake bears witness that we did not fulfill our responsibilities. Now is the time, when we need to rise up as a nation and come to its rescue. We need to do what is right and what is expected of us.
Government has not been able to prevent its deterioration. We as people need to step up. This lake belongs to each one of us. We need to save it. The people of Kashmir need to own this lake with all its problems. We can't be its fair weather friends. As long as it stays beautiful we will keep visiting it but as soon as it dies we will treat it the way we treat a dead dog. We will want to get rid of it. If we let that happen, what will it say about our character. It has been there forever and we have been proud of it. Now that it needs us, we are turning our backs towards it. It is crying for help:

' Save me! Save me! O' people of Kashmir. I am dying. Please. I need your help. I don't want to die, please help me. Don't go away, now is the time when I need you the most.'

A lot has been written about its condition. People have talked about it, heard about and cried for it. Everyone in Kashmir seems to be concerned but what we need the most is an honest action to save it. A call for help is not sufficient neither is concern. What really matters is the action. We need to act and act now, briskly and efficiently as a nation. We need to gel as a unit , come together and strive, strive hard to save this lake and bring back its lost glory. We need to define ourselves and take a step that will lead this lake into a healthier tomorrow.

Preservation of this lake is a direct reflection of our character as a nation. We have to make a choice. Do we want to watch it die silently and live with this pain for ever? or, do we want to come forward and save it for us, our future generations and the world? This is the defining moment.

Manzimyara Manzimyara

Manzimyara manzimyara onthane kahn labith
Ahnez ahnez kaapi hind dah warakh barith

Ajekated, shareef te shakeel chhui baech
Ahansa su gow pozui gode wan me zaech

Sofi saebnen korum jawab, na onum Teli
Tyuhund awlad aestan kootah jaan, saen zaat ma meli

Akh rishte haz chhu Qureshi te byakh chhui Wani
Yi kyasa ma chhu dolmut zan ne me zaani

Parway ne Bhat ti chhim anmit te beyi anim Baba
Ahansa magar asi yiyi ne yiman saet hisaaba

Ade Banday dimonaya kine dimonay Qazi
Wech kya karaan rishte chum na thawun razi

Mufti ti haz chhim beyi haz chhim Khan
Yiman kith chhi keran zanem panun paan

Nahvi saebni tula kath kine tohi gachew Shah
Tul waen kehn karakh na beyi khas rachah

Goday korwam inkaar ki asi lagi ne Mir
Syed ti saeri nakli kahn chhune peer

Haay myane khudaya sharaftukh rood ne zamanay
Syod syod chandaan rishte, tath ti karaan bahanay

This is an effort at the dramatization of the dialogue between family of a prospective bride or groom and a species in kasheer known as manzyumyor (middle-man). There are so many other castes in kashmir, I had no intention to leave you guys out. But, sorry, my vocabulary of castes is limited. It is a pity that we have been muslims for so long, but never have risen above casteism. I wonder if there is a last name musalmaan or a surname muslim???

Disclaimer: The castes are not mentioned in any order - ascending or descending (wAllahi that does not even make any sense).

The Maer’s Last Sigh!!

Dal chhui maala-maal

Dengi was, khaalto laal

Laalas chhu gaashukh kamaal

(Dal is full of riches

Dive in and get the pearl

Pearl as bright as the light)

O my son! I have but been a good mother to you. I have been a cradle to your houseboats. My arms have held your shikaras like babies. I have fed you, nursed you, raised you and loved you as a good mother should. Remember the pambach, the nadur and the gaade. How many of you have I helped swim and how many have felt the warmth of my affection. I have watched you grow from babies to old people. I acted as a playground for you when you were kids, a rendezvous for friends to soak their tired legs. I would host you as love birds and provide an ambience where you would forget your troubles. I have kept you alive, I have kept you kicking. I have posed like a proud mother in your photographs and have been happy even as an unobserved detail in them. I assisted you in earning your livelihoods and raise your families. I never asked anything in return. But why my son, did you never consider me a part of your family? You abused me, ravaged me, poisoned me, hurt me in every way you could. You have brutally encroached my boundaries and violated my sanctity. I have shrunk to more than a tenth of my size. All I asked was to leave me alone, if not care for me, and I would continue serving your needs, the only reason Allah had created me for.

O my son! Listen to my plea, for this might be my last before I disappear into history and become merely a part of an artist’s collection. Help me so that I can help you. It does not take a genius to realize not to chop the branch one is sitting on – or does it!!