On Kashmir

Emperor Babur was supposedly so captivated by Kashmir that he famously proclaimed that “if there is a heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this”. (“agar firdaus ba ruay zami ast, ami asto, ami asto, ami ast”).

Over the past 60 years, the situation in J&K has steadily worsened. Unmet aspirations, frustrations of succeeding generations, anger, rancour, green shoots of hope, a ray of light at the end of the tunnel… A myriad emotions twirl in the minds of various stakeholders of J&K.

Here’s a poem on Kashmir that is inspired by what has happened to this “heaven on earth”. I think it aptly captures the situation in J&K over the last 60 years. It is as relevant today as it was in 1947. It’s written by Vidya, my very talented wife. It is her original work and as such, her IP.

On the subject of J&K, no one side is completely right. Neither is any one side completely wrong. Mistakes have been made by everyone. Some are deliberate, some are truly unintended. But if all sides involved in trying to make political capital of the situation on the ground can grasp the various shades of emotion embedded in this poem, I believe a solution will emerge more easily.

Kindly share your feedback on Vidya’s poem via comments on this blog. Of the many poems she has penned, this is one of my favorites.

Halaat-e- firdaus

Maatam ke is mahaul mein

Ulfat simat gayi.

Khushiyaan bhi yahan dard se

Rokar lipat gayin.

Nafrat ki sili aanch par

Khwahish pighal gayi.

Khwaabon ke aaftabon ko

Dahshat nigal gayi.

Aankhon se behta ashk toh

Arson se tham chuka.

Ghabra ke dil ka yeh lahu

Rag rag mein jam chuka.

Halaat se Kashmir yunh hai aaj jhoojhta

Ab chinar bhi padosi ka mazhab hai poochhta.

Taariq kya kahegi

Gam iska kya karein

Kal ka khayaal ho hamein

Jo aaj na marein.