SYED TAJAMUL “IMRAN”
This year turned sour for Jammu and Kashmir. The disaster struck as floods ravaged through Kashmir. It displaced millions, destroyed properties and ruined everything that came into its way. The numerical turns more than 5000 crore as estimated by ESSCOM. It is estimated that this flood was the greatest in century. It brought a lot of causalities. In fact the first causality of the floods was the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir.
The government was caught off guard and it came crashing down leaving the people to fight for themselves. The people showed the super human courage and brought thousands to safer places. The role of the youth was particularly commendable. They set up relief works, established health centers etc. of course this work was neglected by the Indian media that only showed army in command of the ground situation. Most people believe it was a media stunt to glorify Indian army that is accused of mass murder of Kashmir’s. This is disgusting that Indian media used the sufferings of Kashmir’s to achieve their political goals. In this saga of agony the anger turned towards government as it failed to come to rescue to the beleaguered population. The anger was towards the national conference that is now using various tactics to keep itself alive as the main opposition, PDP, has showered accusations of indifference. It was accused of gross negligence. Many people came heavily down on Umer government. The main opposition tried to take advantage of the situation and tried to reap the benefits. They tried to sail over the suffering of the people in order to achieve its political goals. But it is also a truth that PDP kept criminal silence in the floods and was seen nowhere. Its infrastructure also came down heavily affecting its poll propaganda. The main opposition collapsed and its cadre was seen nowhere.
The leadership went missing as was the government. During election rallies the PDP especially its youth wing and it’s in charge were highlighting themselves and promised people that they will never leave them in any sutivation but the same wing were missing since 6th September it shows again the real face of our mainstream leaders. This may have been prompted by the fact that elections were nearing and opposition wanted to channelize the anger against government. They may have a strategy to let people suffer maximum and make it a poll issue. PDP knows it better that there have been many instants that went against the national conference. The killing of young boys at the hands of forces, the case of rape of two young girls of Shopian district, the hanging of Afzal Guru and now the floods that ravaged Kashmir.
The floods went right through the heart of the city and displaced thousands. People left all their belongings and were forced to leave in the dead of the night. They might have left their hopes on the government but help came from nowhere. Everything went black and it was the local youth who emerged as the beacon of hope for the affected. Risking their lives they saved thousands. They were seen carrying people on their shoulders in muddy waters. The relief system was organized in an astonishing way. People set up medical tents and distributed food that went for many days. Even the food was brought in trucks, tractors and whatever the people found. People would have starved if this were not happened. The Kashmiri spirit was at its peak. His tendency to help, cope with disaster and the rise again was at display. The role of the youth was commendable and it was only the media that tried to take sheen away from them. They used the tactics to glorify their army that is accused of mass murder of kashmiries. Not only the youth, the Kashmiri freedom fighters were at the forefront of helping the needy. They travelled through the flooded waters and distributed relief to the flood affected population. Most of the people are at constant praise for the freedom fighters for their timely help. Eyewitness says they risked their lives and distributed food and clothes. It were freedom fighters like SYED ALI SHAH GELANI, MIZWAIZ UMER, YASEEN MALIK, SHABIR SHAH, HILAL WAR ETC who deserved mention as they helped in the muddy period of Kashmir Meanwhile when the senior leader of APHC Er. Hilal war was asked to change his clothes his answer, “until I will change my clothes I can save 10 lives.” Umer Farooq Mirwaiz Kashmir was serving people and was himself in rescue operation traveling in boats, trucks etc. and also Huryat G’s activists also helped people and played an unbelievable role in rescue operations in Srinagar. Meanwhile the villagers from south Kashmir as well as north Kashmir were busy in collecting food items from every home for flood victims in central Kashmir. Some volunteers without any hesitations leaves their homes from different parts of Kashmir to save the lives of their brother suffering in floods particularly in Srinagar and while saving others they fail to save their own lives. It was a big example of Kashmiri brotherhood for which kashmiries are known in every part of world. But the real work was done by youth who took to voluntary action and saved thousands. They were providing relief and shelter to the displaced for days and nights. The role of NGO’S is also commendable. Relief workers from across India visited the Kashmir for help. The medicines they brought, the food and the sincerity of work they worked in Kashmir is also commendable. Even though India tried its best to glorify Indian army, the people on the streets were not impressed at all. They blamed Indian army on rescuing only selected individuals who were in government. Also, its policy on Kashmir angered the local people as international aid was blocked due to political reasons. The response of international aid could have saved many as they are experts in response to these disasters. The availability of infrastructure and the technical knowhow could have been used to save people of the valley. But it was blocked leaving a trial of disaster and destruction. Thanks to Indian government the Kashmiris Muslim population had to undergo a lot of problems and stress. To put salt on the wounds of Kashmiris the Indian army dropped expired goods and then locals went furious and pelted stones on the choppers. This was widely circulated by the media in order to portray Kashmiris in negative angle. The Indian biased media pounced upon the incident and quoted it out of context to show world how passionate Indian army that has killed thousands are towards Kashmiris and how we are returning them.
No doubt Jammu Kashmir CM Omer Abdullah without his cabinet was serving people in his chopper and was distributing food items without any other minister as it looks he was proving his being human nature. Lot of other new mainstream young politicians like Shahzad Hamdani (AIP’s State youth Leader) has played an important role in severing people of downtown Srinagar who are always viewed as peace destructors through Indian lawmakers and Kashmiri lawmakers too. And the same youth from downtown without knowing anything about their beloved ones were the main leaders of rescue operations via APHC as well as volunteers. And also journalists were too helping people and a brave photo journalist lost his life while performing his duty. Meanwhile when Indian army choppers were saving outsiders the youth from Srinagar city pellets stones on their choppers because of their anger the Indian army men showed thumbs to them it was really disgusting again and again.
It is true that we have suffered a very tragic blow, our minds are confused and worried and we are left speechless, the knowledgeable are left helpless and are left to drown in a river of sorrow, but don’t forget that our brotherhood and our hope are alive even today. Our tears haven’t dried up yet and we will not allow them to dry up until we will rebuild our Kashmir our identity. Brothers nothing is over and nor are we orphans we will rise again, we will rebuild our Kashmir as soon as possible we have a history of victory.
(The writer hails from Nazneenpora, village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. He is the 21 year old boy, hoping to see an ideal jammu & Kashmir state full of peace and prosperity. And can be reached at syedtajamul09@gmail.com or +919596065614)