"Agar Firdaus bar rooe zameen ast,
hameen ast o, hameen ast o, hameen ast"
These words of 13th century sufi poet Amir Khusro needs no explanation at present also, in this 21st century. I have read and studied a lot about Kashmir from the last 2 decades, but i have seen it in all its forms from early 20th century from the eyes of writers, Kasmiris, soldiers, and books. From the shooting of the cameras in 60's to the shooting from the Guns in 90's, i have seen it.
When i saw kashmir from the eyes of my father, it was in blossom's, full of beauty.From the yellow-red carpet of Chinars in Autumn to white carpet of snow in winters, Kashmir changed with seasons.
Till 1980's Kashmir remained calm. One can taste Kashmiri cuisine's flavoured with saffron, Kashmiri chai with Bakarkhani, beautiful carpets, women with pashmina shawl's and locals smoking hookahs while sitting besides kangris.
Napolean Bonaparte bought Kashmiri shawl for his beloved wife as he has listened that Kashmiri shawl are very beautiful and are known for their best quality.
How can we forget the days of 60's and 70's, "Yeh chand sa roshan chehra" with Shami Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore. Shashi Kapoor's "pardesion se na akhiyaan milana" and many more.
And then in 1989 sound of melodies was replaced by the sound of Gun shots and blasts.
In 2010, I visited Kasmir first time on my way to Amarnath. On my way i saw men in olive, squinting from the roof tops, behind trees and from their bunkers.I was downhearted by seeing this.I remembered and hummed-
" Phir Jarra Jarra mehkega, Khushbu ke mausam aayenga
Phir Chinar ki shaakhon pe panchi,
Phir Chinar ki shaakhon pe panchi,
ghar apna banaayenge,
In raahon se jaane wale laut ke wapas aayenge,
Phir jannat ki galion mein log nagme gaayenge.................."
