I am Kashmiri!

I belong to that place whose elegance can't be compared to the whole world. I came from the place that is a reflection of heaven on earth; it is blessed with nature's beauty and love. It is rightly said by someone: "IF THERE IS PARADISE ON EARTH, IT'S HERE IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE." Yes, I belong to KASHMIR. 

But it is unfortunate that this beauty has been ruined by the tyrants of India. This heaven has been transformed to hell, the walls of which are painted red with the blood of innocents, the aura of this eden keeps on smothering. This land of our's holds the bodies of sons who once used to be honey bunches of their mothers. Father's couldn't see their bundles of joy as they feel conspiracies of the decoy, husbands couldn't become the comfort of their wives as they were brutally murdered with bloody knives. Here, the blood keeps on running from rivers; seeing this horror, every one shivers. If, in this 21st century, there is any extreme level of torture, uncontrolled extrajudicial killings, high degree of cruelty, it is in INDIAN OCCUPIED KASHMIR. 

Being a Kashmiri , sufferings of family  would not be a wondering point. As people are aware of the past and ongoing scenarios happening in Kashmir, it has become very common today for a man to hear about killings, months of lockdown, arresting thousands of people everyday and other means of humiliation. My grandfather [SHAMSUL HAQ], the crown of our family was a great scholar and intellectual; a virtous and rightous muslim, who despite having four masters' degrees, spurned the Indian Govternment job and joined the ranks of  JAMAT-E ISLAMI.

He devoted his whole life for the dignity of Islam. He had never approved to live under the rule of opressors whose intentions are not to suppress only kashmiris but every muslim. My grandfather left his family and every comfort of his life to serve and stand with his nation. His only goal was to develop the strength that Kashmiris need for achieving freedom. He had a heartily ambition to see the ultimate luxury of the freedom that would heal every wound and act like embrocation. But it was not in his fortune and was martyred by indian forces. 

This was really a great loss not only for my family but for whole Kashmir as his serving and leadership can't be replaced. At that time his elder son [my father] was just 15 years old and he was alone to raise his destitute family. My family's condition was very subpat because my grandfather was not the first martyr from our family; but also my maternal grandfather, granduncle and many more were already enlisted in the names of martyrs. Having left behind nothing, but small kids and his poor wife, my grandfather passed away. 

Every minute and second was like torture for my family. The loss of my grandfather was ofcourse a heartbroken truth for my family but it was more prideful as he had led the unblended path of struggle for freedom. The thing that is really awful is that torture and misery that my family faced thereafter. My family was not allowed to practice any task they want, they were like under lockup. Indian army used to pick up my father, my uncle and who ever would be present at my home during their mid night raids and kept torturing them. My family couldn't even dare to spend more than a day in their own house, they had to move every day and night. Their only fault was being the family of martyrs who had raised the voice against the brutality and oppression. My family faced every hardness and grief that an orphan as well as an oppressed family is supposed to face rather had gone through a much more that one can imagine. Nothing was left behind that could uplift my family and become the reason to live once again. But, one thing that compels a person in kashmir to build their world once again is when he/she listen the painful stories of other's. This makes one forget one's agony and makes one mourn for other's. This is how a reader/listener can judge the level of oppression in Kashmir.

Our struggle for freedom will never end with the blessing of ALMIGHTY until this warland will be back to Eden. Those who are faithful and committed have the support and solidarity from the whole universe and its Creator. The pain of struggle is better than living like slaves. Oppressed Kashmiris think of Pakistan as the backbone of their struggle for freedom. Every other country has turned around. It is the only country that is in support with kashmir since the moment of freedom had started. This belief towards kashmiris acts as an aid adding competence and every time a new zeal of freedom flourishes in the tearful eyes of Kashmiris.

''WHAT HAS BECOME OF OUR KASHMIR! FAREWELL, O MARTYERS! '

DEATH HAS COME TO RESIDE IN OUR KASHMIR! FAREWELL, O MARTYERS!'

Mir Sadiya (Batch of 2023)