Violence in Kashmir, what an Indian is feeling right now.

Kashmir is fast becoming a state of concern not only for the Government and security forces, but for the common Indian too. When there is disturbance in a house, all the members in the family get affected. What one sees on the Television, images of angry people in the valley out on the streets, shouting anti-India slogans is disturbing. Why have people in valley given up their day to day life, livelihood and are so methodically singing this tune of "Freedom"?

Kashmiri's were always known for their friendly and gentle nature. Mainly because for a long time tourism has been the main source of income for these beautiful and friendly people. Images of the beautiful Dal Lake and Shikara's, Flowers and Apples, Snow covered mountains, hot Kahwa, and beautiful women singing folk songs, where has all that beauty gone? Kashmir and its beauty has been immortalized in the Hindi Cinema so often. Where has the heaven on earth called Kashmir gone? How did we loose that state?

Suddenly when I see anger and hatred on the faces of people in the valley, it comes as a surprise and angers me too. Why are they doing this? The degree of damage the Kashmiri's are causing to their state (yes, they are a state and a part of Indian Republic how much ever they dare to deny or what so ever name Pakistan/China/US wants to name them) will take many many years of hard work to undo.  Yes, may be people who are not living in Kashmir don't understand their problems. But then there is always scope for a dialogue.

To Indians living outside Kashmir it is very evident, that the people of Kashmir are innocent and gullible. They are being mislead by their own local self proclaimed leaders and those across the border.

War and anger has caused the collapse of so many nations worldwide. Afghanistan is struggling, Nepal is struggling, Sri Lank is at an internal war. What will the Kashmiri's gain from this bloodshed and freedom? Freedom from what? From your motherland? freedom to do what? And become what? Who knows Kashmir and what will happen to an independent Kashmir. It will be a matter of time before it is gobbled up by the Dragon or taken over by the Afghan Taliban. Kashmir is safe as long as it is under the protection of the vast Indian state and a strong capable Indian army. Why don't the people of Kashmir understand this. Or is it that they have been completely blinded and brain washed to the extent that they cant see the danger in independence?

Also, all this bloodshed and fighting. Who is benefiting if any one. None. Indian government is loosing out huge sum of money each year in peace keeping. And the people who are loosing out the most are the Kashmiri's themselves. They are loosing their lives, near and dear one's, they are loosing their reputation, they are loosing their livelihood and most important they are loosing trust and respect as a state from rest of India.Give it some more time and if they continue this anti-India campaign, Rest of India too will loose its patience with Kashmir.

It is but evident that Kashmir is a political issue (If anyone knows what are the issues) which needs a political solution. What are the issues and what is the solution, only the ruling government can decide. Common man in the valley must/should stay out of this and concentrate on getting his life back to normal.  People of Kashmir must revert back to their true nature, which is friendly and gentle. Please stop throwing stones and shouting anti-national slogans. Cooperate with the security forces to bring peace back to the valley instead of competing and fighting with the armed forces. Your victory lies in peace and amicable relationship with India.Indian/ Indian government/Indian security forces does not wish to kill Kashmiri youth. A nation that practices the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, opening fore on its own brethren does not happen easy. Keeping peace in Kashmir is fast becoming a head ace for the armed forces. Their Jawans too are getting killed. And for what? Protecting a state which is Indian and belongs to India.

Kashmir is India and will always remain so. Dialogue can happen in this periphery. Leave the neighbors out of this. It is our internal matter and others have NO say in this.

God created heaven on this earth and gifted it to the people of Kashmir. Please, if you have faith in god and respect for god, preserve his heaven and don't turn it into hell. People of Kashmir, keep peace and be happy. God bless you all.

People steal from God and yet they get away.

One piece of News which caught my attention recently was a huge scandal at the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Something to do with Lord's Ornaments. The Gold one's have been replaced with artificial Ornaments is what the News claims. All those who heard the new were surprised. So am I. Stealing from or cheating another Human being, accepted. But stealing from God. Cheating god! How can a man's conscience permit this?

Interestingly, stealing from Temples' or thefts in Temple/Other Holy places is nothing new to mankind. In the past too there have been many cases of thefts in Temple/Church/Other Holy Places. Precious jewelry/Ornaments/Cash and sometimes Lord's Idol's too have been stolen. Corrutpion is rampant in many of these Religious institutions. 

But the question is, how do these people get away? Why doesn't God appear before them and stop them from doing so?
 
Actually the answer too is very simple.

From times unkown thousands of Saints/Rishi's have spent like years in Sadhana/ doing Hath Yoga for glimpse of God.....no success. And here we expect God to appear before and punish some culprits for say 1/2 kg of Gold or some thousands of Rupees?

All the Wealth, Precious Metals/Stones/ all are his creation.....this Earth is his creation which he has gifted to mankind. His creation might change hands....from one man to another. They Gold/Stones/ Wealth might change hands...but the ownership does not change. He is the supreme Lord of all the Wealth in the World. He is the supreme owner of all the Wealth in the Universe....God knows this...and so he is generous...Honestly what do a few thousand Rupees or some Gold matter to God?

God is not possessive.....God is not vindictive.....God does not punish.....and so God lets them get away with the theft.....

How do we define progress?

Mani Mahesh Temple, Chaurasi Mandir, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

My recent trip to Himachal Pradesh was indeed a soul refreshing experience. Living near the Sea, is one kind of an experience. And living on the mountains a totally different experience. Mumbai is a coastal city and I have lived here all my life. Mumbai as all know, is a densely populated city. The city is choking with traffic. Speed is the essence of life in this city. There are advantages too I must say. It is a very convenient city, most amenities are simply a stone's throw away from where I live. Shopping, Entertainment, Medical facilities and Banking services which are essential for city life. With more and more services reaching my door step, almost everything is just a phone call away. Grocery, food, medicine, laundry almost everything reaches my house without much effort and off-course at a price.

During one of our sight seeing expeditions in Himachal Pradesh, we happen to visit a place called Bharmour. It is a quaint little village up the mountains known for its Temple Complex called "Chaurasi Mandir" (84 Temple complex). 
 

Road to Bharmour from Chamba runs parallel to River Beas.

The road to Bharmour is very tricky and difficult. It is narrow, rough and there is just enough space for just one vehicle to pass at a time. In case a vehicle comes from the opposite side, the driver uses all his skills and backs untill he finds a little cove in the rocks to side the car. Flanked by high rocky mountains on one side and swiftly flowing River Beas on the other side, death is sometimes just 3-4 inches away from the Car. Smallest error on part of the driver can cause a serious accident. The road is mostly isolated except for an occasisonal house up the mountains. Very few and far.

Sitting in an Air Conditioned imported Car, driven by a highly skilled and trained driver, as a city person not used to the mountain roads, we feared the road.

After a drive of about 5 hours from Chamba city, we reached Bharmour at about 4.00 pm. It is a small town, high up the mountains at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. Life at the Chaurasi Temple Complex went about as usual, unmoved and unaffected by the altitude or long distance from any of the so called city. There is a local school in the Temple complex and small children were doing PT in an open air class. In the back drop of Himalayas, their teacher sat on a wooden table busy reading a newspaper!

Objects of my envy...simple villagers at the Mani Mahesh Temple

One of the sights which caught my attention and stayed in my mind was a group of 5-6 middle aged/old men. they were sitting in a small circle, casually talking to each other.

Those men were local villagers, apparently passing time since there wasn't much to do around. It was a rainy day and the weather was pleasant. High mountains surrounding the village were partially covered with dense clouds reducing visibility. Everything around was covered in the monsoon greenery....there was a pleasant cool breeze....

At that moment I envied those men more than anyone else.....such serene life....fresh air and ample greenery....high up the Himalaya's.....they sat....busy in their own small talk....discussing the outside world.....

Made me reflect back at city life, my own life and that of my near and dear one's and millions of people living in these cement and concrete jungles...is this progress....the filth and the crowd.....diseases and pollution....work pressure and materialism....no time for peace and quite..tranquility...spirituality....Is this what the modern man calls progress?

Dhauladhar Range.

They say a trip to Himalayas' is a spiritual journey. I agree with this thought. Himalayas is a humbling experience. It is as much a journey within yourslef as much a trip to the divine mountains.

Life back in the city feels dull and wasted. Envy those villagers living up the Himalayas....agreed life for them is tough and very harsh...and yet they are very fortunate...to be living so close to nature....nature is a part of their life.....lucky lucky people...untouched by progress...makes me think once again...what is progress? and what have we gained as a result of this progress?