Making of an Islamic State

For all those who are telling me that the whatever is happening in Kashmir is for Azadi from Indian State which has since decades suppressed it's people and committed grave atrocities:

I want to ask each one of you few Questions especially those who are vociferously propagating this...

• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people not involve Kashmiri Pandits in your scheme of things after all even they were ruled by the Indian Governments.
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people kill the only Political Kashmiri Pandit Leader Late. Tiklal Taploo while leaving other political Leaders alive ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people gang raped and then killed a nurse named Sarla Ganjoo on duty, attending to patients from every walk of Life & Religion?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people Kill thousands of Kashmiri Pandits like these who were 1% of entire population and in no way could have hampered your FREEDOM struggle ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people pelted stones at our Houses when Shabir Shah was arrested ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people threaten we Kashmiri Pandit girls to wear Bindis and Muslim girls to wear Headgear ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people let Mosques to be used, to terrorize us and our men by shouting slogans like assi gachi Pakistan batav rochtey batnyav saan (We want Pakistan here with KP females and without KP Men ), Yahan kya chalega Nizam-e-Mustafa, Kashmir mei rehna hai to Allahu Akbar kehna hai etc...
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people burn, desecrate, vandalized our Temples and holy places?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people shut every Movie Theater in the valley ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people close every Liquor shop in the valley ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you people shut down every Video Library in the valley ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you slaughter only COWS and started selling it openly, WHY not PIGS too ?
• If it was only about Azadi WHY did you oppose to Amarnath Yatra, which is like you going to Mecca ... 

 

If it was only about Azadi...

The FACT remains that, it NEVER EVER was about SUPPRESSION, OPPRESSION, AZADI or whatever... all along it was only and only about 'MAKING KASHMIR AN ISLAMIC STATE'.

I wish we had MSM and SM back in 1989 they way we have it today. Maybe WORLD would have heard our cries too and the so called HUMANITY would have helped me in going back to my roots BUT alas even after 27years... the Owners of the Kashyap Land remain Refugees and the Refugees remain as Owners.

My lost humanity

Maybe, I lost my Humanity the day they told me assi gachi Pakistan batav rochtey batnyan saan ( We want Pakistan here with KP females & without KP men).

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when from every Mosque, every Street, every Road of Kashmir, I could hear them shouting Kashmir mei rehna hai to 'Allah Hu Akabar' kehna hai ( If you have to live in Kashmir ,you will have to chant Allah Hu Akbar).

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when they desecrated my Temple and wrote on it's wall :- Yahan kya chalega, Nizame Mustafa.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity the day they took away my Home, my Childhood, my Life and left me on road with just one pair of cloth.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when they gang-raped my aunt and then cut her into pieces.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when my granny died in a tent because of a heat stroke.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when I saw Wandhama massacre with my own eyes. These were the Pandit families who had chosen to stay back in Kashmir and live with their Muslim neighbors in-spite of TERRORISM with 99% of us leaving the valley.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when instead of stating FACTS about my 7^th EXODUS from Kashmir, they told me that this time it was JAGMOHAN  who was responsible for it.

Maybe, I lost my Humanity when I was told I will never be able to go back to my roots.........BUT THANK GOD. I have still not lost my ability and senses to KILL HUMANS either in the name of religion, suppression, independence, revenge or whatever....

Owe it to my Parents, to my Teachers, to my Friends, to my great Nation and above all to my Religion which taught me only and only to Love Life.

There are always different ways, depends which one you opt for.

My earlier FaceBook post : https://www.facebook.com/indu.jalali/posts/10153626551525843

January the 19th, The Holocaust day; Kashmiri Pandits - the Victims of Denial

Kashmiri Pandits – the Victims of Denial

 By Mahesh Kaul

A lot of hue and cry was raised by the J&K government by creating the so called Apex Committee to oversee the return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Hindus to their original habitat Kashmir. The atmosphere was ripe with the speculation of permutations and combinations that may emerge to send the Kashmiri Hindus back to Kashmir without realizing that the Kashmir which they had left to highlight the incompetence and impotence of the Indian political class and the Indian state to protect the rights of the minority in all respects in the Muslim majority state of J&K is today in the hard grip of the forces representing the fascist and Talibanised culture. And above all the politics of exclusion is the cardinal principle of the political establishment in the state in terms of the minority rights which has trampled the Indian nationalism in every sphere.

Two decades have passed as far as the forced exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits is concerned but it is unfortunately shocking that this genocide has been trivialized by not correctly interpreting the fall out of this national shame. The Internal displacement of the Kashmiri Hindus has been trivialized by the Indian state in terms of economics. Without analyzing the real mindset and the contours of the ethnic cleansing inflicted on the community, the Central government is treating the community as the victims of the natural calamities like flood, earthquake, etc. It is a problem that has vast religious, political and social dimensions that make it a case fit for national shame . It is sad on the part of media and political establishment of the Indian nation that secularism and democracy has been compromised in the J&K state for bailing out the majority community of the valley who could not protect the social structure of the valley as a whole. 1984 riots and the Godhra episode in 2002 have been accepted by the political parties across spectrum as the shameful fate of secular India. But the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus has not been accepted by the Indian state as the failure of the Indian secularism in J&K.

Commissions were constituted to look into the factors and forces that led the nation to the disgrace during 1984 and 2002 riots but none of that ilk has ever been constituted in J&K to look into the events and factors that forced the minority community of the Kashmiri Pandits to live as refugees in their own state and own country. Indian Policy makers and hence the Indian state is still in the state of denial and refusing the expulsion of the Kashmiri Pandits as a national shame. Moreover, it is in a state of denial to accept the religious, social and political fault lines in the state that have reduced the minorities as perpetual hostages to the majority to squeeze as much benefits as it can in the name of pseudo secularism and so called myth ‘Kashmiriyat’.

The bonhomie which the political class is enjoying with the vested interests in J&K and the fringe elements in the community are trying to create a myth called ‘Kashmiriyat’ - It is a misnomer and more or less the political counterpart of the pseudo-secularism propagated by the left-liberal intellectual discourse in the Indian polity.

The fraction of the Kashmiri Hindus(Pandits) perhaps a few thousand or even less who are living a life of second class citizens in Kashmir have been threatened to abdicate so that the process of Islamisation of the Kashmir Valley is complete. It speaks volumes about the social, political and religious ground realities in Kashmir. For the last twenty years this fractional chunk of the Kashmiri Pandits had tried hard to hold on to their ancestral properties in the valley by compromising their social, political and religious rights but now they have decided to call a spade a spade as they have been threatened by the majority community to leave otherwise they will be eliminated in no time. This is the state of secularism in Kashmir.

The policy makers are busy at the center to use the Kashmiri Pandits as cannon fodder to give legitimacy to the myth called ‘Kashmiriyat’ and to implement the hidden solution to Kashmir problem under the garb of ‘quite diplomacy’ and ‘unique solution’ they are ready to bail out the majority community of the human rights violation which they have committed by the expulsion of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. Indian state has given ideological concessions in Kashmir and now after complete expulsion of the Kashmiri Pandits it is all set to give the territorial concessions as far as the J&K is concerned to secessionists . It is the first step by the Indian political establishment of India and the political state to demolish the Northern frontiers of the Indian nation by diluting Indian territorial integrity in J&K ,the frontline state in the Himalayan region-without realizing its implications on India in terms of balkanization.

Indian state should pay heed to the ground realities and persecution of the minorities in Kashmir by reading between the lines the open letter from the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS), Srinagar representing the fraction of Kashmiri Pandits living in adverse conditions. It reads, "On 15^th November, 2009 two of our members went to Bhairav Ghat, Chattabal, Srinagar to take some pictures of the temple ruins so that the fate could be settled with the concerned authorities . But the members of the majority community who had encroached the temple land abstained them from taking pictures and used unparliamentary language against the Kashmiri Pandits and religious places . They started the slogans like 'Jis tarah hamne tumhare mandiroon ko jalaya hai vaise hi tum logon ko jalayenge,aur kisi ko pata bi nahi chalega'. The way we have burnt your temples in the same way we will burn you and no one will know about you. 'Yehan sirf Isalm chalega' Only Islam will prevail here. 'India ko lagta hai ki tum logon ko vapas layega, jo bi aaye ga mara jayega, hum log phir se gun uthayenge'. India thinks that they can bring Kashmiri Pandits back to valley, whosoever will come will die, we will again raise arms against you. The mob there even man handled the members of KPSS and they had to leave the place . Even they could not file an FIR against the mob due to the life threat given by these hooligans belonging to a particular community”.

This open letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and the Separatist leadership should wake the Indian state from the slumber of denial and rise to the occasion to safeguard the minorities in the state.

The concluding part of this open letter should put the political establishment to shame in India as they have given open ground to the anti India elements in Kashmir. It further reads, "KPSS requests the state and the Central Administration to re -think about their proposal to bring back the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley instead prepare to register the fresh lot of migrants who will leave the valley in the coming days if the situation is not taken care of in due course of time. KPSS also appeals to the International Community to take the matter seriously and ensure that all necessary steps are taken to safeguard the Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley”.

Indian state has failed Kashmiri Pandits to bail out the Islamic fascism in the Kashmir Valley. (Kashmir Sentinel, April 2010, http://panunkashmir.org/blog/viewpoint/kashmiri-pandits-the-victims-of-denial/)

Mr. Modi be my HERO in real life too!

How I waited for the day to come when Narendra Damodardas Modi will lead my country India. Finally in-spite of all the hurdles n' hiccups, HE took oath on 26th of May as a Prime Minister of India. This was the day I for the first time ever since came to Germany wished I could be in India.

This man who has been held responsible for the killings of Minorities in Gujarat in 2002 by Indian Media and Politicians mainly from Congress defied all logical thinking and went to lead us and WITH WHAT - HIS VISION. This Man in-spite of been demonized for more then a decade kept cool like a cucumber and concentrated only on one thing. How to uplift Gujarat? It took him just first 5years of governance to prove to the Gujarat that he means Business. He changed the face of Indian Politics n' Politicians. He took Gujarat altogether to a different level so much that even his critics started praising him for his good governance. Form here, he went to lead his State for about 13 years and NOW he is leading 1.25 billion Indians. I hope the way he changed Gujarat he will do same with the entire country which is plagued by the corruption, no fear of Law n' Order, inflation, pollution, population explosion, electricity problems, poverty etc... 

I know changing all these is not easy and one days job BUT I also know if he focuses he will deliver and my belief is based on his past performance. It is not certainly not going to be a cake walk for him especially when his critics from all walks of life are waiting out there for him to pounce on him. It has not been even a month and they have started shouting. Then the happenings like killing of a Pune boy by some Hindu hardliners  adding as fodder to these critics. I hope they don't have many chances to hog on such issues and for this not to become a ritual Mr. Modi will have to play tough. He will have to control the hardliners even in his own party. India is a democratic country with Muslims as 2nd largest population and if he wants to be here for a long long time he will have to find a way to take them as well as every other Minority community along-with him. Just merely by saying "Sabh Ka Sath Sabh Ka Vikas" is not enough. He has to be constructive to win their hearts and minds and be fast with it. He will have remove the fear n' insecurity from the hearts of these people who have been fed with all wrong stories by the Media n' Opposition. He will once again have to prove all of them wrong only then will he really be able to enjoy his position in our Country.

The day he proves all his critics wrong again I will bow my head in reverence again and will shout on top of my voice that Mr. Modi you have become my real HERO. 

BUT if he fails, he will never ever raise again and my belief n' faith in him and in my convictions will also die forever. I will continue keeping my fingers crossed and praying that Mr. Modi  remains as my real life HERO till I am alive - Tatha-astu!

Jesus got crucified yet again - Part (2)

<< Continues from ... 

The children who were witness to the entire scene of how Ganhar was removed were feeling helpless and restless as they could do nothing in-spite of knowing the TRUTH. They were too young to convince their elders and people. Nobody took them seriously. Everyone thought these kids were playing jokes .Amongst these children there was one very sharp boy Sougam, he made a pledge that when he becomes independent in every way he will take it on with these self made Masters.

In the mean while these self made MASTERS whom I call EHSAAN FARAMOSH TEAM STARTED SPREADING RUMOURS THAT GANHAR HAS GONE MAD AND HAS RUN AWAY WITH THE COUNTRY TREASURE,BEFORE HE COULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PLACE.

For this they appointed one mad man BULLI DAAND who had this illusion that he was superior then  the God and that he was the only saviour of humanity. He spread this rumour in every nook and corner of the Ganhar's kingdom. Seeing this others who hated Ganhar guts and thought were victimised by him also joined the fray in defaming Him. Morning evening loud speakers were out on roads and only one thing was recited... Ganhar the cheater, Ganhar the traitor, Ganhar the thief. EHSAAN FHARAMOSH TEAM the best, our saviour, our well wishers and our rulers.

On hearing such things Sougam's heart used to bleed but he could do nothing. Once when the BULLI DANDH was crossing his way with the loud speaker on Sougam threw a pebble at him and on seeing this this BULLI DANDH lost all control over his senses and went after Sougam. He thrashed him like anything and warned him that if he ever crosses his way again then he will tear him into pieces. Sougam was profusely bleeding; physically as well as spiritually. He looked around and saw his people looking at him with hands tied and mouth shut. They didn't had courage to save him from the wrath of this mad-man. All they could do was look at him. With this scene in eyes and mind, Sougam collapsed.

Ganhar wandered in the outskirts of another kingdom for some time and then he came across few men  who assured him about their support and shelter as they had heard a lot about his credibility and greatness. They took him to their kingdom and their KING made him his WAZIR.

In the meantime the EHSAAN FARAMOSH TEAM started showing their true colours. They started forcing people to pay taxes which they said were essential for prosperity. They brought in their friends and relatives in the palace and  enjoyed and relished every bit of hard work done by their people and Ganhar. Their friends and relatives were appointed at all official posts and they took decisions always favouring EHSAAN TEAM. 

They kept growing wealth wise, health wise and EGO WISE TOO. While as the kingdoms prosperity and growth slowly and slowly started declining. Anyone who raised objection was made to keep his mouth shut and the the BULLI DANDH was made to take care of such people. The situation started  becoming bad to worst. People were threatened not to oppose dictations issued by EHSAAN TEAM and if anyone raised his or her voice they were charge-sheeted and then punished.

In the kingdom of Ganhar it is all n' all the rule of DEVIL'S; thinking this is ever lasting and the story continues...

Being a female - You have to fight - Its men everywhere...

It is sad again. A bunch of egoistic people here, want to dictate their terms. Sound minded people on the other hand do not bow to it.

We started with a noble cause and a good work, which continued for a while. A well formed globally spread team, worked hard to establish a network between the neediest and the people who wanted to help.

We collected  quite a decent fund,few valuable lives got saved and lot many raised hopes . The work started gaining recognition but few of us started dreaming big out of it. Then comes the force implementation of crook practices, dictatorship and conspiracies.

The protesters  against this malpractice either left or were conspired against . I am one of them but I will not sit quite, I will face them off.

People have vested their hard earned money and trust in us. Each one us has equal right to ask what is happening in/to KMECT, why team members are leaving, where are the actual details about members, funds and expenses.

I will not ask and can not ask now you, to contribute again for KMECT till we get it clear and solved. My biggest limitation, I am not in country now but will be there soon. But yes the care for the needy and sick will always remain as a first priority.

What I expect from them now, is misuse of funds? Split of KMECT? Merger with other TRUST/SOCIAL/POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS or you will not hear from them till they digest everything we earned ?

I was the only female working in the TRUST Questioning time and time again, the malpractices of the Office Bearers and  in instead was maligned on the net, threatened, harassed, abused  so much so that I succumb to their pressures to quit KMECT but when I didn't buckle down, I was falsely charge sheeted and then removed from the TRUST which is illegal.

To remind them I am not on the side of the lame. I will take it to their spine. They will have to answer to the people who trusted them. They can assign as many people as they can and want (it is already happening though), to do my character assassination, to discuss about my personal life and my family life on public forums but they cannot get away with wrong, as NOW I WONT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

Jesus got crucified yet again - Part (1)

Ganhar was rich not only by birth but by his virtues, deeds and vision too. His father was a King of a small kingdom which was surviving on his mercy.

The people of his kingdom wished and prayed for the death of their King and sometimes Ganhar also wished and prayed for the same. The sufferings and miseries of his fathers kingdom was unbearable for him too and he could not persuade his father to change his ways. Whenever he tried he was ridiculed by saying... THIS IS HOW KINGS ARE SUPPOSE TO BEHAVE.

Finally the day came when everyone's prayers were heard and a new King was announce: Ganhar The Great. He slowly and steadily rebuild his kingdom with love, peace, mercy and righteousness. In his kingdom nobody dared to do wrong. Everyone was treated at par with each other. People were happy and satisfied. The Kingdom became prosperous and the news of this spreaded worldwide. Some became happy to know that such a kingdom and a King, exists, while others became jealous that how come ???

Those who became jealous started plotting against Ganhar and his kingdom. They joined hands and the scheming process enhanced as how to grab this rich and prosperous Kingdom and over throw Ganhar...

In the meantime the people of Ganhar's kingdom decided to felicitate their king for being their protector and torch bearer. They decided to make offerings to him and allowed him to conquer and liberate other parts of the world which were deprived of happiness and justice. The people against him came to know about this and they found this as an opportunity to settle score with Ganhar. They made en rodes in Ganhar's Kingdom and influenced few people to support and help them.

The felicitation day came and everyone showered love, blessings and gifts over their King. They told him about their decision and requested him to help other people in other kingdoms too. Ganhar thought about it and decided to go for it. As here in his Kingdom everything was safe and sound and they could do without him but there were few who needed him. Hence he agreed to help and liberate those poor souls.

It was decided in the meeting that a team of few persons zoobi, doobi, moobi and thobi were to be given the authority and the power to take care of Ganhar's Kingdom in his absence. These were the people whom Ganhar trusted most and had faith in. He was happy on his seeing his team and satisfied too. So he left to liberate.

Satan began showing his true colours. This team of four started enjoying this sudden name, fame and power. So much so that they started believing that they can control anything and everything. They started feeling like GOD. They loved this new life of theirs so much that they didn't want this journey to end so they decided to form such a law which will enable Ganhar to come back. The law formed was that who so ever enters into the borders of this kingdom will have to save one animal before doing so. They also simultaneously passed another law stating that whosoever from outside comes in and kills a life will get death penalty.

Ganhar after fulfilling the desires and wishes of his people decided to come back HOME. The news reached the team of four and immediately they made a plan to capture Ganhar. They left for the border from where Ganhar was to enter into his Kingdom. On seeing Ganhar they pushed a cow in front of him and the entrance of the border was made so that at a time only one thing could pass and if two tried one of them was sure to fall in the below ditch and die. They also had placed 1000s of ants on that entrance with sugar all over the path.

Anyways on seeing the cow coming towards him Ganhar immediately lied down and let the cow walk away without getting hurt or killed. In this process Ganhar forgot that he was lying over 1000s of ants who obviously got killed. On seeing this the team of four rushed towards their friend the King Ganhar and embraced him and cleaned him up and took him into his kingdom. This whole thing was being witnessed by few children , who after this left for their homes.

Ganhar was told that there were 2 laws which were passed by the majority of his people to ensure safety of animal life too, while he was away and on inquiring he was told about them.

Knowing his nature Ganhar called upon his people and narrated what all happened near the border and left to his people and his four friends to decide upon his fate and future.

The team came with the verdict... Ganhar had killed not 1, not 2, not 3 but 1000s of Ants hence as per the the law of land he deserves death penalty BUT he has saved a cow also so he deserves some mercy too, so WE DECIDE WITH THE POWER AND AUTHORITY ENTRUSTED ON US THAT YOU BE OUT CASTED, ONCE FOR ALL !!!

The children who had witnessed everything made a promise to make all four, taste their own medicine and the story continues...

Continues to >>

STANDING UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS ALWAYS PAYS

Being in Bangalore and not visiting the vatican of India, TIRUPATI, is like being on the beach and not going inside the water. So i thought let me not waste this opportunity and go for it. Frankly speaking was not very keen on this but out of curiosity thought of visiting it. After all Lord Venkateswara has outsed Vatican , recently and has now become the richest God of world. Wow! Another feather in Mother India's cap.

Anyways, being new to the city and never having visited this holy place before, me and my hubby decided to opt for a registered Travel Agency. Finally we managed to go for one such agency which was recommended by our colleagues.

The tension and the burden of doing things on our own was relieved when we were offered a very attractive and reasonable package by this agency. It assured us of having VIP darshan (within 10 mins on arrival), giving food and accomidating us in a deluxe hotel plus the journey of to and fro by VOLVO. It sure sounded great and i started looking forward to this trip of mine.

We were asked to reach the pick up point sharp at 6.30pm, as the starting time was 7 pm sharp. Well having incorporated Deutschland's habit of reaching at destination point before time me, my hubby and my 5 yr old daughter arrived at Madiwala around 6.15 pm.

Eagerly we were waiting to board the bus. Very soon around 15 more passengers joined us and 6.15 became 7.15, 7.15 became 8.15. Still there was no sign of our VOLVO. We tried asking the officals when the bus is arriving and they kept on murmuring one thing, bus 5 min aur, bus 5 min aur. Finally we were asked to borad the bus at 10 pm and we all rushed towards it. Instead of VOLVO we saw small mini bus and when i inquired what happened the conductor said you are boarding VOLVO from Martahalli point. Ok we borded the mini bus, as had no choice.

We left Marthalli juction at 11.30 pm and when we asked the conductor when would you stop for dinner as our kid is feeling hungry, he replied ......Kya sahabh itna deer ho gaya abh bus Tirupati jake he ruke gee. We were zapped, pleaded to stop for 10 mins so that the kiddos get to eat anything but our pleas fell on deaf ear. Luckily we were carrying some eatables with us and my baby managed to sleep after eating in the bus. Strangely there were about 5-6 more kids in our bus and none of thier parents objected to which we had raised our voice.

Somehow we were given stinking blankets and at about 4.30 am in the morning we reached our Deluxe hotel at Tirupati. We were told that within ½ an hour board the bus again, as we will be leaving for darshan at Padmavati temple. So we had to freshen up and eat our breakfast too within the time given. We were given room no 102 and the moment we entered the room we noticed the bed and the linen was stinking and dirty. Mosquitoes were romancing around, fan was out of service and AC was missing. Went inside the washroom, another shock, no water and no toileteries. Managed to sneak in another room, took shower and rushed for dinning hall. There wada and idli were waiting for us.

We finished darshan at Padmavati Temple by 8 am and then we rushed for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. For reaching there we had to change to another bus and it took it around 30 mins to reach the Tirumala Hills. On reaching our Raju guide handed Rs.300 to one passenger named Mr.Avinash and told him to stand in the Q for SHEEGRA DARSHAN and purschase the ticket. Like us he got zapped too. Why are you asking us to buy the tickets which might take the whole day, on seeing the no of devoteese, when our travel agency had promised us to provide us with VIP pass for darshan.?.

Raju guide was in no mood to listen either to Avinash, Siddharth or to me. He took 45 passengers alongwith him and asked all of us to stand in the Q, right in front of us. Almost everyone started for the Q but me, my hubby, Avinash and Siddarth decided not to. It was breach of trust and contract.

Avinash suggested we go for Police complaint. Lot of discussion took place and we requested others to join us but none came forward. Finally we four left for Police Station. Now you can imagine what it is like being in a police thana in India. These people tried for 2hrs to dodge me and even threatened me that you will get nothing .They made me talk to the agency owner too who also threatened me by saying that they are locals and they can do any damn thing with me as being outsider .So it is better to keep quite, shut my mouth and go and join the Q with other's. This bloody attitude made me more determined to go for it. I stuck to my guns and told them that i am not moving an inch till they register my complaint. On seeing my adamancy they asked me to meet the Circle Officer there.

I met him and explained everything. He seem to understand my plight and also the fact that no matter what she is not giving up. He agreed to register a complaint. In the meantime the agaency people also started realsing the fact that once the complaint gets registered they will be in soup. So they offered us a compromise. In presence of police they gave us our full payment back, besides this they put us in a luxury hotel for refreshing up,ordered a world class cusine plus the cops arranged for a VVIP darshan,too.

Now what transpired between the cops and the Travel people is known to them only. What i know is that i got what we deserved - The darshan and ashirwadam of Lord Venkateswara.We boarded the bus at 7 pm (since we had to wait for 40 passenger's to come after having darshan for which it took them around 6 hrs ), rest of the passengers rushed towards us and started complaining......aap ki vaje se hum fas jate aur kahan aap hume police ke chakaroon mein daal rahi thi. Chaleye aap to darshan kar nahin payee ,hum log khush hain ke humne darshan kar liye. I kept quite and looked at their tired faces and felt sorry for them.

We reached Whitefeild at 12:30 am and there all of a sudden, we were told that now we are changing the bus,as this VOLVO does not have permission to go inside the Bangalore city. Hah hah, a late night twist. Poor us, again we all boarded another Khatara Volvo with no blanket's and water dripping on top our heads and immediatly after taking our places an announcement was made---------This bus will stop only at 3 points as it is complimentry service .

Again there was a big silence and one could hear only mine and my husbands voice !!!

On reaching Marathalli the bus stopped, conductor came to us and said mam your TAXI is waiting to take you home.

SEXUALLY ABUSED AND YET BALMED FOR IT

Sarah Keith was an innocent and a naive young girl who wanted to live her life as per her own conditions. She wanted to explore the world, ALONE. She wanted to make her parents especially her mom proud of her. Her mom Jennie Keith was equally innocent and simpleton as her daughter but sadly her whole life as a wife was smitten by her sister in law who was dominating, rude and always at something.

Unfortunately due to Tsunami in Sarah's region, everyone abandoned their homes including Keith's. This natural calamity shattered homes, people (old, young & newborn)  and their lives. But for Jennie, it was a blessing in disguise as she no longer had to share her future life with her sister in law. Due to migration and then living in a metro, changed things, drastically. Everyone scattered all over for living and the joint family system automatically shifted to Nuclear family.

New place ,new people and new climate made it difficult to survive but Keith's were strong enough and they managed to survive. Sarah was keen on giving everything back to her family. So she decided to go for a degree of Engineering, which would guarantee her good job with good remuneration, in future. She qualified it and with her she took few of her family friends along with, so that they too  get benefited.

Sarah was excited and happy to join a professional course. She was desperately looking forward to her  new course and to the students who would be her classmate for next 4 years. It was co-ed and hence that made it more exciting.

Sarah has always been very pretty and very intelligent. She had this belief that she could do anything and everything. In fact she truly believed that she was more stronger, more intelligent and more human then all the guys around. She would conquer the world one day.

Sarah was afraid of God & God only. She was adventurous and loved to experiment with her hair. Sometimes she would  go bald, sometimes she would go for perming and sometimes would colour her hair. She was so free spirited. These attributes made her different from other student friends around. She was seen as a rebel and slowly and slowly her own friends started framing wrong opinion about her. She was termed as a REBEL & A LOOSE CHARACTER FEMALE.

Incident No. 1.

Then came the HOLI. Wow! Festival of colour and BHAANG. Whole night Sarah along with her friends churned bhaang and made fruit punch. The day had started and with oil all over the bodies and hair Sarah started playing with colours and water. It was so fun and she was loving every bit of it and then suddenly few male friends came down to play too. The senior most among them was Majuba who was respected and regarded the most among the Tsunami hit lot. He was working with a govt run agency and had taken leave to complete his professional degree. Everyone used to visit him for advice and for help. He was considered as GURU. Well the game begins and everyone is drinking, playing and enjoying. Then all of a sudden Majuba approaches Sarah and smears colour on her face after this he tries throwing water and poor Sarah runs, she does not want to get wet like this. Majuba runs after her and catches her from behind and then all of a sudden he squeezes her assets and push himself hard against her. Sarah is shocked and she tries to free herself but the demon had taken the charge and he was crushing her dignity, her body and above all her soul. Somehow she freed herself and ran inside her house and shut herself down. Sarah was shaking with fear, shock and anger. The person they trusted most had turned Raavan today. Outside the world was enjoying and  moving on. Somewhere someone was dying ...

Sarah choose to discuss about this incident with her friends but unfortunately she got another shock when everyone refused to buy her story. They again termed her as a LIAR. How can Majuba do like this ?. He is not like this and of all the people why he choose a girl like you ?. You are lying and defaming a saintly person like Majuba. You can be wrong but Majuba, NO, NEVER.

Was it due to jealousy or they were scared of getting branded or it was their complexities, whatever the reason, Sarah had to pay the price. SARAH FOR THEM BECAME UNTOUCHABLE. People were hoping Majuba would top the course. The results were declared. Sarah had topped the course and most of her EX FRIENDS flunked, Majuba barely managed to pass and today he is where he was 20 years back ,with the same Govt run agency.

Incident No. 2.

One hurdle was crossed and now the challenge started. Sarah started looking for job and as good luck prevailed she got into a steel industry where she worked for 3 years and then due to her knowledge, nack for things and intelligence she went on to become the VP of one of the most reputed company of the world. She was the youngest VP among her lot and every where her named was flashed, in magazines, in newspaper, in TV, everywhere. It was Sarah and only Sarah.

Her new Director Mr. Sinha, was very calm and a rustic fellow whose wife used to accompany him most of times in office. Gradually Sarah and her interaction with Sinha family increased and they became good friends so much so that after work Sarah started sleeping in their house only. One day Mrs.Sinha had gone out for shopping Sarah drops in Mr.Sinha makes her comfortable and then the DEMON took the charge again and once again Sarah's modesty was challenged and humiliated.

Mrs. Sinha's PATI PARMESHWAR could not do this ?. He was God to her and to everyone around. Sarah left the job and the place. Eventually, Mr. Sinha divorced Mrs. Sinha and went ahead to marry his Secretary.

Incident No. 3.

Sarah came back to her parents house and with the help of one community leader she got a damn good job in a Newspaper Agency. Everything was going well and Sarah was enjoying her work. One fine day her boss called her in his room to discuss something important and the moment Sarah entered his chamber, he pounced on her and started fiddling around. By this time Sarah had gathered enough courage to give it back. She slapped her boss tightly and went out and resigned immediatly.

Next week she went for her salary collection and was told by the accountant that company owes her nothing. She went and discussed about the incident with the local leader and his Director friend who were instrumental in giving her job in that office. They assure sarah that they would do something about it. Sarah waited for days, then for months and then for years ... Nothing has happened. Few years later she met the Local leader again and he told her that his Director friend has obtained the real information from that Newspaper Owner and the truth is that you were sleeping around with the boss of yours for which he used to pay you. Since your demands for more rewards and cash increased so the BOSS decided to kick you out. I know whatever my Director friend is saying is true .He can never be wrong nor can be the Newspaper Owner.

Today this Local leader, the newspaper guy and the Director friend  have become worst enemies because the Director friend had stolen away the story which the Local leader had written and the newspaper owner has shown boots to both of them and aquired new set of friends.

Sarah started her own business and today she is very successful. She runs her company well and is happily married and settled with her loving husband and two sons. Jennie proudly boosts about her daughters achievement and she no longer is smitten by anyone as her daughter has become UNTOUCHABLE AGAIN!!!

Ruchika molestation case made Sarah wonder if she should also go ahead and make all those people pay, who had not only physically but mentally molested her.

I leave it to my readers to suggest as to what Sarah should do ?.

Will the world stand by her this time ?.

Will she make a difference to all those people who are suffering because of it ?.

Or else should she forget everything and move on ...

HOMEWARD BOUND

Sameer Arshad, TOI Crest, Jun 26, 2010, 12.49pm IST

Indu Jalali was edgy and rarely came out of her uncle's house in a tony Srinagar neighbourhood when she visited the Valley in 1998. It was the first time that she'd been there since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the late '80s. She would cover her head and face every time she stepped out, taking care to shun Kashmiri Pandit symbols to avoid attention . A year later, though, Indu's stay at a hotel in Srinagar's Boulevard Road and a 16-year-old attendant's innocent request transformed her feelings about the post-1989 Kashmir (when Kashmiri Pandits actually began moving out) and inspired her quest to reconnect with her roots.

"I looked at Mastani with hatred, but he made every effort to make me comfortable and advised me not to move out after 6 pm. He brought a tawiz (talisman) for me from the Hazratbal shrine and said, ‘Didi, please come back... we need you. Kashmir is incomplete without Pandits' ," says Indu, who is among the growing number of Kashmiri Pandits trickling back to their motherland in search of an identity. An extended spell of calm and a dip in militant violence to an all-time low since the tumultuous years of terrorism have encouraged many like Indu to reach out to a homeland they loved and lost.

Mastani's innocence moved Indu and restored her faith in Kashmir's centuries-old and cherished composite culture — Kashmiriyat. "I realised Kashmiriyat wasn't completely dead," she says. "Our neighbours, who came to meet us when they heard that my mom and I were visiting Kashmir, said they missed us and wanted us back." The emotional outpouring came as a surprise for Indu, as she thought Muslims would have forgotten them. "This made me take a vow to visit my homeland regularly."

Indu encountered more bonhomie while surveying Kashmiri Pandit property and temples. "Muslims were managing temples at Gulmarg and Manasbal and a Muslim woman even looked after Bhagwan Gopinathji's ashram in Srinagar," she says, adding that she was greatly encouraged by this and it gave her the courage to visit Kashmir with her head held high. "I go there now wearing my dejihoor (ornament worn by married Pandit women) and bindi. I no longer cover my face, and feel at home in Kashmir. Even those who don't know me welcome me."

Lately, Indu's daughter has been accompanying her on their annual trips home. "She understands and speaks Kashmiri," she says, brimming with pride. The mother ensures that the daughter visits Pandit shrines like Kheer Bhawani and Muslims tombs like Makhdoom Sahib and Baba Rishi to pray and light a candle for Kashmir's peace. "I also treat her to wazwan and make her interact with my local friends, so that she gets a feel of our culture."

Kashmir's Pandits, a successful community that has always prided itself on its education and erudition, are slowly gathering the courage to trickle back and a handful — around 4,000 families — is ready to return permanently. There are efforts at reintegration being made everywhere. From the back lanes of Barbarshah in congested old Srinagar, often in the news for stonepelting protests, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharash Samiti's Sanjay Tickoo has led a silent revolution reopening abandoned temples in an attempt to instill confidence in the community. The Samiti organised a mahayagya to mark the reopening of the once-abandoned Vichar Nag temple in Srinagar on June 5. The temple, famous as a centre for discourse and learning, was closed 20 years back. Apart from Vichar Nag, the Samiti has revived 38 temples since 2004.

"The Pandits who stayed back in Kashmir started organising themselves after 1994," says Tickoo, among a handful of Kashmiri Pandits who stayed back in the Valley. "Earlier, the focus was on security. We even used to hide our identity. The return of peace encouraged us to revive our heritage and organise ourselves." He says each time the Samiti revives a temple, it opens floodgates of emotions and memories. "Elderly Muslims become emotional as they remember their old friends and neighbours. They know most of our rituals. The Samiti has now decided to involve local Muslim communities to jointly manage the shrines. Many of these temples are located in areas where there's no Pandit population and we can't look after them 24x7. Thus, we suggested joint management."

The Samiti revived Puran Raj Bhavan Ashtapan, a Shiv temple, at Sazgaripora in downtown Srinagar in January, and entrusted local elders led by Ali Mohammad to manage the shrine. "We approach local masjid committees and also involve some of our people in managing these shrines. The same model would be followed in reviving other temples as well," Tickoo says. "In fact, local Muslims are approaching the Samiti for reviving other temples. These temples aren't just shrines, but peace and reconciliation centres. They also represent the revival of our syncretic and pluralistic culture."

It may take a while for the complete revival of Kashmir's composite culture, but the congregation of over 100,000 Pandits at the Kheer Bhawani shrine, 30 km from Srinagar, on June 19 holds out a lot of hope. The biggest gathering of Pandits in the Valley in two decades saw visibly moved people embracing their Muslim friends. The faithful gathered at the shrine, chanting hymns to the goddess of peace. The shrine itself has stood as an enduring symbol of Kashmiriyat that remained open to devotees even at the peak of militancy , which forced the exodus of around 200,000 Pandits. Kashmiri Muslims have traditionally facilitated the annual Zyeshth Ashtami congregation at the shrine.

Residents, this time too, lined up the road offering assistance to pilgrims coming in from all over the country.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah used the occasion to make an appeal to Pandits to return home and build a ‘New Kashmir' . The CM said, "An overwhelming majority of Kashmiris believe that the Valley is incomplete without its Pandit brethren. Your return would be an important milestone in the restoration of normalcy in the Valley."
If there is anxiety, there is also optimism. "It's palpable that my motherland has regained peace. The time has come to return," said Pune-based Ravinder Sadhu, 52, as he walked barefoot carrying flowers and earthenware lamps for the deity. On the same day, thousands of Pandits gathered at goddess Tripur Sundari and Rajnya Bhagwati's temples in south Kashmir.

"This was the first time in two decades that hawans, community kitchens and mass prayers were conducted to mark birth anniversaries of three Vaishnavite goddesses," said an organiser.

The efforts of activists like Tickoo seem to be bearing fruit. J&K relief and rehabilitation commissioner had till May this year received applications from 4,440 Kashmiri Pandit families wishing to return to the Valley. Around 38,000 families are registered as migrants across the country. Officials say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's package announced last year, which promises Rs 750,000 for each Kashmiri Pandit family wanting to return, has encouraged the community to go back.

Abdullah said a multi-pronged strategy was in place to facilitate their smooth return. "They left because their security was snatched. Now we're trying to restore their sense of security," he said and added that the government is looking for their economic rehabilitation too. "Recently, 2,000 posts were filled under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan. More posts are being created."

The CM has the onerous job of pulling this one off, but his lineage inspires some confidence. The young leader needs to take a leaf out of the book of his grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who, as M J Akbar notes, "structured the resurrection of his people on Muslim-Hindu harmony, on the traditions of Nuruddin Rishi and Lal Ded, on the philosophy of Sufism, on non-violence and a mutually regenerative creativity".

TOI - Link

KMECT

Kashmir was called a paradise on earth, once upon a time or maybe it still is for those who go there as Tourist.To us it seems a distant dream and a lost HOMELAND.

In Kashmir the majority community comprises of Muslims and we were there with them in a very minuscule no but honestly speaking Kashmiri pandits in general felt safe n secure but unfortunately year 1989 changed everything .That's when the gun culture came in this Lost Paradise and it wiped our legacy withing fraction of seconds.We were forced to leave our HOMELAND with just a pair of shoes and the clothes that we had worn.

Our struggle for our survival began henceforth and with the mercy of Jammuite's we got places in camps to settle down and let this feeling of loosing once home sink down. Till now this struggle is on and God knows how many more years it will continue. Unfortunately life in camps have been traumatic for Kashmiri Pandits .We could not acclimatise ourselves quickly to the change which was 360 degree and due to his almost 70% of people dveloped serious health hazards and on top of it with no concrete health policy we lost so many old and young buds.

Its people like Hari Kaul, B.L.Sadhu, Sunil Thusu, Jatinder Kaw, Maharaj Pajan and Indu Jalali (myself) who still believe and have faith in their hearts that,someday WE ALL WILL GO BACK and to Keep this belief alive, we all decided to help our community, to survive and be healthy enough to enjoy the gardens,the water and the lovely smell of our mother earth which so far is eluding us.

KMECT (KASHMIR MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND CHARITABLE TRUST) was born to make it a reality .KMECT is by Kashmiri Pandits and for Kashmiri Pandits who don't have any source of income or bare minimum, at the time of medical emergency.We hope we succeed in our aim and mission which to go back.

KASHMIRI MEDICAL EMERGENCY & CHARITABLE TRUST

(Registration No: 3959/2010-11)
Registered Office: B-206, Vardhman Apartments, Mayur Vihar,
Phase-I, Extension, Delhi - 110 091

Contact details: bl_sadhu@yahoo.com; sunilkthusu@gmail.com; hari_kaul@yahoo.com; jatinder.kaw@gmail.com; indu.jalali@gmail.com

OUR MOTTO:

" OM SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH"(May all be happy)

OUR ANTHEM:

"OM SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH
SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYAH
SARVE BHADRANI PASYANTU
MA KASCID DUHKHABHAG BHAVET"

(May all be happy, May all be healthy; May we all experience what is good and let no one suffer)

CORE TEAM / OFFICE BEARERS / TRUSTEES:

• Pt. B.L.SADHU President / Chairman
• Pt. Sunil K. Thusu Vice Chairman/ Chief Operating Officer / Treasurer
• Pt. Jatinder Kaw Chief Personnel Relation Officer/ General Secretary-Personnel relations
• Ptn. Indu Jalali Chief Administrative officer/ General Secretary-Administration,
• Pt. Hari Kaul Chief Fund Raiser / Chief Publicity Officer/ General Secretary-Resources & Publicity

SPECIALIST DOCTORS TEAM:

Dr. K. L. Chowdhary,
Dr. Anil Bhan,
Dr. U. Kaul,
Dr. Shakti Bhan,
Dr. Tej K. Kaul,
Dr. M. K. Mam,
Dr. Anita Dhar Bhan
Dr. Abishek Kakroo,
Dr. R. K. Saproo,
Dr. Sudhip Raina,
Dr. Sushil Razdan,
Dr. R. L. Bhat,
Dr. Anil Kaul,
Dr. Deepak Bhat,
Dr. Vikas pandith,
Dr. Rashmi Koul,

ADVISERS:

Pt. M. K. Kaw,
Pt. Moti Kaul,
Pt. Gautam Kaul,
Dr. Shakti Bhan,
Dr. K. L. Choudary,
Pt. Maharaj Pajan,
Pt. S. K. Khazanchi,

LEGAL ADVISORS:

Pt. Sri Krishan Kaul
Pt. Bansi Wali

BANK OPERATION:

Bank: Corporation Bank
Branch: Mayur Vihar Phase-I Extension, New Delhi 110 091
Beneficiary: Name: Kashmiri Medical Emergency & Charitable Trust
Account No: CLSB01100016
IFSC/RTGS Code: CORP0000546
(Further detail of KMECT will be made public on web very soon.)

Satari and Dhutari

Satari was a very intelligent, literate and a practical fellow. He always followed his mind and would proudly talk about his genetic inheritance which was a Nanwai shop. Once in a year he would give 1 anna discount on his chochiver and that too in the name of his hoon, BULLI.

He was religious too and made it a point to attend every religious and marriage ceremony with the nawabi cap on his head and blessed newly weds with empty poly bags to carry away extra food to home. So that Maharayn gets more time to spend with her new husband instead of spending it in kitchen preparing delicacies for him. People in his town used to look up to him and very soon he became role model of his society.

Dhutari was a dumb and a very rowdy fellow. He never had seen face of the school in his entire life. He had one pair of yezari and a phiran with God knows how many holes in it. He used to earn his earning by selling tickets in black and whatever little time he used to get after the Philmi shows that he spent at tharas pyath near his home, playing turuf. He hated going anywhere else other then his doodi maaji hoondh ghari. There he was KING in his own kingdom and and was answerable to her and to himself only. There no one accused him of doing wrong and never was looked down .

As fate would play its game. Dhutari and Satari one day met face to face and suddenly both of them took instant liking for each other. In spite of their different background they started seeing each other regularly and their point of discussion mainly........... BULLI kar laadi election ti bani Minister baye Ambitabh bacchan sinz nav khel kar yee.

One day Satari decided to take Dhutari for a long drive in his new Marvati alon with BULLI . They went to boulevard,then to chasm-e-shahi and then to maisuma for tasting Muni wazin , seeki tujji - ah hah hah!!! Satari was enjoying this luxury for the first time in his life and was thanking BULLI on and off. As it was BULLI who liked eating Muni wazin kabab and Satari had to oblige (After all could not afford to take his anger especially when he was in the race of becoming a parliamentarian).

Anyways after thanking their stars both of them proceeded towards their homes and suddenly Satari was stopped by one young lad,as he wanted him to pay some amount towards the making of a religious place. Satari by this time was dead tired and had no wish to spend anymore and that too on a thing which he was not sure which actually existed. As usual he buffed the lad away by cursing him for duping Innocent people.

Suddenly Dhutari held the young lads hand and took him aside. He gave him 1 anna from his pocket and promised him that everyday from his earning he would give him 1 anna. Till his mission was complete.

On seeing this Satari got angry as well was amazed to see Dhutari the blacker giving MONEY. He curiously and teasingly asked him....... Haya haram maal chukha bagravan, magar kya faydi, ye chu chyani khoti boud haramuk. Khyavan lookan heenj roopiyee?. On hearing this Dhutari replied Jinaab bhi chus bekil, mein kya wali navi tee karith agar vali ti pati kya ghav, akihr ghachay baajah myani koomuk jawany kini na. Jinaab agar doorust aus teli mejvi toohi byakh jaay DUA MANG NAS ti agar chur aus teli melyas aakh dooh aram karnas khastri. Dhoyn vani soortan maanj gav soney BOI baajah.

Shukhur khodayas kun KAKAS dyutim ni ke.

Shopian incident - An eye opener

Today after so many months i am sitting here in my balcony and am compelled to put my thoughts in words. I am actually fighting with my thoughts which are emerging every now and then when i hear about the "SHOPIAN INCIDENT ". My heart is overpowering my beliefs, my values and my passion which is all about HUMANITY.

I lost a friend in a terrible terrible incident and somewhere deep down i blame TERRORISM in Kashmir for this. Had there been no such thing in Kashmir i am sure my friend would have been still amongst us. Not only this but it also snatched away my HOMELAND, my childhood, my mental peace, my social security and above all my sweet memories. How can i love and forgive people who are responsible and still are propagating such menace and in humanism? How can i wipe my past all of a sudden ? This conflict within myself is disturbing and making me think hard that what is it that i want and am seeking. Is this going to be my FUTURE too ???

The answer is NO. I cannot make my future get over shadowed by something that happened in past and over which i had no control.I cannot live my life in hatred and pain. I cannot imagine myself becoming a part of something cruel and inhuman and History never forgiving me for this. If i carry on with my pain, grudges and hatred i would become no less then them. Instead i am going to make these as my strengths to over power them so that my future as well as someone else's future is safe and secure.

What happened in Shopian (Kashmir) was really pathetic and tragic. It should have never happened in the very first place but then there are things over which we have no control or even if we have control, we choose to turn a blind eye. Shopian incident is just the tip of an ice berg. There are hundreds and hundreds of such incidents and in-fact which are more cruel and gruesome in act that have taken place in Kashmir ever since insurgency started there. Kasmiri Pandit women were the initial targets of such heinous acts (Sarla Bhat, Prana Ganjoo, Mohini Kaul, Shama Dhar etc.). After raping and killing them their dead bodies were chopped into pieces and those pieces were thrown all over the roads which lead us to our HOMES.

Unfortunately due to less in numbers and fear for the lives of our near and dear ones we choose to remain silent spectators of such CRIMES. Maybe we could have raised our voices against such cruelty had the Government of J&K and of India supported and empathized with our agonies and pain or IF THE MAJORITY COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE RAISED THEIR VOICES WITH OURS. Nothing of such sort happened, hence the best option available to stop this madness was to migrate to other parts of India.

I am thankful to God that my community had an option to survive and survive with honor and dignity. I am thankful to God that I am in a position today to raise my voice and concerns against injustice, inhumanity and killings. I am also thankful to God that for the sake of all this i am in a position to fight it out too.

I am against any sort of violence and crime. I don't advocate hatred. I am a peace loving being and have been brought up with the beliefs and values which lead me to only and only HUMANISM. I am a proud KASHMIRI BATTYN who can look into the mirror without any fears and regrets and i owe it to my upbringing, my religion and my community. All of them teach and advocate LOVE, PEACE & NON VIOLENCE. It it this that has brought me and all of us to such a position where we can demand justice not only for our people but for those who also who ruined our lives. Two wrongs can never make one right.Murder and rape is a crime and it can never be justified.

I pray to God to bring peace and to give courage to the family who lost their daughter and daughter in law in Kashmir. I also hope that this time the concerning authorities roll their sleeves up and do what they are actually supposed to do and above all i hope the majority community ensures that whenever and with who so ever such kind of incident takes place, they raise their concerns, as they have raised this time.

Shopian incident should be an eye opener for all of us and it should become a torch bearer in opening up of all the cases which were never brought out in open light. Let justice take place for each and every person, who has become victim of such acts.

I am sure all those people who have conscience and want to live in peace and love and are with me in my quest and fight against injustice, crime and violence in any form, irrespective of the CASTE, CREED, COLOR, RELIGION OR SEX; will always raise their voices and concerns whenever and wherever such in human acts take place...

Be determined, say women fighting for justice

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Neelam Krishnamurthy, Neelam Katara, Indu Jalali, Sabina Lall...They are all women who have been moved by personal tragedy to step into India's courts day after day to bring culprits to book, inspiring in the process hundreds of thousands who had lost faith in the system.

So what does International Women's Day March 8 mean to them?

Krishnamurthy, convener of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), who lost two of her children in the Uphaar fire tragedy that claimed 59 innocent lives in 1997, believes it is about determination.

'Women's Day is not about someone taking a prize in the auditorium amidst a small crowd, it's about their empowerment at the grassroots,' Krishnamurthy told IANS.

She said women's empowerment starts from home where a father gives equal rights to his daughter, a husband gives due respect to his wife and a brother gives equal liberty to his sister.

'Strong determination is the only way out if women want to make their presence felt in a male-dominated society,' Krishnamurthy said.

She has been at the forefront of the Uphaar case, which last year saw a lower court convicting business tycoon brothers Sushil and Gopal Ansal along with 10 others. But nothing has been able to fill the vacuum created by the death of her children.

'People say life moves on, but only those who go through pain know that it never does. I feel as if I have been served a living death sentence all these years, fighting for justice,' said Krishnamurthy.

'All my friends and relatives wanted me to adopt a child, but I could never do it. They didn't understand my pain. That is when I realised that no one can help you and you have to deal with your grief on your own,' Krishnamurthy said.

Indu Jalali, who fought for justice for her friend Priyadarshini Mattoo under the banner of 'Justice for Priyadarshini', said: 'In the beginning we were not taken seriously by anyone and instead everyone discouraged us. But our determination helped us in sailing through the tides of sorrow and pain.'

Priyadarshini was brutally raped and murdered Jan 23, 1996, in broad daylight in a south Delhi locality by her senior at the Law Faculty, Delhi University, Santosh Kumar Singh, the son of a senior police officer. He was given the death sentence by the Delhi High Court in October 2006.

'No one supported us but with time and the help of people belonging to various sections of society, justice was achieved,' said Jalali.

'Women need to get rid of taboos prevailing in our society and come out strongly against injustice to them. Until they make themselves heard, no one will help them,' she said.

The resolute face of Sabrina Lall was one splashed in the media time and again as she fought for justice for her sister Jessica who was shot dead by Manu Sharma, the son of a powerful and wealthy politician, in April 1999.

Even as her parents died during the course of trial, Sabrina carried on her fight, inspiring the nation to back her with all its might. In 2006, the Delhi High Court sentenced Manu Sharma to life imprisonment and two other accomplices and co-accused to four years in jail.

Neelam Katara, the mother of Nitish Katara, is another such woman. Nitish was kidnapped and killed allegedly by ex-Rajya Sabha MP D.P. Yadav's son Vikas and his cousin Vishal Yadav in February 2002. The case is still pending in a trial court.

As she waits for justice, Neelam Katara said: 'The system needs to be more sensitive towards women, especially in cases of rape and molestation where the protection of their identity is more important.

'Education of women needs to be strengthened and only then will they be able to take important decisions of their life themselves.'

(http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiaabroad/20080306/
r_t_ians_nl_general/tnl-be-determined-say-women-fighting-for-b9e311f.html)