Farzana Mumtaz
2017 (MMXVII) will be a common year starting on Sunday (dominical letter A) of the Gregorian calendar, the 2017th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 17th year of the 3rd millennium, the 17th year of the 21st century, and the 8th year of the 2010s decade.2017 has been designated as: International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations.
As the New Year has started the people in pain hit valley of Kashmir are hoping that year 2017 would usher an era of Justice, Peace, Prosperity, Hope to the suffering hit environs of Kashmir . Pertinently year 2016 was quiet rough for Kashmir as death and destruction made life of many families a lifelong hell.
One cannot deny the fact that there is something remarkable about the New Year that people find brings forth new lease of hope. Pertinently, the end of one year can mark an ultimate point, a place at which past events can be gently put to one side – gone but not elapsed – and eyes can look to the future.
Bilal Bashir Bhat, a young journalist while talking to News Kashmir on the topic states – “ As the new year has dawned we need to remember that on the front of challenges, we are bestowed with many. We have faced tough times since several decades now on account of unresolved political conflict of Kashmir. We have been facing much bleak outlook. It is also true that unsolved Kashmir issue and turmoil like situation is among the one of the main reasons behind these bleak situations.
We are very well aware that the year 2016 scripted numerous heart rendering, painful and distressful stories in Kashmir. 2016 civil uprising in Kashmir which erupted aftermath the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani attracted many countries and international organizations to speak up of against the sufferings and victimization on the people of Kashmir. Hope 2017 brings end to our sufferings.”
On the otherhand, on new year eve renewed positivity can be enjoyed and many people see it as a time when they can reassess their life targets. What was impossible to grasp in December can, in January, be reachable again.
Manzoor Ahmad, a student stated – “ We are hopeful that year 2017 brings some good news to Kashmir and it brings smile back on the faces of Kashmiris as we have faced lot of tough times . One can only keep hope alive that 2017 would be better as a year for Kashmir.”
As 2017 has been declared the year of sustainable tourism it would be interesting to note how authorities develop picturesque Kashmir into a destination of sustainable tourism destination for entire world.
For the moment, 2017 is filling Kashmir with an aura of what can be dubbed as cautious optimism.
