Daily Wage, Permanent Relief

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Farzana Mumtaz

“Our govt will be regularizing 60,000 daily wagers & casual labourers working in various departments in J&K to provide sustainable livelihoods to those who need it the most,” tweeted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti few days back, which many have seen a big stride towards solving this complicated and serious issue .

Daily Wagers and Casual Labourers have become symbols of agitation over the past few decades owing to their unfulfilled demands.

 

 

Some years back the state Finance ministry stated that 61,446 casual/seasonal /need-based employees were engaged in as many as 31 government departments.The reply added that at present wage rate of such workers was Rs 150 per day however in someDepartments,

The need-based and part-time workers were being paid consolidated wages at varying rates.

Importantly, this  reply also contained  department-wise number of such employees with Public Health Engineering-Irrigation and

Flood control (PHE/I&FC) department alone employing 23711

followed by Forest Department (7171), R&B (6692), Agricultureproduction (4383) and Housing and Urban Development(3922). In a worrying development despite the  state government imposing  a blanket ban on appointment of daily wagers on several instances, these people were engaged by various departments under different names such as casual workers and need-based workers.

After the State was burdened with huge appointments of daily wagers by polity that lacked foresight , what followed was the Lack of concrete policy on daily wagers, no regularization policy, huge delay in payment of salaries has defined the plight of daily wagers. With crisis growing into a disaster Daily Wager issue was among the  serious issue that has been surfacing as a very big headache  for the state administration and successive governments.

Importantly, The panel headed by Chief Secretary BB Vyas submitted its report to the finance department in October, stating that the total number of workers engaged in 31 departments under 15 different categories, including casual labourers and seasonal workers, was 1,00,501.

Syed Mohammad Haadi, an expert voice on it stated  “We should all welcome the decision of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to regularize the daily wagers as agitation was becoming only means for these daily wagers over past many years .The daily wagers have faced great number of serious issues mainly due to very meager amount paid and that too after much delays .One is hopeful that the recent policy decision from the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will be implemented in letter and spirit. Once the daily wage issue is solved with great vision and pragmatics it will take state to new level of transparency.’’

One hopes there would be light at the end of dark tunnel on byDaily wage issue with announcement on daily wage issue by CM.

 

 

 

 

Mindless Trump!

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Javeed Ali

I read a story in today’s Washington Post which was captioned as “Where would a US Embassy in Jerusalem actually go? It had all the contours of US plot how they are going to establish their embassy in Jerusalem.  It follows after the irresponsible and ridiculous statement of US President Donald Trump wherein he has expressed his unrealistic dream of making the Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He further said that US embassy will be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Donald Trump is one of the arrogant, immoral and wicked presidents of America who has a deep hatred for Islam and Muslims. He intentionally or inadvertently displayed his utter abhorrence for Islam at number of times through his insane deeds even in his Presidential election campaign. Now being as President, he always formulates foreign policies which always hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

But this time he has done a silly mistake which has provided us a great opportunity to unite a divided Muslim Ummah. We should try to make the best use of this foolish act of Trump to aware Muslim Ummah about the evil intentions of America and Israel against Islam and Islamic countries.

Israel illegally occupied Palestinian territories in the 1967 war, including East Jerusalem in defiance of the international community, and wasted no time in declaring the city as its “eternal, undivided” capital.

The first Qibla, Muslims prayed towards, is Al-Aqsa mosque or  “Bait-ul-Muqqadas” (Holy place) which is now in Jerusalem (Quds). Most of the prophets of Allah were appointed in this city. This is one of the most blessed places on earth.

Prophet Mohammad (SAW) with Ahlulbayt (A.S.) and noble companions (RA) used to say their prayers facing towards direction of Quds. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) offered his prayers facing Bait-ul-Muqqadas for thirteen years when he was in Makkah then for seventeen months after emigration to Medina. The foundation for Bait-ul-Muqqadas has been laid by Prophets of Allah Almighty and they used to spend their sacred life there besides offered their prayers there also. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) has said that Masjid-ul-Haram in Mecca is the first mosque that was constructed in the world and then Bait-ul-Muqqadas was the second mosque which was build 40 years later after the establishment of Masjid-ul-Haram.  According to the Holy Quran and Islamic traditions, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the place from which Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) went on a spiritual night journey  (Al Isra Val Me’raj) from Makkah to al-Aqsa.  Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) tethered Buraq to the Western Wall and prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque and after he finished his prayers, the Angel Jibril (A.S.) traveled with him to heaven, where he met several other prophets and led them in prayer.

It is well established fact that Quds is an important part of Islam and its liberation from the Zionist Israel is paramount for Islam. Therefore, whole Muslim Ummah, keeping aside their sectarian differences, should unite under one umbrella and fight for the Palestine freedom struggle with greater energy. We should all converge under one platform and we should use all the resources available to us for the just cause of Palestine.

We should never forget that the Arab Resistance Movement Hezbollah, the only entity that has defeated Israel ever, in 2006 had made a blueprint to liberate Quds and Palestine from the clutches of Israel but it was impeded by Israel with active support of Arab sheikhdoms who orchestrated a civil war in Syria and turmoil in Iraq immediately after the Hezbollah victory.

Israel along with its masters America with full backing and support from Persian Gulf Arab countries pumped petrodollars into the unjust war, created  ISIS (Daesh) and plethora of other terror groups to divert the attention from the core issue: Palestine.

Now as the ISIS menace have been wiped off from Iraq and Syria, Israeli Zionist forces have started direct confrontation by launching missile attack on Syria. This is being done to hamper the reconstruction and rebuilding process in Syria as they never want Syria to stay stable in order to keep their illegal occupation of Palestine intact.

The Israeli forces are killing, bombarding and torturing the innocent Palestinian people in a planned manner. Palestinians are struggling against the forced and illegal foreign occupations since last 6 to 7 decades and Israel is using every possible oppressive method to suppress the voice of helpless people.

Aftermath the fresh statement of Donald Trump, the  leader of Hamas Resistance movement Ismail Haniyeh  has called for a new uprising against Israel. “We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy,” Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech from Gaza on Thursday. A spokesperson for Hamas previously said on Wednesday night that Donald Trump had “opened the gates of hell” by taking the provocative step of calling the occupied city Israeli.

Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Muslim world should stand against the US plot to declare Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,” stressing that Palestine will eventually be freed from occupation.  Speaking on Wednesday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Ayatollah Khamenei stated, “Palestine today tops the political issues facing the Islamic Ummah and everyone is duty-bound to make endeavors towards its freedom and salvage.” The Leader made the remarks in an address to state officials, ambassadors of Muslim countries and participants at the 31st International Islamic Unity Conference underway in Tehran. Ayatollah Khamenei said that the enemies’ utterence to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of the Israeli regime stems from their “incompetence and despair.”  “The Muslim world would undoubtedly stand against this conspiracy and the Zionists will be dealt a heavy blow with this move and dear Palestine will at last be liberated without doubt,” he added.

Traditional US allies like Saudi Arabia  are among a growing chorus condemning President Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised US President Donald Trump‘s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying it would throw this region into “a ring of fire”.

I urge all the factions concerning Palestinian issue to unite quickly in order to have the strategy to confront the occupation of Palestine and the US administration policies inside the Palestinian territories. I request all the Muslim clerics of all sects to stop bickering on one another. We should ponder that our ultimate enemies are America and Israel and we should use our energy and resources against them not against our fellow Muslims. Stop using pulpits to spread venom against each other. These pulpits are not for dividing us on trivial issues but to unite as we Shias and Sunnis are two arms (Bazoo) of Islam. We should use the religious centres for Wahdat (unity) which was the fundamental ambition of all the prophets [Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse No. 213]

I want to conclude with the slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free”.

-The author is a freelance writer and can  be reached at javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com

 

Crushing Human Rights

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News Kashmir Analysis

(The age in which we live can only be characterized as one of barbarism. Our civilization is in the process not only of being militarized, but also being brutalized. Alva Myrdal).

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December every year.

The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations. The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December 1950, when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day .

 

Humanity in Kashmir has been brutalized ever since the political conflict of Kashmir took a violent turn .. Heart-wrenching stories are all alike around Kashmir – . Hundreds of humans lost their lives during this year too and mothers wailing over their dead sons or wives mourning over their husbands killed has been a scene since many decades in Kashmir  .

As a matter of fact, almost every day  the heartrending images  of Kashmir conflict are seen in the print media and in some sections of the satellite television medium.

Yesterday , was never  different in kashmir as bloodshed is  visible quiet clearly in every nook and corner of Kashmir.

 

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No doubt, human rights are crushed. It has also been an established fact that many cases of human rights violation stem from abuse of power under repressive laws and under undue use of gun.  Sometimes even for  acts that are legitimized by international human rights standards of free speech, freedom of association and assembly, and freedom of the press are met with highhandedness.  While many arrests are without any legal justification and Shamefully, even corpses have been beaten up in Kashmir which is quiet heart rending.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a journalist stated -“We need to respect human rights and as we all know the situation with reference to burning issue of human rights has not been that much promising thus realities call upon the Indian state to be more serious in taking to task those who have abused power and violated human rights of kashmiris.”

Clearly, the latest cycle of tremendous  violence in the troubled valley is a stark reminder that more than seven  decades after independence of both India and Pakistan, the troubled  territory of Kashmir remains as volatile as ever and as a result human rights suffer .Mood on ground zero clearly indicates that that until a permanent solution to the Kashmir crisis is found, normalization of ties between Pakistan and India will not be possible and peace can also  be not achieved .

Top Cop Dr. Sailendra Mishra speech widely appreciated in Kashmir

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Rameez Makhdoomi

 

Dr.Sailendra Mishra , IPS top cop known for his professional skills in the unstable Kashmir Valley in a recent function at Shrenagar Rajasthan gave much humane, realistic speech on Kashmir which was widely appreciated on ground and online world  . His discourse was quite unique, refreshing  and interesting .

Importantly he stated that we need to understand the reasons that lead to creation of Waseem Ahmad Malla and Burhan wani – ” We need to understand and read the story that makes militant and not just go through the episode of killing ,” stated Dr.Sailendra Mishra .

He observed that militants have actually rejected being Indian as a result of anger against system and frustration .” In Jammu and Kashmir we have certainly acts of  violence but not the what fits into terrorism , the terrorism is what we witnessed few days back in Egypt mosque when suicide bombers killed over three hundred Muslims ,” remarked Mishra.

Striking a very different note than the traditional monotonous note that follows the issues confronting kashmir conflict, Sailendra Mishra stated that we should never celebrate the killing of militant as it signals the defeat of system and adds to anger on ground .What Dr.Sailendra Mishra has stated is poles in contrast to the recent tweet of Cricketer Sehwag, which got heavily criticized in Kashmir. Sehwag had tweeted – ”Congratulations to @adgpi and J&K Police for the unbeaten double century this year, eliminating 200 terrorists in 2017 alone. Jai Hind ! May there be peace

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 

Dr. Sailendra Mishra observed  that bravery, sacrifices  of Jammu and Kashmir police  get hardly noticed and praise is showered just on army and Paramilitary forces . He also went on to say that Prime time debates will never show true picture of Kashmir as real kashmir is full of hospitality and love.

After a long time a speech of security official has received such appreciation in pain hit Kashmir.

 

Is Commemorating Birth Anniversaries of Religious dignitaries, an innovation or an act of polytheism?

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Mujtaba Abbas

Commemorating remembrance of eminent servants of Allah (SWT) like creating a memorial or celebrations of their Milad, in the view of wises is very clear, but for clarification of every kind of doubt in this matter legitimate testimonies are hereby presented.  1.    Organizing Ceremonies manifestation of Love.   Quran-e-Kareem, Invites Muslims towards love for Holy Prophet and his Holy House Hold.                    قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ( Shura 26/23)Say (Oh Prophet): ‘For this I ask of you no wage except the love of the (Prophet’s) house hold.There is no doubt about commemorating ceremonies for religious dignitaries is nothing but manifestation of love and attachment of people for them, which is in the view of Holy Quran completely correct and acceptable.  2.     Organizing Ceremonies, a Homage to Holy Prophet. Quran-e-Kareem, in addition to companionship of Holy Prophet, has introduced glorification of stature of Holy Prophet as a benchmark for salvation and prosperity.  فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (Araf/157)Those who believe in him and honor him, those who aid him and follow the light sent forth with him, shall surely prosper. In the light of this verse, it is well understood that honoring Holy Prophet in the view of Islam is completely desirable and praiseworthy and organizing ceremonies which are for having alive the glorious remembrance of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and for his eminent prominence to show our praises for him, shall beoccurrenceof gratification of Allah (SWT). Therefore in this verse of Quran four qualities for salvation are mentioned:                    A: Faith;(الذین آمنوا به)(those who believe him).                   B: Following his light; (واتّبعوا النّور الذی أنزل معه)                                         (The light sent forth with him is to be followed)

C: Helping him; (ونصروه)  (Being helpful for him)

D: Homage and glorification for stature of Holy Prophet; (و عزّروه)  (Honor him).

Therefore, honor and homage for Prophet in addition to faith in him and helping him and following his directions is imperative and celebrating beloved Holy Prophet is an example of (وعزّروه) .

  1. Organizing ceremonies is dedication and obedience for Allah (SWT).

Allah in Holy Quran has mentioned about glorifying the Prophet: (وَرَفَعْنٰا لَکَ ذِکْرَکَ) (Inshirah94/4) (Have We not raised your remembrance?)

In the light of this verse we can understand that Allah (SWT) wants magnificence and glory of Holy Prophet should spread across world and himself has weave Quranic verses in praise of His Prophet.

We too in obedience of His Holy Book, with organizing mnemonic splendor ceremonies, the utmost status of Holy Prophet being our role model of perfection and attainment by glorifying him and by this way degrees of our dedication and following of Allah (SWT) is showcased.  It is very much clear that the intention of Muslims from these ceremonies is nothing elsebut to make long loud the beloved Prophet.

 

  1. Coming down of revelation is not less than coming down of food.

Quran-e-Kareem through the tongue of Prophet of Allah mentions this story:

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِنْكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ(Maeda 5/114).

‘Allah, our Lord, ‘ said (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary, ‘send down upon us a table out of heaven, that shall be a festival for us the first and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us; You are the Best of providers.

 

Prophet Jesus prays Allah for the Food of skies, so that Allah send down that Food for them and they will celebrate the day of coming down of Food as Festival (Eid).

This is what we want to ask that a Prophet who wants to celebrate a festival (Eid) the day on which Food of Skies is been sent down for them, which was not more than a fulfillment of bodily satisfaction. But if the Muslims of world celebrates the day of coming down of Allah’s revelation on Prophet or celebrates Prophet’s birth anniversary which are meant for the rescue of whole mankind and are actual resources for meaningful life of a human being. Organizing ceremonies of celebrations and celebrating these days as festivals (Eid) are sources of innovations and polytheism?

 

  1. Tradition Muslims.

The followers of Islam from ages organize such ceremonies for glorifying the remembrance of Holy Prophet.

Hussain Ibn Mohammed Diyar Baqari in his book Tarikh Khamis mentions:

Muslims of all over world used to celebrate the month in which Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) day of birth falls along with giving away feasts and during nights of that month alms were distributed among needy people, symbols of happiness were put into gear and all other kindness used to cover whole society and for recitation of memoirs of Milad of Prophet events were organized, and the illustration of his blessings and mercy used to be manifest on everybody.

With all above mentions we attain a general ruling for ceremonies of remembrance of dignitaries of our religion being legitimate and desirable in the light of Quran and tradition of Muslims.

Thus proves baselessness of such claims which says remembering Gods dear ones is an innovation. It is to be noted that innovation is one whose recommendation partially or generally used or applied against Quran and Tradition. While as the general ruling in this matter is completely aligned with Quran and the permanent tradition of Muslims which we understand.

Likewise organizing these ceremonies are only treated as symbols   of respect and glorifying the eminent servant of Allah (SWT) with this belief that their devotion and necessitous is all towards Almighty Allah. Thus has absolute harmony with basic principle of monotheism and Unanimity worship of Allah (SWT).

Therefore it get clearer that anyone who opposes these kind of ceremonies in which God’s dear ones are remembered has no base and foundation. We believe it can never cause polytheism and dualism for a Muslim.

 

Mujtaba Abbas (agamujtaba@gmail.com)

USA BLUNDER ON JERUSALEM

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The US president Donald Trump  recently  in a dramatic televised speech stated that he had “determined it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.

“I’ve judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” he said.

The decision angered entire muslim and Arab world and protests are going on in several parts of world .

Among US allies, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the chorus of opposition by saying that Jerusalem was a “red line for Muslims” and that his country’s response towards Trump’s move “could go as far as us cutting diplomatic ties with Israel”. “We implore the US once again: You cannot take this step,” he said.

Mr Trump’s announcement – met with worldwide dismay – reversed decades of US policy on the sensitive issue .Meanwhile on Thursday at least 16 Palestinians have been wounded in clashes in the occupied West Bank, during protests against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Reports suggest the injuries are mostly from tear gas and rubber bullets, but at least one was hurt by live fire.

Israel has deployed hundreds of extra troops in the West Bank.USA Decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel is likely to burn entire region under the flames of war and kill fragile peace. As a result of it Palestinians in the both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have gone on strike and taken to the streets in protest.

Kashmir Press Club Adhoc body nominated

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News Kashmir felicitates Saleem Pandit Srinagar: The Valley-based media persons including editors, working journalists, photographers and videographers have unanimously nominated an ad-hoc body of Kashmir Press Cub/Aiwan-e-Sahafat.
M Saleem Pandit (The Times of India) will head the adhoc body as its President while Shuja-ul-Haq (India Today TV) has been nominated as Vice President and Shamim Mehraj (The Kashmir Monitor) as General Secretary.
Asif Qureshi of ABP has been nominated as Secretary Administration and Mehraj-ud-din of AP as Secretary Finance.
Besides the office bearers, seven members, nominated by different media associations would be part of the adhoc managing body of the Kashmir Press Club.
The managing committee members are Haroon Rashid (Kashmir Editors Guild); Zahoor Ahmad Shoora (Kashmir Press Association); Habib Naqash (Kashmir Press Photographers Association); Ehsan Fazili (Kashmir Correspondents Club); Shahnawaz Khan (Kashmir Working Journalists Association); Mir Farhat (Young Journalists Association).
The ad-hoc committee will coordinate with the government for the establishment of first press club at Srinagar. Once the club is established, this ad-hoc body would ensure elections for the formation of a permanent body .

News Kashmir team felicitates Saleem Pandit for being torchbearer in steps towards establishing press club in Kashmir.

Wonderful Kashmir Experience penned down by Sri lankan traveller Sakie Ariyawansa

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It was a sunny day when I was wearing a Pharan and sitting on Sameer’s veranda in his ancestral Kashmiri home in Mazhom. The workers of the shawl workshop had already arrived, despise of the killing cold of the starting winter. I too was shivering and protested to move out of my warm blanket, when Sameer’s mom suggested me to go and absorb the sun. It first sounded like a joke for me, as a person coming from a warm country like Sri Lanka, where the sunlight is quite sharp and direct. But to my surprise, the Kashmiri sun light was mild and friendly.

While she busied herself in drying the red chillies over a mat in the garden, I snuggled in a blanket watching the early-morning-formed ice melting with the sun rays. The neighbours were also out on their verandas drying their carpets or feeding the cows. A man could have been sitting outside cleaning the Kaangdis ( Traditional Kashmiri firepots) , readying them for the upcoming chill. A young girl would have been stitching a worn out Pharan, maybe embroidering it with a new floral pattern.

Just as then, the latch of the gate creaked and a woman of her 40’s maybe, walked in to the garden. She wore a dark green Pharan and a head scarf of bright pink matching with the border design of her dress. Ring earrings hung from her ears. She had a fancy gold ring with green and red stones embossed to it. She came to Sameer’s mom who hugged her thrice and greeted with Salaams. Their gestures in conversations made me realized that it is about me. I was told that the lady who walked in is a neighbour and her son is to go to Delhi for further studies. She came towards me and sat across. She did not speak Hindi nor Urdu. She was from “that” generation which only spoke Kashmiri. My own Kashmiri was not good enough back then to have pleased her. I only knew how to count. But I could understand what someone would tell me.

She looked at me and smiled. She asked me when I will be going back to Delhi. I managed to say “Akh December” (one). She was extremely happy to have understood 1st of December. Not only that, she gave one clap and laughed with joy at my very slight Kashmiri. We shared a lot through the smiles and expressions. I was wrapping my arms around myself at which she kept saying “Toor cha?” I later found out it was for cold.

The 20 minutes we sat together of course included tea and biscuits with jam in the middle, and a hard doughnut which is known as Kulcha. She observed me struggling with Kulcha, and demonstrated how to eat it with ease. My every move was a joy filled laughter and I assume it made her fall for me more.

The two women were talking aloud mostly about village issues I guessed. I could only gape at their gestures and imagine what it was about. Words like, Siri Lanka, Bangalore and Sameer’s dost cleared to me that it was also about me. Having heard how far Sri Lanka is from Kashmir, her exclamations and surprise escalated further to know that I had come all the way by myself.

It was time for her to head back to her house, and she invited me to tag along with her. When I politely promised for some other time, she pulled out her fancy golden ring and put it on my finger. It was obviously quite big on me (I had thinner fingers) but it was a precious souvenir for me. I really wished I could wear it. Even tying a thread to make the ring hole smaller would not have worked. I denied to accept it, but she insisted that I did. Finally she kissed me on the forehead and left. I also managed to take some selfies with her before that! (I trained her enough until she could not stop taking photos)

There had been many such humans whom I have come across since my first trip to Kashmir. Speaking Urdu can be a definite advantage, but yet they are such people who accept with whole heart a guest, and make them feel home. They never hesitate to invite, always force to eat more, and offer to take you around at get your shopping done at absolutely low prices. So what is stopping you now?