Maharaj was fond of collecting stones of different natural shapes; stones were his friends.
Yesterday while walking on the road his feet tossed against a little stone. He stopped and picked it up. He kept the stone on his table. Suddenly his mood changed. He believed that like human beings stones reflect different moods. But these were not gems or those stones which are studded in the rings to change luck. His stones unfolded mysteries. Once he picked up a fish-like stone from a local nallah. In the evening he met an accident. He is still limping. He wants to throw that stone away. Courage fails him.
Next morning he went to his office. He is a displaced employee.
Like other days, all was normal. Fatigue, sickness, pain of losing things and depressive outlook were the identification marks of most of the displaced employees though they were given the salaries.
Dr Faesal who stood first in the civil services examination was the talk of many Kashmiris living in Jammu. Some were jealous of him. Five displaced employees were sitting in that 5 x 6 feet room. A table, three chairs, an old settee, a broken trunk and a locker were the official property. The past and future of the dwindling employees were imprisoned. But more imprisoned were the minds of all. Intense heat, domestic tensions and hostile conditions have made the minds blunt. Nothing to accept!
“Don’t talk now about Faesal,” Dalip said.
“I believe that Kashmiri Muslims are much advanced intellectually,”  Maharaj replied
“This is appeasement. Kashmiri Pandits have done splendid,” Dalip countered
“Please don’t misinterpret. I am plain. Muslims are now advanced. Why do you deviate?”
“Kashmiri Pandits are also advanced but they are suppressed.”
“Dear Sir, I simply say that Kashmiri Muslims are advanced in every field. And Dr Faesal has made everyone proud.”
“What exemplary deed has he done? He has done IAS through Urdu. I can do IAS in no time.”
Maharaj was this time in anger. Arrogance of Dalip prompted him to react. He said: “Kashmiri Pandits can also do IAS through Hindi. By the way, if it is so easy then why among fifty lac Muslim population only three Muslims passed? But my point is this; You are a PhD and I am a matriculate, right, why don’t you accept it? Why oppose unnecessarily because he is a Muslim and you are a Pandit? By the way, during a seminar organized recently on state level, only Dr Nisar impressed me. He was to the point.”
“Leave this chanting…..Dr Nisar. What have you seen? My brother worked in Kashmir for two years. He was PA to…..”
“My brother worked for twenty years in Kashmir. But what has it to do with Dr. Faesal? I say Muslims are advanced intellectually and educationally. There are writers, poets, columnists and economists. I saw recently on a television channel a Kashmiri Muslim economist taking part in a discussion and speaking sense.”
“What economist? How can there be an economist? There are no industries.”
“Ha, ha… Are industries important for anybody to become an economist?” You seem to be a fundamentalist. We have become masters of press conferences and Abhinav theatre functions. We are living in shallow wells. We have restricted knowledge. Have we ever tried to compare the writings of Kashmiri Muslims with those of exiled writers? Have you read Curfewed Night by Basharat Peer who is a young man? Do you read the poetry of Kamil?”
“Stop this now. You know nothing. You are a ninny.”
“You are really a fundamentalist. I am talking of intellectual and educational advancement of Kashmiri Muslims. You are talking something else.”
“Listen……..” Dalip was absolutely out of wits.   He was seething with anger. Lack of reason and knowledge had made him absolutely dull. Some leaders and professors proclaiming themselves the messiahs of Kashmiri Pandits and masters of Kashmiri culture and literature have turned the youths unthinking. Instead they should have advised the community to learn the lessons even from their enemies. Accepting truths and learning from the enemies could have helped us. Big spectacles but lesser vision! Big heads but narrow minds. Big poets but lesser poetry! Great analysts but zero analysis! Only publicity! Hypocrites!…Ignorant!
“Stop it now,” Maharaj told.
Dalip went out gnashing his teeth. Maharaj returned home. He was disturbed. He felt that he should have stopped discussing when Dalip had told him that he could do IAS in the twinkling of an eye and that Faesal had done his IAS through Urdu.
Maharaj took a cup of tea and was talking to his stones at home. More knowledgeable than the arrogant and the ignorant in the room 5 x 6 feet!
Since then Maharaj has not seen Dalip.
All Party Parliamentary delegation recently visited Kashmir. For the last three months the people of Kashmir are on the roads. They have attracted world attention. Dalip would be listening to the stories of self-glorification from his scholar friends and leaders in any 5x6 room this time.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST