Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy, in the backdrop of the recent suicide attack on the CRPF component at Lethapora, appealed to the Indians to, inter-alia, boycott Shri Amar Nath ji Yatra, apparently to cripple Kashmiris economically. Such hateful utterances against the citizens of the country from a sitting governor are un-constitutional and therefore, highly condemnable. It is imperative for the Governor to understand the implications of such a call.
Kashmir Valley is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world offering various attractions to people across the world. The snow-bounds peaks, the gushing clean water rivulets, the green pastures, the thick and large forests and above all, gorgeous glaciers make the valley an enticing tourist attraction in the world. But, the huge influx of Yatris impinges upon this environment of Kashmir Valley. Lakhs of Yatris enter the valley for onward journey to the holy cave either through traditional route of Pahalgam or the Baltal route for a period of two months. Majority of these Yatris stay under the canvas at various locations of the Yatra routes, set up by the non-local agencies. All these camping sites lack basic amenities of lavatory provisions, as a result the Yatris are forced to attend to the call of nature in the open spaces adjacent to the camping sites. Further, the camping sites are set up on banks of the water bodies all along the routes of Yatra. The human excreta of lakhs of Yatris thus, find its way into these water bodies, thereby, polluting the otherwise fresh and clean water. Similar is the impact of this Yatra on the fauna and flora of Kashmir.
Further, the Yatris enter into the Kashmir valley by different modes. Majority of them come from different parts of the country through vehicular transport, or railways upto Jammu and from there by vehicles upto Pahalgam/ Baltal. Some of them come by air upto Srinagar and by vehicles upto Baltal/ Pahalgam. Helicopter service is also available at Baltal for the Yatris against cash payment. Whereas the trains belong to the government, the other modes of transport used by the Yatris either belong to or are run by the non-local operators. Although small number of Yatris move to the holy cave from Baltal/ Pahalgam on pony-back run by local horse-men, yet majority of the Yatris move on foot. About 0.5 % old, sick and infirm Yatris are carried by palki-bearers on ‘paalkies’ to the holy cave. About 5% Yatris also engage ‘coolies’/labourers for carriage of their belongings from Pahalgam/ Baltal upto the holy cave and back. Thus, as against meager 0.5% of money spent by the Yatris on transport goes to the local palki-bearers, horse-men and labourers, over 99% of the spending goes to the non-local transporters. Further, camp sites and ‘langers’ to provide free tented accommodation for stay and meals to the Yatris are established by the non-locals at various ‘Padhaavas’ or stop-overs of the Yata route right from Jammu upto the holy cave. Barring a few influential Yatris who opt for hotels and restaurants owned by the locals, the remaining lot of Yatris bank on the free tented accommodation and ‘Langars’. Medicare and other support required by the Yatris are provided by the State government free of cost. The Yatra is accordingly locally termed as non-earning tourism as locals make hardly any earning from this.
Notwithstanding this bitter truth, Kashmiri Muslims, be it the government officials comprising ninety-nine percent Kashmiri Muslim belonging to different departments or purely Muslim horse-men, potters, palki-bearers and other Kashmiris feel pride in associating with the smooth conduct of this Yatra. This is so because Kashmir is essentially a secular society. It practices Sufi type of Islam with an influence of ‘Rishi-ism’. This Sufism spiced with ‘Rishi-ism’ is called the ‘Kashmiryat’. ‘Kashmiryat’ which has synthesized as a result of amalgamation of different customs, traditions, rites and rituals of two major communities i.e. Muslims and the Pandits living in Kashmir for over centuries is the well-known culture of Kashmir. The ‘Kashmiryat’ is moderate and liberal in its outlook and therefore secular. Tolerance and accommodation are the hall marks of ‘Kashmiryat’. The situation of Muslim shrines alongside the Pandit ‘asthapanas’ at many places in Kashmir, the heterogeneous habitation of the mohalls and villages of Kashmir by the Pandits and Muslims and the commonality of a large number of customs and rites of the two communities are main features of ‘Kashmiryat’. The holy cave of Shree Amaranth, discovered by Buta Malik, a Kashmiri Muslim, is yet another symbol of ‘Kashmiryat’. The Yatra which is held every year strengths the concept of ‘Kashmiryat’. Being emotionally attached to Yatra and treating the association with it as a service to strengthen ‘Kashmiryat’, which being dearer to their heart, the Kashmiri Muslims, unmindful of the economic aspect of it, exhibit extreme enthusiasm by associating with the Yatra like true Shiv-sainiks. This is why Kashmiri Muslims, braving threat to their lives, saw the Yatra through against all odds in 1995. Governor Tathagata Roy and the likes should therefore, sufficiently educate themselves before issuing un-called for statements on such sensitive issues.
(The author is former IGP Kashmir)
aminshahig@yahoo.co.in