Once again the heaven on earth has been turned into a hell. The bloody Sunday in Shopian district of South Kashmir and has created a deep anger among the people of valley. The news of disturbance in the valley is enough to distract tourists vising Kashmir especially those planning to see the Tulip garden. Again Kashmir will be isolated, but the situation as painted by corporate driven media is far from the truth. The media coverage on Kashmir will deprive the tourists of wathing the pristine beauty of Kashmir. When the national media is reporting that the tourists who have been already here before the gun battle in the South are running out from Kashmir in order to save their lives, what myself as a solo traveler from Gujarat is doing in Kashmir? On 2nd April, the day of strike (hartal), I was freely moving in all parts of Srinagar without any fear. Of course, my heart is still heavy and the shadows of grief have engulfed my thoughts with the deaths and injuries of so many people, but during my stay I did not feel any security threat at all. On that fateful Sunday afternoon, I took an auto to move around few parts of Srinagar. The auto driver, as like all the Kashmiri people was trying to convince me not to be scared as Kashmiri people can never harm tourists as they treat them as special guests. He told me, “You are just like my younger sister and can stay at my home if you are feeling unsafe” . With tears in my eyes, I just looked at him. I could not say anything to him in reply. Even during the evening time, I visited Chasme Shahi, where lots of tourists were enjoying. On April 1st, Sunday, I passed through the most sensitive areas of the capital, downtown, but it was hardly a matter of security for a tourist. Whomever I met with, whomever I talked to, from an auto rickshaw driver to research scholar or a professor, all said that when the tourist season starts here, we witness such incidents. Such series of incidents during the time of tour season proves that this is just a conspiracy to divert tourists from Kashmir. I had myself gone through such experience. Last year in the month of March, some of our friends had planned to visit the valley. When we had shared our plan to our friends, relatives, all were insisting us not to visit Kashmir, because every day we were shown negative picture of Kashmir in the Prime Time on almost all the news channels except a few. Due to that negative propaganda , common people across Gujrat and other states of India have a very wrong picture of Kashmir. In spite of all that propaganda we visited Kashmir and the most mesmerizing Tulip Garden last year. I am in love with Kashmir and Kashmiris from last 4 years. For the first time I came to Kashmir in 2014 as a volunteer of Medical Service Centre for flood relief. I was treated as a daughter, as a sister, as a friend everywhere. People of the valley had given me unexpected love. Otherwise I would have become the victim of this false campaign running in media regarding Kashmir and Kashmiri People.
In 2012, I, with my family could not gather courage to visit Kashmir and had gone to Himachal Pradesh from Jammu itself, because of the tourist agents’ false alarm. But now I realize what is what.. When the Tulips in the largest garden of Asia are blossoming and calling the nature lovers, some vested interest tryies to throw pellets and bullets on these beautiful and tender flowers. Before they blossom in full spring, they are crushed by these elements. I was shocked when I heard a fake news about attack on tourists. At this critical juncture when peace is a cry for Kashmir and Kashmiri people, tourism will be the only investment in gaining peace. When tourists will visit and witness Kashmir with their own eyes, only then my fellow countrymen will realize what Kashmiris are ? Being a female, it is not easy to move alone in any part of the world, but with pride I can say that Kashmir is the only place in entire world where my father can allow me to go alone without any fear. The reason is he has visited Kashmir many times in his life even during the most critical years of turmoil. I am following his footsteps to visit the heaven and this is my 9th visit to Kashmir, the paradise on earth. I want to tell my fellow tourists that just come and fall in love with Kashmir. One day I am sure the blossoming Tulips will defeat the pellets and bullets.
Rimmi Vaghela is a Law student and solo traveler from Ahmedabad Gujarat.