Sunday, August 21 2005 18:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

The past that is haunting the present

There was spontaneous rapport and bonding between them. "Seven years ago we could not travel on this road without security and today when we sing Bollwood songs at eleven in the night, I feel very happy", echoed thirteen-year-old Rahil. "So why can't we come back then?" questioned a visibly upset Jitender from Muthee camp. He added with pained expressions, " I keep on urging my parents to come back to Tral, our native place."

What unfolded in the next six days of camping was not less than a miracle. Besides theatre, art and story telling sessions, children from Valley shared their experiences of living and growing up witnessing violence in their daily lives and those from migrant camps opened their hearts narrating cramped camp lives and longing to come to Kashmir, which they had seen only in pictures or television.

"We feel scared to go to school. But now we have become used to blasts and grenades and security forces presence," said Owais from Bijbehara. On the other hand there were voices like that of Rahul Maratha who quipped, " I was born in a tent in Jadi, near Jammu and I have come to Kashmir for the first time." Originally from Anantnag, the beauty of picturesque Gulmarg enthralled him. "Why do we have to live in a 'basti', when my motherland is so beautiful? He questioned pertinently.

Voicing similar sentiments, Rohit Kher too reiterated his desire to comeback. "Nagrota is where my home is but Kashmir is my homeland. I have stories about our house in Nadimarg from my grandfather. And inspite of the massacre there, I want to come back because I have discovered such beautiful friends here," he asserted. And as an afterthought he whispered, "People are so nice and lovable here!"

The response from Valley children was no less. "I cannot control my tears when I see tears in their (migrant children) eyes. Please tell them to take away fear from their hearts and come back to Kashmir," said Rahil. "Yes please ask them to come back," shouted all children from Valley, amazing compassion from those who live life on edge, especially many of those who were orphans.

These picture perfect images of Kashmiriyat, however, could not brush aside the harsh reality and pain of the orphans. They were often reminded of their fathers and in the privacy of their tents cried for them. And it was the children from Jammu, Nagrota and Delhi who gave them a comforting shoulder.

"These children have only witnessed violence. This space for free expression, intermingling with children from other community and sharing their emotional trauma is a new experience for all of them," commented Sajjad, Coordinator from Bijbehara. Yes one could see even their teacher, Tariq, enjoying the evening get-together and dance session. "It is a catharsis for all of us", remarked Naushad Gayoor, a renowned artist from Institute of Fine Arts and Music.

"This is an emotional reunion," said M.A. Tantray, News Editor, Doordarshan. And as he narrated his short Kashmiri story 'Bach-e-Booun (The Duck Maple Tree),' a story of three friends, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh, to the spell bound fifty-five children, clearly children had effortlessly transcended barriers of class, gender, ethnicity and religion.

"So what if we are Hindus and Muslims! What matters is that we are a group and that we are together, Yakjah," they said.