Of Gods, Men & Militants
by Dr.
K. L. Chowdhury
Kashmir - the
land of snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys; the golden land of
breath-taking beauty - torn asunder by the intermittent booming of guns;
the exoctic flower-carpeted expanses dyed a deep, dull red. This is how
the author sees his beloved homeland and his cries of anguish echo through
these pages:
We live to
share your grief and die to suffer your agony
Indeed, the tumult
of the exiled Kashmiri Pandits can never be stilled as long as the guns
refuse to be silenced and brother fights brother with hatred that is fanned
by vested interests.
With the pain
and nostalgia writ large in every heart-rending poem, there still emerges
a glimmer of hope that peace will prevail and his misguided brethren will
lay down their arms and resolve to study war no more.
The valley of Kashmir
is fabled for its unique and many-splendored beauty. Over its long history
it has suffered many upheavals and political turmoil, yet it had nurtured
a resilient society with communal harmony and amity between minority Hindus-
the Kashmiri Pandits and the majority Muslims. Despite relentless pressures
from extremist groups and the machinations of external enemies, this harmony
seemed largely intact in the post-independence era until about 1989. Then
malevolent and violent desecration of Kashmir and its people was started
by terrorists in a big way leading to the mass exodus of Kashmir Pandits
from the valley south to other states and towns of India. The violent terrorist
onslaughts continue to this day.
This book of poetry
gives expression to the intense hurt, sadness, disappointment, shock and
disillusionment of a whole community. Only a son of the soil like Kundan
Lal Chowdhury, could provide the right voice for these emotions and thoughts.
There are several reasons for this and these include his family background,
his upbringing as a Kashmiri Pandit in a Muslim locality, his training
as a medical doctor, his courage , the trust he inspires as a healer and
his gift of communication .
A deeply sensitive
poet with a great reverence for nature and the culture of his people, Kundan
Lal Chowdhury has lived through and witnessed the rise of militancy, the
exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley, the destruction of the composite
culture as well as the degradation of the environment and the ecology of
Kashmir. Of Gods, Men and militants chronicles the pain suffered by Kashmiris
as militancy took hold.
His unique perspective
is a consequence of the immense love he has for the place and the people
as well as his faith and pride in our timeless heritage in a land of saints
and rishis.
In this anthology, the individual poems evoke the dominant emotions and frame the questions
about our behavior and relationships as a commentary on the vulnerability
of the human condition. The book is not a political tract nor does it seek
to intellectualize the issues arising from the upheaval , deception, cruelty
and hypocrisy displayed by individuals and groups on others. As a healer,
the poet knows only too well, however that concern for the victim , the
patient is not enough; an acknowledgement of the invader, his processes
and operations are vital for understanding and dealing with the disease
or malady.
Cover design: Indigo Communications
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Om bhoorbhuvah
swaha
Tatsaviturvarenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah
prachodayat
May there be peace
in mortal, immortal and divine planes. I meditate on the brilliant splendour
of the Sun God. May He stimulate our intellect and drive away ignorance.
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For
Dhan Rani, my
mother - the fountainhead
Leela, my wife
- the inspiration
My family and
friends - the encouragement
Kashmir, my homeland
- the agony
India, my country
- the soured dream
and
Nausheen, and Aditya, my grandchildren - the hope
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OF GODS, MEN AND
MILITANTS
Copyright ©
K L Chowdhury 2000
All Rights Reserved
No
part of this book may be reproduced in any form by photocopying or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage or retrieval
systems, without permission in writing from both the copyright owner and
the publisher of this book.
ISBN
81 7662 116 1
First
Published 2000 by
MINERVA
PRESS
13
Palam Marg
Vasant
Vihar
New
Delhi – 110 057
Printed
& bound in India
for
Minerva Press (India) Pvt. Ltd.
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