Dear Kashmir and Kashmiris,

Even though I am writing to you from the faraway mainland of India, trust me it comes straight from my heart where you dwell like my loved ones. We people from the mainland have to climb the steep stairs of mountains to reach your beautiful Valley whose beauty is a spin-off of firdaus (heaven) on earth. Tomes of paeans have been composed to measure its elegance, yet it remains a task in the making.

I feel that you people have climbed the tallest mountain – the mountain of choosing the power of decision over a blood-soaked dilemma that devoured generations of your youths and laid waste to your creative geniuses. It was not merely a loss of Kashmir; it was a catastrophe for India. The tears that welled from Mother's eyes rolled down to the heartland of India. And every Indian who has a pure heart has been drenched in their pain as profoundly as a mother’s wailing invokes.

The clock has however turned. The people are back on the streets with aspirations, thronging every nook and corner, forcing their leaders to come down among them to solicit their ballots. See the coverage of ongoing elections, the people would be seen taking part in the elections with a fervour that truly defines the vivacious spirit of Kashmiriyat.

They are bravely vetting their would-be legislators. They are forthright in their unanimous query: how will you shape the future of our coming generations? The answer has to be graft-free and answerable governance. They are yearning for governance that will instill trust in Kashmiris and show the path to the future that is free of fear, from either side of the border.

Talking of border, dear Kashmiris, the scourge of militancy that recently returned to largely Jammu as the Union Territory was bracing up for elections has emanated only from across the border. But it will die with its ill design sooner than the estimate of those who have raised it as a tool of a war-defeated nation.

 It will be another foolhardy mission for them if they continue to paddle this misadventure. Even their future, dear Kashmiris, lies in cooperation and the joint rise of Asia. No nation, especially in poverty-ridden Asia, can afford to wage a war. It is a recipe for self-destruction. No one knows this better than Pakistan. So, let’s pray that better sense prevails in their leadership.

One feels heartened to note that the story of Kashmir is moving from gloom to flourish. Reporters of almost every mainstream media outlet are meeting people in Srinagar who say, “We have better roads, more businesses are re-opening, and there is a sense of normalcy returning.” People are moving freely, businesses are growing, and there is a sense of peace that was not felt in years. Downtown Srinagar, once a flashpoint of unrest, is witnessing a remarkable revival. The area surrounding Jama Masjid, which was once deserted, is now full of life. Lal Chowk has also seen a remarkable transformation.

The Lal Chowk presents a picture of Srinagar competing and beats most of the prominent cities of the world. This landmark is so unique. It erects the memories of what Kashmir has seen over the years – promises kept and broken. Yet, it is a minaret of hopes that unfurls on its top an invisible flag of Kashmir’s perseverance that has defied all doomsayers.

Tourism is the most remarkable indicator of change in the Valley. Data shows a record rise in the number of national and international tourists in Kashmir. Lal Chowk, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Dal Lake are a few favourite destinations. These visitors contribute to the economy and development of the region. You Kashmiris know best that tourism has been the bedrock and lifeblood of your economy.  The more it will flourish, the more you will prosper.

Another and most noticeable change perceived in mainland India about Kashmir is the remarkable feats that young Kashmiris have achieved in the fields of education, sports, and innovation. Girls are outshining boys, like what we see in the rest of India.

Therefore, dear Kashmiris, you are at a new threshold today. You have to usher in the new dawn from here and wake up in a day that will help you leave the past only in the past. It doesn’t mean that the grief will disappear and the wounds will heal suddenly. They should not. But, they, as Rumi said, must make way for the light to enter. Wounded souls illuminate the whole world. Who will know this wisdom better than you, Kashmiris? Let your Kashmir be the lantern of India!

Yours' Truely,

Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri

President, Muslim Students Organisation of India