Middle : Greenery on Fire

by Jupinderjit Singh

I am not a religious person. I am God-fearing though. During my travels, it is never a priority to visit a religious place. It may be because of the historical or architectural importance of the place or out of sheer curiosity. I am attracted more by the mysticism of a place, maybe religious or not. Misty meadows on the hills caressing the dark tresses of the wild attract me more.

I am particularly averse to the loud speakers perched atop religious places in a set of four. The different religious heads may not agree that God is one and all religions are basically one. Still, they are unanimous that religion demands chanting or reciting at a high volume with the loud speakers screaming in all directions.

But there are two places where I wish this practice never stops. One was at the Renuka lake in Nahan. I was sitting on the stairs of the rest house there one evening trying to be at peace with myself. I was looking deep into the valley trying to understand the serenity of the lake despite darkness gulping it like a giant carnivore.

I was startled by a rhythmic drumming and chanting emanating from a temple on the left end of the lake. It echoed in the hills, whose shape is famous as being similar to a sleeping woman, in this case, Mother Renuka. It seemed mother nature was spreading the music of love to all. Years later, I can still feel the ripples of the transcendental experience.

The second place that moved me similarly was Poonch, a forgotten district of Jammu and Kashmir. The country remembers it largely when the Pakistan army opens fire along the LOC on the villages of this district. Far away from the heart of the country, Poonch was in the news recently due to cross-firing on the border.

The lush green valley, the paddy fields with a seasonal river criss-crossing through it provides an enchanting view. The silent valley broke into music as I heard the reciting of Gurbani from a local gurdwara. Soon after, the sound of the Azaan reverberated the soul. The moment it ended, aarti from the temple stirred the soul further towards the oneness of God.

The green valley is on fire these days. The frightening noise of gun shots, mortar shells fills it in the evenings and all night. Those who live far away, in the seats of power, may find it exciting. Some feel that a full-scale war can only silence such off-and-on firing. But the devastation of such a war and bloodshed can only be understood when one visits the hill city.

Poonch, despite having Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, has rarely participated in communal frenzy and riots. The residents were united even in the face of recent riots in other parts of the state. It is here that I wish loud speakers atop religious places continue to fill the morning and evening atmosphere than the devilish man-made gunshots and rockets. May the world learn from the peaceful co-existence here.

(link : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130911/edit.htm#5 )
key words : Middle, Indo-Pak border, Cross firing, poonch, kashmir, peace, border village, shelling, love, communal harmony)