CHANGING OPINION
A few years back, we had gone for a family vacation to Kashmir.
We had the usual apprehension that the perception of the area based on media coverage that most outsiders suffer from.
It did not help matters that the car sent to pick us up from the airport by the owner of the houseboat where we were planning to stay, was driven by a tall lean Kashmiri in black robes, skullcap, full flowing beard and a fierce scowl.
On top of it he seemed taciturn, giving monosyllabic replies to my enthusiastic queries. We learnt that he was to be our charioteer for the duration of our stay, taking us to various parts of the valley, and finally to Leh via Kargil. It was not a cheery thought.
Assurances by the houseboat owner, whom I knew from a previous visit, that our driver was known to him, a good student whose studies were interrupted by a tryst with militancy, didn’t reassure us much.
When the driver wanted my visiting card to help prepare his bill for the coming Leh trip, I was further worried about disclosing my identity as a government employee, and therefore a prime target for abduction.
Next day, while driving into the countryside, the heavy troop deployment along the highway made it look like we were in a war zone, a constant reminder that we are not in a peaceful tourist destination.
Having covered this route earlier on a road trip with some friends, I kept trying to show off my knowledge to my family, which seemed to thaw our escort, and he too started his guide routine.
Following lunch at a place that served traditional meatballs and rice, where we were stared at as the only tourists eating there, he took us to a tea shop which he claimed served authentic Kahwa, and his country cousin tried to sell us the raw material for the same.
After escaping their clutches, conversation switched to food and beverages. He explained that the Wazwan we had in Srinagar was something meant only for weddings and feasts, and this meatball rice was more of a staple diet.
Similarly, the Kahwa was a rare treat, and the beverage of daily routine was Noon Chah, or salt tea, which seemed to be something like a cross between soup and the Tibetan butter tea, having a long and complicated method of preparation.
On enquiring where we could sample it, we were told it is not sold, but is always available in traditional homes. I quipped that therefore caging an invitation would be the only way we could sample it.
After thinking seriously for a while, he asked if we would like to sample it in his house. Taken aback, and too embarrassed to turn down the offer, I tried saying we would love to, but that we wouldn’t like to trouble them, and needed to get back before dark. He brushed aside any objections and started speaking into his mobile phone in Kashmiri, which we couldn’t follow. Then saying that it’s all arranged, he veered off the highway into a narrow country road.
The idyllic scenery of rural Kashmir was lost on us, as the comforting sight of troops bristling with arms was no longer part of the landscape, making us really nervous. Soon, we parked outside a hamlet with crowded wooden houses and narrow dirt streets, where the car couldn’t enter, and were bid to get off and continue on foot.
Terrified, but not knowing what to do, we meekly followed. Our mobile connections, not being BSNL, were useless outside Srinagar.
Our little procession soon drew a crowd of interested onlookers, all following us and chattering incomprehensibly. A fiercely bearded Mullah stopped us and quizzed our host for a while before letting us proceed. Visions of newspaper reports of missing tourists flashed in our minds.
Finally, we entered one of those wooden houses, went up some narrow stairs, and were bid to sit in a largish room with wall to wall carpeting, a few scattered pillows and no other furniture.
After a tense wait, the room filled up…… with a bevy of beautiful Kashmiri belles, and a gaggle of giggling children, looking like a poster for tourism. Our beaming driver and I were the only males in the room.
A variety of glasses were produced, and a large flask from which the salt tea was served with a flourish, accompanied by homemade bland biscuits. We conversed though our interpreter, and learnt that we were the first ‘Indians’ they have met, or in fact remember entering their village, except for security men on raids.
Many photographs were posed for, and the ladies were introduced as our host’s extended family, consisting of sisters, cousins, sis-in-laws and their kids.
An hour and many cups of tea later, we returned unmolested to the car, again followed by an army of chattering children.
Darkness fell as we drove back, but it didn’t seem ominous any more. We returned to the twinkling lights of Dal Lake, our firm opinion that all Kashmiris and all bearded Muslims are potential terrorists gone forever, as our ideas of women in Purdah being the norm in such societies completely changed. We now came to understand that Atithi Dev Bhabah is a pan Indian concept, followed even by people who thought of us as aliens from India visiting their land.
Written in response to a prompt in project 365 about some opinion held earlier which has completely changed. You can find it in
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Umm… U should post it in a newspaper or something to let the world know that all the news we hear on Muslims are not true and most of it is a fabricated lie. My papa wear a large beard, as well, but he is the kind of man all people would feel comfortable with….. A christian family calls him brother and a hindu calls him ‘Kaka'( brother). It is not who we are, it is therespect we have give to each other. Here in TamilNadu, there is a strong bong tying both muslims, hindus and christians together. Alive,even when some of the medias try to bring it down.
And…. Most of those newsapers lie about Muslims n kashmir.
Applause for saying this out loud. You made a Muslim happy today. Thank you 🙂
May God bless you.
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Thank you. This warms the heart. Majority actually think like me. Please share the story wherever you like & send it to any newspaper or magazine. Pl also try out my other posts. You may like more
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I am so happy to read this post on how you highlighted our ingrained prejudices against a certain community just because the women wear veil or men sports beard. We are human beings and what matters is we have hearts capable of loving. Sad so many western media have painted a negative image of Muslims and we are not far behind.
Brilliant post.
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thank you Vishal. Tell me what would you like next on the menu?
On Sat, Jul 19, 2014 at 3:07 PM, Idyll Dreams of an Idle Fellow wrote:
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haha! When were u love struck last time or flirting with ur eyes with someone:)
What say?
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Its my antagonistic relation with technology
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Seriously our prejudices get altered only through close encounters with diverse cultures. Travelling & living & studying in different places help
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sorry, that reply was meant for your food comment. yes, i agree, only close encounters with diverse cultures busts myths. living in different cities and changing school helps
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its my antagonistic relation with technology
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i knew that computers hate me, all my comments i go into spam, just retrieved them. now it looks like im drunk and repeating myself
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https://soumyamukherjee8.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/the-most-memorable-meals-of-my-life/
i had mentioned this incident in this earlier post too
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Once again it is proved that Common man of the country be from hills,plains or deserts are always by nature peace loving and faithful .
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Yes & travelling helps you understand this
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A Brilliant post! I feel proud I know you !
Wish we could all be so reasonable in life.
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Thank you. I’m touched. But the name is missing. Pl try some more. You may like them too
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Just kept of reading till the end. Lovely writeup. Flawless.
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Thank you. Please try the other posts too. You may like some more
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Such a beautiful piece. Made me a little gloomy. After all, the borders are our doing. We raised the walls that divided mother nature so much that our children are not allowed to play in open without apprehension.
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Politicians did. We became their tools like idiots
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Simple folks, giggling children, open hearts – you had a taste of Kashmiri hospitality, Soumya and put it down so beautifully for us to step back and cherish.
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♡ Marvelous presentation on visit to Kashmir, especially the memorable experience in meeting a traditional family👏💐💐💐☘️💚💙 🧡 🎯👏.
♡ Truly serious concerns:
♡ “a prime target for abduction”.
♡ “not in a peaceful tourist destination”.
♡ “Our mobile connections……….useless outside Srinagar”.
♡ Best of Creativity 🎯🏆:
♡ “we returned unmolested to the car…………army of chattering children”.
♡ Most inspiring 🎯🏆🙏:
♡ “We now came to understand that Atithi Dev Bhabah is a pan Indian concept, followed even by people who thought of us as aliens from India visiting their land”.
Best wishes, 💥
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Shukriya
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