By: Shafqat Shafi
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? This line from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind has become a universal message of hope. Whenever face to face with any troubles, the very thought of Spring (good times) not being far behind rekindles the hope and pulls a person from the abyss of pessimism to the colourful and joyous world of optimism.
On this Monday, I saw thousands and thousands of children, in colourful attires, school bags hanging from their shoulders, marching towards their schools. The innocent and enthusiastic smiles on their cute faces reminded me of Shelly’s this verse. And I said to myself, yes, Spring is not far behind.
The schools in Kashmir have opened after seven long months (including three months of Winter vacation). Following August 05, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated and state of Jammu and Kashmir divided into two union territories, the situational disturbance forced the closure of the schools. Students lost too much of precious time and now that fresh session has started, it should be every one’s priority to ensure that the students overcome the losses they have suffered. The authorities, parents, the civil society, students and each and every citizen would have to ensure that the schools remain functional and the students attend them without any hiccups.
Teachers would have to gear up because they are the ones who can understand and appreciate what the students have lost during the year of 2019. Everyone has to ensure a conducive and peaceful environment wherein children have safe and secure access to their schools. Today’s children would be the responsible citizens of tomorrow and if their schooling is impacted adversely and their seeking of knowledge hampered, we will have a future of illiterates and uneducated youth. We, irrespective of our political or ideological differences, will have to join heads and hands to ensure that our children are equipped with better education. They have to face a competitive world and we have to ensure that we make them fully ready for any kind of competition.
People of Kashmir have seen very difficult times and suffered on all fronts. They have grievances, grievances of very serious nature – they have issues, issues that need to be addressed to. That said, one has to move ahead because life is moving ahead. Stagnation only results into death and decay. States are made, states are divided, states are remade. Constitutions are written, constitutions are amended, constitutional provisions are scrapped, some provisions are added. Laws are made, laws are amended. This is how the world functions. One has to realize that one can’t remain in perpetual mourning but has to move on despite all odds.
Spring is knocking at our doors. Our children’s smiles, as they march to schools, have made the otherwise gloomy atmosphere cheerful. The whole environment smells of hope and optimism. We have to catch the moment and move ahead.
Let everyone contribute his/her bit to ensure that we have a peaceful Spring and Summer ahead. We have already seen too much disturbances and disruptions. Let this Spring we sow the seeds of hope and do anything and everything to make this place more livable and lovable.
Kashmiri’s economy has suffered a lot; horticulture sector is in a shambles as weather vagaries in November last year struck a severe blow to it; tourism sector is in ICU; education, health, drinking water, power, roads, infrastructure – almost all sector need immediate attention and that is what the government need to concentrate upon. While people need to ensure that life moves ahead smoothly, the government needs to transform words into deeds.
The government has to understand that union territory of Jammu and Kashmir needs a huge economic and developmental push to be back on tracks. Days of sloganeering and hollow promises are over. It is time for deliverance. The government should know that every investment in Kashmir is investment in peace. If people are expected to contribute towards peace building, government has much bigger responsibility in this regard.
I conclude this write-up with few more verses of Shelly that carry a strong message of moving on with fresh hopes and aspirations…
“Drive my dead thoughts over the universe
Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth!
And, by the incantation of this verse,
“Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawakened Earth
“The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
Let everyone contribute his/her bit to ensure that we have a peaceful Spring and Summer ahead. We have already seen too much disturbances and disruptions. Let this Spring we sow the seeds of hope and do anything and everything to make this place more livable and lovable.
