By: Irshad Ahmad Shah
Another tragedy has struck the soil of Kashmir. Lives, full of dreams, hopes, and promises, have been brutally snatched away. As I sit miles away from home, in the city of Chennai were Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians live together like family, my heart is heavy with an unbearable sorrow.
Kashmir is not just a place—it’s a living poem carved into the Himalayas, where snow-kissed peaks watch over sufi shrines, ancient temples, and tranquil gardens whispering stories of saints and sages. Its rivers flow like verses of love, and every stone in its valleys echoes with a legacy of art, mysticism, and wisdom. Here, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs once shared not just space, but spirit. The chinars remember our unity; the ruins and shrines await our return to humanity. Kashmir does not ask for power—it pleads for peace, for the dignity of life, and for the world to remember that its soul was always rooted in compassion.
As a Kashmiri soul, I condemn in the strongest words the senseless killing of civilians in Pahalgam valley — Guests who came from every corner of our great country, seeking only beauty and peace in our land. Their loss is not just the grief of their families but a wound on the heart of Kashmir itself. I weep for them as I would for my own, for they were ours, too — guests of our valley, brothers and sisters in the human story. To the families, and to the world watching, know that the true spirit of Kashmir stands with you: mourning, grieving, and promising that love will not be silenced.
The senseless killing of civilians must be condemned by every human being who holds even a shred of empathy in their heart. No faith, no ideology, no cause can ever justify the murder of an innocent soul. Those who committed these atrocities are enemies of humanity itself, enemies of every Kashmiri who dreams of peace, and enemies of the India that stands for justice, democracy, and harmony. No religious ideology, in its true essence, advocates the killing of civilians. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism — all uphold the sanctity of innocent life. The Quran declares, “Whoever kills a soul, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely” (Quran 5:32). The Bible commands, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Hindu scriptures revere Ahimsa — non-violence — as the highest moral duty (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 115.1). True faith builds bridges of compassion, not graves of the innocent.
We as Kashmiris carry the legacy of living side by side with every community — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians — not just in Kashmir, but wherever life has taken us. We shared harvests, festivals, sorrows, and dreams, not as strangers, but as one people. Even today, outside Kashmir, I find family in every kind heart, every shared smile, every hand extended in friendship. This is the true Kashmir — a tapestry woven with trust, respect, and love.
To the families who have lost their loved ones, know that you are not alone. Every Kashmiri weeps with you. Every true son and daughter of this soil carries your grief in their hearts. From the snowy valleys of the north to the warm shores of the south, even the mountains, rivers, and oceans seem to mourn, carrying our sorrow across the breath of this vast and wounded land. From Kashmir’s white-capped heights to the southern coasts that cradle warmth, our hearts beat with you — in mourning, in prayer, in solidarity.
I urge every citizen of India, every brother and sister beyond Kashmir, to stand with us. Stand not with fear or suspicion, but with solidarity and love. Do not let the actions of a few cowards paint an entire people with the brush of doubt. The soul of Kashmir, like the soul of India, yearns for peace, justice, and coexistence.
Let this be a turning point. Let the mountains of Kashmir echo not with gunshots but with songs of hope. Let the rivers carry not tears but dreams. Let the world see the true face of Kashmir: a face of resilience, of love, of an unbreakable spirit that refuses to bow to terror.
Kashmir belongs to love, not fear. Let us prove it. Together.
The writer is a Research Scholar, Department of Food Science and Technology Pondicherry University. Email: irshadshah401@gmail.com
