An Accent in Kashmir

Good article, thogh could have been better with car review portions. Perhaps writer should have considered writing his reviews in another article.

A query -

``There had originally been a Buddhist temple at the site but it was supplanted by a Hindu temple by Shankaracharya who had also converted Buddhist temples at Badrinath and other places.``

what is source of author`s information about Shankracharya converting buddhist temples at Badrinath? I have been deep in Garwal/Kumaon himalayas, couldn`t find a trace of them.

Regards

dear all

i object to the number of mid-day wallahs posting articles on this site.

my circulation will drop and chowk shall be held responsible.

regards

aakar patel

Good attempt at Kashmir vignettes from just recently, but disappointing because the bits where the author stops being observer and historic background? provider and shows the reader the conclusions he has drawn, seem a bit obscure and arbitrary.

For eg, one conclusion seems to be `If you wave saffron flags from Sumos, don`t be surprised if people get killed for it`

And an allied conclusion seems to be `There was not much tolerance in the Hindu traditions of Kashmir, unlike the Christian, Muslim and Buddhist traditions`

And yet another conclusion seems to be:
`The Hyundai Accent is a better buy`
???
Sadhana

Ref: my message#1,

Sorry for the typo. I meant ``This article could have been better WITHOUT car review``.

Regards

There is a true anecdote told about the Kashmiri unwillingness to fight . . . seems that when the Indian and Pakistani Armies were knocking on Kashmiri borders to try and take over, the good Maharaja ordered his faithful Kashmiri Army to go and fight the invaders . . . well, the Kashmiri Army demanded police protection . . .

Dear Murad, Salaam,

You are fortunate to have the ability to travel to the Indian side of Kashmir. I have only heard about Indian side of Kashmir and how beautiful it is. I agree with you that words cannot describe the beauty of it.

May be one day we Pakistanis and the rest of the world will have the opportunity to travel through Indian side of Kashmir. Insha Allah

Regards

Asfand

Sacramento California

Murad,

``The dastardly attack on several Amarnath yatris might have been provoked by the many Sumos quite unnecessarily waving saffron flags as they raced all over the valley.``

What will be author`s reaction if he is advised not to display any religious symbols in Mumbai while going for Haz. A religous flag - Chadi Sahib - has always been taken to Amarnath cave during yatra. A saffron flag is also normally taken by groups of Tirth Yatris.

``Aggressive flags, loudspeakers and processions of all religions should be curbed.``

Learned author must be aware that this was attempted in Calcutta to save students harrassment during exam times (main target were puja loudspeakers). No points for guessing who objected to that order first.

``There had originally been a Buddhist temple at the site but it was supplanted by a Hindu temple by Shankaracharya who had also converted Buddhist temples at Badrinath and other places. When Muslim kings ruled the valley it had been named Takht-eh- Suliman or the seat of Solomon but Hindu temples of Kashmir were not destroyed. ``

I remember reading about Guru Tegbahadur, who were approached by Kashmiri Pandits to save them from persecution. Author may also like to refresh his memory.

Regards

One more time....

KASHMIR

Let all veils of deception fall
The face of reality can no longer be hidden
Blue lakes, tears of crimson, weeping injustice amidst
House boat rentals, where beauty lives with tragedy.


Tourist posters, promises of romance in the Vale
Switzerland of the East, saffron scented heaven
Cries of anguish not mentioned in the backdrop
Of mountain peaks that stand, silent witnesses.


The occupiers propose marriage, undying devotion
Love is easy in your embrace, such beauty but
Vows are made and broken between gunshots
As the rejected claim questionable legal ownership.


Let Kashmir speak, world don’t turn away
Its not just mist that we see in her eyes
The thundering boots of soldiers approach
Ready For another day in Paradise.

Ras H. Siddiqui

Yo, whats with all this stuff about this car ``the accent``? Was this an article about Kashmir with a clever little promo thrown in? Get rid of the rubbish about your car.

I can comment on your article.

Do you know how the other persons boot bite.

You have to be in the same boot.

Any way your description is excellent.

North of Pakistan is beautiful, and awesome, but as per your description, Kashmir valley is definitely marvellous.

Kashmir Jannat Nazir.

Re: veeresh

Malik Saab, I have misplaced your e-mail address. Can you send me an e-mail: rajanjua@hotmail.com

Amir

My ancestry is part Kashmiri (srinagar). I`ve always wanted to visit, but my mother won`t even humor the idea. She thinks I might get killed.

She`s already lost two children to consequences.

Too bad :( Maybe some day, Kashmir will be peaceful again and I`ll be able to visit. Wishful thinking...sigh..

Ras Siddiqui #8,

great poem

Author:

You work for hyundai don`t you!

How can you do this...Kashmir and Accent!

Do tell us this article was on Accent and you added Kashmir to attract readership..

anyways..have a nice(n safe) drive:)

cheers.

Murad is my guru, fellow Public Interest Litigationist in various High Courts on matters as diverse as WHO are allowed to have red lights on top of their cars in India, WHY should the MPs and Ministers delay/stop flights and a few others. He is also an historian with a very interesting series on where we all came from which will shake most of us in the goonies. But he is also india`s seniormost, topmost, foremost and most widely read motoring columnist.

The article on Kashmir was courtesy a test drive on the Hyundiai Accent, no doubt, but it also brings out a very refreshing non-political look at the roadside realities there. Murad`s bonafides cannot be doubted and a gentle soul with malice towards none but a smile and helping hand towards all who come for any assistance is the best way to describe him.

Enjoy Kashmir as seen by Murad and his wife Vijay Lakshmi . . . maybe soon all of us will be able to enjoy it, too?

Thank you Murad, I look forward to your other travelogues here on chowk.com and I am sure you will run through every car made in India in the process . . . and why not?

Murad and I share another common ambition: we want to drive our Delhi registration cars through Lahore, islamabad, Murree, wherever . . .

Re Asfand #6

So you want to visit it when wishfully you annex it as another province of your country, eh?

Well, the rest of the world has always been free to travel to Kashmir and have done so. A lot of foreigners have stopped coming lately not because they were not allowed, but because of the kidnapping of the 4 hikers a few years ago--one of whom managed to escape, and lately, the decapitation of a German hiker.

Cheers