How green is their valley?

re: ankit # 49

Most offensive it may be, but it is good to be aware of people`s opinions. It certainly beats ignorance.

I did not want to dignify a crap of an article with an interact but the severe persecution complex exhibited by the author prompted me to, Especially with what happened in London recently. Last interact though on this article..
Going by the last few comments (I did not want to waste my time reading the article) I can understand what the article was about. ``K. Pandits are the root of the Kashmir problem. They have it good and Muslims are suffering.`` If so-called intellectuals (FArzana) who represent them have this severe persecution complex about victims like K. Pandit, No wonder their youths are going around blowing up innocent kids, women and men around the world. Way to go Bibi.

Peace out....

Has this woman gone total bonkers?

Total Killings till 2005 (including custodial killings) - 89,742
Custodial Killings- 6,771
Civilians Arrested- 110,100
Structures Arsoned / Destroyed -104,866
Women Widowed- 22,240
Children Orphaned -106,353
Women gang-raped / molested- 9,579

This averages over 5,500 deaths a day


Where does she get these numbers from? Is it ``http://www.kashmiris.org/humanRights.htm``, a site registered by

Farooq, Taseen ,
jkpfl2003@gmail.com,
Post Box # 111, Shaigan,
Islamabad, Pun 44000,
PK ,
Phone: 92-300-5395831
Fax: 92-51-4442356

Farzana:

The following i-log, which I had put up a little earlier, pretty much sums up my thoughts on you know what! (I have restored one key sentence which I had withheld from the original (Don`t ask me why!))

Sad Cypress

“Sir, this one isn’t going to make it!”

I love Spruce trees – they have such regal looks! Beautiful evergreens with immense height, they really take up their space and there is no mistaking them, even from far, far away. In the rural area where we live, we see them in large numbers, particularly the Colorado blue spruce variety which, in spite of its name, is found all over the east coast. I have planted several spruces over time, and this piece is about one particular Alberta spruce, another one of those beauties. The above statement was made by a tree expert at one of the stores where I go for baby trees and supplies. He was looking at a tiny branch I had brought in for his examination – the branch picked off a tree which was exhibiting a troubling red color whereas all other trees in the front yard looked a healthy green. The guy was merely giving his expert opinion – not passing a verdict.

The problem was fungus. The branch – and the tree – had a real thin emerald green coating climbing along its sides. A layer so thin and so light that – unless you looked close – you would never notice the green tinge was not a natural characteristic of the original tree. That tiny thin layer – thin enough to see through – and so subtle – was yet sure enough to kill it!

Now, the way I understand it, if such trees are planted in a location which is well-ventilated and receive a fair amount of sunshine, the fungi are not supposed to grow on them. Our tree certainly was not lacking on the sunshine front. There were no nearby structures to cast the smallest shadows over it from the sides, and the house itself faces south.

This particular Alberta Spruce was my favorite, ever since I first saw it in the tree store. At about 4-feet in height back then, its roots in a ball-shape (about 1.5 ft diameter) were wrapped in burlap. A thin string of metal held the burlap firmly on four sides. The branches looked strong and healthy and the leaves – they were a sight for sore eyes – as if a special gift from the Almighty! The softness and delicacy of the leaves – both tiny and large ones – as I ran my fingers along them – could only be called amazing! I bought it, took it home, and got somebody to plant it.

Things were working out very well. The tree gained about six inches during the first year. Then slowly, it became evident that something was not working right. It stopped growing, then developed that unhealthy reddish color – what I was to learn later was a prelude to its eventual death.

Of course, when that tree expert made the statement attributed to him, I was not ready to believe him. I had invested in this tree – really invested quite a bit, a bit in money but mostly in efforts, since that first day! After all, the store shelves are full of fungicides – why couldn’t one just spray it and get rid of the fungus. And isn’t the fungus right there in front of our eyes – why couldn’t one just scrape it off and save that tree? So what if the tree expert had no faith that any one of it was going to work! Therefore, I got an armload of those supplies and started a daily routine of scraping the surface of that tree to remove the fungus. I would use a wash cloth – soak it into that fungicide solution diluted to its recommended strength, wrap it around my four fingers and gently but firmly rub it along the surface of the tree’s bark, then along its branches – both little and large. As the green stuff would rub off, I would wash that cloth then soak it again with the solution. As time went on, there would be less and less of the green stuff coming out. When I was satisfied that there wasn’t any left, I decided to give the tree a break for a while. But the tree showed no improvement. The reddish color became a deeper red, then brown. The leaves fell off and the tiny soft branches became hard, pokey, and hurtful to touch. About a month later, the fungus also began to return. I started the whole cleaning routine again. I went through this cycle two more times before I gave up on tree.

When the time came to remove the dead tree, I had to go about it systematically. I first cut off the little limbs – which had been the source of such pleasure only what appeared to be a short time ago – then the branches, and finally the stump. Lastly, I dug around the root to shake it loose and – getting help from a neighbor and leveraging with my shovel, hauled the root onto a wheel barrow. As I got ready to dispose it, I shook the heavy round object sitting in the wheelbarrow and was stopped at the sight.

The burlap was fully intact. Not a single root had come out of it. As I peeled off the burlap, I could see tons of those roots – roots all frizzled up – roots all tangled up – roots all intertwined – roots with nowhere to go!

It was as if the tree had made up its mind that it was not going to penetrate out of that burlap. So those thin roots kept going around – inside that enclosed space, seeking and using up all its nutrition, seeking food as all trees must, then in desperation turning upon itself, and finally – running completely out of supplies like all closed spaces must – giving up. There was no more the opportunity for growth – only death. The fungus was just an opportunist – it merely fed upon trees which are destined to die.

Was the burlap too strong, or was the tree too weak? I wish I knew. But the saddest part of this whole experience was – that lifeless burlap had not lost an iota of its original green color – almost as if it were timeless!

Dear Chowkies:

Should Farzana Versey be kept around?

Chowk is there for a reason! I assume that the reasons are good – I assume that it is to bring people together! Putting up such totally outrageous articles – which even hurts to read (next thing we know, Farzana will be blaming the Jews for the holocaust) does quite the opposite – it serves NO good purpose and drives people of goodwill away!

Here, we have a way to express our concern and send a message to Chowk.com!

Let’s have a snap poll (please vote just once, no matter how many nicks you carry).

Just vote “yes” or “no” as follows:

“Yes” (Keep Farzana Versey on Chowk – she promotes the causes Chowk was meant to promote).
“No” (Dump Farzana Versey from Chowk – she hurts the causes Chowk was meant to promote).

Let me be the first to vote. I say –

NO, Dump her!!

#52 by friend on July 25, 2005 4:22pm PT


Where does she get these numbers from? Is it ``http://www.kashmiris.org/humanRights.htm``, a site registered by


MUAHAHAHA....Farzana busted...

She gets her numbers from a paki website....I`ll bet she thinks 4000 jews were missing from the WTC on 9/11...

Dearest Farzana,

As per usual a thought-triggering fact-based investigative article from yourself. Chapeau. A few questions are in order nonetheless:

Im cognizant that the Kashmiri debacle has no healing-touch formula, ``witch-like`` broom-stick solutions, yet what would a seasoned journalist like yourself advocate as being the path toward a “greener” valley ?

Farzana, hue and cry is more than audible across various spectra, but quiessence is born when workable soultions have to be motioned on negotiation tables ?

It is objective to highlight that when Muslims err in Kashmir hell breaks loose yet Pundits are unfairly molly-coddied despite their manipulating slant. How do you feel this glaring injustice can be neutered ?

Objectively Farzana, is it indeed not a travesty that Pundits are reveled under the guise of “victims” whilst Muslims are “finger-pointed” at ?

For how long, with malafide intent, will Valley-based armtwisting tactics by Pundits AND FUNDOS of the Valley continue ?

Meanwhile suited and booted Panuns continue to mislead their followers with trans-national thinking, encouraging political activity of a nefarious variety, and concocting hare-brained schemes ? Farzana do you not feel that a trans-nationalist myth should be dishevelled ?

My humble two-rupees state that A COMPLETE sovereignity for “Kashmir” is a good idea. FV do you not feel that the Accords of 1952, 1975 and 1986 with Congress-run Central governments were obviously blackmailing tactics and unfettered advances for more ‘concessions’ under the dubious auspices of Article 370 ?

My personal opinion, if any, is that this magnanimous licence of Aarticle 370 to Central largesse, practically unaudited and totally misused, needs to be curbed and sensibly re-distributed within the State.

The question that begs an honest answer, from yo0urself Farzana and all readers at Chowk is that how best to apply autonomy, applicable to all communities in kashmir ? Pluralism plebiscite ?

Yet genuine ``Devolution talks`` are the only way to short-circuit and decentralize Pundit/as well as Fundamentalist claws. Farzana personally I feel that devolution of powers must also re-adjust the parliamentary seat allotments rationally and not pamper to nor promote secessionist ideas based on romantic and flirtatious/twisted RSS/Hindutva Manmohan or Mushie/Bushie agendas.

FV perhaps a UN monitored referendum would ensure that a GENUINE mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmri is honoured and the Kashmir dispute is somewhat ``alleviated``.

Alas FV with no blackmagic,
no potions
and no broom-sticks

In the mirror of reality, piecemeal solutions are all one can hope for ?

We both know that the military industrial complex in Pakistan and the perverse RSS/BJP opportunist sloggans in India will not greet such independent 3rd party UN referenda with welcome-slogans, flowers and garlands.

Yet Farzana do you not find solace in that

Clearly the peace constituency is considerably broader in Kashmir than would appear from the percentage of voters who exercised their voting rights risking their lives.

Many though wanting peace must have considered it wiser not to risk their lives by exercising their right to vote ?

Ballots or bullets ?

Not everyone is ``bewitched`` with a zealous passion to voice their true opinion(s) ?

about 5,500 per day: I think madrassa math played a trick here....5500 is approximately the number of days from 1989 to April 2005.

Dear Farzana:

My comments on this article are the same as those on an earlier article on the same issue: I try to put myself in the shoes of Kashmiri Pandits and the shoe fits. Almost perfectly. When my family ``migrated`` from Pakistan, they too had to leave as part of ethnic cleansing. No less a person than Mahatma Gandhi was of the same opinion about us as you are about Kashmiri Pandits - namely that we should have not left Pakistan like cowards; that we should have rather let ourselves be killed by Muslims than abandon our homes and hearths. We too held most of the important posts in Pakistan and our ancestors no doubt were the unpopular village moneylenders. There was no ``Jagmohan`` then but there were special escorted trains and I have read articles in Dawn which suggest that we left Pakistan at the behest of the Congress leaders. We too settled successfully in Delhi and other places and have the best houses there. You wont find any Punjabi Hindu and Sikh beggar in Delhi either. As I said, the shoe fits almost perfectly. So, I know how I would feel if anybody told me that I became a tool of the enemies of Pakistan.

Oye Dulley #57
You are wonderful yaar! I was scratching my head trying to figure this out.

BTW, I will give you summary of all past, present and future articles from FV (& her reliable sources from kashmiris.org and other Pakistani web sites)
1. When bomb blasts happened in Mumbai, it was BJP`s handiwork. Advani was trying to gather votes.
2. When murders happen in Kashmir, Pandits are to be blamed. They are trying to get political mileage by uprooting themselves.
3. Train passengers in Godhra burnt themselves to death.
4. WTC was organized by CIA and Mossad.
5. Londan blasts were organized by Scotland Yard and Mossad.
6. Indian government was responsible for attack on their own parliament.
7. Rupin Katyar`s murder and hijacking of Indian Airlines plane was handiwork of his wife who wanted to get relief money. She was in collusion with Indian government that wanted to blame Pakistani government for this deed.

Re: # 57

``about 5,500 per day: I think madrassa math played a trick here....5500 is approximately the number of days from 1989 to April 2005.``..

---

ROFL.. This is funny. That`s what I thought too.. about the madrassah mathematics..

But atleast we should appreciate FV`s honesty. Usually Muslims all over the world (where they are in a minority) support the ``Ummah`` in all other places except their own, in fear of retaliation by the majority until they cross a specific percentage of the population. You can see that in Britain, US, western countries, where they support the causes of Ummah in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechenya (.terrorist activities) etc.. but not in the places where they live. I believe southern thailand is getting added to the ummah`s cause too.. So they pass fatwas saying ``suicide bombing`` is NOT allowed in places like Pakistan/Saudi etc.. but allowed in the domain of kafirs.. So we should thank her for standing steadfast in the support of the Ummah even in Kashmir and not indulging in double-speak..

#56 by ozerkhalid on July 25, 2005 5:53pm PT


It is objective to highlight that when Muslims err in Kashmir hell breaks loose yet Pundits are unfairly molly-coddied despite their manipulating slant. How do you feel this glaring injustice can be neutered ?


That`s right...That`s the paki mantra...muslims are always innocent...If Brit-pakis blow up a bunch of people, they did that because of Iraq/AFghanistan/other Islamist cause. If one report doubts the origin of the godhra train fire, the fire was accidental..4000 jews were missing from the wtc(hint hint)...



My humble two-rupees state that A COMPLETE sovereignity for “Kashmir” is a good idea.


Here`s the thing...your paki two rupees are worth a lot less than the two rupees that any Indian has...and your opinion is also worth a lot less..


the perverse RSS/BJP opportunist sloggans in India will not greet such independent 3rd party UN referenda with welcome-slogans, flowers and garlands.


mmmkay...and you think the congress government is going to agree to a referendum...i`ve got a bridge i`m willing to sell cheap(heck, the price is two paki rs..not even 2 indian rs..)

#60 by masanamuthu on July 25, 2005 7:08pm PT


but not in the places where they live.


Yes..the paki visa moderates...moderate only if their visa depends on it...

only good jihadi is a dead jihadi



Indian troops kill five ‘infiltrators’

Held SRINAGAR: Indian troops shot dead five allegedly armed infiltrators crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in held Kashmir, the Indian army on Monday said.

Soldiers launched an operation on Sunday night after the suspected gunmen were spotted in the mountainous Machil area in the north of Indian-controlled Kashmir, an army spokesman said.

#59 “Friend”
Do you have links for all of those items? Can you please post them here?

#56 by ozerkhalid
In fairness, Ozer, you can be funny sometimes! Dump those false nicks and be yourself! Who knows, maybe even a stone can be made to melt!

As far as this “article” is concerned, why don’t you solve your OWN problems (regarding all those Pakistani terrorists in Great Britain) before starting to ponder “healing touch” formulas for Kashmir (even better, why don’t you just solve THAT problem (And don’t give me that “I don’t know what you are talking about,” look!))?

[As per usual a thought-triggering fact-based investigative article from yourself. ]
In your case, thoughts do need triggering – sometimes even “kick-starting”! I would like to point to you that this writer skipped all the standard norms of investigation – she did everything by herself – enjoying complete freedom from anybody’s inspection/corroboration and assuring the perfect flexibility to pick and choose what she wanted to put in this pre-conceived “article”. All her sources and descriptions are highly suspect. The only unanswered question is – who foots her bills for deliberately hammering-in all those nails into the coffin of Indian secularism?