National
How long can Kashmir afford martyrs to different causes and ideologies? (Comment)
By Sheikh Qayoom
Two martyrs, two ideologies, two funerals and two mourning families. Kashmir’s saga of tragedy and destruction could not have a more poignant symbolism as these funerals took place when the world was welcoming another New Year.
Hundreds attended the funeral of Fardeen Ahmad Khandey, the 16-year-old boy who celebrated his impending “martyrdom” through a spine-chilling video in which he said: “Jihad, the holy war, had to be carried on as the doors of freedom can only be opened with the blood-soaked hands of martyrs.”
This is the first time after over a decade in the bloody 30-year-long history of separatist violence in Kashmir that local boys carried out a “Fidayeen” (suicide) attack with one of them celebrating the perceived martyrdom with absolute motivation.
As hundreds attended the funerals of two “martyrs”, Fardeen and Manzoor Baba, another “martyr” of a different cause was buried in Badgam district’s Nagam village.
Sharif-ud-Din Ganai had joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) eight years back. He was killed when security forces were fighting to flush out Fardeen and Baba at the training centre in Pulwama district’s Lethpora town.
Ganai was buried as his parents, brothers and relatives mourned the death of their sole breadwinner who had joined the security forces for a better tomorrow.
It was a paradox that nobody has been able to resolve for nearly three decades in Kashmir — the paradox of one martyr killing another and both believing that they have a place in Heaven that must be earned — one, by shedding blood of innocents and the other for defending them. But both bring inconsolable tears to their families.
These martyrs to different causes and ideologies died when the world was celebrating the beginning of 2018 and praying for peace, prosperity and hope.
Security forces say over 200 militants were killed in Kashmir and nearly half-a-dozen others came back to their families after joining militant ranks during 2017.
Suicide attacks have occurred in Kashmir in the past as well, but these had mostly been carried out by foreign militants. Local boys joining “suicide squads” of militant outfits has definitely dampened hopes that normalcy was around the corner in the beleaguered state.
“What is more disturbing is the fact that young boys motivated to such extreme levels do not necessarily belong to poor or under-privileged families. Fardeen was the son of a serving cop and the family is relatively better off,” said an intelligence officer requesting not to be named.
One man’s martyr is another man’s traitor. This maxim may hold good for the unenviable situation the people of Kashmir are facing and yet this provides little consolation to families being destroyed.
Local boys are celebrating so-called martyrdom when they should have been celebrating careers and professions. In whatever little or large numbers such “celebrating martyrs” might exist here, unless the last of them is convinced that life is a greater celebration than death, hopes of a peaceful future would continue to elude, underlined by the coffins reaching the families and disrupting their lives.
(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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