August 2016

State of Jammu and Kashmir has been in dispute since India’s independence. We can say, 70 years of Independence and for this state, 70 years of struggle. Meeting and having conversations with the locals of the areas where disputes are part and parcel of daily life was softening and heart-breaking. It made me feel how blessed we are to deal with city and corporate life instead.

I was in Srinagar for 2 days during this period of curfew. Starting from Sonamarg, when i went to small market here, people were happy to see some customers. Halted at Hotel Akbar in the town of Sonamarg. Hotel owners and staff were kind enough to support their guests to reach the city of Srinagar safely. The owners too travelled together. At Srinagar too, had stayed at Hotel Akbar, near Dal lake. Compared to other parts of Srinagar, this area was safe. Next day, when we went to Dal Lake for Shikara ride, we could chat with the “khivaiya uncle” for some time. He shared how the curfew and forced strike is affecting their life. They are labors – earning for each day, living for each day. Luckily, being in Kashmir they all are used to store food, some money and remain jobless for some months (winter season). This habit of theirs allowed them to survive for almost a month of curfew now. Locals have a family to feed. And when such disputes are taking place, their life is paralyzed. Forget about earning livelihood, with the use of pellet guns, protests, etc they also live in constant fear whether they would reach their home alive or not. Very small number of postpaid connections were in service. Prepaid connections don’t work at all. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended.

Violent protests rocked Kashmir following killing of Burhan Wani and two of his associated in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in Kokernag area of Anantnag district. Normal life has remained paralyzed in Kashmir on account of separatist sponsored-strike and curfew-like restrictions imposed by authorities.

Hotel owner, Mr. Zaffer Ahmed Boktoo, his partner and his entire staff had been extremely kind. He shared few things with all his guests, of which i missed a lot of his sharing though. He shared a newspaper wherein the entire business community of Kashmir appealed to the Home Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh. Below is the pic of the open letter from a Kashmir local newspaper.

open letter to home minister by Kashmir business community

Had been waiting to write this article, did some readings too on pellet guns, some past disputes, reason for this curfew, etc. But they all seemed to be giving practical information, not about the lives of the locals there. Bullets or weapons don’t ask people whether they are locals living normal life there or are they terrorists….. I read why pellet guns are used… Normally during protests, police use lathi charge or tear gas, never thought that pellet guns were also used in some part of the world. Then i read, during protests, people throw a bottle of petrol that leads to fire / blasts, that’s the reason why pellet guns are used in the protests. Reading everything brought a huge dilemma. But one thing is very clear, locals don’t want this. Bureaucrats / politicians twist and turn the situation that is beneficial to them. Why would army or locals need a bloodshed? After reading many articles, i was clear, i don’t want to address any of those information in this article but something that’s coming from my own experience of 2 days. I ended up buying lot of stuff from srinagar chashmeshai garden and dal lake as we, tourists were only source of income for the locals here and the curfew had struck the daily income and livelihood in quite a hard way.

When will this hell in heaven end? When will J&K see a set of leaders in govt that works for the well-being of its people and the state not for their benefit. I dont believe one thing that media says… “Kashmiris are not integrated with India emotionally” I don’t think being a part of India or Pakistan is an issue. Peace is important to them and the freedom and peace that they can get from India might not be same as they may get in Pakistan. The villages acquired by India during the border conflict, mention that they feel happy to a part of India. But i am not talking about India and Pakistan or border… but about the basic right for humans to live safely. Safety and Security are prime issues there. Living a normal life is an issue there. Peace is an issue there. Mean bureaucrats are an issue there. They can easily survive with even 1 year or 5 years of curfew, but what about local labors, small, medium or large scale businesses?

Click Here to know more about pellet guns.

Thank you! to Hotel Akbar owners and staff. 🙂 We all can pray together for the well-being of Kashmir, not just for now, but forever…. that can bring joy in the lives of the people living there.

Below are few more clippings from kashmir local newspaper.

article from greater kashmir newspaper, dated 24th july 2016

article from greater kashmir newspaper, dated 24th july 2016

Before moving on to the history of Indian flag, let me answer,

Why Do Countries Need a Flag?
Each country needs a flag as a visual representation of its people—and to distinguish it from other nations. A flag is also a code of honor. When anyone sees an Indian flag, he gets reminded of a country called the India and its people.

Where on earth did the word flag come from? From Vexillum, a latin word meaning flag or banner. Over 4,000 years ago, the first flags were called vexilloid and they were made of metal or wooden poles with carvings.

They helped ancient armies coordinate on the battlefield—identify the allies from the enemies. They were also used to honor those who lost their lives in the fight.

Today, every country has a national flag made of fabric. It is hoisted on a flagpole and flown so that everyone can be reminded of the values and history of the country.

Flying a flag is also a way to show pride and ownership. If you find a building anywhere in the world with the Indian flag, you can be sure it is Indian territory—a consulate, embassy, or headquarters.

A country’s flag also helps to unite people. By having the same flag, we Indians have a common symbol to bring us closer together—at home or abroad.

Flags show ideas which would otherwise take many words. On sad occasions, country flags are flown at half-mast to honor the dead, and draped over the coffins of national heroes.

Countries usually design their flag with certain colors or shapes to stand for specific meanings. Sometimes, a flag is altered to represent new messages or events. And so is the Indian flag, altered at various times in history.

Below is the journey of Indian Flag.

1880 – British india flag

1880 – Flag of British India.

This is the first single indian flag raised by British. The flag included the Union Flag in the upper-left quadrant and a star of India capped by the royal crown in the middle of the right half.

Unofficial flag of India in 1906

1906 – Unofficial flag of India in 1906

It is said that, the national flag was first time hoisted on 7th of August in 1906 in the Green Park (also called as Parsee Bagan Square) in the Calcutta (current Kolkata). It was a simply designed flag using three horizontal strips of tri colours (red, yellow and green). The uppermost green colour strip contains eight (8) white lotus flowers. The middle yellow colour strip is written in the center with “Vande Matram” in Hindi. And the lowermost red colour strip contains a crescent (left side corner) and a Sun (right side corner).

1907 – Indian flag

1907 – The Berlin committee flag, first raised by Bhikaiji Cama in 1907

According to the history, it is said that Indian national flag was hoisted second time in the Paris by the Madame Cama with her banished revolutionary band in 1907. Later that flag was exhibited in the social conference of Berlin. The second flag was little different from the first one. The uppermost orange colour strip contains one lotus flower and seven stars (identifying the Saptarishis). The middle yellow colour strip is written with “Vande Matram” in Hindi in the center. And the lowermost green colour strip contains a Sun in the left corner and a white crescent and star in the right corner.

flag used during the Home Rule movement in 1917

1917 – The flag used during the Home Rule movement in 1917

The third flag went up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement. This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent and star in one corner.

The flag unofficially adopted in 1921

1921 – The flag unofficially adopted in 1921

During the session of the All India Congress Committee which met at Bezwada in 1921 (now Vijayawada) an Andhra youth prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji. It was made up of two colours-red and green-representing the two major communities i.e. Hindus and Muslims. Gandhiji suggested the addition of a white strip to represent the remaining communities of India and the spinning wheel to symbolise progress of the Nation.

The flag adopted in 1931. This flag was also the battle ensign of the Indian National Army

1931 – The flag adopted in 1931. This flag was also the battle ensign of the Indian National Army

The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag. This flag, the forbear of the present one, was saffron, white and green with Mahatma Gandhi’s spinning wheel at the center. It was, however, clearly stated that it bore no communal significance and was to be interpreted thus.

The present Tricolour flag of India

1947 – The present Tricolour flag of India

On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted it as Free India National Flag. After the advent of Independence, the colours and their significance remained the same. Only the Dharma Charkha of Emperor Asoka was adopted in place of the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. Thus, the tricolour flag of the Congress Party eventually became the tricolour flag of Independent India.

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Paralysed life of locals in Kashmir

Journey of Indian Flag