To the Bul Bul – Kashmir in Anguish

"Gar Firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto. hamin asto" wrote Amir Khusrau on Kashmir. If there is ever a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here. Hoping we will be able to restore Kashmir to its original glory during our life time. We owe it to our Kashmiri bretheren. This poem " To the Bul Bul" by Ghulam Nabi Firaq in many ways conveys their anguish.

Come, O gardener, of a new spring the glory you must create

That flowers bloom, bulbuls sing, such means you must create

Desolate garden, weeping dew, forlorn flowers with raiments torn

Inside the dead flowers and bulbuls, a second life you must create

From the garden weed out nettles, of flowers who stunt the growth

In crowds the hyacinths will come, a flower gate you must create

Who will free you, O bulbul, now that you are crying in your cage?

From your ordeal a way out, with your own hands you must create

Power pride, money wealth, comfort luxury, kingdom and authority

All are yours, within reach, about them awareness you must create

To awaken the valley of flowers, your soothing songs you must stop

Create an earthquake, a howling wind, a thunderstorm you must create.

Kashmir ensures that despite the unrest and the violence, it’s sheer beauty continues to give meaning to Amir Khusro’s famous words. These photographs by The Citizen photographer Basit Zargar capture autumn in Kashmir