'It's the unknown we fear' my feature in Rising Kashmir dated 30/8/2015. My first Sunday feature!!!

• Finally able to clock a Sunday feature!!! 
• And nothing less, in Kashmir's most well-read newspaper; Rising Kashmir.
• 'It's the unknown we fear' is how I'd rather call it. Read till the end, if you please:)
• This is my first feature about how overwhelmed we felt about being in Kashmir among Kashmiris. Nonetheless, positively. The Kashmir we know through books, movies, stories and media isn't what you get to feel personally. With fond memories etched on our minds, I leave you to this.

Uploading some pics relevant to this article too! For your reference:)

#TakeNothingButMemoriesLeaveNothingButFootprints

Where the hotel staff (Little Silver, Pahalgam) would happily agree to accommodate you with deluxe room despite of having a jam-packed booking at modest prices, you know it has to be none other than Kashmir!

The land where without asking for it a cobbler agrees to polish your shoes for free because his son sells shawls in Chandigarh, you know, you are in Kashmir!

Where a local family would invite you for a cup of noon-chai and snacks with them because they too are eager enough to know a well-bred-hatti-katti Punjaban:) Overwhelmed! 

Eager to pose, talk, discuss, divulge and dig; these kashmiri ladies made us feel at home and invited us to camp with them at Au Valley that night..Kya karen luck mein nahi tha?!

The place where locals are innocent and clean-hearted enough to ask you to lend them your Sunglasses so that they too can 'Pose' with them!

Happy to be part of anything and everything one is doing, they bring smiles on your faces!

Where you make allies at the drop of your hat and they don't hesitate to let you be a part of their game too..
Gaurav with the local kids playing football

This was the only bakery that was open early in the morning on our way to Srinagar from Pahalgam on 15th August when the whole city was sealed due to Independence Day Parade. The owner was kind enough to ot only offer us bread but invited us for breakfast too:)

The place where locals would happily agree to tie a ‘hijaab’ for you and make you feel as comfortable they can is none other than Srinagar.

Where a local family would invite you for a cup of noon-chai and snacks with them because they too are eager enough to know a well-bred-hatti-katti Punjaban:)

It’s the unknown we fear, nothing more!

Among the continual and incessant threats of terrorist attacks in ‘chosen’ parts of the country, recurring interviews by Separatists and Political leaders on various news channels, abhorrent encounters and militant killings and much more suchlike; we planned our leisure trip to the valley of shepherds; Kashmir this year in August. Initially intending to break the monotony of life and then out of curiosity of stepping onto a disputed piece of land mass mainly known for political disturbances and protesting turbulences;  we planned this five-day holiday covering parts of Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg spread over a long weekend that included  Pakistan’s Independence day followed by India’s (12^th till 16^th August). Among all this, the real trouble was to let the cat out of bag in front of our parents who always advised us against. Nevertheless, after much-a-do and convincing rounds of reasoning, we set out to fly!

Hailing from Chandigarh since birth, we both (I and my husband) considered ourselves as liberal travellers. Been to most part of North and West India and a few countries outside, we thought we had imbibed ourselves with most of the scenic beauty, landscapes, religions, cultures and customs we were exposed to by then rarely knowing the best was yet to come!

Being Hindu travelers in a land with 97% Muslim population, apparently, we were a little sceptical, restless or alarmed throughout. Though it might sound a little cheesy, but the valley gifted us with one of the best times of our life. Never failing to impress, the spectacular and breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains drenched in the golden sunlight were captivating beyond expression. Waking up to the vibrating sound of early morning Muslim prayers, we relished our stay here every bit. Not wanting to do what’s meant for conventionally, we would hire a locally made boat instead of cushioned Shikaras to enjoy our morning cup of ‘noon-chai and Czot’ at famous Dal lake while taking rowing sessions from the boat riders. The variety of handicrafts, woollens, souvenirs, local delicacies and cuisine; all made us fall in love with the place. Above all, what overwhelmed and stirred us the most was the charming warmth and hospitality of Kashmiris never experienced or seen by us before. To hard-core Punjabis like us, the overly-polished mannerism reflected by the locals, be it porters, taxi-drivers, hotel staff or restaurant waiters was delightfully impressive.  

To have the first-hand experience of the place, we hired a bike to roam around and visit various tourist places at our own will. And to submerge fully, we lost no chance of riding through the interiors of Srinagar; through the local streets, meeting points, crowded traffic circles, bazaars and silent lanes which are often projected as breeding grounds for hostility by the media. Allow me to be as frank and candid I can, with every step, with every inter-action we had with locals, we found our pre-conceived notions, beliefs and myths shattering in front of us.

The land where without asking for it, the restaurant waiter would pro-actively act as a tourist guide for you, or a souvenir vendor would present you a complimentary gift with your low-priced purchase or a local sweet-maker would serve you a big-sized Kashmiri Parantha and Halwa with folded hands, or the locals would happily agree to tie a ‘hijaab’ for you and pose with you or a local family inviting you to ‘Camp’ with them at Aru valley or a cobbler agreeing to polish your shoes for free because his son sells shawls in Chandigarh or the hotel staff that agrees to accommodate you with deluxe room despite of having a jam-packed booking at modest prices or where octogenarians would initiate neutral talks about Indo-Pak relations, political drama, minorities, or 69 years of India’s tryst with its destiny without a single frown or a bend on their foreheads; you know this place has to be a place no less than heaven!

All these were only a few trails of experiences that shattered our pre-conceived beliefs, myths, fallacies we had against J & K and its residents. Inadvertently, our psyche scarred by the influence of media, politics, movies or stories in school books (Kabuliwallah) not only make us see one side of the coin but deny the existence of other altogether. Our minds clouded with suspicion make us alienate ourselves from our own country-men who have always been subject of oppression at the hands of government, system or poverty.

As we’re back, having amazed our friends and families with our startling experiences, candid photographs and videos, we wish to narrate our experiences in three simple quotes alone. First, ‘There’s good in everything’. Second, ‘There are no free lunches in the world and hence everything comes for a price’. Third, ‘Positive anything is better than negative nothing’.

Amen!