news details |
|
|
| In strike torn Kashmir, people look for food in garbage dumps | | A myth shattered! | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 24: A heap of garbage on the posh bund in the summer capital attracted an old woman besides a dozen dogs and a number of crows. The woman, in her 60s was shabbily dressed in a worn out Pheran. She was looking for something in the heap of garbage. Foul smell emanating from the heap did not deter her from abandoning the search. Meanwhile, a dusky damsel arrived with her majestic gait. She was on her way to a newspaper office where she worked. Her high heeled sandals made enough noise to make the old lady conscious of her surroundings. She smiled but the smile caused a stir deep inside the chest of the damsel. She expected a story and decided to hunt for it. She walked slowly to give the old lady an impression that she was not interested in her. But interested she was not only in her person but in her search as well. She hid herself behind a wall and watched the lady keenly. Her worst fears came true. Good God! The woman was looking for food.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. But, being a journalist she did not want to get involved in `the story'. She cursed herself for belonging to the second oldest profession. As they say a journalist cannot differentiate between a cycle accident and end of a civilization, the dusky scribe also watched helplessly. She had got a `good' story. Meanwhile, the woman took out something from the garbage dump. Yes, it as food and the scribe missed a beat when she saw her eating it. Then she left leaving behind the dogs that, unlike humans, were generous enough to share their feast with her.
Alas! The scribe could file the story. She was moved and could not sleep that night. She pondered and pondered. Kashmir is a place where food is wasted lavishly. What, therefore, brought the old lady to the garbage dump? The myth that nobody goes to bed without food in Kashmir had been shattered. The scribe blames the separatists for the old woman's miserable plight. The continuous strikes have dealt a severe blow to the economy. The way-side vendors have virtually earned nothing for the past one month. The scribe intends to take up the matter with the Hurriyat leaders. But will they listen to her? They have made clear that a `big cause' cannot be sacrificed for small things like education and hunger. Friends told the scribe not to get emotional. Yes, nobody goes to bed without food in Kashmir. The woman got the food she needed. Where from? Does not matter in a place where people pursue a `big cause'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
