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| Valley traders likely to change business hours | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Aug 7: The past two decades have not only changed the psyche of Kashmiris. It has changed their culture and traditions as well. Now the stage seems all set for yet another change. This time the business community has decided to do business at night to make good the loss caused by indefinite strikes and curfews.
All important rituals of marriage would be performed at night before commencement of militancy. But the age old tradition had to be abandoned in 1990. The grooms started going to the bride's house during the day. By dusk, he had to come back necessarily along with his bride. The trend continues to this day.
The marriage songs also changed. Women got admiration for their `creativity'. The songs were loaded with words like Mujahid (militant), crackdown, hide-out, area commander and encounter.
The other change that `polluted' the institution of marriage surprised the saner elements. When the people should have taken austerity measures, they started making a crude show of their riches. The wazwaan (Kashmiri cuisine) expanded in size. Instead of usual seven dishes, rich people now prefer to serve around thirty dishes to the guests. The government desperately tried to implement the Guest Control Law but all in vain. It was violated the way Kashmiris now violate restrictions imposed by a stunned administration.
The toddlers also found it difficult to ignore the changing trends. The rhymes in preparatory schools also changed. A no longer stood for apple. The new `curriculum' had A for army, B for bomb and C for crackdown. The teachers found it very difficult to accept the change but there was no way out.
The difficult situation had its impact on the mode of greeting people. After the usual Salaam, people started asking Aap kay area main crackdown to nahi (Is there a search operation going on in your area?) Kal hartaal to nahi ( will it remain close tomorrow?)
And now the business hours are likely to be changed. "Let us do business at night", a business man at Iqbal Park suggested. The suggestion was readily accepted. The shops now open when the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and police leave for their barracks after confining the people to their houses all day. The milk men reach Srinagar around 9.30 p.m to deliver milk. Surprisingly the `hostile' city is left un manned at night.
Mushtaq Ahmad who runs a shop at Magarmal Bagh in close vicinity of the civil secretariat has taken up the matter with the trade organizations. According to him, the organizations see no harm in the suggestion. Mushtaq said the wholesalers are also ready to open their outlets in the evening. The traders, Mushtaq said, have plans to approach the suppliers at Jammu. "If they agree, the plan will be put into practice", he said. "The holy month of Ramadhan commences next week. It is an ideal time for the proposed activity", he added. |
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