Ways of non-violent efforts to obtain liberation from oppressive forces. If only we could establish a concrete formula in which we all would work together for the same end::
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Puddles of Thoughts |
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Ways of non-violent efforts to obtain liberation from oppressive forces. If only we could establish a concrete formula in which we all would work together for the same end::
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There I sat, trying my best to give my full attention to the teacher speaking before me. Alas, it was a losing battle as daydreams of freedom from class crept in. Suddenly, I was jerked out of my reverie by the sound of vociferous voices shouting a short distance away. Then I heard the shattering of glass. A collective gasp was taken by the gallery of students as the teacher calmly told us to remain in our seat as the doors were locked. But we were too late.
The one door that had managed to be shut was slammed upon by what seemed like a battering ram, and some boys entered the class through the back, anger etched into every corner of their faces. Next to me, my classmate dug her fingernails into my leg, her eyes quivering with fear. We were told to leave the lecture hall immediately, and so we did, linking arms so as to not lose one another in the melee. I glanced back at our teacher as we were hustled out, and took pity on him. His face was ashen and withdrawn as he gazed upon the ensuing chaos. All he had wanted to do was inform us as to the wonders of macrolides. I took a moment to reflect on the fact that he had begun the class as he always did, with a salutatory salaam, followed by a mention of the topic for the day, stating that he hoped to complete it today, God willing. Nobody had expected anything different. So out we went, our mouths agape as we stared at the destruction left by the furious mob. Flower pots that had once adorned the walkway were shattered, shards of clay littered the ground, dirt and dust clung to the hems of our clothes as we shuffled into the lobby of the college. I could hardly imagine the state of the rest of the building. We stood in the center of the school, huddled together, and looked around. Teachers stood there, seemingly at a loss for words, as though unable to comprehend what was going on. It was then I noticed some students were locking the front entrance and, rousing my friends from their shock, proceeded to double time my way out so as to not get stuck inside. Utter hell had broken loose outside. Girls were frantically dashing towards their hostel which was a few meters away, while a crowd of boys had formed on the steps of our institution. It took me a second to realize that they were yelling the same old tired line of ‘Action! Action! Direct action!’, but in regards to what matter I hadn’t the slightest clue. My classmates were in frenzy at this point. They tugged at my arm to the point of its dislocation, pleading that I please hurry along and get back to the safety of our respective rooms. But I had become rooted to the spot, staring at the faces of students who should have been patiently listening about mechanisms of action or adverse effects instead of destroying government property. I watched as they picked up rocks and hurled them at the windows; saw the air glitter with glass when they made contact. My ears were assaulted by their belligerent demands. They began to march in our general direction, arms raised. A full on riot broke out before me, and all I could do was stare in awe. No one seemed to be sure as to why all of this was occurring, only rumors of this or that, something political or another, was given as the reason. It was then that my camera made its way into my hand to capture the heat of the moment, one that was rudely interrupted by the fast approach of an apparent senior bhaiya. Turn off the camera, he shouts, brandishing his arm threateningly. Stupid, he calls me. I take the opportunity to closely inspect his stormy features, the rage emanating from his words, his actions. Shaking my head, out of respect for my poor friends, I put away my camera. At this point, they were convinced that my death was imminent at the hands of the hoodlums who had overrun the campus. Run, Ibreez, run! I gave them a reassuring smile. Nothing’s going to happen, I say. We’ll be fine. They didn’t seem as certain as I did. Terror was all I saw in them. Sheer terror. We get back to our hostel, and I barely reach my floor when I’m told that the boys have stated I must delete whatever photos I’d taken. I tell them no pictures were taken, and proceed to my room, where I’m greeted by a few more individuals with the same requests. I brush them off, open my door, and toss down my books, exhausted. My phone rings. A male voice answers, yet again asking me to delete all and any photos I may have taken. I respond appropriately, and hang up. My heart was racing, my hands shaking. I took a deep breath. What was going on? How had the college erupted into a zoo in a matter of moments? I could still hear the chants, the slogans, the occasional crash. News was brought that a chair had been set afire. Quite a civilized affair. More people came by, telling me not to upload anything, that the political actions that could result if I did would be devastating. My visa would be cancelled. I would be attacked. My camera would be broken. I took the news with a grain of salt, but it troubled me ever so slightly that this was the state of amidst which I attended school. These were the people that I attended class with, the individuals who would one day work to save lives. Why so much animosity? Why such violent displays of emotion? This was surely not the appropriate way in which to respond, no matter the casus belli. So I decided to do the only thing I felt would relieve my growing anxiety: write. And here are my words of fear, not of those people, but of their actions, the mindsets that they have formed, that have lead them to believe that they are right in their cause. I am scared for the youth of today, of tomorrow. I don’t know what they may be capable of. A few boys have entered the girl’s hostel. They have posters in their hands, and proceed to tape them along the edges of our building. The words are foreign to me, but the force in the message is clear, accented by numerous exclamations points. There’s talk that college is closed for an indefinite period of time. Exams are put on hold, students are left in limbo. What to do now? Bit of fluff in my mind that played out into an untitled mass of words::
Eyes that burn, smile like lightning. A whispered joke, a stifled giggle. Blink twice. The sky is grey, moody. Stop awhile, look around. Hear life. Blink thrice. Hush now, time to sleep. Open your heart, I'm waiting. Ah yes, you all must be my two o’clock. Mr. and Mrs. Ashkir, am I right? Do come in, do come in. This is the lovely place I’d been talking about. I’m sure you guys are going to love it. It’s the latest craze in architecture, perfect for the up and coming couple. It’s also fully furnished. Now just close the door behind you. There you go. Alright, let’s get this tour started.
So this is the lobby. Notice the chandelier, it just arrived from Europe. It’s got a steel frame with light filigree bordering the edges and twelve holders built for thin tapering candles. There is a manual lever by the door so that you can adjust how far you’d like it to come down. Next is the dining room. Not only is there a magnificent candelabrum that is built into the mahogany table, but there are also kerosene lamps in each corner that can be interchanged with candles if need be. Just through these doors is the kitchen and breakfast room. These two French doors open onto the patio, and are ideally placed to let in the sunlight. The stove is unique in that it not only runs on gas, but also on woodchips and coal. Always make sure you have proper ventilation when cooking. Speaking of ventilation, the house is so built that cool breezes in the summer will make its way to every niche, and keep you comfortable. There are also retractable fans situated on the ceiling in all of the rooms that can be pulled by your servants to offer an extra boost of circulation. Quite revolutionary, don’t you agree? I’m not sure you all noticed when you came in, but the doorbell works along the same lines, and has a very fashionable chain that simply has to be tugged to elicit the required ring. For the winter, there is the usual hammam to keep you toasty warm, as well as a small bukhari in each bedroom. The main sitting room has this lovely fire place, adorned with carved stone work straight from Italy. It’s a gas log piece, and is sure to make the neighbors jealous. The mantel has ample space for any family photos, heirlooms, and what have you. Now let’s check out the backyard. It’s about an acre and a half of property, very spacious, and has already been divided into three sections for your gardening pleasure. The first section has already been sown with wheat, which can soon be cut, threshed, and ground. The next plot is allotted for fruits, as you can see from the apple and pears that are just beginning to blossom. Lastly, this portion is reserved for vegetables, from cucumbers to squash to tomatoes. You’ll be completely self-sustainable. The shed off to the side is already fully equipped with a shovel, hoe, scythe, hand tiller, various fertilizers, and weeding tool so that you’ll be prepared each time you need to harvest your crops. The area behind this is reserved for your livestock. If you choose to purchase this house, you will, in effect, also buy one bull, two cows, six chickens, and two sheep. The slaughter house can be found near the edge of your land, far enough away from the house to prevent any smells or sounds to reach the ears of any guests you may be entertaining. There’s an extra plot of land that you all share with the other families in this colony about a quarter of a kilometer away. It’s a vast cotton field wherein you all can pluck your required amount from your designated spot. There are instructors who will help you get started. Gloves and overalls are provided, and there is a room just below the staircases set up with a handloom. Okay, let’s make our way back inside. How do you all like it so far? It’s a real gem of a place, wouldn’t you agree? I’ve saved the best for last. This is the library. There are already about three hundred-odd books waiting to be read, and they all cover topics that will help you in your pursuit to keep your household running. Everything from baking bread to farming to looming, and even some great recipe books, all of which allow you to cook from scratch, with no reliance whatsoever on the outside world. Well, that’s the end of our tour. What do you all think? I’m glad to hear you’re interested! This is by far the soundest investment a person could make in this day and age. If you’d all be so good as to come by my office this time tomorrow, I’ll draw up the paperwork, and soon you’ll be the proud owners of this fine establishment. (This article was published in Greater Kashmir on the 16th of February, 2012, and can be found here.) |