RAMESH’s Blogs Page, Rediff iLand

The Land Of Kashmir .....

ØNilamata Purana: Ka means "water" and Shimir means "to desiccate".

Hence, Kashmir stands for "a land desiccated from water".

ØThe Nilamata Purana gives the name Kashmira to the Valley considering it to be an embodiment of Uma.

ØIn the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the 12th century, it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a lake.

This was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula).

When Kashmir had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there.

ØThe name of Kashyapa is by history and tradition connected with the draining of the lake, and the chief town or collection of dwellings in the valley was called Kashyapa-pura.

The Amarnath Fact Sheet

ØThe biggest lie being circulated - Amarnath was discovered by Malik’s – The Muslim Shepherd Family.

ØThe shrine is cover 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology

ØThe reference to Amarnath can be seen in the Nilamata Purana (v.1324).

ØThe pilgrimage to the holy cave has been described with full topographical details in the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnatha Mahatmya, both ancient texts said to have been composed even earlier.

ØReferences to Amarnath, known have also been made in historical chronicles like the Rajatarangini.

ØSeveral Western travellers’ accounts also leave no doubt about the fact that the holy cave has been known to people for centuries.

Ø“The lake of dazzling whiteness [resembling] a sea of milk (Sheshnag), which he created [for himself as residence] on a far off mountain, is to the present day seen by the people on the pilgrimage to Amareshwara.”(Rajatarangini, Book I v. 267.Translation: M. A. Stein).

Ø Rajatarangini (Book II v. 138): Kalhana says that King Samdhimat Aryaraja (34 BCE-17CE) used to spend “the most delightful Kashmir summer” in worshiping a linga formed of snow “in the regions above the forests”.

ØChronicle of Kashmir, a sequel to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, Jonaraja relates that that Sultan Zainu’l-abidin (1420-1470) paid a visit to the sacred tirtha of Amarnath while constructing a canal on the left bank of the river Lidder (vv.1232-1234).

ØThe great Sikh Guru Arjan Dev granted land in Amritsar for the ceremonial departure of Chari, the holy mace of Lord Shiva which marks the beginning of the Yatra to the Holy Cave

The Land in Question

ØThe shrine and the yatra is maintained and organized by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board

ØShrine Board was constituted by an Act of the State Legislature in 2000

ØOn board request , the J&K Government transferred nearly 40 hectares of forest land in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on lease for Rs. 23.1 million (Rs.2.3 crore)

ØThe transfer was approved by the government of Jammu & Kashmir and signed by the cabinet

The Land Controversy

ØThe land was required to create temporary structure to provide facilities to the pilgrims

ØThe structures were to be in place only for two months every year

ØThe area is prone to rain, snow, landslide and extreme bad weather

ØThere was no ecological damage or tree cutting planned

ØKashmiri Muslims especially the separatist elements launched a protest against the land transfer

ØSecurity forces were attacked and National Flag was burnt

ØPakistani Flag was hoisted at Lal Chowk

ØThe entire valley shouted “Hindustan Hai-Hai”, “We want Freedom”, “We will share land with Hindus over our dead bodies” and “Pakistan Zindabad”

ØAs usual the Congress government succumbed to the separatist

ØThe order which was passed by the assembly was revoked by a minority government. (The order was revoked after PDP withdrew support)

Haj Subsidy

ØThere are multiple Haj Terminus and 16 embarkation points in the country

ØThe Haj subsidy in 2006 was Rs.348 crore

ØThe muslim pilgrim to Jeddah pays Rs.12,000 for a return ticket. The actual cost of the ticket is Rs. 46,000. The difference is funded by the Union Government

ØThe Indian government has a Haj Office in the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, runs a hospital in Mecca and dispensaries in Mecca and Madinah, and sends doctors, nurses and para-medical staff to run these medical establishments during the pilgrimage

ØIn addition, the Government has sanctioned eight ambulances and medicines for pilgrims who fall ill.

ØThough Jammu & Kashmir is one of the less-populated States in the country, it sent the fifth biggest contingent of pilgrims for Haj in 2006.

ØThe Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh has taken this policy of minorityism a step further and announced subsidy for Christians who wish to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.

The Double Standards….

ØHowever in India, Hindu pilgrims to the Amarnath Shrine do not qualify for grant of a few acres of land along the yatra route for provision of basic amenities.

ØThe population of the Hindus may be 100 crore. But in India, Hindu pilgrims are not entitled to even 100 acres

ØThe Kashmiri politicians claim that by allocating land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, the State Government has harmed the cause of 'Kashmiriyat'. What happened to the Kashmiriyat when hundreds of Hindus and Sikhs were killed in Valley and millions of Hindus and Sikhs were forced to leave the valley?

ØThe whole world is aware of how Hindus were driven out of the Valley. Yet, we have this disgusting spectacle of politicians like Mr Omar Abdullah from the Valley stating publicly on television channels that they oppose the transfer of 100 acres to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board because they fear that through the transfer of these few acres of land "the demographic character of Kashmir is being altered".

JOIN THE PROTEST of JAMMU AND CONDEMN JnK Govt.

Support the movement

ØWater , electricity , media , SMS all blocked in Jammu from several days .

ØMinority Hindu refugees and locals dragged from homes and beaten mercilessly by Muslim fundamentalist Police force of JK.

ØKuldeep Dogra who sacrificed his life not by killing others but by consuming VISH in front of Police against Land transfer was followed by arrest of 1500 people, Injuring of 700,seriously injured 475, 5 killed in Police Firing.

............................................IS THIS INDIA..OUR LOVELY COUNTRY!...................