All roads lead to homeland. #Kashmir Image
Our centuries old faith. This is one of its many manifestations. Zyestha Devi. Zeethyar, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
The famous Khanqah-e-Moula / Shah Hamadan Masjid. Oldest mosque in #Kashmir. Beautiful wooden architecture. Once upon a time, before the mosque, Goddess Kali's temple existed here. Image
The remnant of Goddess Kali's temple. A saffron-marked wall under lock. However, our faith fills the air. It is all-pervasive. #Kashmir Image
Goddess Kali's temple was destroyed by Sikander Butshikan in 14th century. He built Khanqah-e-Moula in remembrance of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani who had come from Hamadan, Persia (Iran) to spread Islam in #Kashmir. (Clicked this from locked gate) Image
Nonetheless, Khanqah-e-Moula is a remarkable shrine. #Kashmir Image
Remember the Rattan Rani Hospital at Nai Sarak, Srinagar established by Dr ON Thussu in memory of his first wife? It no longer exists. Only a decrepit sign board remains. #Kashmir Image
Hindu High School in Sheetal Nath, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
Sheetal Nath Temple, Srinagar. A very historic place. It is from here, in 1967, Kashmiri Pandits spearheaded the agitation against abduction of young Pandit girl, Parmeshwari Handoo, by certain Islamists. #Kashmir Image
Shri Ram Temple at Barbarshah, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
The inner sanctum of Shri Ram Temple, Barbarshah, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
The semblance of peace. Today, polling day in Srinagar, looked like this. Shutdown. Vehicle movements were partly restricted. I got mixed responses to my question of exercising right to vote - certain in favour, some not keen. #Kashmir #LokSabhaElections2019 Image
Interesting to see some people observing shutdown in Srinagar while some others casting votes. The city of contradictions. Rather entire #Kashmir is. #LokSabhaElections2019 Image
And there were some who wanted to cast votes but they didn't. The reason being they will invite attention for taking part in democratic process while the dominant narrative is boycotting the poll. Not casting vote to be out of harm's way. #Kashmir #LokSabhaElections2019 Image
Splendid Hazratbal shrine, commonly called Dargah. It has 'Moi-e-Muqqadas' which is believed to be Prophet Muhammad's hair strand. Khatam Shareef was being recited; so lyrical. #Kashmir Image
These pigeons greet you outside Dargah, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
Friday protestors/stonepelters. Nallamar Road, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
Insurgency has engendered several graveyards in #Kashmir. This is the most famed one called Shaheed Mazar (or militants' graveyard) near Eidgah in Srinagar. Those who chose the violent path of separatism/terrorism, and were killed, are buried here. Image
"Wath wath ayes gasav Khanyar, Arz karav dastgeer rast lo lo." Much revered Dastgeer Sahib, Khanyar, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
Ancient Nagbal temple in Anantnag. Chief deity is Anant Bhagwan. The name 'Anantnag' has originated from this temple. #Kashmir Image
The holy spring at Nagbal temple. Shri Anantnag. #Kashmir Image
The shrine of Resh Moul Sahib in Anantnag. #Kashmir Image
Busy street in Anantnag. #Kashmir Image
The remnant of my ancestral home in Akura, Anantnag. Lost to mayhem and madness of #Kashmir's 'freedom struggle'. Betrayal by friends and neighbours. Life existed here till 1990. Now only rubble. The lifeless home. Image
This visit was for dad who built a modest house in Jammu as return seemed impossible, named it 'Lidder', couldn't visit his home in Akura, and passed away. Also for grandparents who died waiting for return; for granduncle who couldn't bear exodus and died in 1990 itself. #Kashmir Image
Mattan temple. This area is governed by the Sun. You can find golden fishes in this natural spring. #Kashmir Image
"Gulon mein rang bhare baad-e-nau-bahaar chale. Chale bhi aao ki gulshan ka karobaar chale." Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
Imprint of one of the founders of #Kashmir's separatist movement - Tehreek - in Srinagar. Image
Sentiment. Freedom. Azadi. Militancy. Shahadat. Islamism. Jihad. #Kashmir Image
Jhelum and Zero Bridge. #Kashmir Image
While BJP is going gung-ho over its adventurism in #Kashmir, I found this poster in Srinagar where the party's lotus is colourless. The idea of 'Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat’. Image
"Pyov lyeder bathis pyeth thanye aadam!" ~ Arjan Dev Majboor

[An early man emerges on the banks of Lidder. ~ Arjan Dev Majboor] #Lidder #Kashmir Image
A temple once. A ruin now. Mattan, Anantnag. #Kashmir Image
"Yi chhu soan watan nundbon watan, Lachchi vuhur chhu lachchi phiri zamut nov. Path gomut beyi bronth aamut nov, Navi aay pakun gasye pron watan. Yi chhu soan watan nundbon watan." ~ Dina Nath Nadim #Kashmir Image
This is our homeland, our beautiful homeland. Our million year old homeland has been born anew a million times. It has lagged behind and then again forged ahead. Our old homeland should march forward with new zeal. ~ Dina Nath Nadim #Kashmir Image
My visit to #Kashmir resulted in outpouring of some thoughts which have been troubling me for past three years or so. About last days of dad, our home in Akura, betrayal by friends and neighbours, and more. thewire.in/rights/kashmit…
Grandpa's cousin visited our house in #Kashmir recently & saw construction material in courtyard. Two neighbours told him that some have eyes on our land. Encroachment in the offing? Just so you know, I've twice refused to sell our land. Our farmland nearby is already encroached.
A serene autumn evening in Srinagar. #Kashmir Image
One must always remember one's road to home. #Kashmir Image
Chilly evening by the river Vitasta. Christmas 2020. Image
The embodiment of Shakti. Goddess Maharagya/Ragnya at Tulmulla, Ganderbal. Ever tranquil. Ever energetic. #Kashmir Image
Submerged ancient temple, dating back to 8th century, adjacent to Manasbal Lake. #Kashmir Image
Witnessing the history of Kashmir amidst the majestic ruins of Lalitaditya Muktapida's 8th century Sun Temple. Image
The testimony of magnificence and resilience. Over 1200 years old. Martand Sun Temple. #Kashmir Image
The remnants of my lost home. Akura, Anantnag, Kashmir. Image
A long dream of home. A dream of a glorious return. A dream of a revolution. #Kashmir Image

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More from @VaradSharma

Oct 5, 2021
One of our own has been killed yet again by terrorists in Kashmir. This time Makhan Lal Bindroo in Srinagar. He had stayed back even after the onset of terrorism in 1990. Freedom to kill, in the name of Islam, is what they call Azadi.
I wonder which label the narrative builders will give to the killing of Makhan Lal Bindroo by terrorists in Srinagar. They had termed the earlier Pandit killings in Kashmir as 'political killings'. Of course, veneering jihad through obfuscation.
Targeted Hindu killings in Kashmir don't happen without local support from Muslims. That is the modus operandi — 1990 or 2021. Killers don't land from Mars. Harping over Pakistan while remaining silent on tacit support to jihad by Kashmiri society is sophistry.
Read 5 tweets
Sep 14, 2020
Thirty-one years ago, on this day, first Hindu killing of Pandit Tika Lal Taploo by Islamists happened in Kashmir. This would be followed by killings of many Hindus which resulted in ethnic cleansing of the entire Hindu community from Kashmir. Never forget.
The Hindus of Kashmir were targeted for their immense faith in their gods and their unshakeable loyalty to India. The 'soldiers' of Islam viewed them as impediment to the goal of 'Azadi'. Hence the brutal killings and rapes of their womenfolk in the name of Islam.
Islamists targeted noted Pandits to spread fear quickly among the community. The subsequent killings would be of Justice Nilakanth Ganjoo, Kashmiri poet and writer Sarwanand Koul 'Premi', Advocate Prem Nath Bhat, Lassa Koul (Director, Doordarshan Kendra - Srinagar).
Read 7 tweets

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