After #TheKashmirFiles

So Finally I hit the theatre after many years to watch #TheKashmiriFiles  

Lot of friends have already said a lot from politics to emotions on this. So I will not talk about that. 

My friend Kichu Kannan needs a mention. With all the posts and earlier readings of all aspects as well as my love for Kashmir strengthened by Kashmir Shaivism, which played a big role in turning my life around, I was mentally ready to face somewhat. But his post this morning - about facing it with cold heart and relating it to fight we all have lingering in our mind, fight which is going on in our life in many forms - prepped me to see it finally. And now I know what he meant 🙏 

Yes this is about acknowledging the pain of a community. It is about justice. Its about standing again with pride and sense of security. 

But beyond that one thought that is lingering on mind is what this share is about. 

सरकार उनकी होगी पर सिस्टम तो हमारा हैं 

That's the take away in more than one sense. 

Justice for some is about retribution, a sense of pay back, a sense of closure, a chance to live again with less stress. But when we speak of a community a civilisation a संस्कृती its beyond this meaning of justice. We lose something to others' sense of power, their bloodthirst of wiping off others. And that something is not a flavour of the season. Its what generations of life, struggles, curiosity, research, dedication, collaboration, expression has built into structure. A structure that gives our life a meaning from survival, health, culture, happiness, actualisation of potential. 

And that's why it's not justice but the system that we need to look for. A system that will ensure the KP and their existence is not left just a matter or museum or documentation for research, validation, arguments. The existence (like Krishna's last speech) means a complete heritage that needs to stand again. Because that's what life is all about. 

At the same time all others need to learn to differentiate people who are looking to annihilate all such knowledge and life because they are hungry for power for the sake of it. They are using state also as a decoy villain for their own much more evil controlling design. They are not in this for any love of life but are actively working to snuff out life from everything that matters. And they are in it because being on this side is remunerative. From jungle bunglows, parties, scholarship, awards to much sinister "industries". 

Countering them is important. At every corner, in every possible way. But more important is to ensure we dont let our young and our lives be a plaything for them. Our knowledge, life, culture, traditions and every life affirmation and expression needs to be protected from these vultures.