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A Muslim care taker of a temple in Budgam

After migration of Kashmiri Hindus, hundreds of Hindu religious places got damaged and most of them wear a deserted look today. But there are some places where minority community not only preserved and protected these religious places but continued the practice of rituals also.Gulzar Ahmed , a local resident of Budgam has set a unique example by ttaking care of the  shiv Mandir located in Budgam town of central Kashmir.This temple too would have been in a bad shape like hundreds of other temples of Kashmir valley  which remained un attended after the migration of Kashmiri pandits in early nineties . Gulzar Ahmed of Budgam , a laborer by profession has been taking care of this temple for last twenty five years. After offering morning prayers in a local mosque Gulzar Ahmed arrives at  the temple and cleans it. Not only this, he makes it sure that he reaches the temple at dusk ”Sandhya samay” and lits a lamp “deep’ here.  Although Gulzar Ahmed is not financially self sufficient as the income generated by toiling hard during the day hardly makes his both ends meet, However he doesn’t charge anything as a care taker of the temple” I come here regularly. I had promised my Pandit brethren that I will take care of the temple in their absence. This gives me immense pleasure as I have been fulfilling my promise’ Says gulzar. A very few Kashmir pandit families who reside in the same district are all the praise for Gulzar Ahmed. A Local Kashmir pandit Ashok Ji who runs a medical shop in the town  says that the gesture of Gulzar symbolizes the old tradition of communal harmony of the land of Rishis.” This is what the sufis and saints have been teaching us , Kashmiri pandits and Muslims lived like brothers and would help each other whenever it was needed. Says Ashok Ji. . Although there has been gap between the communities after migration of Kashmiri Pandits, the spiriti of communal harmony is still deep embedded in the hearts and minds of Kashmiri which brings a hope that  reunion people of Kashmir is possible in future.

jkreport Editor’s take.Government had promised moon but there is disappointment on ground

Famous Canadian artiste Ryan Reynolds has rightly said “When you have expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment”. Yes when the new BJP-PDP government was formed in J&K, people had lots of expectations from state as well as centre.Even PDP workers and office bearers were very confident that with the active support of government in the centre, J&K state will move towards prosperity.Every one was under impression that money will flow from Delhi towards J&K like never before.But all this did not happen so far.Even no announcement was made by PM Narendra Modi when he visited jammu just a day before Eid.There is unrest among PDP workers and office bearers every where in the state.They are unable to face the people who despite of boycott calls from separatists voted in large numbers in favor of the party.Flood victims are still waiting for relief and rehabilitation.State government is already struggling to pay salaries to government employees. Hype was created about the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants but that issue also is frozen somewhere in the file. In this situation every one expects a “healing touch” from PM Narendra Modi who had promised moon when he campaigned in the state during elections.

Beauty of Jammu & Kashmir