Abbu K Ladli, Ammi K Raj Dulari

Cowardly, senseless, horrendous, barbaric- these words just fail to describe the doomsday in Peshawar on Dec 16th 2014. This terrorist attack on Army Public School has shaken us to the core. Our holy Book-Quran teaches us that killing a person is tantamount to kill humanity. But these illiterate jihadists cum paid butchers are hell bent to defame our most peaceful religion-Islam. In fact, no religion teaches violence. 

 Islam teaches us that when we are on war with our enemy, we are not supposed to even touch the oldies, children and women but I don’t understand the philosophy of this kind of ‘Jihad’. Donning a long gown, supporting a flowing beard, slinging a rifle around your shoulders, letting loose a reign of terror, what is it oh terrorists! It doesn’t make one a good Muslim. No, Not at all. It is not my decree but this is what our religion tells us, “Reward of deeds depends upon Intention.”

In our Holy Book, It is clearly written that there is no compulsion in Islam. Our beloved Prophet swallowed all the hardships for the sake of humanity only. But Killing the innocent tender buds and making them pay the price of the hatred and prejudice is utter nonsense. 

In this deadly terrorist attack by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), almost 132 little angles were trampled and more than 100 are severely injured.  As I came to know about the attack, tears flowed out from my eyes. This bloodbath is giving me sleepless nights, there is stillness in me. I feel down.

With heavy heart, I prayed for the departed souls. From Malala to Banki-Moon, everybody condemned this gutless act but would a mere condemnation work. A big No! Those at the helm of affairs need to think for some out-of-the-box solution. We want to nip this evil in the bud, once for all.  

Everyone in his/her own capacity can do something concrete. I am writing this article to pay tribute to these innocents but we can also send a flower, you can write a letter to these grieving parents to lessen their burden. It won’t suffice but at least we would feel satisfied that we have done our bit. God forbid, had this bloody incident happened here, how would have we reacted. Let us share their grief. They are our own siblings who have been martyred. We know Terrorists know no religion. Let us stand up against such ghastly acts.  

There was mourning in every street throughout the world, Kashmir was no exception. Kashmir wept inconsolably. Everybody was feeling depressed and heart-broken. Imagining the state of a mother who was dreaming about the future of her son/daughter but little did she knew that the beasts in human form don’t know the barrier of religion, sex, humanity or any boundary line when it comes to their Job of killing Humans. I can feel the pain of the mother whose apple of the eye has been ruthlessly snatched from her. Whose darling could not sleep next to her that night?

Naively, they were tiring hard for the exams; they were perhaps learning the art, skills and loads of other experiences of this cruel world. But, perhaps, they were not taught that the murderers only know the language of death, killings and ethnic cleansing-irrespective of age or sex. 

On the other hand, Indian Prime Minister who was personally ready to fly to Australia in in wake of Sydney Siege (where again 8 innocents were killed for the fault which they never committed) to monitor the situations was shell-shocked. He immediately reacted through micro-blogging site Twitter that the perpetrators should be punished for this horrendous act. His worries mounted.

As a PM, he condemned it but his role in the Gujarat Pogrom can’t be overlooked. When he was a PM of the state in 2002, Innocent Muslims were mercilessly charred to death. Those mothers, brothers and sisters could relate this mad dance of death. It prickled their bruised souls. Barak Obama- Noble peace Prize winner could not go beyond the rhetoric of condemnations. Besides, Banki Moon’s helplessness added insult to the injury.

Targeting innocents means the defeat of fanatics. How can one justify this mass murder? I am an ardent radio listener; I could not help but cry when I heard a 5 year old Pakistani child saying in a mixed broken  Pashtu and Urdu language that, “I lost my tiffin on the bench in the 3rd row in my class. I had chicken in it. I miss my Lunch. One can decipher the innocence. How can this 5 year old kid think of harming a guerrilla when he is missing his chicken here? He wanted to be a respectable, responsible citizen but alas……

He wants to go back to school. But the family has decided to migrate and abandon their hometown forever. How terrific! After all, everybody wants secure environs where they can enjoy life. Everyone has a dream and right off course! To live a peaceful, prosperous life. I repeatedly fail to understand that what do terrorists want to prove from this vicious cycle of death? Do they think it is jihad? if yes, then they are misled. Hell is awaiting them.  

Everybody has faint or vivid memories of that nostalgic first day at school but everyone is not lucky to remember that day. Take the case of that 4 year old Khola Altaf – Mamma Ki Rajdulari- Khola had come over to get admission. Back home, her mother had tried to make her understand the importance of knowledge. Her mother kept preaching her about various religious sayings like, “Iqra, is what Allah commanded to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) first when the holy Book was revealed to him.”

Thus Khola was ready, excited rather to seek knowledge. She was charred to death. Another child Assad, is articulating something, please be attentive, I want pin drop silence. Here he goes: 

Mamma, Please forgive me, I won’t do any mischief now, and I would no more be a stubborn child. Now, I won’t fight with my siblings. Oh, yes, today I won’t demand for the candies and chocolates. No more omelletes with my breakfast! Give my share to didi. I wanted to shine and make you, Abbu and my country proud but…. No more holidays Ammi jaan. Now onwards, I would study hard and would try to live up to your expectations. In my short life span, I made many mistakes, I realized now, I was a fool Ammi, Please forgive me for all those naughty activities. I would make you angry. Hey we get angry with our loved ones, our dear ones only. Right?  Hahaaha.

I would deliberately delay in order to evade the boring mathematics like stuff. I wanted to watch those Walt Disney cartoons. They were my life long partners. 

Oh, hoo, Come on, what is this? Please listen to me now; I need a support of your lap right now! Tears, kya Ammi, Be brave, See, I am your child here, I am here, Please now Ammi. Ok, do you forget how you bore the miseries, how many sleepless nights you spent while I was in hospital a year ago only?  

Look, I remember everything! Yes, I remember when a neighborhood child would hit me, how would you  rush towards his home, scold him in front of his parents, taunt him and even fight  with his parents, You were a daredevil Ammi.

Forgive me ammi, with no fault of mine. Please forgive me I know it is really hard to do so but please, I know it will hurt you more, but keep that blood-soaked uniform as memorabilia. I can’t afford much but I promise you lofty mountains, valleys and much more in paradise. I haven’t ditched you, I still love you but the only difference is that physically you can’t see me anymore. 

I am sorry ammmi, now, my eyes are also wet, give me a tight hug.

{The writer is a resident of Baramulla, He tweets: @AbidRBaba }

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