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Written by: Fatima Chand

Category: ARTICLES

Published: 10 July 2016

Oh, dear Kashmiris, calm down. Put your stones down. Take control of your emotions. More brothers are being killed. Your mothers and sisters are being lathi-charged. Their eyes are wet, tears are falling. Children are being orphaned Oh, dear Kashmiris, put down the stones, return to your houses…to your families. Get a grip on yourselves. Raise your hands in dua. Cry in front of Allah. He listens. And He never lets anyone go empty handed. An eye for an eye, this is not the way situation will come under control. One killed…two killed…three…four…the number is increasing. In a couple of days, the situation will be back to normal.

People will move on. The dead will be forgotten. Their sacrifice will be remembered but not for long. Another incident…more people killed…this is the way things have been going on. Their names are not engraved…not on stones…and not on your hearts. A new will come. The sun will rise and everyone will continue with their lives as if nothing happened. Your weapons are your pens and books. Read and write. Work hard. Study hard. Become someone. Take up high positions. This will be for the betterment of your society, your families and your children. 

Do not give ear to the wretched forces. Yes, they have guns, tear gas shells and batons. So what? You have your families, your children and your homes. Make a better tomorrow for your children but not by pelting stones. Today, you are here. Tomorrow you won’t be. Who will take care of your children…your women? Have you thought about it? If not, then think about it now. Don’t let the wretched forces harm your children and women. Stand up strong. Walk strong. And please, don’t pick up that stone. 

Build a better tomorrow. Study hard…and get good jobs. Start good businesses. Spread your name and about Kashmir’s status through dialogue. This is the way. Create noise through your writings…through your work but not through violence. Make noise in the international arena…the whole world should know about Kashmir. Make space for referendum. Demand for referendum but not with stones…with pen and paper…with dialogue. We are civilized. So put that stone down. Get back to your homes and to your families. Hug your children and families. 

Say that you’ll be there for them. Wipe their tears. 

Don’t pick up that stone.