Kashmir My Paradise By Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander

Our memories are the only paradise from which we can never be expelled - Jean Paul Richter Life is a magnificent creation. Every moment, our various instincts obligate us to make choices and then the flow of our lives depends upon the selections we make. A year ago, or slightly more, I also made the most substantial choice of my life i.e. to leave both my home and hometown to pursue higher studies abroad at one of the most prestigious universities of the Muslim World - The International Islamic University of Malaysia. I was always excited and curious to go out of Kashmir due to my passion and burning desire to discover a new world beyond, to learn new experiences and also just in order to escape the hardships which I and everyone usually encounters in Kashmir viz. harsh winters (Chilaikalaan), insecure environment, uncertainty of future, lack of exposure, and an inefficient and deficit administrative system which governs everything. My parents, with tears in their eyes, kissed me goodbye at the IGI airport, New Delhi and then I knew I was all by myself. I boarded the plane and we took off. After five and a half hours, I heard the cabin crew announcing that we were arriving at Kuala Lumpur and weather was supposed to be sunny. I was really excited after we landed for actualizing my dream ultimately. But as soon as I left the airport, I knew that I am in a totally new and strange location and my choice of coming here is irreversible now. I boarded a bus to my university. Sitting in the bus, looking outside the glass window, I had mixed feelings and my heart started sinking recalling all my life events, happy moments and the gloomy ones. I knew I had to leave them all behind to start a new life, a new journey ahead. By then, I had already chosen my destiny. Malaysia as I had imagined is wonderful. Everything here is in order. The roads are clean and proper, people are civilised, the city is much developed and above all our university campus is wonderful with classic Islamic architecture embedded in it. Malaysia has Petronas Twin Towers, F1 Race tracks, Underground Aquariums, Skyscrapers, eye-striking Beaches, Open Rainforests, awesome wildlife, Amusement Parks, 3D Movie Theatres, Super cars and bikes, KFCs, McDonalds, and everything one can think of. There is no comparison between Malaysia and Kashmir in terms of quality of life. I learnt and did those things here which I could never possibly achieve back in Kashmir.

Despite of it and everything, without Kashmir a part of me feels missing in life. Even though, the quality of life and facilities that Kashmir offers might be scanty but the serenity and joy that Kashmir bestowed me with is unmatched. I crave for the view of the snow clad mountains, the chilly winters, proximity of the family and significant others and everything that makes the simple life of Kashmir wonderful and remarkable. My heart longs to go back and see the autumn sight of Chinar trees with falling leaves. Recently, a friend of me brought Harisa and some Wazwan from Kashmir. I ate it like I had never tasted it before. I never felt so contended as then. I realized the worth of all these blessings only now after I left Kashmir and I felt that I was taking all these for granted for too long. Its human nature actually to realize the real worth of things only after they are lost. Sitting solitary in a caf now here in Kuala Lumpur with all leisure surrounding me, I retrospect, pondering upon all the cherished moments and infinite memories that Kashmir imprinted on my heart and mind. A waiter comes and hands over the bill to me. Then on the spur of the moment, I miss everything I left behind and my loneliness giving me blues. My desires crumble inside me. I dream of nothing except a safe return to the land where I came from, the place I belong to. Kashmir, my Paradise I am coming!

(The Author is an Undergrad student majoring in Psychology at International Islamic University, Malaysia. He can be reached at www.yaqeenulhaq.info or can be mailed at yaqeen@ymail.com)