warvet

  THREE ICONIC ANCIENT RUINS OF KASHMIR BY WARVET When one visits the ancient architectural ruins in Kashmir, one is left bewildered with the scale and magnificence of the great Hindu civilization that once flowered in the heavenly valley. The devastation vested upon grand monuments by zealots is heart wrenching. One wishes that the people of this beautiful piece of Earth would take justified pride in these wonders created by their own forefathers and learn about their legacy. Visit of school children and youth to these venerable sites along with description of their grandeur can do wonders in promoting peace, harmony, dignity and self confidence. The (Dis)credit for destroying all the architectural splendour of ancient Kashmir goes temples to one guy – Sultan Sikandar of Shah Miri dynasty (1353 – 1413). For his zeal of destroying the ancient culture and civilisation of Kashmir, under his advisor on religious matters – Sufi Mir Mohammad Hamadani he converted lakhs of Pundits....

  THREE ICONIC TREE SPECIES OF KASHMIR BY WARVET Kashmir has been endowed with a rich fauna that can be envy of any region in the world. In this blog I write about three of the most important trees (for different reasons) of Kashmir I POPLAR - Tree lined roads of Kashmir are imprinted in our memories from old movies. Roads from Anantnag and Baramulla to Srinagar were like ‘Green Tunnels’ immortalised in popular psyche. In 2004 when I used to travel from Srinagar to North Kashmir, where I was posted I used to marvel at the beautiful green walls. No longer. The 4 laning projects underway all over has destroyed the green tunnel and it’s a punishment to travel through the ‘Dust Tunnel’ now a days. I often wondered at the mammoth quantity of wood being used for roofs of the under construction houses in valley. It’s an unending process that is consuming agricultural land like an insatiable dinosaur all over. Kashmiris build huge houses – Wife of the wizard had told us once –‘The...

                                      THREE ICONIC BRIDGES OF KASHMIR BY WARVET Bridges are more than mere engineering marvels; they are powerful symbols that connect people and places both physically and metaphorically. Across the globe, iconic bridges stand as testaments to human ingenuity, cultural identity and the aspiration for progress. Kashmir being a riverine pradise, bridges have played most important role in day to day life. Jhelum or Vitasta or Vyth is the lifeline that traverses the valley from South to North. Historically there used to be bridges made of floating boats tethered together. Permanent, fixed cantilever bridges were made beginning medieval era. Here I want to introduce readers to three iconic bridges of Kashmir. They are my favourites (Yeah I do have favourite bridges!). I ZERO BRIDGE It’s the most beautiful and most weirdly named bridge I ever laid my eyes on. It’s a...

  THREE ICONIC KASHMIRI POETESSES IMMORTALISED BY THEIR WORK AND MEMORIALS BY WARVET   I      Habba Khatoon      In henna I have dyed my hands, When will he come?            I die, While he roams distant lands, my heart is numb!            O, where is now the Day’s delight?            I’ve waited long.            The golden wine cups of the night,            To him belong!                     ( Habba Khatoon, - The Nightingale of Kashmir, Born – 1544 Died 1609)   Three adolescent village girls clad in salwaar kameez came strolling towards us in the rarefied Gurez twilight. I wondered whether we should greet t...