The Pioneer-Dilli Billi - July.15th.2012 -"HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY"

"HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY"

Kashmir has once again become a visitors’ paradise. The fact that there have been no incidents involving the tourists has only added to the attraction of visiting the State.

Kashmir has been in the news lately and thank God that it is mostly for tourism reasons. Four lakh tourists have already visited the Valley till now. And another 10 lakh are expected. The State really needs a boost in the tourism industry. It is a signal to the world that it is a safe place to visit. But last week, news that a certain section of the people in the Valley want a dress code for the tourists has not been taken well by the visitors. There is no need for being so hyper-sensitive and sentimental about what kind of clothes the tourists need to wear.

A major problem stems from how the foreigners dress — roaming the streets in mini-skirts and shorts. There is a adage — When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And I completely agree with this. Forget about foreigners but even when we (Indians) visit Kashmir we keep in mind that the locals are conservative in their thinking. Their sentiments should be respected. We must honour the character and culture of every place. When we go abroad we study about the place and make it a point to try and adapt to the culture of that place as much as possible. There is always a travel advisory. Following them saves many problems and embarrassments that may be cause due to different cultural background.

I have lived in the Valley for many years and visited many mosques and other religious places. The locals are orthodox. Militancy has only reinforced this orthodoxy and affected tourism for decades. Due to several State Government initiatives, tourism is has slowly picked up in the last couple of years. The message that the State is safe has finally caught the imagination of the people who are once again visiting the beautiful State.

Fortunately, there have been no major incidents involving the tourists. The hotels are fully booked; the houseboats have been renovated and they are doing brisk business. Local artisans who make silk carpets, shawls and wood carvings have plenty of work once again. At one point of time, these people had no work. The young, with no work, had gone astray. Picking up the gun was the only option left for them. There were times when the Government appeared to be helpless in tackling the situation. There were rumours that many people in the Government looked towards militancy to continue in their chair. Fear of being shot at also played its part.

Coming back to the dress code diktat. There are many ways in which the Government can address the situation. The call by Jamaat-e-Islami can’t be called cultural policing. A simple dress code posted on the travel website on the appropriate dressing can solve the problem.

Kudos to the family who spent nearly Rs 5 crore on a wedding that the family had organised in Srinagar last week. The family from Rajasthan have really set an example. The mandap was facing the Dal Lake and the wedding was solemnised with Hazratbal, Peer Makhdoom Sahib shrine and Shankaracharya temple at the background. The Valley, after years, saw luxury cars and celebrities.

Hopefully, the spell of calm and peace will continue.