Every year the holy month of Ramzan brings in a sense of inner peace and piety. People are at their pious best. Everyone tries to wash off his sins that he/she might have done knowingly or unknowingly. This is the month of blessings. And people try to be as much charitable as they can. One can see a number of vehicles in city centre Lal Chowk with loudspeakers fitted on the top asking for charity. Over the years such vehicles have become a common sight in Srinagar and other parts of Valley. But as Ramzan coming starts to conclude people get busy with the Eid perpetrations. The rush from mosques shifts to outside the bakery shops and shopping malls. Almost everyone, within his/her given means, tries to provide best of best for their families so that this biggest Muslim festival is celebrated with fervour. But in the melee that precedes Eid we tend to forget those who are less blessed then others. We neglect those people who have lost almost everything in last 25 years of conflict. There are thousands of families across Kashmir who have lost their sole bread winners to the conflict. And there is no way they can celebrate Eid with same fervour as others. So it is our duty, as Muslims and fellow citizens to think of these people and help them in whichever way we can so that they don’t feel neglected. We must remember that these widows and orphans do not come out of their houses with loudspeakers asking for monetarily help; rather they resign to their fate. It is our duty to reach out to them and help them feel part of the society for which they have sacrificed everything, including their loved ones.
As a nation we cannot afford to forget our past. Nor should we. There is no way we can just forget and move on. Unless we do not stand by each other in such testing times there is no fun of being humans.
It won’t take much efforts to reach out to these people, one just needs will and a little sense of responsibility towards his/her fellow citizens. It would be great if we can impose a small amount of austerity on our lavish budgets and save some money for these families. If we can just cut our spending on bakery and meat we can very well contribute towards the larger good of the society.
And by saying being austere, it doesn’t mean to stop celebrating the festival of Eid, but to simply remember those widows, orphans and elderly parents who have lost their near and dear ones for a cause.
Unless we don’t acknowledge their sacrifices and make them feel important in our society all the bigger goals are meaningless.
How can we enjoy a lavish lunch on Eid when our neighbour, who has lost his son, or an orphan who has lost his father in the conflict, is sleeping hungry? We cannot bring their loved ones back. It is not in our power. But we can at least make them feel wanted, and help them become part of us, if not always, then at least for this Eid.
Hope there is no even a single soul who sleeps hungry or who wears a sad look on his/her face on this Eid. For a society burden with history, celebration is a way of protest and coming together.
