In November 2001 I joined an English Daily in Jammu. It was my first job as a journalist and I was so excited. But it didn't take me long to realize that of course I was in a beautiful place but it was a terrible time, which of course continues even today. The poem, it may not be a perfect one but first of its kind, tells what I witnessed very next month i.e. December 2001, the month and year parliament was attacked.
Musings from a reporter’s diary
December 1: Six members of Village Defence Committee
And four members of minority community
Were not spared to see another day.
And a major with his team on their way
And four members of minority community
Were not spared to see another day.
And a major with his team on their way
Fought and fought till they were eroded.
In Kashmir 41 got hurt when grenade exploded.
December 3: One BSF Jawan became the target
When there was a blast in the market.
In Kashmir 41 got hurt when grenade exploded.
December 3: One BSF Jawan became the target
When there was a blast in the market.
In Srinagar six Army men were killed,
Usual for a paradise-turned-battle field.
December 4: Gun fight gulped two army personnel
Who had gone to look for a mail.
Usual for a paradise-turned-battle field.
December 4: Gun fight gulped two army personnel
Who had gone to look for a mail.
December 5: Militants killed a judge in Rajouri
Along with 3 others and felt no sorry.
December 7: Two army men were gunned down.
And a house of a policeman was blown.
Along with 3 others and felt no sorry.
December 7: Two army men were gunned down.
And a house of a policeman was blown.
December 8: “Heavy Indo-Pak firing claims innocent lives,
Twenty-seven get injured and nine dies.”
December 11: Militants injured two security men
When they tried to catch them in vain.
Twenty-seven get injured and nine dies.”
December 11: Militants injured two security men
When they tried to catch them in vain.
December 12: “At R S Pura border fire Pakistani rangers
Killing one and injuring many others.”
December 13: Blackest day in the history of a democratic nation
Parliament attacked in an undemocratic fashion.
Killing one and injuring many others.”
December 13: Blackest day in the history of a democratic nation
Parliament attacked in an undemocratic fashion.
In Jammu 26 blasts rocked Kanachak sector,
A suicide attack on BSF camp was another matter.
December 15: Total eliminated were more than thirteen,
Leaders, Jawans, ultras and a boy of sixteen.
A suicide attack on BSF camp was another matter.
December 15: Total eliminated were more than thirteen,
Leaders, Jawans, ultras and a boy of sixteen.
Four ultras captured in the rally
50 kg RDX seized in the valley.
December 17: On the occasion of the Id
One tahshildar became shaheed.
50 kg RDX seized in the valley.
December 17: On the occasion of the Id
One tahshildar became shaheed.
December 19: Fifty eight escaped death
When enemies in wrath
Tried to kill, but one met
What was forced in his fate.
When enemies in wrath
Tried to kill, but one met
What was forced in his fate.
December 20: Infiltration bid was foiled
When for days army toiled
And recovered some explosive,
But two died for not being apprehensive.
When for days army toiled
And recovered some explosive,
But two died for not being apprehensive.
December 22: They killed six women
As if they butchered some hens.
And four men were left to die
In chilling cold under the open sky.
As if they butchered some hens.
And four men were left to die
In chilling cold under the open sky.
December 23: Three BSF men sacrificed their lives
Without caring for their kids and wives.
The day sent away three more brothers
One was ordinary and two were leaders.
Without caring for their kids and wives.
The day sent away three more brothers
One was ordinary and two were leaders.
December 24: Two army personnel sent back to the creator,
One injured at Sondodi under Samba sector.
December 25: For days continued firing across the border
Two jawans, 2 men and a woman- was death’s order.
One injured at Sondodi under Samba sector.
December 25: For days continued firing across the border
Two jawans, 2 men and a woman- was death’s order.
December 26: Militants attacked an army camp and a van
And killed three army and two ordinary men.
Life in this paradise continued to be hellish,
When living is difficult, how can you relish?
And killed three army and two ordinary men.
Life in this paradise continued to be hellish,
When living is difficult, how can you relish?
December 27: A senior IPS officer had a narrow escape
When his van crashed at a narrow shape.
Twenty nine got injured when a bus
Driver lost his ability of minus and plus.
When his van crashed at a narrow shape.
Twenty nine got injured when a bus
Driver lost his ability of minus and plus.
December 28: There seems no end of strife.
In Srinagar six lost their lives:
One was licence holder
Five were foreigners.
In Srinagar six lost their lives:
One was licence holder
Five were foreigners.
December 29: Clash continues for days
No trace of hopeful rays.
Ten people were injured
As a grenade militant hurled.
No trace of hopeful rays.
Ten people were injured
As a grenade militant hurled.
December 30: At one place a family lost its four earning members.
At other Army men were attacked in a blatant manner:
Six civilians got hurt but four militants eliminated.
Besides under an avalanche 3 BSF men got buried.
At other Army men were attacked in a blatant manner:
Six civilians got hurt but four militants eliminated.
Besides under an avalanche 3 BSF men got buried.
December 31: The year’s end was not the end of people’s misery
It eliminated thousands of lives and people’s treasury.
When the sun will rise and we will realize sunrays’ worth?
Or will remain in the darkness this paradise on earth?
It eliminated thousands of lives and people’s treasury.
When the sun will rise and we will realize sunrays’ worth?
Or will remain in the darkness this paradise on earth?
December 2001/January 2002
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