Men, Matters & Memories
M L Kotru
I am not sure whose idea it was to stage Kashmir’s first half marathon in these very fraught times. Am quite aware that the event by itself is one that instantly catches the imagination of the young ,from in their teens to those in early 40s. Not to mention the ones in 50s and 60s who at least keep trying.
The cause,too, in the instant case, saving the Dal lake from further vandalism, was one that would normally have drawn the young, the student community in particular, in their droves. The indignities heaped on the Dal by those who have recklessly encroached massively to build huge mansions in had been very much a part of the lake not until very long ago,are particularly galling and a pain to behold.
A pity therefore that the initiative, even a token one it indeed was, should not have ended the way it did. Someone had obviously got his timing wrong. And always with the numerous past initiatives to put things right the half marathon ,too, did in the event turn out to be as ill-starred as its predecessors. And I am not necessarily talking of the millions that are already supposed to have sunk in half-hearted attempts to undo the damage to one of the State’s most precious natural assets, the Dal Lake.
Am aware of at least two young corporate executives from Mumbai and Delhi who had flown into Srinagar on their own to be part of save the Dal marathon. After the marathon, one of them called to share his disappointment but in the true spirit of lovers of adventure sport converted their trip into a famous three-day trek.
Let me hasten to add that there was nothing wrong with the thought behind the aborted half marathon. But for such events to evoke a matching response, it is important to ensure that you have the right kind of environment to make the effort worth everyone’s while. And band, baja or VIP presence do not necessarily make for right atmosphere.
And these were by no means the most propitious of times to stage an event so deserving of support, an event which should normally have been superhit given the sheer beauty of the venue, the Dal lake and the course running along its now pock-marked embankments. The setting alone should have delighted a thousand hearts watching the run on TV screens,not to speak of the enthusiasm it should have evoked locally. Never mind whether it was a half or a full marathon.
Hindsight,though, tells me that had I been its sponsor, I wouldn’t have hesitated to call off the event well before it had had its half start as it turned out to be. Protestations to the contrary be blown, the fact is that the Jammu half of the PDP-BJP coalition continues to b e living in a zone of its own, unconcerned, as it were, about what may eventually be in the larger interests of the State as a whole. If tourism, even religious tourism of the Amarnath or Vaishnodevi type, thrives the entire State benefits from it. If tourism as an industry flourishes, as the valley and the rest of the world sees it, the State prospers.
And when one talks of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir one is talking of huge numbers, not just a few housands but of hundreds of thousands. Millions ,if you will. The half marathon I know must have been conceived as a tourism promotion endeavour, an effort which had the potential to become an international event. In course of time it could well have grown into a full marathon,an annual event on the tourism calendar, with the Corporate backing now available for most such events, it has the makings of a truly international marathon, attracting top runners from the world over, including,of course, enthusiasts who wish to be seen as participants.
Finding prize money has ceased to be an issue as any sports impresario will tell you.
Have a gut feeling that should such an event be held in the future – and it should be- the people in the valley,particularly the young, would be attracted to it. It is so different from,say, pelting stones or raising slogans.. It is individual competitive sports at its very best. A thousand pities,therefore, that the initiative should have allowed to lapse into the list of non-starters, thanks to competitive jingoism being practiced by politically motivated hate-mongers. How come the explosive beef issue hit the State so suddenly and unexpectedly ?
How come a petition moved by a Jammu lawyer, since appointed as Deputy Advocate General of the State, seeking enforcement of the ban imposed on consumption of beef in the State under the Ranbir Penal Code ,suddenly came up for a hearing without a proper response from the State lawyers? Beef-eating, if you ask me, has never been an issue in the State. I know it from personal experience that even the Valley Muslims have never been great beef-eaters, certainly they don’t crave for it the way they do in Kerala or the North Nepal which has just shunned it distinction of being the world’s only Hindu kingdom has never ever really frowned on beef; they even offer buffaloes etc at ritualistic sacrifice ceremonies.
The consequences of the High Court ruling in Jammu an Kashmir were predictable.The Muslim right, egged on by separatist groups, were up in arms against the Court fiat. There were demonstrations and the much awaited half marathon has barely taken off before it got stuck in the tracks ,protestors having chosen to make the marathon the victim of their choice. It obviously was so easy to disrupt the runners – the participants, that is -forcing them to abandon the project even before it had got in the stride. A very well-intentioned project thus fell victim to the prevailing sense of religious bigotry. The State Government needs to do purposeful rethink on the entire episode. The petitioner-lawyer-turned Deputy Attorney General, believed to be a saffronite needs to be asked a few questions, particularly one about the timing of his petition and why did he deem it necessary to ask for a reaffirmation of an old,established legal position on cow slaughter or consumption of beef . The BJP, a partner in the Kashmir coalition too needs to do some introspection.
I am sure some beef is consumed in a few poor rural communities in the valley – as it happens in parts of Delhi as well. Even the former Maharajas would in their time have been aware of the phenomenon. Yes, it is quite likely that the consumption of beef might have increased a wee bit lately but blame that on the price of mutton, between Rs. 400 Rs. 500 a kilo.
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