B L Saraf
Now that we have some respite from the devastating fury let loose by the Elements of Nature it is time to sit back and reflect on what the hell we went through the previous four weeks and save ourselves from undergoing similar horror in the future. Undoubtedly the Jammu Division has seen worst of it. People in hundreds have perished and property worth millions has swept away in high floods. It looked that gods were avenging us in as much as the devotees en route to the high places of spirituality had to bear the maximum brunt .Be it pilgrims at the Chisoti Kishtwar base camp for Machail Yatra or the devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi at Katra Reasi many of them were made to pay with their precious lives.
As said the Jammu region suffered most in the unrelenting assault of the Nature. Jammu is the victim of years of political and economic apathy ,no matter who ruled J&K since independence This apathy has deprived it of its due share of economic and political development The present tragedy brought these deficiencies to the fore We hope that the prevailing unfortunate situation will awaken the political and administrative masters to the reality of Jammu and do justice to its cause and remedy the woes .
They say that the inscrutable are the ways Nature works which makes it impossible for an ordinary mortal to foretell or comprehend the extent and timing of the fury it unleashes Helpless men and women fall prey irrespective of the place they live in or the faith they believe in Nonetheless there are certain matters which a human mind can well understand .Disregard for ecology wanton assault on green forests water bodies river embankments and unplanned urban development make a perfect recipe of the disaster which even a man in the street knows But does nothing to avert the impending calamity In a way we become active facilitators of the disaster which climate change is inflicting on us .
It is a developing trend, world over, to mix pilgrimage with the normal tourism activity The phenomena is more prevalent in South Asian countries – of which our country is an important part – than elsewhere Because faith and religious devotion are deeply ingrained in our culture and psyche .People ,in general take it as a spiritual duty to embark on a journey of faith braving the daunting topography and harsh weather conditions Governments encourage such activities by devising schemes like religious tourism heritage and cultural tourism etc Our ingenious politicians have added one more category to it – that of the political tourism .
On a deeper analysis mixing together of a pure religious pilgrimage and a normal tourism activity looks a bit incongruous A religious pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place and is dedicated to the Deity. It is connected with the religion and is primarily driven by a faith The tourism ,on the other hand, is purely in the realm of commercial activity and is a casual merry go around walk .It is more for a worldly pleasure .So both are premised on a distinct intent and purpose Two distinct mindsets are at work when two different kinds of journeys are undertaken .Well a common man can’t be faulted for mixing the two as it is not for him to be so discernible .But the problem crops up when the state authorities or the managers of the religious places propagate such clubbing .Then as is clearly visible economic considerations step in and override all other considerations which in turn leads to the commercialization of the journey vandalizing the environment, thus disturbing the surrounding ecology .Such ill conceived and overpowering urge to make the buck accelerates the arrival of the tragedy which for other reasons ,is waiting in the wings to happen This unfortunate scene is in view around all places of worship across the length and breadth of the country and others in the region No wonder one day tragedy strikes in Andhra Pradesh then UPHP, Uttarakhand and now in Jammu Some places in our neighborhood are no exception in this regard .
In not so distant past, the pilgrimages’ to the holy places of all religious denominations would be seasonal and would generally coincide with auspicious occasions Now faced with the time constraints people choose any part of the year to discharge the religious obligation and do not wait for the auspicious days It has become a round the year and round the clock affair .That has added pressure to the place and atmosphere and denied time and space to the surrounding atmosphere to heal and recuperate Management’s love of the lucre has encouraged the process.
It is quite reassuring that both LG and the Chief Minister have shown commensurate concern and ,in right earnestness are on the job of protecting people and rebuilding J&K. Within the sphere of the respective domain their effort has to be a coordinated one We trust both the dignitaries are conscious of it This is no occasion to stand on ceremonies or pamper to the protocol. Such is the severity and extent of the devastation the Union Territory in general and Jammu in particular has suffered that it will indeed be a Herculean task to repair restore and rebuilt the damaged public and private infrastructure and help a common man to bring his life back on the tracks. Everyone has to stand dedicated to the cause. This is the time to adopt a bipartisan approach and not a polemical one. The Party politics can wait for the other day.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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