04-08-2005, 12:08 AM
Hello Saja,
To answer your query, in fact most of what I stated is well known in
Srinagar. When I began my work there concerning our family graves,
CM Faoorq Abdullah was still in office... I was at his office on half a
dozen occassions ..although I never met him directly, we were in
contact through his office (or so I was told) .I was even asked for maps
showing where the graves were...which I provided...
At that time I was assured I could probaly get the top of Hari Parbat Hill
with little difficulty..as a place to move the graves and build the new
museum. I had no reason to doubt it would not happen. Evenings we
gazed up at the fort and imagine our ancestors there and the world
coming to visit...and Kashmir being free and thriving..
But there was a last minute leak to the press and it caused a lot of
embaressment to everyone and a temporary end to the project...
I know it's a sensitive area of discussion for many, but it does involved
two sides returning something taken from us ...
The Hindus have claimed Solomon's Temple as Chankacharaya Hill.
There are historical records how they threw down the hillside the
contents of Solomon's Temple, and installed their own shiva lingam and
other objects of Hindu worship....they only started calling it
Chankacharaya Hill about 100 years ago....previous to that they had
shown more respect...but not lately...as every effort was made to hide
the true origins of the Temple...
Then Roza Bal is a similar situation because now it is proclaimed
a "Muslim" saint is there, and no one else is allowed access, especially
for prayer...unless of course on is Muslim...but it's the same a Solomon
Hill..it is totally Hindu there now...unrecognizable and no records of its
past are known to the locals..
At Roza Bal, records exist that predate Islam to prove there were other
caretakers and a different faith of people maintaining the tomb.....As
with the Hindus at Solomon's Hill, , things started being removed from
the tomb (which is a very bad omen especially if one believes in Heaven
and Hell).........it's created a terrible dilema for the true heirs an their
historical identity...
I have been in contact with the original Thomasian Church which had
been in Kashmir since the year 1AD (2004 years ago) They had always
been responsible for maintaining these sites until they were forced to
flee the militancy nearly fifteen years ago...they have a wealth of
information about the true history of these sites...sadly, one branch in
Canada contacted me about a year ago alarmed because they'd seen a
Kashmiri shrine for sale in EBay.....
Hindus cremate their dead...but Muslims bury their dead and often have
a small stone markerabove the grave....now imagine if for a thousand
years your family regularly attended to the grave of your ancestral
grandfather as a responsibility and duty....Then one day it's your turn to
tend the grave so you go to the cemetary...but now the headstone is
removed and the name changed from "Saja Mohammed" ( a Muslim
name) to "Shlomo Mogen David" (a Hebrew name) and you were
denied access because you are a different faith....how would you feel?
name changes alter or hide a true identity...Solomon's Hill is NOT
Chankacharaya Hill! And Roza Bal is NOT some obscure Muslim
saint...these are Holy sites to our immediate family, and to see their
names changed and their true history obscured is wrong. Further the
deceased cannot be converted post-humously to another faith whether
Hindu or Muslim!
At first everyone in Kashmir was wonderful...we were really going to
make this happen and set the wrongs right! But as I said, someone
leaked the story to the press and the project collapsed....at least for
time being...
I have already consulted lawyers in Srinagar and New Delhi...and this
case could be won in court..however I believe that wouldn't be
necessary....it is only necessary to ask, and it shall be granted without a
lot of drama in the High Courts....just a simple handshake will do...
....and that's what we continue to do.....just ask nicely to be allowed to
restore the truth and our ancestors' true names....the new CM seems a
very approachable man and we have a lot of faith in him...so I believe
we will get our ancestors restored in the next few years..perhaps even
sooner...it will be the answer to our prayers....and for sure a great new
era for Kashmir without another shot having to be fired from a gun.
If you have any thoughts or fresh new ideas on this subject, please do
share them!If these were your ancestors, what would YOU do?
time will tell if God will answer our prayers.
. :-)
Happy Holi to my Hindu friends! Happy Easter to my Christian friends...
Kindest regards,
Sue
To answer your query, in fact most of what I stated is well known in
Srinagar. When I began my work there concerning our family graves,
CM Faoorq Abdullah was still in office... I was at his office on half a
dozen occassions ..although I never met him directly, we were in
contact through his office (or so I was told) .I was even asked for maps
showing where the graves were...which I provided...
At that time I was assured I could probaly get the top of Hari Parbat Hill
with little difficulty..as a place to move the graves and build the new
museum. I had no reason to doubt it would not happen. Evenings we
gazed up at the fort and imagine our ancestors there and the world
coming to visit...and Kashmir being free and thriving..
But there was a last minute leak to the press and it caused a lot of
embaressment to everyone and a temporary end to the project...
I know it's a sensitive area of discussion for many, but it does involved
two sides returning something taken from us ...
The Hindus have claimed Solomon's Temple as Chankacharaya Hill.
There are historical records how they threw down the hillside the
contents of Solomon's Temple, and installed their own shiva lingam and
other objects of Hindu worship....they only started calling it
Chankacharaya Hill about 100 years ago....previous to that they had
shown more respect...but not lately...as every effort was made to hide
the true origins of the Temple...
Then Roza Bal is a similar situation because now it is proclaimed
a "Muslim" saint is there, and no one else is allowed access, especially
for prayer...unless of course on is Muslim...but it's the same a Solomon
Hill..it is totally Hindu there now...unrecognizable and no records of its
past are known to the locals..
At Roza Bal, records exist that predate Islam to prove there were other
caretakers and a different faith of people maintaining the tomb.....As
with the Hindus at Solomon's Hill, , things started being removed from
the tomb (which is a very bad omen especially if one believes in Heaven
and Hell).........it's created a terrible dilema for the true heirs an their
historical identity...
I have been in contact with the original Thomasian Church which had
been in Kashmir since the year 1AD (2004 years ago) They had always
been responsible for maintaining these sites until they were forced to
flee the militancy nearly fifteen years ago...they have a wealth of
information about the true history of these sites...sadly, one branch in
Canada contacted me about a year ago alarmed because they'd seen a
Kashmiri shrine for sale in EBay.....
Hindus cremate their dead...but Muslims bury their dead and often have
a small stone markerabove the grave....now imagine if for a thousand
years your family regularly attended to the grave of your ancestral
grandfather as a responsibility and duty....Then one day it's your turn to
tend the grave so you go to the cemetary...but now the headstone is
removed and the name changed from "Saja Mohammed" ( a Muslim
name) to "Shlomo Mogen David" (a Hebrew name) and you were
denied access because you are a different faith....how would you feel?
name changes alter or hide a true identity...Solomon's Hill is NOT
Chankacharaya Hill! And Roza Bal is NOT some obscure Muslim
saint...these are Holy sites to our immediate family, and to see their
names changed and their true history obscured is wrong. Further the
deceased cannot be converted post-humously to another faith whether
Hindu or Muslim!
At first everyone in Kashmir was wonderful...we were really going to
make this happen and set the wrongs right! But as I said, someone
leaked the story to the press and the project collapsed....at least for
time being...
I have already consulted lawyers in Srinagar and New Delhi...and this
case could be won in court..however I believe that wouldn't be
necessary....it is only necessary to ask, and it shall be granted without a
lot of drama in the High Courts....just a simple handshake will do...
....and that's what we continue to do.....just ask nicely to be allowed to
restore the truth and our ancestors' true names....the new CM seems a
very approachable man and we have a lot of faith in him...so I believe
we will get our ancestors restored in the next few years..perhaps even
sooner...it will be the answer to our prayers....and for sure a great new
era for Kashmir without another shot having to be fired from a gun.
If you have any thoughts or fresh new ideas on this subject, please do
share them!If these were your ancestors, what would YOU do?
time will tell if God will answer our prayers.
. :-)
Happy Holi to my Hindu friends! Happy Easter to my Christian friends...
Kindest regards,
Sue