Listen! My name is Srinagar. I am as old as some of the world famous civilizations. It may probably surprise you that I am older than Constantinople, the present day Istanbul. But many a time I feel ashamed of myself as I feel I was always given a step-motherly treatment by all the rulers and regimes. In ancient times, I was captured and ruled by many dynasties, be it the Gonanda Dynasty, Maurya Dynasty, Karkota Dynasty, Utpala Dynasty, Lohara Dynasty, Shah Mir Dynasty, Chak Dynasty, Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs, Dogras, and now in modern times by different political parties like Congress, Janta Party, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party and today as well, many powers would be in ambush to capture me by hook or crook.
You know, I have seen many phases, good and bad, in my development yet my formative years were full of zeal and zest, always hoping that the next rule will be better for me but, believe me, I am exhausted now as things are getting worse day by day, even in this so called post modern and artificial intelligence age.
Time and again new schemes and programmes are framed in my name but often they are not materialised. Sometimes, when a new rule gets established, it pin points earlier loopholes and pitfalls and then promises that this time things will be on the modern lines. For some time, I feel elated and over the moon, trusting the new policy makers but unfortunately each time destiny plays hide and seek with me. Then for some time I became a mere spectator and consoled myself that tomorrow would be better for me.
When, I open my eyes with the rising sun, I remain optimistic, waiting for the sun rays to shed their light on me. The moment I look around, I see nothing has changed yet. This, believe me, shakes my very foundation. But still, I don’t lose hope and I take shelter once again in optimism and then supplicate to the Lord to ease up my sufferings, miseries and apathies so that I can have a sigh of relief and would be able to sustain my children happily with peace and prosperity. I don’t want any of my children suffer at the cruel hands of time but, you know, I am helpless as there are the people at the helm of affairs who least care for my wellbeing and development. What they care for is their personal gains and interests. Every time, they use my name in order to satiate their limitless greed for position, power and luxury.
Now, in the recent past, after a long time, I could see a ray of hope when some policy makers came up with a vision of smart city. I was again over the moon and thought, this time, smart city project would eradicate all my problems. I observed from a distance keenly, every plan, every draft, every method, every strategy and the vision document that were going to be utilised to change my fate. Meanwhile, I overlooked the grand functions, parties and feasts which drained my exchequer to great extent but still I was hoping against hope. And then the day came when the Smart City Project was inaugurated in a grand way and manner. All the politicians, bureaucrats and other dignitaries from across the length and breadth the valley came for the grand opening ceremony. I was, honestly, over the moon again and thought that this is the time for which I have been waiting from time immemorial. Somehow, some of the key projects were talked about and highlighted which made me very happy. But as the time passes, my unfinished projects and plans were least talked about and were gradually ignored to some extent. Sometimes, officers came with plans to modernise roads and footpaths while at the other times, many officers prioritise street lights. Few weeks later, a new officer nullifies the previous plans. This all happens with the joining of new officers and bureaucrats, only to display power and position. In all this, my blood is oozing out and my waters freeze on seeing my exchequer looted time and again, not for my sake but for the sake of some self proclaimed officers.
Look! This has become the order of the day now and eventually I have become used to it. Few days ago, I had made my mind not to complain now. But then, one fine night, you were passing through on one of my famous roads, people call it, the Ali Jan Road which is one of my primary connectivity to North Kashmir. I was dead asleep in the open sky, full of twinkling stars and then I heard the creaking sound of a door of some vehicle. You stopped your car slowly and stealthily took your phone and started taking pictures of some packs of dogs that were pulling the trash and other leftover eatables from the dustbins lying on my face at the road. The clicks of your phone irritated me a lot and I lost my sleep. I could imagine beforehand your ill intentions of highlighting my pitfalls and loopholes which are like dark scars on the face of the full moon. I requested and begged before you, not to highlight the dark side of my face but I could guess the adamant nature of your personality.
If you happen to highlight my miseries and apathies, tell the policy makers, administrators, bureaucrats, MLAs, MPs to either bury me once for all or let me live as I have the right to.
