Mushtaq Hurra
Different nations and societies across the globe are worried about the growing menaces of debauchery, immodesty, sexual anarchy, violent behaviour and fornication in their youth. Such vices have ruined the nations and the societies. Parents and elders are fed up with such practices, and want a complete overhaul in their social set-ups. Even many muslim societies are no exception to it. The perils and pitfalls of different social evils have created a havoc in societies. Though there are certain causes behind these growing vices in young people, but liquor is the chief one because it is considered to be the mother of all vices and evils. Every religion of the world including Islam forbids every form of liquor. The big religions of the world like, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity prohibit the usage and consumption of liquor and other addictive drugs. All the prophets, reshis and munis have admonished people to keep away from liquor and wine. Liquor is not just intoxicated but deadly and injurious to physical health as well. Many ailments particularly some liver related diseases are believed to be caused by the consumption of liquor. And it destroys the social health of a society very badly. Many social evils including the crime against women are related to the consumption of liquor in a society. Liquor free societies reportedly witness lesser number of rapes and other atrocities against women. When the whole world is about to celebrate the drug de-addiction day on the 26th of this month, the UT administration of Jammu and Kashmir has come up with a bizarre proposal to open dozens of new liquor shops in Kashmir valley. Kashmir is popularly known as the abode to saints, sufis, hermits and God-fearing people. We have a refulgent past and a great legacy. A shrine, a mausoleum, a temple is a common sight in Kashmir. Our rich traditions are witness to our glorious past. This land has produced pious and virtuous souls. It is the land where liquor like things are not only alien to us but the terms like ” liquor ” are considered to be highly obnoxious and baleful. A man with very violent behaviour is often ridiculed as drunkard ( sharaeb ) in our local jargon. Our Kashmiri pandit brethren would consider it equally illegal, illegitimate and dirty. Those who consider meat and mutton forbidden, how can they allow the open sale of liquor on their land. This land has the patronage of Shaikhul Aalam ( AR ) and Lal Mouj. Sects like Sufism and shaivism profess the same teachings and principles. But, in a bizarre move, Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified some sixty seven places across the length and breadth of Kashmir valley to open the liquor shops. It has sent shock waves among kashmiris. Parents, teachers, intellectuals and elders of the valley have shown different concerns and apprehensions against the alleged opening of liquor shops in the valley. There is resentment and anger against the proposed move. Netizens have registered their strong protest on different social media platforms against the proposed move of LG administration. People attribute it to a conspiracy to malign the social integrity and centuries old values and ethos of Kashmir. It will pave way for destruction of Kashmiriyat which is synonymous to high class morality.
The proposed move will do no good to Kashmiris except harming its social and moral character. Authorities should at once revoke the order for the betterment of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. Hope the LG administration will take cognizance of the gravity of the issue, and will cancel the proposed move of opening new liquor shops in the valley. It is not any threat to the incumbent LG administration rather a hand-folded request on behalf of entire Kashmir.
Kashmiri youth have already gone ashtray. A good number of young men including women have fallen prey to the menace of liquor and drug abuse. Opening of new shops in the valley will prove catastrophic and calamitous for us. It will give rise to new social evils in our society. Young men and women are vulnerable to its addiction. Parents have become scary and apprehensive about the future of their children if the proposed move is concretized. Disobedience of parents and elders will be on rise if liquor is made easily accessible to all. Young boys and girls are highly susceptible to become addictive to the menace. It will be quite Herculean and difficult for teachers of the valley to control such students in schools, colleges and universities. Delinquent episodes will witness a surge. It will change our social order. Values and morals will vanish and disappear. Robberies and dacoities will increase. Religious obligations and social bindings will erase.Open sale of liquor will certainly increase the rate of crime against women in the valley. Women are already facing turbulent times but the move of new wine shops will be the last nail in the coffin. So, it is equal to invite a big trouble. But, who cares ! If the people at the helm of affairs can’t do any good to us, but, they don’t have any right to play with our emotions and future. On the one hand, people brag big about the protection of women, but, on the other hand , create an atmosphere where the chastity of women is put to stake. Our youth is our greatest asset. They can liberate us from the chains of superstitions, backwardness and mental slavery. When they will become drunkards, how come is it possible for them to lead us from the front. We will plunge deep into the ditch of ignorance and illiteracy if our youth are introduced to the menace of liquor at their door steps. If we have managed to safeguard and protect our social and moral fabric to some extent , then, why is administrative machinery hellbent to tarnish and tear this fabric completely. For God’s sake, have mercy on us ! We can’t afford to see our children filling the shoes of Europeans and Americans. We are the disciples of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani ( AR ) who didn’t hesitate to tell the truth before a dacoit because his mother had advised him to be truthful. Liquor shops parallel to the shrine of Makhdoom Sahab ( AR ) and the temple of Shankar Acharya , is a an attempt to destroy our precious heritage. It is like an ugly blot on our collective conscience. Kashmiris are God-fearing people. The move is certainly going to hurt our religious sentiments. Kashmiri pandits should register their objections and protests against the government proposal because it is against the teachings of lord Shiva and the basic tenets of Hinduism. Even Sikhs of the valley should come forward for the cancellation of the proposed administrative move. The proposed move will do no good to Kashmiris except harming its social and moral character. Authorities should at once revoke the order for the betterment of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. Hope the LG administration will take cognizance of the gravity of the issue, and will cancel the proposed move of opening new liquor shops in the valley. It is not any threat to the incumbent LG administration rather a hand-folded request on behalf of entire Kashmir.
(The author is a teacher by profession. Views are his own, [email protected])