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Journalism of Courage
One week is too short a time for a quake-devastated region to heal. But in the rubble, nothing captures the spirit of hope and survival better than two young people in love—reaching out to tell each other they have survived.
In this remote village on Kashmir’s last frontier in the Neelam valley, the quake destroyed homes, killed 24, snapped all links with the outside world. But resident Gulzar Ahmad, 18, is lucky.
As he clears the debris with his family members, in his pocket is a letter he has just received from Shabeena who lives 10 km away in Chamkote. Sixteen villagers died there and the road between the two villages is now just a shattered strip of rubble.
‘‘I had no idea she was alive,’’ says Gulzar who first met Shabeena in a Tangdhar school three years ago. ‘‘I didn’t want to check, I was frightened of bad news because my uncle was killed. Dozens of my relatives have been buried alive. Every time I would think of her, the world would collapse around me.’’
There was no way to reach her village. Either one of them would have to cross the debris of five villages, Chiterkote, Gundi Sayidan, Gundi Gujran, Drangli and Draggud.
But Gulzar didn’t have to wait long. He pulls out the letter from the pocket of his shirt and a huge grin lights his face. ‘‘She wrote to me. She is alive,’’ he says.
After pleading with him for half-an-hour, he agrees to share some of the letter. Hurriedly written in Urdu in blue ink, it says: Jab zalazalah hua to sirf tumhara hi nam meri zubian par tha (When the quake hit, I had just your name on my lips).
I am writing this letter with the hope that you are alive and safe. All the houses here are gone. There is no home left. But I am only thinking of you and am writing in a hurry so that I can send it through someone. When I heard Teetwal is destroyed, I couldn’t even breathe. I hope you are alive.’’
How did Shabeena send the letter? ‘‘She found one of my relatives, Ajaz, and pleaded with him to take the letter and see whether I am alive,’’ Gulzar says. ‘‘Ajaz had to walk miles. It was very difficult. But thank God, he reached me.’’
Gulzar says he too wrote back and shared his stories with her.
‘‘We are alive and in touch. I wrote to her about the destruction all around. I feel good now,’’ he says. ‘‘I will try to meet her soon.’’ His sister calls him back to help clear the rubble. He walks towards the debris with a smile.
