Daily Diary (DD) - Day 349 of 2019

1659hrs:

I've just come back from an invigorating 3 km walk eastwards along the River Jhelum, to fetch some pristine spring water.

While eating a piece of guava followed by a walnut on my return, I began pitying many of my co-citizens who hardly walk let alone exercise, have a very high intake of sugar, use sub-standard cooking oil/ghee in their cooking, consume powdered spices and processed salt, bake flour with hardly any wheat in it, eat a lot of things wrapped in newspapers or plastic packaging, drink contaminated water and have x cups of tea made from packaged milk and the list goes on. They then consume sub-standard medicines to try and superficially repel the accumulated ills their bodies carry.

I almost feel like an ardent ritual namaazi (Muslim worshipper) who tends to look down on all those who refrain from regular prayer.

In any case, I do my utmost to avoid all the above - irrespective of wherever I may be - because I want to stay fit and healthy to do the work that I do, at least until I die.

  

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The next days, weeks and months will prove to be the most interesting in the history of this territory, otherwise described as Jammu Kashmir Aqsai Tibetha. Isn't it interesting that many documents get to Indian media before the sharing circle reaches us in AJK:

We will see much more of such anxiety in the coming days and weeks, from a #JandK perspective. #AJK #GB #SitDownPakistan https://t.co/InNFuZJ0Cp

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) December 15, 2019

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For over a decade now, I've felt linking Jammu with AJK and Ladakh with GB will untie the knot of slavery in Jammu & Kashmir. The people of Skardu (GB) have tried to remind the world of their plight and aspirations to re-unite with Kargil (Ladakh) on many occasions:

Open Kargil Border Movement- Continued Protests, people of Pari Kharmang marched in a protest rally after Friday prayers. The Kargil Border should be opened on the basis of human empathy.
How long will the political, economical and territorial siege of Gilgit-Baltistan continue? pic.twitter.com/voZie3ddnV

— Hasnain Ramal حسنین رمل (@nisarhasnain2) December 13, 2019

It is very heartening to see such human aspirations in such a climate.

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People's Assembly, Lok Assembly or Awaami Assembly? 
In a territory where the externally sponsored Legislative Assembly has capsized and where people haven't enjoyed freedom of assembly for 72 years. 


A detailed conversation in Urdu, thanks to Shams Rehman & #JKTV:



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