Daily Diary (DD) - Day 244 of 2024

2313hrs:

Some distances on this journey are shorter than others. Tangigala to Baitak via Qillan was hardly 5 kilometres. 

I returned to Qillan (in a vehicle) to retire for the day. The love & affection of the people is world class at times. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 243 of 2024

2306hrs:

In Tangigala. Good momentum. Even better results. 

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We also broke the 300,000 barrier for this weblog, at some stage today. 

Confirming that consistency does generate attention in quantity at some stage. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 242 of 2024

2307hrs:

Reached Trarkhel in heavy rain just after 1900hrs.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 241 of 2024

2050hrs:

Reached Devi Gali at sunset, despite the fact that it had rained all day. 

This was another almost total incline to 5,480 feet from Hajeera's 3,169 feet. 

Hospitality was also spontaneous as I had secretly hoped it would be. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 240 of 2024

2315hrs:

My 2nd of 2 days in lively Hajeera. On to Devi Gali tomorrow. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 239 of 2024

2304hrs:

In Narwal today, equidistant between Hajeera & Trarkhel. 

Meanwhile, during the day I'm spending time in Hajeera city. Another lull in our journey aka Kotli after 6 days. 

Today is Day 31 of our journey. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 238 of 2024

0810hrs:

Reverted back to waking at 0600hrs....

Resumed walking yesterday after a lull on Day 28 as I travelled back from Haveli to Hajeera. 

In Dawarandi today, which was a commercial centre pre-1947 too. A cattle market operates here on Sundays and I happen to be working here today. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 237 of 2024

0923hrs:

It's always safer to input a daily weblog entry in the morning rather than the evening. 

I'm already into Day 29 of an #EducationalWalk from #Sehnsa2Sharda . This journey could've essentially been conducted from south to north but the level of awareness in the people of Poonch division has prompted & urged me to travel from east to west of this division too, before I enter Muzaffarabad division at Kohalla. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 236 of 2024

1018hrs:

Reached Soli yesterday evening at c. 0800hrs....

This is the last of 4 main bazaars (commercial centres) in district Haveli. 

At around midday I will reverse my movement to Ser Kakuta Cross, from where I turned eastwards towards Madaarpur, Tithrinote, Chaatra, Abbaspur etc. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 235 of 2024

1318hrs:

2 days of daily weblogging were missed (Day 233 & 234 of 2024) due to the 'Red Zone' of almost absent internet connectivity in various parts of Poonch. 

There were avenues during the day where I could have borrowed internet connectivity from one of the various businesses using fixed connections. 

The quality of mobile internet provided by the Pakistani army's monopoly SCOM leaves a lot to be desired. 

I'm in Khursheedabad at the moment and just preparing to proceed to Soli via Kaala Mula. This will be my final destination in district Haveli before I backtrack to Ser Kakuta on vehicle, from where I will proceed to Dawarandi and then Hajeera on foot. 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 232 of 2024

1829hrs:

Mangral Mohalla Dharra Khaas is where I'm camping out today, in tehsil Mumtazabad district Haveli. 

Yesterday's walk was the longest - in a day - yet. Over 30 kilometres from Abbaspur town to Palangi, with over half the distance a constant incline. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 231 of 2024

0920hrs:

An early start today and also an early daily weblog entry. 

We are proceeding to another 'red zone of almost absent communication' in Haveli. It's going to be a long walk too.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 230 of 2024

2311hrs:

In Abbaspur today. Net facilities are now markedly better since we exited the 'red zone of almost zero communication'. 

We move on to the district of Haveli tomorrow and specifically Mumtazabad (or Palangi as historically known). 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 229 of 2024

2326hrs:

Each passing day is getting more interesting and so it should. Today we have reached the outskirts of Abbaspur at Chaatra. Most of the 10km or so journey from Tithrinote was uphill to the summit of Mittiyan, before we descended for c. 2 kms to Chaatra. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 228 of 2024

2229hrs:

The intensity of this red zone (of almost absent communication facilities) is most felt in Tithrinote - right on the LOC and barely 5 kilometres from Indian controlled Poonch city - from where I've had to return back to Madaarpur (c. 8 kilometres) on a motorbike to undertake some of my daily net responsibilities. 

The aspiration for restoring the 'Right to Rule' is most intense here too, perhaps. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 227 of 2024

2237hrs:

Another 14th August of utter shame for Pakistan in AJK. 

I have reached Madaarpur on Day 19 of an #EducationalWalk from #Sehnsa2Sharda . 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 226 of 2024

2116hrs:

The red zone of communication gets even worse in Dhar Bazaar. 

As with millions of other issues in AJK, it needs redressal. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 225 of 2024

2320hrs:

There appears to be a red zone (of providing a deliberately low level of internet connectivity) between Tattapani bridge on entry to Poonch division and the tehsil headquarters of Hajeera. 

Currently, I'm right in the middle of this red zone enforced by the Pakistani army, at Mandhol. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 224 of 2024

2308hrs:

After going slightly out of my way to visit Serra & Battal over the past couple of days I resumed my journey along the main route from Tahi to Saawa today. 

A journey that has already been very fulfilling in many ways thus far. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 223 of 2024

2315hrs:

Spending time very close to the LOC on Day 15. At Battal today while yesterday spent in Serra. So close to that part of my family living across the LOC in Mendhar, whom I haven't met or even spoken to since my last visit with my Naani in 2009.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 222 of 2024

2345hrs:

I entered Poonch division today. 

It almost felt as if immediately the level of public attention & support increased exponentially. 

I now have a full-time assistant assisting me on my journey for a start! 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 221 of 2024

2314hrs:

In Tattapani bazaar today. Compared to the previous 8 bazaars on this journey so far, I found that in this bazaar more people were cautious or even scared of sharing details for our online petition at:

https://www.change.org/p/global-civil-society-recognition-for-a-public-policy-framework-for-jammu-kashmir-allied

Prior to today, about 10% of the public that I met on any particular day had apprehensions, reservations or dodged the prospect of adding their name to this aforementioned global petition. In Tattapani - the last bazaar of Kotli district & Mirror division before entering Poonch, it was 40%.

I have been trying to analyse the reasons why. 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 220 of 2024

2251hrs:

I couldn't sleep a wink last night in Phagwari, due to the torrential rain which inevitably deprived us of electricity. Then us vs. mosquitoes all night long. We didn't stand a chance! 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 219 of 2024

2228hrs:

Resumed my journey on Day 11 after 4 days in Kotli city, reaching out to the public. 

Reached Phagwari today. 

On to Saawar tomorrow. 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 218 of 2024

1438hrs:

Today is effectively Day 10 of our educational walk from Sehnsa to Sharda. It took 6 days to get from my home village of Gurutta to Kotli city. Now, after 4 days here I am keen to move on towards Tattapani, which I envisage will take about 3 days to get to.

Again - like on Day 6 - I will walk in the evening after 5pm and try to get to Reyan Sharif by 7 or 8pm at the latest.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 217 of 2024

1409hrs:

Our 3rd rest day of sorts on this journey from Sehnsa to Sharda. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 216 of 2024

1350hrs:

Working away in Kotli city, to ensure that I reach a maximum of people here. After all, we are implementing the people's reference.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 215 of 2024

1908hrs:

Today is already Day 7 of our #EducationalWalk from Sehnsa to Sharda. I am camped in Kotli city for a couple of days, partly because its a large city with a lot of area to cover and partly because I'm waiting for reinforcements in the form of personnel for our onward journey north towards Tattapani.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 214 of 2024

2339hrs:

Arrived in Kotli city proper today.