Chowk is 9 Today ``Chowk is the worlds largest online community of discussion around contemporary writings of Indian and Pakistani people.``

I take offense to this. Why not Bangladeshi people, or Sri Lankan, Nepali or Bhutanese people. Are they not part of sub-continent?

Jasmines in Colorado (part 2 of 3) #48 Romair
Twist in part 2 made central character totally unbelievable.

Your lead character were reciting urdu couplet together in part 1. Female character is obviously picking urdu poetry being recited by male character. In part 2 we suddenly find that female character can`t lip read urdu but is able to read English so well that for months you will not be able to notice.

I would have found female character more believable had that been a cross dresser or transvestite. Current scenario is just not believable.

Jasmines in Colorado (part 2 of 3) Romair
While first part of this story was really a pleasure to read, this part is a pain!! First part was like a very soft and delicate song of love, this part reads like a forced climax. You should have ended this story in part 1.

thx

Jasmines in Colorado (part 1 of 3)
``... to be continued``

what a let down at the end of such a beautiful story.

Romair, you could be among my favorite authors if you keep writing such stories.

My Summer of ’69 3 years ago it was possible for a 22 year old, with mediocre grads, and only a undergrad degree, to get a job that enables him to afford a car in very first year!!

Pakistani economy must have been doing real well at that time.

Jolly Bhai Muzammil sahib,
Very nicely woven story line, though a little heavy on words...

Jolly Bhais are not that rare. I have seen one few years ago.

Musharraf and Manmohan’s Monologues Balti# 80

As for Bhudhist population, there were not many Bhudhists living in Gilgit and Baltistan prior to the partition, the few Kashmiri Pandits and Bhudhist there in buseiness or employed in the Dogra government migrated to Leh in 1947-8.

I always wonder at this ``fact`` presented by Pakistanis. There were very few Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus in the lands that is now Pakistan. And people who were there, they all decided to migrate in 1947. Sometimes we even hear that these people migrated of their own free will. I have travelled extensively in Ladakh, and monasteries are abundant right upto border. It is highly surprising that buddhists knew in advance where LOC will come up!!

``Btw, today`s generation cannot be held responsible for things happened five decades ago.. ``
Yes, I heard white farmers of Rhodesia and South Africa saying same thing. White Americans also say same thing about American Indians and blacks. Why they should pay for what their ancestors did? Money and land gets inherited, blame does not!!

Musharraf and Manmohan’s Monologues balti saheb#63
You are bieng very selective with what you want to answer
I had two points
1. Your terming ``Indian part of Kashmir`` as India held Kashmir, and terming Pakistani part of Kashmir as ``Pakistani administered Kashmir``. Once you make such distinctions, your sermons loose all their values. Don`t you agree?

2. I made no suggestion about re-unifications of J&K state. My comment was that before you want a dialogue between India and Pakistan, you should have dialogue within Pakistan about reuniting Pakistani Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan. This diaglogue should address needs of not only Muslims but also of other faiths that lived in this region for centuries. On other board I made a request for information on Buddhist population in Gilgit and Baltistan and got no reply. Budhhism is still alive in areas administered by China and India. Is it just a concidence that Buddhism disappeared only from the area held by Pakistan? If such dialogue doesn`t happen within Pakistan than all such ter jerkers will be seen as just a ploy to get more land, and than kick non-believers out. What is your opinion on this?

Musharraf and Manmohan’s Monologues balti #54


``Unfortunately, terms like ‘occupied’, ‘held’, ‘administered’ etc have become editorial discretion due to long standing hawkish policies and environment in South Asia…``

Are you saying that editor of this site has used word ``administered`` for Pakistani Kashmir and ``held`` for Indian Kashmir?

If you wrote it than you should own it as author`s discretion... (and bias)

Balti saheb
Proof is in the pudding. Before you start asking for dialogue between India and Pakistan, you must make sure that Pakistani held Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan are re-united, and part of Kashmir gifted to China is also taken back. Otherwise all these tear jerkers would be seen as ploys to get more land from which push non-believers can be pushed out.

Musharraf and Manmohan’s Monologues balti saheb

Are you a case of green glasses? Are you talking about that commando speaker who could justify rape, and who can indulge in souting matches with his listeners.

Musharraf and Manmohan’s Monologues Balti saheb
What about ``Indian held Jammu & Kashmir, and Pakistan administered Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan``?

Is Indian held Jammu & Kashmir is official name of area administered by India?

You were pleasantly surprised to see huge bill board of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan in India. Are there any such billboards in Pakistan occupied Kashmir?

A Failing State in a State of Denial Manto the idiot #277
``I am a Hindu first and therefore a true Indian`` (Gandhi)

Stop making half-assed statements without context. Read following. Do seek help if you are slow with comprehension.



Meaning of Religion
Let me explain what I mean by religion. It is not the Hindu religion which I certainly prize above all other religions, but the religion which transcends Hinduism, which changes one`s very nature, which binds one indissolubly to the truth within and which ever purifies. It is the permanent element in human nature which counts no cost too great in order to find full expression and which leaves the soul utterly restless until it has found itself, known its Maker and appreciated the true correspondence between the Maker and itself. (YI, 12-5-1920, p. 2)

By religion, I do not mean formal religion, or customary religion, but that religion which underlies all religions, which brings us face to face with our Maker. (MKG, p. 7)

My Religion
My religion has no geographical limits. If I have a living faith in it, it will transcend my love for India herself. (YI, 11-8-1920, p. 4)

Mine is not a religion of the prison-house. It has room for the least among God`s creation. But it is proof against insolence, pride of race, religion or colour. (YI, 1-6-1921, p. 171)

There is undoubtedly a sense in which the statement is true when I say that I hold my religion dearer than my country and that, therefore, I am a Hindu first and nationalist after. I do not become on that score a less nationalist than the best of them. I simply thereby imply that the interests of my country are identical with whose of my religion.

Across the Line of Control This Pakistan-> India traffic is of no use to India. Why should be try to prove our secular credentials to people who have always believed that ``practice of Islamic faith is not allowed`` in this part. Will we need to invite all 250 million Pakistanis before we can prove that.

India needs to keep its people happy. My suggestions will be to have India->Pakistan traffic so that Indian muslims/sikhs/Christians/Hindus can go to Pakistan and see type of religious freedom being enjoyed in that part, and may be participate in weddings ceremonies in Pakistans where all faith participate freely. That can also experience diverse and plural character of Pakistani society.

Across the Line of Control Another tear-jerker ....

this sexagenarian says ``I always had this impression that people here are not allowed to offer namaaz. But during my stay here at the break of every wee hour when I hear the sound of ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ from the loudspeakers atop several mosques I go into deep thought as to why this animosity is stretching on”

I do hope that other side of LOC allows loadspeaks atop several gurudwaras and temples and hindu-muslim-sikhs happily take part together in wedding ceremonies.

Thanks

Righting the Wrongs in Ladakh-Baltistan I have travelled & trekked in Kargil, Ladakh and adjoining areas. Buddhist monasteries and culture is visible and thriving everywhere. It is strange that monasteries and buddhist culture just disappear from face of earth from other side of line of control. 70 years of communist rule in China couldn`t do what 60 years of Pakistni rule has done to occupied part of Kashmir.

While all this talk of porus borders and two way communication sounds very pleasant, question is, do we really need it and will it really be good for preserving the ethnic culture of region? Entire non-muslim population of these areas was wiped out within few months of 1947. It is strange that now residents of nothern areas want free access to Kargil, Leh and Ladakh!!

I have one suggestion if resident of Nothern areas are really feeling lonely and nostalgic about their lost culture. Open border in one direction. Let people of Kargil and Ladakh go to nothern areas. No reverse traffic should be permitted otherwise it will have an adverse impact on existing ethenic mix of Ladakh.

Righting the Wrongs in Ladakh-Baltistan Colonel
Perhaps Ijaz Gul or Mr M Ismail Khan will know some!!