Eyes Wide Open , a book written by Ranjna Raina describes the Story Tricolour At Lal Chowk The Tiranga at Lal Chowk has caught the imagination of not only Kashmiris, but of every Bharatiya and the entire World lately.
Fluttering Tri colour at Lal Chowk swells one’s pride and more so for anyone who has seen in the past how the same place was used for it’s denigration just to humiliate the nationalists and to strengthen the forces inimical to the idea of India.
The change in Kashmir valley is palpable all due to neutralization of Artcile 370. The masses have shown considerable stake in peace and all this is very well documented in this book by the author. The author has given first hand account of of the developments happening around Srinagar from last two years especially due to Abrogation of Article 370.
The author gives a vicid detail of year 2021 wherein the UT Govt, armed forces, NGOs and especially the people of Kashmir tried to win bloodless peace by social outreach and back to basic startegy and the Social Media responded with many hashtags like #KashmirForTiranga and #PakistansLiesDeceitAndDeception, followed by few campaigns in 2022 like #BeChusMaqboolSherwani and #MadeInKashmirTricolour. Presently If any tourist or a person dislocated from Kashmir walks the streets of Srinagar and drove through Kashmir, he/ she is surprised with the new vibes. Use of greetngs of Adaab, namaskar and Jai Hind by Kashmiris convinced me that Kashmir was undergoing a change for the better. A few names that have been in the Social Media that have made it possible is Hon'ble Sh Manoj Sinha. Sh Junaid Mattoo, Sh Athar Amin and a few names of forces personal like Dr Suneem Khan, Gen DP Pandey, Major General and Mrs Vishwasrao , the many brain behind the efforts to bring peace as #NayaKashmir. The author described as a divine intervention to see all nationalists comiing together to compliment nation building efforts as a nation we owe the integrity and sovereignty of this great nation to all those Administrators town planners, peace builders and defense personnels who gave their sweat and blood for this great nation. The book follows a famous quote of Bob Casey, “Nation-building is not a spectator sport. It takes every one of us to get involved, to get engaged and to get the work done.”
Those who have seen closely #NayaKashmir unfold since 2021, Eyes Wide Open book is a BTS story to be told so that India does not lose the momentum of this change for peace. The audience present at the Abhinav theatre in general and Maj TKN Chari, a war veteran, Chief Guest of the event extended kudos to Ranjna for this book and remarked that the book is going to be of immense value to Kashmiris across the world, to historians, to students and scholars of Kashmir, and to our policy makers. All the people present in the hall also witnessed a multi cultural entertainment programme organised by the Vomedh group for which a special mention thanking Mr Rohit Bhat was made by the Chief Guest. The Chief guest also thanked Mr. Ramakrishna & Mrs. Subbalaxmi for their Invention of Contraption to convert ordinary Wheel Chair to Motorised Wheel Chair thus celebrating Innovation and Compassion in Mobility Solutions, Elevating Lives through Emotional and Social Support. On these lines, A Medical Camp was organised by Ms Anita Chandpuri, Mr Pradeep and Mr Sanjay Koul with the help of M/S Arsalan which makes innovative motorised contraptions for Wheel Chairs and BMVSS who are world famous philanthropists committed to extend free services to disabled. The Medical camp was attended by 108 differentiatially abled persons and two motorised Wheel Chairs were given to two deserving persons free of cost including Mr Gurdeep Singh who is a famous para Olympic athelete and a war veteran Hav Bashir who lost a limb during insurgency operation. The paper about the book was read by Prof ( Dr.) Manoj Nazir and conclusion was read by Javid Baig ,who said kashmir is changing and soon we will see kashmiri Pandiths will be back in kashmir.
The programme was organised by VOMEDH ,at Abhinav theatre jammu amid international Pharen Day and the people were thrilled by kashmiri Rouf to a Pheran show to Skit which showed Lal chowk and Tiranga by excellent VOMEDH ARTISTS.
Kashmiri Poet , Mohd Iqbal Bhat narrated the poem that kashmir is incomplete without kashmiri pandit. Concluding remarks were given by Maj TKN Chary(Retd).
