By Shuja Ashraf
We come from the land of rich heritage and culture,
The land of lakes, mountains and the endless flower,
In the land where red is the colour;
A space was left behind by the history of time, they invaded the land – it was the darkest hour,
Now the sky is covered by the army of the deadly vulture,
In the land where red is the colour;
They carry guns and are paid to spread the terror,
They kill one, they kill two, they kill us after every hour,
In the land where red is the colour;
Stones versus bullets – can you even call it a war?
A young life has been buried down – somewhere now very far,
In the land where red is the colour;
The land of Pashmina, the land of Chinar,
They are burning the lives – like fumes of a cigar,
In the land where red is the colour;
Yesterday it was Nayeem – tomorrow it may be your family’s star,
The place where blood spills more often than the water,
In the land where red is the colour;
For we live in the land where red is the colour,
For we live in the land where red is the colour,
In the land where red is the colour;
The land where red is the colour!
(Shuja Ashraf studies at The Business School, University of Kashmir).
