Malik Nazir
The graveyard space constraint in the main town of Bandipora has indeed been a long-standing and unresolved matter, characterized by repeated discussions but insufficient action.
I vividly remember how our elders, under the guidance of the head Idara Auqaf Committee Bandipora, took initiatives to address the matter, but the momentum always faded. Strikingly, the issue resurfaces only in mourning gatherings. Once a burial concludes, the discussion dies down until another tragedy forces it back into conversation.
The reality is undeniable, Bandipora’s graveyard has long exceeded its capacity. Despite this, burials continue without a sustainable plan. Adding to the concern is the historical division of the graveyard on the basis of caste, with certain marlas earmarked for different groups. In this age of education and enlightenment, such segregation defies logic and undermines the very sanctity of the resting place. Death is the great equalizer, yet the living continues to impose divisions even upon the graves of the departed.
Recently, while attending a condolence gathering, I witnessed a scene that left me deeply unsettled. Two individuals entered into an argument with one strongly supporting the need for a new graveyard and even suggesting that every dynasty should take responsibility for arranging its own burial space, while another opposed the idea, claiming that his own dynasty “still has some space left.” The exchange shocked me. It revealed not only how divided our approach remains but also how casually we treat an issue that demands unity and urgency.
It is worth mentioning here that some land had already been identified a few years ago on Shahab-ud-Din Hill (locally known as Shabsabun Baal) through the efforts of the Auqaf Committee and some senior conscious locals of the area. However, the land remains inaccessible for want of a proper road. At the very least, this identified land should be made accessible immediately, so that it can serve as a feasible extension of the existing graveyard until a more permanent solution is found.
The solution, therefore, lies in coordinated action. The Auqaf Committee must take a central role in not only pursuing new land but also ensuring that already identified land is made usable. At the same time, the traders’ federation, civil society groups, social activists and all local population of the area must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Auqaf Committee to settle this issue permanently.
Most importantly, the discourse must begin at the grassroots level and every mosque in Bandipora should initiate discussions in its ward or mohalla. Imams and mosque committees should educate people about the urgency of the matter, encouraging them to rise above divisions and support a permanent solution.
Each Imam and mosque committee should shoulder the responsibility of sensitizing their mohalla or ward about the urgency of the matter. If the message is carried from the pulpit and backed by action, the community will find the resolve to work together.
At this stage, silence or passivity is no longer an option. What is required is a collective will to resolve this issue. We must come together to identify and allocate land for a new graveyard through dialogue and shared purpose. Without this communal initiative, the problem will worsen, and future generations will be left to question our negligence and blame us for our silence.
Time is running out. The people of Bandipora must rise above divisions, caste, and complacency to find a permanent solution.
The graveyard issue is more than just a matter of space. It is about respect for the dead, responsibility to the living, and the legacy we leave behind. The inhabitants of the main town must act now collectively, decisively, and without further delay. If not now, then perhaps never.
Comments are closed.