UNITED IN GRIEF, DIVIDED BY BORDERS Dr. Sister Augusta Mylackel Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
At the invitation of Fr. Alex Vadakumthala - CBCI Secretary for Health Commission, S. Livia (UMI) and I went to Kashmir for relief work. S. Livia is a social worker with the Catholic Seva Samaj Society - Jhansi. We landed at Srinagar airport around 1.30 p.m. on October 15,2005. From there another hour and half drive brought us to Baramulla, 60 kms from Srinagar. We were put up at the Catholic Centre - the only Catholic presence here in the entire western part of Kashmir with 1.2 million people. Tere is a parish Church, a Diocesan English Medium School (St. Joseph's School), and an 80 bedded hospital (St. Joseph's Hospital) run by the FMM Sisters. For the past two years the hospital is almost non-functional due to lack of resident doctors. Baramulla is very close to the Pakistan border and the LOC (Line of Control). The Catholic Social Service Society - Jammu-Kashmir (CSSS), CRS, Caritas - India co-ordinated Relief work from here. 16th- Sunday it rained non-stop all day; the mercury dipped so low that we had to purchase additional woollies. We were also apprehensive as to what would happen if the weather continued in this manner. For one thing there is no way of getting to the people living on the mountain tops, for another landslides occur any time all along the route. Against all odds, Monday morning dawned bright and clear. God's ways are really mysterious! We got ready not knowing exactly what was expected of us. We organised ourselves into four groups of five/six in each group, gathered our medical kit, drinking water and a little food. After a drive of about 2 hours on the Srinagar-Mussafarabad road (the bus route recently opened between Srinagar and Pakistan) we arrived at the base of one of the mountain ranges. >From here we braced ourselves for the onward journey with our baggage on our backs - a five hours climb (sometimes on all fours) and uphill walk (with staff in hand) trekking along on a one-foot wide footpath with a deep gorge on the side. Every one who met us at the base - the army, the people of the place, and the villagers themselves who had come down from the mountains to get relief material discouraged us from going ahead.. But something within us prompted us to go on. Half way we engaged an elderly man to help us with our luggage and to show us the way. He proved to be St. Joseph in person come to our rescue. The adventurous journey brought us to the top by five in the evening. The army has a camp here and we saw a few patients at the center the same day. We stayed at the camp overnight. A tent was prepared by the Jawans (soldiers) after we reached the place. Their hospitality was remarkable. They provided us with whatever was at their disposal including food, blankets and all the rest. In spite of the number of blankets, the piercing cold kept us awake all night. While in the tent we experienced two tremors. Next morning we saw patients till 12 noon and also took the survey of the village. Finally we ran short of medicines and had to close shop. According to the Army doctor there, this was the first time the women had come out of their homes for medicines because of the presence of a lady doctor. A total of 125 patients were examined and treated that day. The downward climb took less time, but one slip could land us in the freezing waters of the River Jhelum. When we reached the base we were tired and hungry, but also happy, satisfied and encouraged. It was a unique and one time experience for all of us. We were there for seven days and visited other villages on the following days. There are about 65 villages in all out of which 30 are badly hit. There was 100% damage to all the houses in the mountain side. Reaching these villages is an almost impossible task as no conveyance can get there. Houses are scattered and far apart. Some of the villages are perched as high as 6000 - 9000 feet above sea level. Landslides can take place at any moment all along the route. I wondered how people live and survive in these mountain peaks especially during winter. Well again I say "God's ways are mysterious". On the last day before leaving we also had a chance of visiting Gulmarg - a beautiful tourist spot up on the hills with snow capped mountains al round, a bit of Srinagar including the Dal lake. Kashmir is a region on which God has lavished all the beauties of nature. It is rightly called a "Paradise on earth". Deep valleys rise to form the first chain of the rugged Himalayas. Rivers and Lakes reflect the lacy green of poplar trees, the somber majesty of the cypresses, the eternal snows continuously whitening the mountain peaks. Apple trees were in full blossom. The loaded trees are a delight to the eyes and the juicy fruit a feast to the palate. Houseboats, unique and picturesque crowded the rivers. Wooden houses covered with pretty creepers lined the important Jhelum river flowing all the way from Kashmir into Pakistan. Flowers of all varieties and colours dazzle the eye. In winter Kashmir lies beneath a carpet of deep white snow. For the past few years this paradise was turned into a purgatory with militants and terrorists playing havoc in the valley. With the recent quake the place is devastated and people are put to untold misery. The official death toll on the Indian side of Kashmir is 1 500 and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 40 000. Obviously the actual number would be much higher. Through all these happenings we can hear the voice of God - to put aside hatred and religious fanaticism and to work together so that this paradise can be regained with a new caption -"United in grief - reaching across borders" This is my fourth relief mission trip:1)As a Junior Professed from Bilaspur community during the Indo-Pak war in Chakkarabatta Camp. 2) During the severe Latur earthquake in Maharashtra.3) During the Hindu-Muslim Riots in Gujarat. 4) The recent Kashmir quake. I thank God and my Superiors for allowing me this freedom and opportunity to serve GodÂ’s people in these times of stress and suffering.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------