But when we do protest, first thing…we should at least know what we are actually protesting for!
More often that not our protests are incited by a demagogue who goads people into whatever direction he wishes to fulfill goals only he knows.

“If anyone sees a wrong let him change it with his hands,
If he cannot then let him change it with his voice,
If he cannot let him hate it ( the wrong ) in his heart,
And beyond that there is no faith.”

Muhammad ( PBUH )

Raising a voice is important, but that does not mean that we have to close down businesses, shops, schools and waste our time sitting idle at home and watching cricket matches instead. We can protest in different ways, and be productive at the same time. How have the numerous hartals helped us all these years? We are at loss ourselves, not to talk about helping out the issue the protest is for.

And the fact remains that even the Indian Muslims have no idea regarding the plight of the people of Kashmir and thinking that the real plight would be known to the rest of the Muslims of the world seems like a distant dream.

It is interesting that the commitment to protest has not faded away, the commitment to close down everything and call a strike has not faded away, but the commitment to the real basics of Islam, for which we are protesting in reality has really faded away over all these years. What is the use of such protests when we are not even adhering to the basic principles of the religion? Doesn’t it sometime appear to be only for show? Don’t we all know how hollow we are in terms of applying Islam to our day to day lives?

I guess that is a totally different topic now. Just some chain of thoughts that came to my mind after reading your comment.

Only the other day I was wondering about Yembarzal. Good to see the Work in Progress sign. In fact, seeing this sign my mind goes back to those golden (pre-1987) days when PWD used to put up signs on road. Men At Work. I guess those were the first lessons in English, for me from my dad. Oh! I miss my Kashmir.

I was really moved by your lines – we protest for any untoward incident where our fellow Muslims are affected and yet no one seems to have any feelings for our sufferings. A real shame.

Juz A Kashmiri