Article on "Ideamatters"

http://ideamatters.blogspot.com/2006/10/floating-lamp-of-shadow-valley.html

Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Floating Lamp of the Shadow Valley


A beautiful story capturing the white snows, the plush green lotus leaves that dot the Dal Lake, the "Floating Lamp Of The Shadow Valley" takes a special look at Kashmir through the eyes of the protagonist Arif who is the youngest boatman on the Dal Lake. Each day he toils to earn a living in strife-torn Kashmir.

At 10, he is the sole bread-winner for his family of five. Abandoned by their father, a runaway militant, now an unemployed drug addict, Arif and his family live under perennial shadow of tyranny.

It features a day in winter when the boy digs out his boat from the snow.

This little boy is the man of the house. Wading through the frozen waters, he finds his first customer. A frozen lake means no food to eat for their hand-to-mouth existence. Inching his way in the frozen surface of the lake, he tries to make ends meet.

Winter makes way for sunshine and the summer. Tired but hopeful of building a house, educating his siblings, he wades through the moss ridden Dal Lake with hope of a better life and a new dawn for his family. The lamp that lights his little boat will hopefully drive out the dark shadows of despair and helplessness that drives this young child to seek a just earning.

Q. Your father was a terrorist? Was he right or wrong?
Arif Answers: Wrong

"I would like to see Arif achieve great stature in life" says his mother.

Through Arif this documentary examines the state of Kashmir and the awakening of hope.

It captures a day in the life of Arif after 8th Oct 2005 when 70,000 people died in the earthquake. Arif’s house was not spared either – it now stands precariously. Without money for wood, they sought their neighbors help. Arif and his brother crossed the guns to get a water proof sheet to cover their house. There was a festive mood in the street. The new crescent moon indicated the advent of Id and Arif and his brothers go to Jama Masjid to offer their prayers. The brothers run back home announcing their arrival by whistling the lute and their festive best is to cover their roof with the water proof sheet.

The broken houses tell the story of the terrorist attacks on the Pandits, and the deaths of several other Hindus in terrorist incidents.

Seasons are the only things that move in smoothly. Autumn moves in. Arif and his brothers collect the autumn leaves and sets fire to them so that it sustains his family through the dark and cold winters.

Arif in the spring of his life is being the summer and autumn of his family. Arif’s boat is the lifeline of his family but the boat is having seepage and Arif pulls it up to the banks and after performing repairs. Arif’s lifeline is restored. The Authorities have marked his house for demolition. The story details perhaps his last day in that house.

Q: How come it is unfair?
Answers Arif with a shake of his head

Q. What will you do if they demolish the house?
Arif Answers: Nothing … what can we do?

Arif is fighting fate ……so is Kashmir ! The Valley of the Gods lies down in the valley of the dead … stained by the blood of militancy … Kashmir is in the grip of terrorism oscillating between 2 warring nations – India and Pakistan. Both the countries have fought 4 wars, the 5th could be devastating.

The life of the people remains unchanged except for the toil, hardships, and hope…

A wasted land … a defeated people .. as the terrorists gun down life … life slowly ebbs out of the valley …

Arif is the hope of Kashmir who has not picked up a gun but toils in spite of all adversities to create a life in the dying valley !

What are your 3 wishes if God asks you?
Ariif Answers: A big house, 10 lakhs and a Maruti Car

Much like any young child from any other part of India, but for a Kashmiri young child who is the standing hope, this dream seems an impossible one !

The documentary features amazing music and photography capturing the essence of Kashmir.