Waiting in Exile! A poem by Uphaar Kotru

A poem by Uphaar Kotru reflecting the state of mind of a Kashmiri Hindu who was forced to leave his homeland of thousands of years.

Kashmiri Lyrics:
 
Lockchar zan chum basan ekh sopun,
Pozui aosa su ghar, su aangun,
Yaad chum pyavan su shalimar baag,
mangun guris su zamdod zaag!

Jawani mokley bujar t aav,
Praraan praraan myon budbab draav,
Mol moz saun thok, chu bihith lachaar,
Zuri thavith kuta chus dil bekrar!

Sanen shuran hund kya chu kasoor,
Zyanne brohui gayekh maez yeich door,
Tamah chum havakh panun asli ghar,
Sath peeryan hund yit chu soor!

Dapaan wakhtas seeth chu gham mashan,
Yuta nyoon, temi zyade divaan,
Fikri chum ne tel taraan,
Doh ka doh kyaje yi dag badaan!

Sat let aav ye toofaan,
Saas badi gay lahu luhan,
Kuta roov t kuta trov,
Win chun aes firkri taraan!

Panch saas wari prani raz hind Chi aes patim pan daav,
Wan kya wathhav, kuni krakh dimhav, Yin bayi raviye kahan gaav,
Khur michravith kuni razz ban’nuk,
Wan kya wakht aav! Wan kya wakht aav!

English Translation:

My childhood in Kashmir seems like a dream,
That home, that courtyard, was that even real?
I recollect those days, playing in Shalimar Garden,
And requesting the neighborhood grocer, a spoon of yogurt on my palm!

Youth is over and we are aging,
Waiting in exile, my grandfather died,
Our parents are tired, given up hope,
Hiding their sadness of missing their home!

What’s the fault of our kids to have been born in exile,
Before their birth, their motherland was snatched from them,
I hope to show them their real home someday,
Where the ashes of their ancestors lay!

It is said that time is a great healer,
God eventually gives you more than what you lose,
In that case I wonder,
How come this pain continues to grow as time passes!

This is the seventh exodus on Kashmiri Hindus,
Thousands from our community got killed,
Even now we have no clue, how much we lost and how much we let go!

Our generation is the last link to the 5000 years old Hindu civilization in Kashmir,
It’s time to come together and strengthen our fight for justice!