Desolation in Kashmir

The poem, “Farewell” by Agha Shahid Ali depicts the various destructions and losses experienced by Kashmir due to its history. It is a reminder of the turmoil, a call for people to imagine the better life that could have existed if it weren’t for the war. Agha Shahid Ali specifically notes the religious nature of the struggle in the sentence:

                “In the lake the arms of temples and mosques are locked in each other’s reflections.”

In constructs such as this one where multiple references are made not only to the cause but also the resulting destructive effect on the natural beauty. Kashmir is renowned for its forests, vast gardens, lakes and other forms of natural life. The repetitive use of terms such as “desolation” and “desert” bring descriptive imagery for the reader. Desolation is defined as a state of complete emptiness or destruction. It’s the feeling of loneliness one experiences where great destructive forces destroy all other forms of life. This poem is reflective of the “A country without a post office” where there is an experience of mass loss in communication with other beings. This is generic exile. A state brought on by the very defenders of the land according to Agha Shahid Ali. He makes the reference in Farewell:

                “They make a desolation and call it peace. Who is the guardian tonight of the Gates of Paradise”

He is referring to the very paradise which has now been destroyed and goes on to make references to a desert.  A desert, as can also be referred to the story “Men in the Sun” is known as a place of exile. War has turned Kashmir to a place of desolation, a desert. A place where Army Convoys are like desert caravans. “Farewell” is touching poetry, which reminds the readers of the destruction and the exilic state brought onto the populace of Kashmir due to War.