Before you drew borders and maps, I was here. I watched as civilisations came and went, and unnamed roads were labelled. I watched the homes being swept away, and built again. I didn’t complain, I simply stood. And I stand unshakable, a mountain.

I modestly call myself a keeper. I keep your water, your forests, and rivers alive. I keep your air cooler. I keep your soil from running away. I keep thousands of plants, birds and animals hidden within my folds.

Every morning, I send water downhill. You call it a river. Every winter, I store snow. You call it a glacier. Every monsoon, my forests slow the rain. You call it a watershed. I never send you a bill. I believe in selfless giving.

You build your homes in the plains. You drink my water. You irrigate your fields with it. You generate electricity from it. You write poems about me. You photograph me. You visit me when life becomes noisy. You say I give you peace. I smile for that is what I have always done!

Then one day,........

© Greater Kashmir