Hillary Clinton during her recent visit to India was presented many gifts including a Kashmiri Pheran by Wangnoo family having some handicraft show rooms in New Delhi. They claim to be her family friends. The Wangnoo family is supposed to have developed this friendship during her earlier visit in mid nineties. Even President Bill Clinton is reported to have visited their showroom in Hotel Mauraya Sheraton during his visit to India. Hillary Clinton has expressed a desire to visit the vale of Kashmir sometime in future as claimed by Manzoor Wangnoo. Apart from the beauty of its unique land, Kashmir is famous throughout the world for numerous hand made products including carpets, shawls, embroidered cloth, papier mache, wood carvings, and so on. The export of handicraft products comes third in importance in the state economy after agriculture and horticulture. Not only are the artisans of Kashmir highly skilled creating these exquisite products but even the salesmen selling these are a class apart. There are dozens of stories about their capability in selling their wares to even the most reluctant buyers. One of the leading carpet manufacturers in Kashmir had a very handsome salesman who held a record that no one whom he entertained would leave the show room without buying a carpet. I remember once accompanying a VIP along with the State Chief Minister to the show room. This particular salesman was so persuasive and convincing about the quality, history, and utility of certain carpets that even the Chief Minister bought one!

During the presentation of the Pheran, Manzoor Wangnoo is reported to have requested Hillary Clinton to extend American help in saving the fast deteriorating water bodies of Kashmir. He has been very active in trying to save Nageen Lake from further deterioration through the non-governmental organisation NALCO. There are a large number of Kashmiris both resident and non-resident who have been trying to motivate not only Americans but even the European Union for intervening in Kashmir for resolving this oldest dispute in the world. Off and on meetings are held in USA and many parts of Europe about the political future of Kashmir.

However, nothing substantial seems to come out of these meetings and discourses. It is probably for the first time that a Kashmiri has approached the American Secretary of State for a non-political issue. Unfortunately, the people have not yet realised that the issue of environment especially the alarming state of the water bodies of Kashmir is as grave as the basic political problem. The uncertainty of last couple of decades has abnormally speeded up the deterioration of the water bodies. At this rate we may soon have the Kashmir’s famous lakes completely disappear. There are no two opinions that the seriousness of the environmental problems especially the state of the water bodies is so grave that both State and the Central Authorities do not possess the expertise and the resources to handle the problem. There is immediate need of an international effort to save the environment not only from further destruction but to try to restore the lakes at least to a portion of the previous glory. Given the resources by way of expertise and equipment of really gigantic proportions seen in some international companies working on mega projects, it should not be difficult to save and even restore the lakes in a couple of years. But the million dollar question is who will call in the international companies? Neither the State nor the Central Government is interested in handing over the restoration of the lake to an international consortium. This had been suggested a number of times and even such proposals had been presented to the State Cabinet. Even the Overseas Development Agency of U.K., the Austrian Government, and the World Bank had offered aid but all the offers got scuttled for some unknown reasons. All the normal approaches through various government channels in soliciting international intervention in saving Dal Lake and other water bodies have so far miserably failed. The approach through “Pheran Diplomacy” may be more novel and practical. Keeping in view the reputation of Kashmiri salesmen in selling Kashmir’s handicrafts, it should not be a difficult job to solicit support for the noble cause of protecting Kashmir’s environment! The cause has to be sold to many other buyers as a noble venture.

The initiative taken by Manzoor Wangnoo though an individual effort could snowball into a general public demand especially by various prestigious groups espousing Kashmir’s cause. Almost after every few months Kashmir American Council is holding meetings for deliberating ways and means of moving forward in regard to the possible solutions to Kashmir problem. It seems these gatherings have been discussing every aspect of Kashmir except its fast deteriorating physical environment. It is time for all the right thinking Kashmiris within Kashmir and outside to muster every resource to save the dying Dal Lake and other water bodies including the historical Jhelum River. No doubt many agencies of the State Government and a host of non governmental organisations are engaged in saving Dal Lake, yet their efforts are so miniscule compared to gigantic proportion of the problem that the battle seems to have been already lost. One would like Kashmiris every where to wake up and make concerted efforts not only to highlight the serious problems faced by the environment in Kashmir but motivate all relevant international agencies to intervene immediately both through various governments and non-governmental organisation. Manzoor Wangnoo has taken a bold step by soliciting assistance from a foreign government for what the Government of India may as usual call an “Internal Matter”. However, merely taking the first step will not solve the problem. The effort needs persistence and one has to go all the way. Let us hope Hillary Clinton remembers Manzoor Wangnoo’s pleas and persuades concerned agencies to take some immediate action!

While trying to get external expertise and assistance we have also to remember that these water bodies have not been brought to such a pass by any foreigners. We have ourselves out of blind greed destroyed these. Our first priority should be to educate all the Kashmiris within the valley especially those living around and within these water bodies to realise the consequences of their total destruction. If these lakes disappear, Srinagar loses its charm for living and ultimately whole Kashmir suffers. It is not only the tourists who would be the losers but the entire society will face an environmental disaster. Kashmiris in general have to be woken up and motivated to take practical steps to save the lakes. If people can come out in million strong processions for the land transfer for Amarnath which was not going anywhere, why can’t they do the same for saving the lakes? If only someone could emotionally charge the residents of Srinagar for saving the lakes, we may not even need external assistance! Again the million dollar question is who can motivate and persuade local people to come out and save the lakes? Can’t our leaders from all streams at least join together for this common goal which is in the interests of all of us?