The Voyager is a weekly newsletter where I, Karn Nahata, share with you the discoveries I made on my voyage through the Internet. Sit back, grab something to eat, and enjoy the ride :)
Children of War
Every war is a war against children.
-Eglantyne Jebb
I remember reading this quote a long time back. I never truly understood the essence of it. And maybe I never will. Most of us will not. But stories can be a great transmitter of empathy. And I think the least we can do is be empathetic.
Syria has been in the throes of war for a decade. In that decade of death and destruction, six million children have been born in Syria or as refugees in neighboring countries. In this moving video by Unicef, some of these children share their memories of a war-torn childhood.
This is a generation of children who did not have a choice in the cruel hand they were dealt. War was not their choice. Being displaced was not their choice. We can only hope that they get to a life where they have a handle on their future.
Us and Them
Over the last month, the news media was filled with articles on the Israel-Palestine conflict after Israel bombed the Gaza strip. Opinions galore.
I have been trying to go back and read the history of the region. Study all sides of the argument. Talk to my friends who have studied it and are much more qualified than me when it comes to filtering out the biases.
In my quest, I came across this slightly terrifying video. In it, a man goes around Israel asking the common citizens a simple yes or no question:
Do you see Non-Jews as equal to you?
As you would guess, the answers were not that simple.
While most of the content and media about the conflict focuses on the larger political developments and perspectives of local leaders and the international community, this video gives a unique perspective into how the “regular folk” look at the situation. It also reminded me of a quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm,
All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.
What does Kashmir want?
I love mountains. They have the special power to make you realize your insignificance. When wanting to escape, I look towards mountains. I have a big bucket list of mountain valleys and hill stations I want to visit. And, the Kashmir Valley tops that list.
Due to the turbulent situation, I have inevitably had to avoid traveling there. Always disappointed by the never-ending state of turmoil, I have often resorted to ill-researched, quick, and over-simplified opinions on the matter as a channel for my anger. But in my limited experience of listening to and reading about stories of war and the victims of war over the years, I have come to acknowledge the privileged and unqualified stature I hold. I have realized that opinions like these are not just a nuisance. They can be lethal.
This video is of a man who travels to Kashmir in 2018. It is about his experience, talking to the local people there. The problems they are facing. It also brilliantly captures the beautiful landscape of Kashmir. The part that hit me the most is at 10:19 when he asks a couple of local school girls what they want for Kashmir.
This edition is inspired by a news article I read, from the comfort of my peaceful and happy home on a lazy Sunday afternoon, about the lives of Kashmiri Youtubers and their perils over the last few years due to the frequent internet shutdowns. Full disclaimer, that through these pieces I do not wish to give a political opinion. I am not qualified enough to give one. I am also a super-privileged person and hence in no position to realize the full extent of the pains of the people who have lived these experiences.
Also, some Calvin & Hobbes to lighten the mood :)
Until next Sunday.
Hey there. Thanks for reading. Would love to know how these pieces made you feel. Also, any discoveries you made on the Internet that meant something to you. Drop an email and let me know :)
Yes..The valley of Kashmir has been on my " go to" list since ages. Sitting within the comforts of our homes , we cannot ever imagine what the locals there are going through.
It's heartbreaking to see a whole generation of children tormented and scarred by war. The adults can take a few lessons from the children here. No one has the right to ruin their childhood.
This is an wonderful edition of Voyager. Israel Palestine conflict interests me a lot and it is super complex with very few right and wrong answers. What this world need today is tolerance and mutual respect. We have all become intolerant and vengeful. We cannot tolerate our neighbours, someone from a different religion or colour of skin or sexual orientation or even from another part of the country.