Maintain Your Tourist Identity

 

The days of mourning are about to begin. Like everywhere else, Gilgit-Baltistan, especially Baltistan, is also adorned with mourning banners. Signs of mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) have been put up in various places. It seems that just like every year, this year too there will be explanations and interpretations of the Hussaini mission, the lofty goals of Hussain (AS) will be discussed, particularly emphasizing the adoption of actions and behaviors, and voices calling for breaking away from formalities will be raised. Lucky are those mourners who are engrossed in enhancing their Ashura-like qualities year after year. They have the enthusiasm to not only limit the incident of Karbala to mere listening, but to make every effort to implement it in their practical lives. We all know that year after year, a fervor is developing in Hussaini mourning. Grief, salutations, elegies, and mourning recitations, speeches, and condolences have all taken on a new form. Are we feeling that the sanctification and reverence of these forms is not retaining the flavor it used to have in simplicity and sorrow? Now, everyone is a mourner, a reciter of elegies, and a reciter of mourning. When everyone has acquired these qualities, then the spiritual and intellectual aspect of mourning has taken precedence, which should have been maintained in any case. I will say once again that fortunate are those mourners who despite all kinds of materialistic allure, external glamour, and artificiality, are knowledgeable about the Hussaini mission.

This was a message that needed to be indicated. We have proposed the title of the writing as “Maintain Your Tourist Identity.” We want to convey that at this time, the entirety of Baltistan is filled with tourists. All the tourist sites that are not just a recognition of Gilgit-Baltistan but of Pakistan as well, have become the target of tourists' natural inclination. In such a situation where on one side the mourning period has begun and on the other side the abundance of tourists has made the whole of Baltistan crowded, two concerns will arise:

First: Will the tourists be able to respect the sanctity of Muharram al-Haram, being bound to consider the local customs and culture?

Second: Will the annual influx of tourists allow our tourist identity to remain established?

I am worried about both concerns. Firstly, the fear that it is Muharram and there should not be any tourism, then this fear would be completely illogical. During Muharram or mourning days, visiting a place with the intention of gaining knowledge about that place, getting familiar with its climate, acquiring information about its society and customs, there is no harm in it. Such a journey or tourism in which there is an opportunity to learn, observe, and gain knowledge should definitely be there. However, there is no guarantee that the primary purpose of every trip is for learning. Therefore, every tourist coming to Gilgit-Baltistan may not be able to consider local culture and customs, nor can such expectations be made. It is possible that sometimes the tourist may also commit inappropriate acts. Now it is the responsibility of a mourner to adopt a respectful attitude while keeping the Hussaini purpose and goal in mind, and to prove through their actions that compassion and courtesy are present in the teachings of Hussain, but there is no tolerance for indecency.

The second concern is indeed quite serious. We all know that at this time, Gilgit-Baltistan is a tourist paradise. The tourist spots and numerous valleys here hold fascinating tales of nature's vibrant colors within them. It cannot be that such beautiful locations and places remain unnoticed by people. Take a step forward and keep moving ahead, at every step, the breathtaking views of nature will unfold before your eyes. Sometimes, gripping mountains will catch your attention, while elsewhere, the gushing streams and waterfalls will captivate you, making you feel the fullness of their existence. Due to the unique features of Gilgit-Baltistan, the views of outsiders and unwelcome intentions are becoming apparent. Our biggest challenge is whether we can maintain our tourism identity or not. Or the question is, will we be able to save our cherished places and lands, or will we get drowned in the business of buying and selling and become strangers to our own land tomorrow. Ponder and reflect. If such a time comes tomorrow, then our story will not be a story among stories.

Dr. Riaz Razee | July 7, 2024 | Xhoq Kochora, Skardu