Jammu is the land of temples. The most famous of all the temples is Vaishnov Devi temple. In my experience, Jammu like Kashmir is a paradise. Jammu is also the temple of relationships. I have loving daughters, sons, and friends who provided distinct taste of friendship that added one more dimension to the rainbow of my relationships. I consider theses friendship relationships as very precious. I keep sanctity in each of my relationship. The secret of my happiness is long lasting relationships. I remembered all of my Us friends who made my life in the US a memorable one. I remembered M.R. Saraswathy teacher, my favourite teacher for Indian History in the 2 year Pre- Degree course at Sree Narayana College for Women at Kollam district in Kerala. I always liked to learn Indian history as I had special regards for my teacher. Another reason for interestingly learn Indian History was that it was history of our beloved country. I loved to learn the past to know the present. I just remembered Saraswathy teacher because she taught us about Timur dynasty, invasion of Kashmir, pathetic plight of Pandits to Jammu due to massive massacre of Pandits and their families, and plundering of their belongings. During my stay with Dr. Arti Bakshi, I heard from her husband about his family's interactions with those Pandit families who had to suffer immense difficulties while staying in migrant camps so close to his house in Jammu. Their house was just 8 kilometres from the Pakistan border. Earlier, I studied that hundreds of Samarkhand cooks accompanied the Timur dynasty to add multiple twists to Royal tastes with traditional Wazwan cuisine consisting of nearly 35 course, mainly meat based food organised under the direction of the Master Chef, Vasta Waza.
When I stayed with a muslim Kashmiri family in Kashmir, she told me the tomatoes and potatoes brought from 'India' were not that tasty as those cultivated in Kashmir. She also told me that Pandits will not use onions and garlic. Similarly muslims avoid using curd and asafoeteda. When I stayed with friends in Jammu, I heard the same story from Dr. Arti Bakshi. The parotta and dal curry were very tasty in Jammu. If they visit Kerala, the parotta we make will be tasted totally different as we make them from maida flower and not from wheat powder.
On the previous day of Coral's wedding, the lunch items were very traditional ones. It was in Rajputtian style. So I learnt that there are mainly three food styles sustained by Muslims, Rajputs, and Kashmiri Pandits. There may be more styles although I experienced only these three styles.
I learnt a dogri song which I sang in many events in Jammu, which all of the participants appreciated very much, even though I did not get an opportunity to visit a dogra Family to sense the dogra taste!
Amar Mahal and Bahu fort, Army good will public School in Rajouri, SKPAU in Udahmpur, temples, Kashmiri Migrant township, Jammu and other universities and colleges, and moreover, very hospitable people are the precious assets of Jammu! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Jammu. Next time I will visit Ladakh monastery, statue of Buddha in Kargil, and more palaces, mosques, and monastery in Jammu. I am waiting for the next trip to Jammu to generate more interactive sessions with school children, college students and particularly GFATM counsellors in Jammu. I really missed them. I missed Madhu Burma whom I very badly wanted to meet in Jammu. Few things will be left undone for making possible the next visit. I too did the same thing.But I confirmed in my heart that Jammu and Kashmir state is my second home in India!
