~Faiz Ahmed Faiz
The posterity shall recall Faiz sahab’s words with pride. We, as the children of the 21st century need to choose a path other than the controlled education > get a six-figure job > reproduce > send kids to the poshest of schools > rot in grave with BIG DREAMS, BIG GOALS. My biggest dream in life is to open up a five-star rehabilitation centre in the middle of the Valley. No, not all of us are drug addicts, or, have family problems. I want to create a safe place for people with depression to thrive. There are hundreds and thousands of people who are addicted to melancholy and are hypersensitive towards everything. They need help and they deserve that help. After reading this article people might think “oh not another rebellious teenager picking the pen.” Which I wouldn’t deny because yes I am rebellious! I am rebellious because we’ve had enough of suicides, killings, drug addictions, substance abusers in this heavenly place of ours. We, the children can bring forth a change. No we’re not little kids or sweethearts, darlings and princesses. WE’RE THE ONLY HOPE LEFT.
The alarming rise in the consumption of Weeds (Charas) in youth is a disgrace for the entire Valley. Mental health is a cause of concern among the Kashmiri youth. We don’t want the coming generations to be thieves, drug addicts, drug mules, prisoners, criminals, etc. We don’t want our youth dissipating all their intellect in such immoral and unethical activities. I’ve got my ideas crystallized for my rehabilitation centre. I’ll get the walls painted with vibrant colours spreading optimism. I’ll put up Quranic verses at different corners for every patient to see. My rehab will have gardens on the balcony and every patient would be given a potted plant to look after. So that they can observe its growth. No matter what happens, they’ll always have people around who are going to lend them an ear whenever required.
I’ll cut the connection to the outside World especially the internet. We’ll all live together in an isolated space like long lost besties. I’ve been under political depression all my life. In my rehab, We’ll plan on helping Kashmir ourselves rather than being dependent on fraudulent, ignorant imbeciles who are great talkers but lack that energy which could transform their thoughts into action. We’ll self assess our interests. I’ll provide them with new books every month. Especially the books by authors who spread positivity by their writings. Once they leave my rehabilitation centre, they should be ready to face all the hardships in the World, be prepared to face all the obstacles they encounter whilst achieving their biggest, I want them to speak about their mental health impeccably, without stuttering ever for a bit, I want them to be strong, I want them to be the strength of those who are going through the same. Depression can make you think and feel things that are out of character. But that
doesn’t mean you are a bad person, it’s just the situations which you’ve undergone that moulded you that way. But remember: character and personality is malleable. You can always become a better version of yourself, anywhere, at any moment.
My rehabilitation centre will return you to a state where you are able to function safely on your own, it will help you to rebuild your life. It’ll all be about spiritual development and realizing your inner true self.
And I request all the therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors to dive into this matter. And, those so called politicians ought to understand that their political slugfests create significant social and psychological distress among the commoners. You can’t be destroying a people’s identity, culture, beliefs, language, food etc., in order to make them submit to newly imposed ones.
And lastly my message to the society is: If your negative feelings caused by depression become so overwhelming that you can’t see any solution besides harming yourself or others, you need to get help right away. Asking for help when you’re in the midst of such strong emotions doesn’t make you a week person. I urge the society to not consider mental health a taboo.
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS INERT. EVERYONE/EVERYTHING HAS AN EPIC STORY TO TELL ONLY IF YOU CARE TO LISTEN.
Author: Kifa
Student 9th Std
