Hello everybody how are you doing? I hope Covid and its connected nuisances is not getting you down too much. And if it does, know, I have a candle lit for you.
Monthly Love is In Da Blog
After pondering the future of “Love Is In Da Blog” I have decided that it would be delightful to bridge the monthlong “Love Is In Da Blogs” in February with a monthly event. This will be connected to “Come Away With Me” but you do not have to use musicians from the country the post visits. But feel invited to do so.
This monthly “Love Is In Da Blog” will be on the fourth Monday of the month and the “Love Is In Da Blog” suggestions on taking part apply. Find them here. My prompts will somehow be connected to the “Come Away With Me” post. You’ll find out how 🙂
So, for the first monthly “Love Is In Da Blog” prompt I have chosen
“Making up”
as Kashmir is a part of India and Pakistan that has been quarrelled about for ages. So please find a love song about lovers making up, lovers saying sorry or love in general.
You have a month’s time to create and share your post.
Please let me know here if you like to suggest a prompt for the Monthly “Love is In Da Blog”
Drop me a line: thebeecreates(at)gmail.com or leave me a message via FB.
Now over to Kashmir
No, Kashmir is not a country of it’s own even though some Kashmiris hope one day it will. Kashmir is partly in India partly in Pakistan and both countries are fighting over it at least since 1947. And the people stuck in between are the ones that suffer. That is one reason why I highlight some “extra” countries: There are conflicts brewing all over the world we hardly hear anything about. I have chosen some for “Come Away With Me” to learn more.
If you want to visit Pakistani Kashmir you need a special permissions to enter. You also are not allowed to visit on your own. You need a guide or driver because it is a disputed area.
Indian Kashmir used to have a special status as a nearly sovereign area but the “new” Indian government under Modi is trying to suppress the Muslim majority in Indian Kashmir. You can find out more about it in he next paragraph.
Introduction to Kashmir
To introduce you to the area I have chosen one video from Indian Kashmir, one from Pakistani Kashmir and one that explains the conflict. Please forgive the adverts in the videos I chose in this post but that is how creators get their income. Also, if you like the videos feel free to follow them.
To learn more about the conflict in Kashmir you can also check out this BBC article.
2. An Artists of Kashmir
Apparently many Indian Kashmiri’s use art to express their experiences and their opinions. Also more and more women are raising their voices and one of them has become quite famous:
Hina Arif
Impressive, isn’t it?
You can find out more about female artists from Kashmir here:
Kashmiri women use art to resist India’s tightening laws – Nikkei Asia
I tried to find an artist from the Pakistani side of Kashmir but could not find anyone. Sorry.
3. Climate Crisis in Kashmir
At first, I had planned to highlight eco-fighters from the countries “Come Away” visits. However, this is a very difficult task so I changed the viewpoint to how the climate crisis is playing out. For Kashmir I could not find any information on either side so I chose this video which discribes in part what is going on there.
(The west is pretty late to the tree planting party…. 😉 )
4. Food of Kashmir
So let’s leave the difficulties behind for a moment and enjoy something that often connects people rather than divides: Food. I just watched “Rick Stein’s Asian Odyssee” and was again surprised how popular street food is in Asia.
If you are now curious to find out more or try some dishes check out this post:
20 Traditional Kashmir Food Dishes You Ought To Try Once In 2021! (traveltriangle.com)
5. A Poetess of Kashmir
Unfortunately, I could not find a video of a Kashmiri poetess on either side so I let you discover 9 poets in this post:
9 Kashmiri Poets Who Dazzled Us With Their Poetry | The Curious Reader
6. Mental Health in Kashmir
You can imagine that a conflict that lasted for so long has a huge impact on the mental health of all involved. This video shows it from the inside:
It breaks my heart to see how much so many people suffer on this beautiful planet. May we find the secret to a peaceful living together.
7. A musician of Kashmir
Today I have chosen only one artist. His name is Mohammad Muneem and you can find out more about him here.
I chose this song because it is in support for women who have their sons or husbands missing meaning they are “the victim of “enforced involuntary disappearances” and to Parveena Ahangar, one of the mothers whose strength is the strength for many.” (Alif on his YouTube channel)
May we never stay silent when government’s force violence on us!
And where are we going next week?
Come Away With Me 2021 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, March 29th, 2021
I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we venture to India a country that has held a fascination for me since childhood. Please find musicians from India here on the ScoopWhoop page about Indian Indie artists.
As for the suggestions to take part:
- Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first year? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
- Send us the link! The ping-back option does not work because my blog is now private so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2021 FB page“
- Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2021 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2021MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
- No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
- I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2021 post” I write.
- If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.
Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.
Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised about half the amount needed: £448,580 of £800,000 (March 2021).
Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.
Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.
I appreciate your presence.
Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!
the-bee-writes.com 