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`Operation Sangam' for Kashmiri children

Srinagar Nov 30. Fifteen-year-old Asif Khan from a remote village near Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir Valley could hardly believe that his longing to visit other parts of the country was coming true as he along with other children embarked on a tour to New Delhi, Mumbai and Agra.

Khan, hailing from Dardkote village in Kupwara district, was among 35 children sponsored by the Army to tour the places of cultural and historical importance in the country under `Operation Sangam' from November 28-December 15, 2003.

``I have been longing to see the sea (Mumbai), Taj Mahal and the Qutub Minar. It is yet to sink in that... I will be at these places which I have seen in pictures and read about in the books,'' Khan, a ninth class student, said.

Khan said it would not have been possible for him to undertake such a tour as his father, a village numberdar, was not in a position to afford the expenses.

Echoing similar feelings, another ninth grader Tahir Mohiuddin Shiekh, from a village in Uri, said his father, a school teacher, is just able to meet the expenses of the ten family members. Travelling out of the state would be a luxury.

Shiekh, who is last of the eight siblings, said his aim would be to understand the cultural diversity of other places and how people live there.

``I have heard a lot about people of other places... Now I want to test that and see how much of it is true," he added. -- PTI

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