Srinagar-Partially Partitioned as Uptown and Downtown

A Story by Aneeq Buch

I wonder why they say ‘There is nothing
beneficial in Downtown and its adjacent and
Neighbouring Areas’,Yes,I am talking about
many of the inhabitants of the Uptown Area of
Srinagar City.Maybe because they found the
Downtown Area of Srinagar as Congested and
Suffocated kind of place or the other reason
may be the illogical and a negative view for the
people of Downtown.Most of the people of
Uptown Area consider the Downtown inhabitants
as Cheap people and think that they are yet to
get modernised.They think that the Downtown
area is Laden with Dust and is much Filthy.
A guy from Uptown recently told me that “If I
get lost in Downtown Area,It will take me years
to get back and find way to my home” and I in
reply told him “Don’t get tensed or
panicked,nothing will happen to you As the
people of Downtown and its Surrounding Areas
are So helpful and hearty that they will take u
back to your Sweet Home Safely without even
asking for a Glass of water when they will drop
you at your Home”.This is well known fact that
Downtown inhabitants are in their real form
whereas Uptown people have undergone gross
transformation,be it culture,hospitality,linguistics
and what not.Sometimes I wonder do they
recognize themselves.They better try to find
their roots which I am sure are somewhere in
Downtown.
The Uptown inhabitants forget or don’t want to
learn that it was Downtown from where the
Srinagar City originated from.So what If it is Now
also Known as ‘Old City’.For their kind
information Downtown and its Neighbouring
areas have Historical and Famous Structures
such as “The Jamia Masjid or Big Mosque” in
Nowhatta,”The Hazratbal Shrine or Dargah-e-
Sharief”, “Kashmir University” in Naseem Bagh,
“Khankah-E-Moulla” in Khankah, “Dastgeer Sahib
R.a” in Khanyar, “Makhdoom Sahib R.a” in
Hawal Area, “Imam Bada” in Zadibal ,and many
more places to visit.Most of the people of
Uptown might not even have the Knowledge of
many of the famous places I mentioned
above.Well there arises a Serious question,Are
they Pseudo Srinagarities?Well let me not touch
that part as it is a different Story.
I was really Surprised when some of the guys of
uptown Area compelled me to Shift from My
Area and Move to Uptown Area of the City.The
reason is that they don’t have the knowledge of
Downtown and its Adjacent Areas and they had
the wrong point of view for Downtown Area.Its
for their information that they are interestingly
the descendants of Downtown.I bet that their
Grandparents originally hail from so called
Downtown.Hence,proven that Downtown is the
original Srinagar and Downtown has been
renamed as Sheher-E-Khaas by Wise people.
Some of the people of Uptown even think that
inhabitants of Downtown are Indolent and are
not cool as Uptown people and even spread
Hoax.Well,they obviously and for sure have a
wrong conception and they need to clear their
confusion and refresh their mind with positive
thinking and also need to get broadminded.