Shopkeepers’ Power Prevails
Dear readers, welcome to Anantnag, the Kashmir Valley’s oldest town, where disorder dances with a peculiar charm and true power rests in unexpected hands. The government, in a rare spark of concern, has labeled the Maternity and Child Care Hospital unsafe, suggesting it be relocated. But who would dare to act? Not the elected Legislative Assembly Members, nor the carefully selected bureaucrats, for in Anantnag, shopkeepers—especially the medical shop owners—hold sway, their influence towering over even the boldest government plans.
The streets are a vibrant jumble. Shopkeepers, with boundless creativity, have turned footpaths into extensions of their stores, while street vendors, cozy with the District Administration, claim half the roads with their lively stalls. The Municipal Committee shares a warm nod with the shopkeepers, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, ever diligent, quietly collect *hafta* from the vendors, keeping this bustling chaos alive. Pedestrians, meanwhile, are mastering the art of dodging obstacles where roads once stood. Soon, the main road may fade into a memory for walkers, but in Anantnag, this feels like part of the town’s quirky soul.
The medical shop owners, or shall we say the esteemed pharmacy lords, have gone beyond merely shaping the hospital’s fate. They’ve sealed the main door of the District Hospital attached to the Medical College, forcing patients to trek over 500 meters from the emergency ward to an old gate. Why? Because profits flow from pharmacies to administrative pockets, and a little inconvenience is a small price to pay. Need care? Pack your patience and good shoes. Their word is law, and the government, despite its grand declarations, seems to bow before their might.
The Sharabagh spring remains a bittersweet marvel. Its waters start pure, like a gentle prayer, but within 100 meters, they turn murky, unfit for even a quick rinse. Yet, this is Anantnag’s way—beauty and mess walking hand in hand.
The District Commissioner Sahib, ever calm, gazes at this lively disorder with a serene smile. Why fix what’s profitably broken? In Anantnag, shopkeepers run the show, and somehow, everything feels just fine.
