Bhand Pather: Kashmiri artist on mission to revitalize traditional folk theatre

Bhand Pather: Kashmiri artist on mission to revitalize traditional folk theatre

While the “Bhand Pather” a traditional folk theatre of Kashmir is dying with each passing day in the valley, a young Kashmiri artist, Rayees Wathoori who hails from central Kashmir’s Budgam district has started a mission to breathe it again. Notably, Bhand Pather is an age-old traditional folk theatre of Kashmir. It is usually held in open spaces. It belongs to the oral tradition in which the scripts are handed down from one generation to the other following Guru Shishya Parampara. The vocabulary used in Bhand Pather has connections to…

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Property Tax: Jammu chamber calls for shutdown on Mar 11

Property Tax: Jammu chamber calls for shutdown on Mar 11

Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries has given shutdown call on March 11 against imposition of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference president CCI Arun Gupta said that after series of meetings with members of civil society and other organizations, they have decided to observe complete shutdown on Saturday. He said that Chamber of Commerce and Industry will oppose any move that will put burden on the people. (KNO)

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GoI is arming villagers in one of earth’s most militarized places

India is arming villagers in one of earth’s most militarized places

As night fell in the tiny Himalayan village of Dhangri, a dozen armed men emerged from their homes one after another, their rifles slung over their shoulders, as if they were bound for war. With stealthy movements, they scanned the moonlit surroundings for signs of danger, their figures silhouetted against the horizon. During the day, the men are drivers, shopkeepers and farmers. At night, they are members of a once-dormant local militia that the Indian government is reviving in the Jammu and Kashmir region in response to deadly militant attacks…

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Is another India – Pakistan War on cards? High possibility of military retaliation in Kashmir under Modi’s leadership: US Intel

Is another India - Pakistan War on cards? High possibility of military retaliation in Kashmir under Modi's leadership: US Intel

A US intelligence report has raised concerns about the possibility of India retaliating against Pakistan in the event of a terror attack on India or an orchestrated “violent unrest in Kashmir” by extremist groups based in Pakistan. The annual threat assessment report by the US Director of National Intelligence predicts the possibility of a conflict between India and Pakistan with particular concern due to the risk of an “escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states”. Given Pakistan’s history of supporting extremist groups, the report acknowledges a higher probability of India responding…

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Aptech Row: Protesting job aspirants Lathicharged, Detained during Jammu road blockade

Protesting job aspirants Lathicharged, Detained during Jammu road blockade

Unemployed youth lathi-charged for raising voice against present regime: Mebooba Mufti Omar Abdullah seeks cancellation of purported contract to APTECH Ltd, Condemns ‘use of force & lathicharge’ against protestors Scores of protesting job aspirants were detained as the police resorted to lathi-charge during attempts to block roads in Jammu on Wednesday. Hundreds of young job aspirants were protesting against a backlisted agency engaged by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to conduct recruitment exams for government jobs. The agency has been blacklisted by several states in the country and even the court…

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US Intel community fears increased India-Pak, India-China tension: Report

US Intel community fears increased India-Pak, India-China tension: Report

The American intelligence community on Wednesday told lawmakers that it apprehends increased tension between India and Pakistan and India and China with the possibility of a conflict between them. It also noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to Pakistani provocations. This assessment forms part of the annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community that was submitted to the US Congress by the Office of Director of National Intelligence during a Congressional hearing.…

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