Articles Archives | Page 17 of 51

Poplar: The devil of Kashmir

June 4, 2018 Editor

Poplars locally called cottonwood tree are fast-growing, weak-wooded trees that lack ornamental flowers and fruits. Many species are native to the U.S. and prefer moist soils. Some poplars grow more than 70 feet tall and the deciduous leaves are alternate, simple and usually have coarse toothed margins. The trees have a yellow fall color. Wind-pollinated flowers usually appear in the spring before leaves unfold during March to May. Trees have either male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers that are located in drooping catkins. When fruits mature, the capsules split open…

Kashmir – An issue of Humanity versus Brutality

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 Editor

Kashmir is simply not an issue of dispute between India and Pakistan but today it is an issue of humanity versus brutality. Kashmir, the largest militarised zone in the world with more than 700,000 Indian boots carrying and using lethal weapons with impunity under the legal protection known as AFSPA, Armed Forces Special Powers Act. This gives Indian forces a free hand to do what they will without any accountability. AFSPA enables the military to carry out gross human rights abuses that include enforced disappearances, torture, rape, sexual abuse and…

Why Jammu uses hatred as a Political Weapon?

May 14, 2018 Editor

Asim Hashmi Rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu has shaken the whole world. But certain Jammu based groups, self-proclaimed saviours of the region, did not find it appealing to their conscience. It was not enough to fill their appetite for hate. They started an agitation to scuttle and sabotage the process of law to save the perpetrators of this most heinous crime from justice. Though this incident shook the conscience of the whole civilised world, forcing even Secretary General of the United Nation to issue a…

The idea of Kashmir

May 12, 2018 Editor

Jammu Kashmir can act as a bridge of friendship for India and Pakistan Khurram Wani As a believer, I have faith in Gods intervention for oppressed people which comes sooner or later through different forces of nature to break their miserable plight. And it is not only the believer in me that feels that a change will soon take place to break the Kashmir political stalemate but major changes in contemporary politics pave way for the same. Let me elucidate Strengthening local rivalries Ever since Narendara Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party…

As stones draw blood, It’s time for Kashmir’s Civil Society to realise army is not the Villain

May 11, 2018 Editor

The security forces do not go around seeking an excuse to attack civilians. It is just the other way around with stone pelters looking for opportunities to create mayhem and chaos, writes Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda. Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda The death of 22 year-old R Thirumani, a tourist from Tamil Nadu, has exposed the stark reality of the direction in which Kashmir protests are headed. Violence and brutality is quickly overshadowing the ‘political’ character of resistance. Tourists were recently attacked at Pahalgam, civilians have been killed in…

Divide between ‘Hindu’ Jammu & ‘Muslim’ Kashmir is spreading across India

April 25, 2018 Editor

Sagarika Ghose The gruesome rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua took place in January. That it took three months for a court monitored investigation to be completed, that lawyers from Jammu sought to prevent the police from filing the chargesheet and a crowd mobilised by the Hindu Ekta Manch shouted slogans in support of the accused even as counter protests were held in the Valley, speaks volumes for the steadily deepening jagged fissure that now exists between a so called ‘Hindu’ Jammu and a ‘Muslim’ Kashmir. The Kathua…

The Eagle and Dove may think of love

April 17, 2018 Editor

Dale Diary Spring is yet to sanctify the barks ravished by harsh winter. Warmth is still in infancy to let the buds bloom. Fragrance has not yet corked out its aroma to mesmerize the valley suffering from unknown disease, but the Bulbul that was invited by desert birds has arrived with a new ballad on its lips written by the Court poets for inconsequential means, composed by ‘silvery musicians’ amid ‘yes-men’ of political pundits in their cozy glass houses situated at the bank of murky river that persuade their lust…

An open letter to the People of India on the killing fields of Jammu Kashmir

April 10, 2018 Editor

Are you aware that in your name the Indian army has killed 100,000 people in Jammu Kashmir since 1988? Are you aware that 7000,000 Indian troops are considered as an occupation force by Kashmiris? Are you aware that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan? Are you aware that over one dozen UN resolutions exist on the Kashmir issue? Are you aware that Kashmiris have not consented to be ruled by India or by any other country? As Kashmiris we only wish to exercise the right to decide…

Revising Tourism Marketing Targets

April 5, 2018 Editor

M.Ashraf The 64th Convention of the Travel agents Association of India has just concluded in Srinagar. The Convention was attended by over 600 delegates from all over the country. The Convention was held in Srinagar after 31 years. A large number of delegates came from South India including Kerala, known as “God’s Own Country”. The delegates including some top doyens of Travel, Hospitality, Airline and Travel media such as Aditya Gosh, CEO, Indigo Airlines; Nukul Anand, CEO, ITC Hotels; Kapil Kak, CEO, CAPA; Yossi Fatael, Vice-President UFTAA; Rodeney D’Cruz, Assistant…

Barking up the Wrong Tree in Kashmir

April 5, 2018 Editor

The killing of militants may be seen by those sitting in Delhi as a “success” for the security forces but the fact is that these deaths have strengthened separatist sentiment in the Valley. The killing of 13 militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Anantnag districts on Sunday is, to all appearances, a major success for the security forces. Some TV channels also termed it a “major boost” for the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of next year’s general elections. But on closer look, we find that it…