The idea of Kashmir

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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

The Eagle and Dove may think of love

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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

Revising Tourism Marketing Targets

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…

Read More

Barking up the Wrong Tree in Kashmir

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…

Read More

A wounded prime minister at Amira Kadal

I the afternoon of 29 August 1938, Prime Minister Narasimha Gopalaswami Ayyangar was returning from office to his residence in Srinagar when his car was attacked by a crowd of agitating men and women at Amirakadal Bazar. Ayyangar, accompanied by Home Minister and another colleague, was injured. While fleeing from the scene his car ran over a protester and grievously injured him. The crowd was protesting against the arrest of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and other political leaders who had made speeches against the Government at Hazratbal on the previous day…

Read More

Stop the disastrous gun game?

The people inhabiting 8,000 square miles of earth in Kashmir have been living under the shadow of the gun, under the fear of the gun and under the diktat of the gun for last three decades. A hundred thousand of Kashmir’s are said to have perished in the gun game and thousands are reported disappeared. Thousands of nameless people have been buried in their graves as a gift of the gun. People have lost the count of the graves that gun created. The assassin and the assassinated both remain buried…

Read More

Fresh Water Access: The biggest challenge of 21st Century

It is necessary for India and Pakistan to take steps by virtue of which both will get maximum paybacks and should project future trends as far as water consumption is concerned in order to avoid other future conflicts relating to water use Rao Farman Ali Since human societies cannot thrive in isolation of ecological conditions. A changing climate that significantly amends these conditions is expected to have an impact on human life and society. Accepting that the convolution of relations between climate stress factors, their human and societal collisions and…

Read More