Articles Archives | Page 37 of 51

Draz and Kanhaiya: Villains or Victims

February 27, 2016 Editor

India has got divided between BJP and the rest Nasir Ahmed He was taken aback when he opened door to a loud knock in his home at a small village in Okara district in Punjab Province of Pakistan, around 200 kilometers from Lahore. He was surprised to see a contingent of police at the entrance gate and later terrified when he came to know that police had come to arrest him. He was to know later that he was being charged with a very serious offence of sedition and faced…

Letter to Arnab Goswami

February 24, 2016 Editor

Aarif Qadir Before making a beginning, I am making a disclaimer. I will not shout; I would just write. I can’t applaud what Umar Khalid or Kanhaiyya Kumar ‘allegedly did’ but must appreciate them for what they really did. I am up for getting Kashmir its ‘Right to self-determination’ as promised by Jawaharlal Nehru. I am not in favour of Hurriyat who shout for “Azaadi” or “Sticking to Pakistan”. This is to make certain that I’m not labelled as seditious. This article is in response to the half literate and…

If Kashmiri secessionists think the JNU agitation has boosted their chance for independence, they’re terribly wrong

February 22, 2016 Editor

The government’s inept handling of the situation in JNU has given a fillip to secessionists in Kashmir. A lot of Kashmiris, including some in leading positions, have got the impression that substantial support for Kashmir’s independence struggle has become apparent across India. They think the upsurge of middle class opposition to the arrest of JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar actually signifies support for them. They have this impression since the entire imbroglio got going over a function to observe the anniversary of Afzal Guru’s hanging on 9 February –…

‘Afzal knew Indian youth will support Kashmir’s freedom struggle one day’

February 18, 2016 Editor

Peerzada Aarif Afzal Guru had told his family that the youth of India will realize the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris and will one day come forward in support of Kashmir’s freedom struggle, according to his brother Ajaz Guru. With the controversy surrounding the holding of a pro-Afzal Guru event at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University refusing to die, his family was reminded of his words during his incarceration at Tihar Jail. “He used to tell us that the youth of India who understand the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris will…

Book – Islam in Kashmir – A Study of Prominent Sufis and Rishis

February 18, 2016 Editor

Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander The spread of Islam in Kashmir by the Sufis has been discussed by various scholars, academics and writers, but the lesser known aspects of various Sufi orders, role of Sufism in promoting pluralistic culture in Kashmir, Sufism as a channel of Inter-Faith Dialogue, lessons which Kashmiri Sufism has for the world to make it a peaceful place to dwell; such serious, and sensitive academic studies of Kashmir Sufism are rare, and even neglected. The book under review tries to fill this void. Prof Hamid Naseem…

Kashmir’s walnut industry is dying unattended

February 16, 2016 Editor

Horticulture is an important sector of J&K economy. The state is famous for its horticultural produce. The best known horticultural items from the state are apple, walnut, apricot, pear, peach, cherry, almond etc. Here my focus is particularity the walnut industry which is presently facing an existential threat. This sector is source of livelihood for thousands of families. But the growers and traders associated with this sector are worried due to sharp slump in prices. Traders are of the opinion that the present decrease in prices is due to the…

Power Projects: Tapping blue gold to its fullest

February 16, 2016 Editor

Every effort should be made by JK government to decide avenues of finance required for precious assets to protect JK from losing Rs 87673.75 crore annually Irshad Ahrar One of the key deterrents affecting the growth rate in Jammu Kashmir (also industrial production) is the non-availability of electric power. Hydroelectric Power Projects, though they involve long gestation period are still considered to be the reliable and cheap option. Jammu Kashmir despite being one of the potential regions for generation of hydro electric power is deficit in power supply and even…

Maqbool, Afzal, and Kashmir

February 13, 2016 Editor

Kashmir observed two shutdowns in a week to remember late Muhammad Afzal Guru, and late Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. Afzal was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013 while Maqbool Bhat was hanged in the same jail on Feb 11, 1984. Both of them were laid to rest at Tihar jail and their mortal remains were not returned. Death anniversaries of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru every year remind Kashmiris of their struggle, and Delhi not returning even the bodies of two Kashmiris who were sent to gallows.…

Late Marriages : Who is Responsible?

February 12, 2016 Editor

The unnecessary trend of delayed marriages in Kashmir will have serious consequences for our future generations In Kashmir for the past two to three decades, the average age of marriage for male has increased from 24 to 32 and in females from 21 to 28. It is the matter of grave concern. This has given rise to depression and instability among the youth. Be it physical, psychological or emotional, it slumps all these three ingredients of a healthy life. National Health Profile 2015 compiled by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, under…

Who was Afzal Guru?

February 9, 2016 Editor

Aaqib Javaid The year was 2013, day was February 9, and I woke up early and prepared myself to reach the college. When I stepped outside the view was different, it wasn’t the usual sunlight and the morning breeze carried with it the cry of injustice and incisive melancholy. I checked my attire for the day as I was going to be at college. The phone rang and I attended. Mother said that I should stay at home and not venture out on that day. The rest of the conversation…