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Kashmir in turmoil again

September 18, 2015 Editor

Ashok Bhan The recent developments in Kashmir are certainly alarming and have added fuel to fire not only owing to non-fulfillment of the promises made to people but also showing no signs of improvement in socio-economic conditions of people. The alienation among the people, particularly the youth, has increased so much that an atmosphere is created to encourage militancy, on the scale and intensity that was witnessed in the early nineties. Who is responsible for this – the alliance government or the people of the state? Unfulfilled Promises The BJP…

What led to Kashmir’s division in 1947 – Tribal Raid or Poonch Uprising?

September 17, 2015 Editor

Gowhar Geelani For almost previous seven decades, 68 years to be precise, India’s argument while laying its full claim on erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir has been that the Pakistani raiders (Tribals) were the first “aggressors” at the time of India-Pakistan Partition in 1947, which subsequently led to war, rioting, massacre of Jammu Muslims, destruction on a large scale, and division of the Himalyan region. But the recent revisionist history seriously challenges India’s argument and official claim on Kashmir. Christopher Snedden — renowned Australian historian, author, politico-strategic analyst…

Kashmir on the streets and Palestine at the UN

September 14, 2015 Editor

Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani People of Jammu and Kashmir (Muslims in particular) and the people of Palestine (Muslim in particular) are engaged in opposition with two respective cruel administrations. Imprisonment, torture, taking the dissent (youth in particular) out of circulation and use of military force are common practices followed by Delhi and Tel Aviv. Kashmiri and Palestinian people continue to be on the streets and this semblance of unrest is a permanent feature in their daily lives. Palestinians however, have distinguished their method and wisdom, by being active off street…

How J&K beef ban is in turn popularising beef eating

September 11, 2015 Editor

Soon after the court judgement, social media realised there was a law against cow slaughter. Naseer Ganai Jammu and Kashmir is the only state with laws against cow slaughter and beef eating. Almost all the laws enacted during Maharaja’s time in 1930s were subsequently adopted by the constituent assembly of the state. While with regard to penalty, amendments were made but the laws remained there including law against cow slaughter and beef eating. However, no government tried to implement the law against cow slaughter except governor Jagmohan in 1980s and…

Protection of Environment in Kashmir

September 11, 2015 Editor

One of the significant decisions in the environmental history is the recent climate change encyclical of Pope Francis. The document is now the church’s official position on the environment which includes the practical guidance and is being hailed as a major intervention in the climate change debate. It presents a rare locking of arms between the church and the scientific community. The truth that climate change is happening is now an established fact, although there is section which does not agree with it. The day in and day out flood…

Why Kashmir Needs A Literature Of Its Own?

September 10, 2015 Editor

GHULAM MOHAMMAD KHAN The former US admiral and commander of NATO in Europe James Stavridis’ interesting injunction to read and closely scrutinize Russian Literature in order to get to the ‘soul of Russia’; its public behaviour and political actions to the people and politicians of Europe in general and America in particular, vindicates the relevance and authenticity of ‘Literature’, the discipline otherwise adjudged by many as something simulated or apocryphal. To figure out any possibility of getting closer to the otherwise cryptic Kremlin foreign policy, Stavridis preferred the reading of…

Politics of Symbols

September 10, 2015 Editor

A. G. NOORANI Section 144 of the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir says in the plainest of words: “The Flag of the State shall be rectangular in shape and red in colour with three rectangular white vertical strips of equal width next to the staff and white plough in the middle with handle facing the strips. The ratio of the length of the flag to its width shall be 3 : 2”. All the holders of office under this Constitution are required (Ss. 40, 64, 97 and the Fifth Schedule)…

‘We Need Pens, Computers Not Guns and Grenades’

September 9, 2015 Editor

A member of British House of Lords, Nazir Ahmad on Tuesday said that ‘Tripartite negotiations between Governments of India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership’ is the only way to resolve the “outstanding dispute of Jammu & Kashmir.” He was speaking during the 52nd Annual Convention of Islamic Society of North America(ISNA), held in Chicago USA, on the subject: ‘Kashmir: A Case of Steadfastness’. Lord Nazir said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “reckless defiance to resolve the Kashmir dispute” is a “threat to the regional peace and stability”. “And the international community…

Being a Kashmiri

September 9, 2015 Editor

Mother tongue is a fundamental tag that ties people into a particular identity. More than geographical identities, it is the idiom you inherit that makes you a people. Humans tend to dream in their mother tongue and it is the language you speak that shapes up your perception. But it is to note with great concern that we are fast losing this peculiar identity. The Kashmiri language, which binds us into a distinctive character, is dying a leisurely death. The official apathy apart, the people who get identified by this…

About History and 2014 – floods

September 8, 2015 Editor

Shoeb Hamid About History Social media has received severe criticism lately. Proponents who believe online networking sites like twitter and facebook have encroached on our valuable time which we should utilize for face-to-face interactions ( though less but effective), are right to some extent in their assertions. However, the new media also present advantages, one being which presents volte-face that opponents of facebook and twitter should acknowledge. Perhaps twenty years ago if you were told to recall what happened in the past, the instant and most reliable source would have…