Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Friday, June 27, 2008

Broken Logic and Misplaced Zeal

The same hotheads who are denouncing potential ecological damage elsewhere are doing real ecological damage closer to home

Badmawari ransacked

Srinagar: Protestors on 25th June ransacked the recently opened Badamwari at Hawal in old city here. Protestors barged into the park and destroyed everything that came in their way. Systems at the ticket counters, large flower vases, wood work at the entrance and dozens of bulbs were damaged to its full.

Protestors in one voice said, “This park has become the centre stage of immorality and waywardness and it needs to be destroyed.”

One of the protestor wearing a mask said, “It is an answer to Ghulam Nabi Azad who wants to distract people from the resistance by opening parks at different places.”Protestors uprooted all the boards of Badamwari and also put the huts there on fire.

Thousands of protestors then moved on to Nowhatta and continued peacefully towards Lal Chowk.

(Rising Kashmir)

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