Zahid affirms his place as a master story teller
(Mr. Z. G. Mohammad, 59, was born and raised in Srinagar. He earned his Master's degree in English literature from the Kashmir University and has completed a course in Mass Communication from Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He is a writer and a journalist who has written for many newspapers, including the Statesman, the Sunday, and the Kashmir Times. He currently works for the Greater Kashmir.)
And how can I forget the memory?
Should I call them souvenirs? There were some artifacts in our home that were precious possession of my grandmother. It was a porcelain bowl with ingrained floral designs, an old porcelain flower vase, a candle stand, an old wick lantern, a velvet bolster and a velvet mattress – She had an emotional attachment with these items.
Why my grandmother was so possessive about these old lusterless items? This question often haunted me. Many times my imagination would go wild. The child story writer in me that bloomed but withered away after writing just a few stories would weave many stories about these old artifacts and my grandmothers' emotional attachment with them. I would many times look at them as objects with some magic spell- I many compared old velvet bolster and mattress with magic carpet in Arabian nights.
I would many times prodded 'Diead' as grandmother was called by all children in the family for being overprotective about these articles of no value. I asked her why did not she give away these worthless old items to hawkers whose used to buy all trash or to hugdawala – perhaps corrupted form of huch-i-gadawala (Dry fish seller) or to mutter-wala (Roasted pea seller).
The bits and pieces of barter system survived in my childhood. In exchange of old goods of brass, copper and some old porcelain items the hugdawala- dry fish sellers would give you some sundried fish may be a 'paow' (250gms) or less depending upon the value of goods that they weighed with their brass balances. The weights used were mostly some chiseled stones. There were many varieties of sundried fish these hawkers would give you in exchange of old items. The dishes made of sundried fish were very popular in most of the Kashmiri families- I think it was only in neo-rich or upstart families that had lost taste for sundried fish. The most popular dish of sundried fish was chutney known as hugadachout. There was hardly a family in our locality that did not preparer chutney of sundried fish during the holy month of Ramdan. The dried fish would be roasted on live embers, then pulverized in 'wakhul or Naim' stone mortar by Kajawuht limestone pestle and mixed with salt and red pepper powder. Some would fry them in mustard oil and mix with salt and red pepper powder. The sundried fish chutney was seen as an appetizer and one could take a full bowl of rice with this chutney. The Pacha-Hugada was yet another variety of sundried fish that was cooked with some wild vegetables.
The spinning wheel known in local parlance as yender was an important possession of most of the families in my birth burg. There was a hardly a family that did not have a yender. The spinning wheel like many other important tools like carpet looms that had changed economic scenario of Kashmir had perhaps come from the Central Asia after the advent of Islam. Most of the women would spin finest threats out of puhmb raw Pashmina wool that was imported from Leh and dispensed by Pumbhwanis. There was hardly a locality that did not have one or two shops of the Pumbhwanis. Many traders during summers would travel to Ladkh with number of goods such as copper utensils tea, salt and other items and buy in exchange the pashmina wool.
Some teachers who were posted in Leh would bring a sack or two of Pashmina wool with them. Most of the women twirled as gossamer fine threads. I loved hearing songs that my friend's mother would sing while spinning the wheel. I remembered many of them for many years.
The wool would undergo many processes before it would reach the spinning wheel. It was mixed with dry rice- flour, kneaded thoroughly and then passed through a comb fixed on a wooden pedestal. The coarser hairs were combed out. Then small balls were made of it and spun into fine threads.
The yender and the pedestal comb were not imported but manufactured by local carpenters known as "turka-chahan". I remember there was 'turka-chahan' a few hundred meters from my Mohalla in Malarta. I often visited this carpenter's shop for buying 'bera' (wooden ball) used as cricket ball. Mostly bera was made out of willow wood and sometimes of walnut. The bera would cost one or two annas as against leather ball that would cost one and half-rupee. We would get even wickets and bats made by the carpenter. The carpenters would not only make the spinning wheels and pedestal combs but also wooden sandals with or without straps. Some made mortars and pestles, vats, and drums of some good quality wood.
I do not know to what used were the hair from Pashmina wool used but both hugadwalas and mutterwallas would barter them against the sundried fish and roasted peas and soya beans.
Though I was eager to barter away old artifacts for some roasted peas, soya beans and maize but my grandmother was never ready to sell her possessions to hawkers. She one day said these artifacts were precious for the family as they had been brought by my late grandfather from Lahore. Many times tears welled in her eyes as she narrated stories about golden old days when my grandfather left for Lahore in what she called Nanda Bus- perhaps some bus service that operated between Srinagar and Rawalpindi through Kohali bridge. She had not visited Lahore but had heard lots of stories about twin cities of undivided Punjab that were second home to Kashmiris before the closing down of the Jhelum valley. She narrated these stories as if she filliped through the pages of history. She had a story to tell about every souvenir from what market and what place in that historic city grandfather had purchased those items.
Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog
Monday, September 29, 2008
Profile of a Pandit Youth Dreaming big in Kashmir
Pandits in the valley has few things to cheer about, but this is one such news
'Immersion' offers Kashmir some band aid
Izhar Wani (Kashmir Images)
SRINAGAR: As a Hindu whose grandfather was shot dead by Muslim militants, Amit Wanchoo has long had reason to quit Kashmir. Instead he's stayed and prospered in one of the most unlikely career choices on offer in the restive region -- singer in a rock band.
"Music never kills anyone, never harms anyone," says Wanchoo, 29, whose group, Immersion, has a loyal following among young Kashmiris tired with nearly 20 years of a bloody insurgency against Indian rule.
"Through our concerts we are able to heal wounds. We are able to make people sing and smile," Wanchoo told AFP during an interview in Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.
The separatist battle that broke out in Muslim-majority Kashmir in 1989 has left more than 43,000 people dead, according to official figures. It also put a long-term lid on the disputed region's cultural life, with the separatists banning most forms of entertainment. However, since the launch of an India-Pakistan peace process in January 2004, the level of violence has ebbed somewhat and popular culture has been making a tentative comeback. Cable TV is available again, a single cinema has opened and theatre actors are back treading the boards.
And since 2004, Immersion has managed to perform 800 concerts across Kashmir -- including the Hindu-majority winter capital Jammu -- and even in New Delhi.
The band, which performs in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, recently released a well-received album, whose songs reflect some of the tragedy of Kashmir but also the optimism of its people.
Lines like "We will change the picture of the world, we the youngsters of Kashmir" have struck a chord and are often heard being sung in Srinagar's streets and markets.
"My aim is to make Immersion a big name," says Wanchoo, who writes most of the five-member band's lyrics.
Wanchoo's family belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu) community, and was one of the few that chose not to flee the Kashmir Valley region for Jammu during the insurgency. His grandfather used to document cases of human rights violations by Indian troops, fight unlawful detentions of suspects and help the poor, but still became a militant target and was killed in 1992.
Wanchoo admits that the murder made him "anti-Muslim" for a brief period. "I was only 13," he says. "I used to think: why did they kill him? He never harmed them. But soon I realised that it was an insane act by an insane man, not by the entire (Muslim) community".
Muslims helped cremate his grandfather.
"I understand the suffering of both Hindus and Muslims," says Wanchoo, who prefers to forget the past and concentrate on the future.
Wanchoo wants to develop Immersion into a sort of academy where new talent can be encouraged. The band's albums are being sold outside Kashmir, and now a Bollywood producer is interested in making a film about the group's emergence.
"This band has surely survived. We are now making profits and also have lots of work on hand," Wanchoo says.
Immersion performs on key anniversaries, as well as for NGOs and charities.
"We even perform to entertain and help those orphaned by the ongoing unrest," says Mehmeet Sayeed, 24 -- the only woman in the group.
'Immersion' offers Kashmir some band aid
Izhar Wani (Kashmir Images)
SRINAGAR: As a Hindu whose grandfather was shot dead by Muslim militants, Amit Wanchoo has long had reason to quit Kashmir. Instead he's stayed and prospered in one of the most unlikely career choices on offer in the restive region -- singer in a rock band.
"Music never kills anyone, never harms anyone," says Wanchoo, 29, whose group, Immersion, has a loyal following among young Kashmiris tired with nearly 20 years of a bloody insurgency against Indian rule.
"Through our concerts we are able to heal wounds. We are able to make people sing and smile," Wanchoo told AFP during an interview in Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.
The separatist battle that broke out in Muslim-majority Kashmir in 1989 has left more than 43,000 people dead, according to official figures. It also put a long-term lid on the disputed region's cultural life, with the separatists banning most forms of entertainment. However, since the launch of an India-Pakistan peace process in January 2004, the level of violence has ebbed somewhat and popular culture has been making a tentative comeback. Cable TV is available again, a single cinema has opened and theatre actors are back treading the boards.
And since 2004, Immersion has managed to perform 800 concerts across Kashmir -- including the Hindu-majority winter capital Jammu -- and even in New Delhi.
The band, which performs in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, recently released a well-received album, whose songs reflect some of the tragedy of Kashmir but also the optimism of its people.
Lines like "We will change the picture of the world, we the youngsters of Kashmir" have struck a chord and are often heard being sung in Srinagar's streets and markets.
"My aim is to make Immersion a big name," says Wanchoo, who writes most of the five-member band's lyrics.
Wanchoo's family belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu) community, and was one of the few that chose not to flee the Kashmir Valley region for Jammu during the insurgency. His grandfather used to document cases of human rights violations by Indian troops, fight unlawful detentions of suspects and help the poor, but still became a militant target and was killed in 1992.
Wanchoo admits that the murder made him "anti-Muslim" for a brief period. "I was only 13," he says. "I used to think: why did they kill him? He never harmed them. But soon I realised that it was an insane act by an insane man, not by the entire (Muslim) community".
Muslims helped cremate his grandfather.
"I understand the suffering of both Hindus and Muslims," says Wanchoo, who prefers to forget the past and concentrate on the future.
Wanchoo wants to develop Immersion into a sort of academy where new talent can be encouraged. The band's albums are being sold outside Kashmir, and now a Bollywood producer is interested in making a film about the group's emergence.
"This band has surely survived. We are now making profits and also have lots of work on hand," Wanchoo says.
Immersion performs on key anniversaries, as well as for NGOs and charities.
"We even perform to entertain and help those orphaned by the ongoing unrest," says Mehmeet Sayeed, 24 -- the only woman in the group.
Afshana stumps for civil public debate on issues of common concern
(Ms. Syeda Afshana, 34, was born in Srinagar. She attended the Vishwa Bharti High School in Rainawari, Srinagar, and the Government Women's College in Srinagar where she received a B.Sc. degree. She completed her Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 1999 and was the Gold Medallist (first position holder) in her graduating class. She is currently a Lecturer in the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the Kashmir University and pursuing her doctorate on the role of internet after 9/11.)
Learn to Dissent
"If all mankind
minus one,
were of one opinion,
and only one person
were of the contrary opinion,
mankind would be no more
justified in silencing
that one person,
than he,
if he had the power,
would be justified
in silencing mankind"
(John Stuart Mill)
Nations develop when there is debate on ideas and policies. And people become mature when they dissent and seek an alternative viewpoint. Evolution of new thoughts and principles takes place as dissenting opinion aids in making the majority opinion better or at times, influences in rectifying the same. It shapes the intellectual landscape of a community. Therefore, it needs to be encouraged as well as to be protected.
Dissent or disagreement as such is not always 'wicked', as usually labeled by dissent haters. A healthy practice of expressing one's viewpoint cannot be just troublesome or irritating. But then, what is it that upsets the majority opinion whenever there is dissent? Why to brush-off the difference of opinion? Possibly the majority opinion is never convinced of its probity. Or either the dissent haters are blind towards the facts. The perceptual blindness, in turn, can be because of any prejudice or a vested interest that has many favorable linkages to procure.
It appears strange as to why separate opinions are so much ostracized and looked down upon. Cannot individuals think differently, and have different take on various issues? The whip to make them think alike, aimed at establishing consensus opinions sounds bizarre! Dismissing disagreement for the sake of 'unanimity' is fallacious. Unanimity is not unity. It is only a symbol of 'common ground' disguised as comradeship.
The notion that dissent encourages noncompliance is again an alibi to suppress the dissenting voices. No worldly word is final. No law is an indisputable verdict. And no rule is an unquestionable commandment. Obedience is obviously warranted but the same cannot be entailed or enforced by the killing of the dissenting opinion.
They say a dissenting opinion is often the product of the battle itself. The battle is between the dissimilar parties or individuals, arguing on a plane of right and wrong variable. Of course, both the variables are definite, and can not be relative. Right is just right, and wrong cannot be set as right, come what may. That's why dissents act as a pivot in the system of checks and balances. It is a pointer for the brooding soul, an indicator to the future which may get betrayed by the incorrect estimation or projection of the majority opinion.
Societies, institutions and organizations need dissenters to save these from collapsing due to 'consensus virus' that slaughters the independent thinking and prolongs the culture of mindless compliance. The concurring minds are never ingenious and innovative since they have nothing to offer and hence, no dissent. They agree to everything and sign in every decision. The 'Herd Mentality' is their hallmark.
To be an honest dissenter is not that easy and painless. It needs moral courage to speak up and disagree. It needs challenging tolerance to face victimization for committing the 'sin to object'. It needs strong self-sufficiency to withstand lobby pressures and not getting bogged down by ruthless criticism. It needs indigenous merit and competence to go against the majority opinion and face the music all-time.
Dissenters cannot hope to revamp the various systems operating in the nation overnight. Be it political, social, academic or administrative etc. They can just put the brakes on the growing process of degeneration, injustice and unfairness, trying to slow it down to the extent that the nation does not go nuts, altogether. The situation that will descend into anarchy; pushing us into a kind of mob rule or majority rule, where what counts is merely the heads, and not what is actually contained in the heads.
Well said that 'a dissenter is the gladiator making a last stand against the lions'. Over here, the crushed gladiators are rare. And the crutched lions are ruling the roost.
God save us. God save this nation!
(Ms. Syeda Afshana, 34, was born in Srinagar. She attended the Vishwa Bharti High School in Rainawari, Srinagar, and the Government Women's College in Srinagar where she received a B.Sc. degree. She completed her Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 1999 and was the Gold Medallist (first position holder) in her graduating class. She is currently a Lecturer in the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the Kashmir University and pursuing her doctorate on the role of internet after 9/11.)
Learn to Dissent
"If all mankind
minus one,
were of one opinion,
and only one person
were of the contrary opinion,
mankind would be no more
justified in silencing
that one person,
than he,
if he had the power,
would be justified
in silencing mankind"
(John Stuart Mill)
Nations develop when there is debate on ideas and policies. And people become mature when they dissent and seek an alternative viewpoint. Evolution of new thoughts and principles takes place as dissenting opinion aids in making the majority opinion better or at times, influences in rectifying the same. It shapes the intellectual landscape of a community. Therefore, it needs to be encouraged as well as to be protected.
Dissent or disagreement as such is not always 'wicked', as usually labeled by dissent haters. A healthy practice of expressing one's viewpoint cannot be just troublesome or irritating. But then, what is it that upsets the majority opinion whenever there is dissent? Why to brush-off the difference of opinion? Possibly the majority opinion is never convinced of its probity. Or either the dissent haters are blind towards the facts. The perceptual blindness, in turn, can be because of any prejudice or a vested interest that has many favorable linkages to procure.
It appears strange as to why separate opinions are so much ostracized and looked down upon. Cannot individuals think differently, and have different take on various issues? The whip to make them think alike, aimed at establishing consensus opinions sounds bizarre! Dismissing disagreement for the sake of 'unanimity' is fallacious. Unanimity is not unity. It is only a symbol of 'common ground' disguised as comradeship.
The notion that dissent encourages noncompliance is again an alibi to suppress the dissenting voices. No worldly word is final. No law is an indisputable verdict. And no rule is an unquestionable commandment. Obedience is obviously warranted but the same cannot be entailed or enforced by the killing of the dissenting opinion.
They say a dissenting opinion is often the product of the battle itself. The battle is between the dissimilar parties or individuals, arguing on a plane of right and wrong variable. Of course, both the variables are definite, and can not be relative. Right is just right, and wrong cannot be set as right, come what may. That's why dissents act as a pivot in the system of checks and balances. It is a pointer for the brooding soul, an indicator to the future which may get betrayed by the incorrect estimation or projection of the majority opinion.
Societies, institutions and organizations need dissenters to save these from collapsing due to 'consensus virus' that slaughters the independent thinking and prolongs the culture of mindless compliance. The concurring minds are never ingenious and innovative since they have nothing to offer and hence, no dissent. They agree to everything and sign in every decision. The 'Herd Mentality' is their hallmark.
To be an honest dissenter is not that easy and painless. It needs moral courage to speak up and disagree. It needs challenging tolerance to face victimization for committing the 'sin to object'. It needs strong self-sufficiency to withstand lobby pressures and not getting bogged down by ruthless criticism. It needs indigenous merit and competence to go against the majority opinion and face the music all-time.
Dissenters cannot hope to revamp the various systems operating in the nation overnight. Be it political, social, academic or administrative etc. They can just put the brakes on the growing process of degeneration, injustice and unfairness, trying to slow it down to the extent that the nation does not go nuts, altogether. The situation that will descend into anarchy; pushing us into a kind of mob rule or majority rule, where what counts is merely the heads, and not what is actually contained in the heads.
Well said that 'a dissenter is the gladiator making a last stand against the lions'. Over here, the crushed gladiators are rare. And the crutched lions are ruling the roost.
God save us. God save this nation!
J & K Bank Woman Entrepreneur Of Year
Rubeena's floriculture venture touches new heights
Srinagar: Behind every successful man, there is a woman, may sound a cliché. But its paraphrasing has seldom been done as few men have contributed to the success of females in their entrepreneurial ventures or other professional fields.
Here is one such example. Rubeena Tabassum of Yarikalan Chadoora Budgam, a house wife, who aspired to become an entrepreneur, received a huge setback when the financial institutions declined to provide her assistance for establishing a unit dealing in commercial floriculture, the training for which she received from Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).
"When I submitted the detailed project report about the floriculture unit to the Bank in 2006, they categorically declined to provide any loan and termed the concept as new and not a viable one," Rubeena told Greater Kashmir. After rejection from the Bank, Rubeena said that she saw her dreams shattered for the lack of financial support. However, the aspiring entrepreneur received the much needed financial support from her husband, who took the consumer loan and financed the project.
According to Rubeena, she also received moral support and cooperation from JKEDI during the tough times and struggle in her endeavour. "I am highly thankful and extend my gratitude to the consultant hired by the EDI for showing the way to establish the unit and marketing the products in New Delhi," Rubeena said.
"I acquired four kanal of land on lease, developed it and erected three green houses with the help of EDI consultant, naming it M/S United Floritech at Budgam," Rubeena said. Rubeena said that she planted carnation flower, also called noble flower, imported from Delhi in all the three green houses and later sold the produce successfully in Delhi's flower mandi.
The entrepreneurs said in 2007 she planted carnations in five green houses and also cultivated Lillium under agro-shade nets. "We harvested the crop and dispatched it to Delhi, wherein the flowers were sold in a jiffy," she said adding the flower grading comprising size, colour, height and stem structure was much better than others brought from different States. She said the carnation gives two crops in a year while as Lillium bulbs can be stored and re-planted to have another crop.
Rubeena, after successfully cultivating the crop and making a good profit, was approached by the financial institutions willing to support her project. "I was amazed to see the overwhelming response of these institutions who earlier refused to provide any loan," Rubeena said adding that after receiving assistance from one of the bank, she expanded her business by procuring more land and erecting two more green houses taking its number to seven. The entrepreneur said that she also received 5-year grant under technological mission of National Horticulture Board (NHB).
"This year, we planted Lillium in two green houses and did open cultivation of Gladiolus on six more kanal of land," she said. Rubeena said adding a small nursery of aromatic plants like lavender and Rosademisene has also been established in the unit. She said the produce of the crop has been sent to Delhi and has fetched good amount of money.
Rubeena said that she wants to further expand her business by going into business of aromatic plants on huge scale and extraction of oil.
The recipient of "J&K Bank woman entrepreneur of the year 2006 award" from the JK Bank chairman Dr. Haseeb Drabu on "International Women's Day," for excelling in floriculture, Rubeena said that she intended to become a medico at an earlier age. "Now I regret the days I wished to become a doctor. I had never dreamt that I would do something that will bring me such laurels. The best thing about successful entrepreneurship is that it is a job-generating enterprise. I can provide employment to people," she said while giving all the credit to her husband for making a name for herself.
(Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: Behind every successful man, there is a woman, may sound a cliché. But its paraphrasing has seldom been done as few men have contributed to the success of females in their entrepreneurial ventures or other professional fields.
Here is one such example. Rubeena Tabassum of Yarikalan Chadoora Budgam, a house wife, who aspired to become an entrepreneur, received a huge setback when the financial institutions declined to provide her assistance for establishing a unit dealing in commercial floriculture, the training for which she received from Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).
"When I submitted the detailed project report about the floriculture unit to the Bank in 2006, they categorically declined to provide any loan and termed the concept as new and not a viable one," Rubeena told Greater Kashmir. After rejection from the Bank, Rubeena said that she saw her dreams shattered for the lack of financial support. However, the aspiring entrepreneur received the much needed financial support from her husband, who took the consumer loan and financed the project.
According to Rubeena, she also received moral support and cooperation from JKEDI during the tough times and struggle in her endeavour. "I am highly thankful and extend my gratitude to the consultant hired by the EDI for showing the way to establish the unit and marketing the products in New Delhi," Rubeena said.
"I acquired four kanal of land on lease, developed it and erected three green houses with the help of EDI consultant, naming it M/S United Floritech at Budgam," Rubeena said. Rubeena said that she planted carnation flower, also called noble flower, imported from Delhi in all the three green houses and later sold the produce successfully in Delhi's flower mandi.
The entrepreneurs said in 2007 she planted carnations in five green houses and also cultivated Lillium under agro-shade nets. "We harvested the crop and dispatched it to Delhi, wherein the flowers were sold in a jiffy," she said adding the flower grading comprising size, colour, height and stem structure was much better than others brought from different States. She said the carnation gives two crops in a year while as Lillium bulbs can be stored and re-planted to have another crop.
Rubeena, after successfully cultivating the crop and making a good profit, was approached by the financial institutions willing to support her project. "I was amazed to see the overwhelming response of these institutions who earlier refused to provide any loan," Rubeena said adding that after receiving assistance from one of the bank, she expanded her business by procuring more land and erecting two more green houses taking its number to seven. The entrepreneur said that she also received 5-year grant under technological mission of National Horticulture Board (NHB).
"This year, we planted Lillium in two green houses and did open cultivation of Gladiolus on six more kanal of land," she said. Rubeena said adding a small nursery of aromatic plants like lavender and Rosademisene has also been established in the unit. She said the produce of the crop has been sent to Delhi and has fetched good amount of money.
Rubeena said that she wants to further expand her business by going into business of aromatic plants on huge scale and extraction of oil.
The recipient of "J&K Bank woman entrepreneur of the year 2006 award" from the JK Bank chairman Dr. Haseeb Drabu on "International Women's Day," for excelling in floriculture, Rubeena said that she intended to become a medico at an earlier age. "Now I regret the days I wished to become a doctor. I had never dreamt that I would do something that will bring me such laurels. The best thing about successful entrepreneurship is that it is a job-generating enterprise. I can provide employment to people," she said while giving all the credit to her husband for making a name for herself.
(Greater Kashmir)
Promoting Tourism in the age of Climatic Changes
Two articles of relevance on September 27, the World Tourism Day
Tourism and climate challenge
Mahesh Kaul
Jammu: Tourism is an economic activity that has an impact on almost every sphere of human life. It cannot thrive in isolation as it depends on peripheral industries like transportation, accommodation etc. But with the passage of time and economic boom all over the world, the tourist demand has been affected in many ways as it has made great impact on the disposable income.
This has been a blessing for the destinations that have spots of great tourist appeal. The influx of tourists to the destination areas has solved the problem of the host community to some extent. But unfortunately the planners and policy makers in majority of the destination areas marketed the destination without taking into consideration the carrying capacity, infrastructure and other parameters like the cultural beliefs of the host populations. It has resulted in conflict between the host and the guest (tourist). But handling of such conflicts to some extent has been manageable.
Another important factor that is posing a serious challenge to the tourism professionals, policy makers and the tourism organisations is the "climate change". No part of the world is today free from this threat to the environment and hence, tourism. The world climate is today guided by uncertainties. In the present scenario the realities of tourism within the context of global climate change are in terms of its impact as far as adaptation to it at tourism destinations is concerned and the economic risks of climate change. It leads to tourism "vulnerability hot spots". Other realities are the implication for the tourism demand at the destination area, impact on the climate as resource for tourism, tourist behavior arising from climate change, impact of the mitigation policies on tourism demand. Emissions from tourism activities, the calculation of emissions from the tourism sector and its mitigation policies have caught the imagination of all the professionals linked with the tourism directly or indirectly. To meet the challenges posed by the global climate change the United
Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has proposed this year's theme for the World Tourism Day as -"Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change". The determination to face this challenge lies in the input from the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, convened by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Davos, Switzerland in 2007, now popularly known as Davos Declaration. The stress has been laid to change habits , position renewable sources of energy, encouraging the tourism stakeholders to adapt, to mitigate and to use new technology. Emphasis is also to secure finance for the poor countries to respond to the climate change.
Davos declaration has helped to identify the following challenges that need to be faced head on as far as the global climate change is concerned:
1) Effective policy making
2) Capacity building
3) Financial Systems to support adaptation and mitigation activities
4) Reduction of knowledge gaps
5) Address vulnerability hot spots
6) Multidisciplinary action
Effective policy making is the key to any plan that can be materialized into workable action plan. It needs the inclusion of professionals from various fields that have bearing on tourism product or destination. Capacity building is needed not only in terms of the destination but also in terms of the human resource that is involved in the handling of tourism. It is more or less linked with imparting the adaptation techniques to see threats in terms of climate change as opportunities.
For that the scientific methods need to be simplified and not over simplified so that the adaptation does not lose its lustre. Financial support system is the backbone of any economic activity. The policy of setting up of financial support systems for the adaptation and mitigation activities is based on the policy that the developed countries will not be allowed to discriminate against the developing countries. It has been clearly stated in the Davos Declaration that the adaptation to respond to climate change is meant for the developing countries and the mitigation of carbon products is meant for the developed nations. Reduction of knowledge gaps means that the technical knowhow should be communicated in effective manner from the experts and scientists to common people in simplified language so that there is no communication barrier; thus leading transformation to be seen in the destination area in vivid manner. To address vulnerability spots is the key area of concern. The attention should be focussed on the areas that are prone to natural calamities like tropical storms, heavy rains, floods, drought, coastal erosion etc. so that the adaptability measures are implemented to minimize the adverse effect on the tourism and the tourist activity.
As already said in the beginning that tourism cannot thrive in isolation. It involves the support of various peripheral organizations and fields like transport, railways, airways, waterways, scientific community (like geographers, conservators, conservation architects, historians, etc.).Thus integration of these experts and many more is required to develop multidisciplinary action to face the threat of global climate change in order to develop sustainable tourism for better, peaceful and eco-friendly world.
_________________________________________________________
Srinagar: On this World Tourism Day, Kashmir tourism industry is battling with uncertainty about its viability, particularly in the aftermath of recent unrest which saw tourism coming to a grinding halt here.
Until June this year, the inflow of tourists was smooth but due to worsening of situation following Amaranth land row, the rush of tourist dipped steeply.
People associated with tourism blame the Kashmir's economic blockade by Jammuites for the dwindling tourist traffic.
"Thanks to Jammu for economic blockade, our business has came to a halt," says president Houseboat Owners Association.
According to the available data, by June this year, 4,65,000 tourists visited Kashmir. Tourism department had expected around 10 lakh tourists visiting Kashmir by the year-end, but now they will have to readjust their expectations as well as figures.
"We were expecting highest number of tourists this year but unfortunately this time the number of tourists in not to out liking; it is very low," Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmed Shah says.
Reports further say that almost three lakh reservations were cancelled in the wake of the recent agitations and an almost equal number of expected unreserved tourists backed out due to uncertainty in Kashmir.
To restore the confidence of tourists from outside, government is planning many steps. "We are using print as well as electronic media to publicize our tourist destinations and we are sending across a message that Kashmir is a safe place," Shah adds.
Tourism is one of the major industries of Kashmir and a large number of families survive on it.
"Almost 1200 house boat families depend entirely on tourism trade and then there are Shikara owners, ponny walas and others. This counts for about 20 lakh people," president Houseboat Owners Association says.
It is pertinent to mention here that since 1980, September 27 is celebrated by the World Tourism Organization as World Tourism Day. The purpose of this day is to display awareness that tourism is vital to the international community and to show how it affects the social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
September 27 is important since on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the WTO were adopted. The adoption of the statutes is considered to be a milestone in global tourism.
Tourism and climate challenge
Mahesh Kaul
Jammu: Tourism is an economic activity that has an impact on almost every sphere of human life. It cannot thrive in isolation as it depends on peripheral industries like transportation, accommodation etc. But with the passage of time and economic boom all over the world, the tourist demand has been affected in many ways as it has made great impact on the disposable income.
This has been a blessing for the destinations that have spots of great tourist appeal. The influx of tourists to the destination areas has solved the problem of the host community to some extent. But unfortunately the planners and policy makers in majority of the destination areas marketed the destination without taking into consideration the carrying capacity, infrastructure and other parameters like the cultural beliefs of the host populations. It has resulted in conflict between the host and the guest (tourist). But handling of such conflicts to some extent has been manageable.
Another important factor that is posing a serious challenge to the tourism professionals, policy makers and the tourism organisations is the "climate change". No part of the world is today free from this threat to the environment and hence, tourism. The world climate is today guided by uncertainties. In the present scenario the realities of tourism within the context of global climate change are in terms of its impact as far as adaptation to it at tourism destinations is concerned and the economic risks of climate change. It leads to tourism "vulnerability hot spots". Other realities are the implication for the tourism demand at the destination area, impact on the climate as resource for tourism, tourist behavior arising from climate change, impact of the mitigation policies on tourism demand. Emissions from tourism activities, the calculation of emissions from the tourism sector and its mitigation policies have caught the imagination of all the professionals linked with the tourism directly or indirectly. To meet the challenges posed by the global climate change the United
Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has proposed this year's theme for the World Tourism Day as -"Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change". The determination to face this challenge lies in the input from the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, convened by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Davos, Switzerland in 2007, now popularly known as Davos Declaration. The stress has been laid to change habits , position renewable sources of energy, encouraging the tourism stakeholders to adapt, to mitigate and to use new technology. Emphasis is also to secure finance for the poor countries to respond to the climate change.
Davos declaration has helped to identify the following challenges that need to be faced head on as far as the global climate change is concerned:
1) Effective policy making
2) Capacity building
3) Financial Systems to support adaptation and mitigation activities
4) Reduction of knowledge gaps
5) Address vulnerability hot spots
6) Multidisciplinary action
Effective policy making is the key to any plan that can be materialized into workable action plan. It needs the inclusion of professionals from various fields that have bearing on tourism product or destination. Capacity building is needed not only in terms of the destination but also in terms of the human resource that is involved in the handling of tourism. It is more or less linked with imparting the adaptation techniques to see threats in terms of climate change as opportunities.
For that the scientific methods need to be simplified and not over simplified so that the adaptation does not lose its lustre. Financial support system is the backbone of any economic activity. The policy of setting up of financial support systems for the adaptation and mitigation activities is based on the policy that the developed countries will not be allowed to discriminate against the developing countries. It has been clearly stated in the Davos Declaration that the adaptation to respond to climate change is meant for the developing countries and the mitigation of carbon products is meant for the developed nations. Reduction of knowledge gaps means that the technical knowhow should be communicated in effective manner from the experts and scientists to common people in simplified language so that there is no communication barrier; thus leading transformation to be seen in the destination area in vivid manner. To address vulnerability spots is the key area of concern. The attention should be focussed on the areas that are prone to natural calamities like tropical storms, heavy rains, floods, drought, coastal erosion etc. so that the adaptability measures are implemented to minimize the adverse effect on the tourism and the tourist activity.
As already said in the beginning that tourism cannot thrive in isolation. It involves the support of various peripheral organizations and fields like transport, railways, airways, waterways, scientific community (like geographers, conservators, conservation architects, historians, etc.).Thus integration of these experts and many more is required to develop multidisciplinary action to face the threat of global climate change in order to develop sustainable tourism for better, peaceful and eco-friendly world.
_________________________________________________________
Srinagar: On this World Tourism Day, Kashmir tourism industry is battling with uncertainty about its viability, particularly in the aftermath of recent unrest which saw tourism coming to a grinding halt here.
Until June this year, the inflow of tourists was smooth but due to worsening of situation following Amaranth land row, the rush of tourist dipped steeply.
People associated with tourism blame the Kashmir's economic blockade by Jammuites for the dwindling tourist traffic.
"Thanks to Jammu for economic blockade, our business has came to a halt," says president Houseboat Owners Association.
According to the available data, by June this year, 4,65,000 tourists visited Kashmir. Tourism department had expected around 10 lakh tourists visiting Kashmir by the year-end, but now they will have to readjust their expectations as well as figures.
"We were expecting highest number of tourists this year but unfortunately this time the number of tourists in not to out liking; it is very low," Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmed Shah says.
Reports further say that almost three lakh reservations were cancelled in the wake of the recent agitations and an almost equal number of expected unreserved tourists backed out due to uncertainty in Kashmir.
To restore the confidence of tourists from outside, government is planning many steps. "We are using print as well as electronic media to publicize our tourist destinations and we are sending across a message that Kashmir is a safe place," Shah adds.
Tourism is one of the major industries of Kashmir and a large number of families survive on it.
"Almost 1200 house boat families depend entirely on tourism trade and then there are Shikara owners, ponny walas and others. This counts for about 20 lakh people," president Houseboat Owners Association says.
It is pertinent to mention here that since 1980, September 27 is celebrated by the World Tourism Organization as World Tourism Day. The purpose of this day is to display awareness that tourism is vital to the international community and to show how it affects the social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
September 27 is important since on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the WTO were adopted. The adoption of the statutes is considered to be a milestone in global tourism.
Will Cross Border Trade Replace Cross Border Violence?
If the cross LOC trade is allowed to turn into a functional reality, it will certainly be the most powerful CBM, notwithstanding scepticism and cynical rejection
(Shuhab Hashmi, 38, was born in Baramulla, and graduated from the Degree College in Sopore, and completed his M.A. from the University of Kashmir. He is a Columnist, and in his spare time enjoys reading, discussions and traveling.)
Cross-Border Trade
Opening up of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, as well as Poonch-Rawlakot road for the trade purposes is no doubt the biggest Confidence Building Measure vis-à-vis Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan in the last 60 years. There have been numerous agreements between the two rival neighbours but most of them have revolved round the interests of either Islamabad or New Delhi.
For example the conversion of ceasefire line into Line of Control (LoC) was in the greater interest of India to which a lame duck Pakistani establishment agreed upon under pressure, in the backdrop of humiliating defeat in Dhaka. Earlier the Indus Water Treaty was again in favour of India and Pakistan to safeguard their water interests that too at the cost of huge economic losses the Jammu and Kashmir has suffered.
With the onset of armed rebellion in Kashmir, there has hardly been a movement forward on addressing the issues common to the people on both sides of the divide. Pakistan's known rhetoric that Kashmir is a jugular vein and that it supports the struggle on moral, diplomatic and political front would stop only there. But opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and later Poonch-Rawlakot road was certainly a big milestone in the process of coming to the rescue of lakhs of people who had been running from pillar to post to get permission and the formalities of visit done to see each other. There is no doubt a big question mark over the procedure being adopted in issuing the travel permits and it is not in measure with the expectations of the people, nevertheless, every month nearly 500 people mostly on Poonch-Rawlakot route travel to the other side. This is clear that the permits have so far been restricted to divided families and in many of their cases as well inordinate delays have become the hallmark of the process. Since the number of divided families in Poonch-Rajouri belt and on the other side in that area is higher the numbers are always on an up. This step as part of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan has certainly come as a major relief for those who cannot ordinarily afford to travel to Delhi to get visa and move on further to Pakistan and its Administered Kashmir. One cannot deny the fact that the cumbersome procedure is a major hiccup to make it the most enviable CBM in the process, but to discredit it out rightly would also not be fair on part of those who do not see it 'serving their interests'.
Now the opening of these roads for trade purposes from October 21 is yet another leap in the process, notwithstanding the fact that it is overshadowed by the similar apprehensions. Those talking about it and involved in the process have been repeatedly making their concerns public. First concern was that apple was not part of the list which obviously would have made it meaningless. While India and Pakistan have tread on a new path of reconciliation as was evident from the New York statement of September 24, need is that all what has been written in the renewed pledge to end hostilities should be followed in letter and spirit. Merely starting the trade and making it hostage to the same procedural wrangling would prove counter-productive and make the whole exercise meaningless. To make the trade purposeful would mean that there should be no bar on any trade and it should serve as yet another road like Srinagar-Jammu highway. This road's importance has increased manifold in the recent weeks after hundreds of thousands of people braved bullets to cross it in search of an alternative. That was necessitated after economic blockade enforced by the Hindu right wing people in Jammu. So it demands that from essential commodities to handicraft to fruit, everything should be part of the lists which are likely to be finalized by the Chambers of Muzaffarabad and Srinagar by the middle of next month.
Whatever the reactions from political parties at the outset the people in general have welcomed the announcement, though with same apprehensions. In the long chain of reactions one is interesting, though not on unexpected lines. That is when the Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani termed it as a "non issue". Geelani needs to explain to the people that if this was a non issue why the senior executive member of Hurriyat Conference Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who laid down his life on this road, was leading the procession. It was the joint programme of all the separatists including Geelani to support the Muzaffarabad Chalo call given by traders. Both the Hurriyats had initially endorsed the three point charter of demands which included opening of this road for trade purposes, releasing of detainees and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. As they saw the Azadi sentiment rejuvenating they extended their agitation for the larger goal of freedom forgetting that what they had demanded a week earlier. The leaders are duty bound to make the position clear to the masses to avoid confusion.
This development has also unveiled a new facet in the Kashmir struggle which is, that for each single demand which ultimately is part of a larger demand the sacrifices have to be split. For re-opening of this road earlier for bus service a rally organized by PDP was attacked in which 13 people got killed. And this time the mass movement for the road took a heavy toll of over 50 people. Are we heading towards a compartmentalised structure of sacrifices to achieve the larger goal is the moot question. If so it is then better to follow exactly the same procedure to prevent the innocent lives from perishing. Leaders should think.
(Shuhab Hashmi, 38, was born in Baramulla, and graduated from the Degree College in Sopore, and completed his M.A. from the University of Kashmir. He is a Columnist, and in his spare time enjoys reading, discussions and traveling.)
Cross-Border Trade
Opening up of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, as well as Poonch-Rawlakot road for the trade purposes is no doubt the biggest Confidence Building Measure vis-à-vis Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan in the last 60 years. There have been numerous agreements between the two rival neighbours but most of them have revolved round the interests of either Islamabad or New Delhi.
For example the conversion of ceasefire line into Line of Control (LoC) was in the greater interest of India to which a lame duck Pakistani establishment agreed upon under pressure, in the backdrop of humiliating defeat in Dhaka. Earlier the Indus Water Treaty was again in favour of India and Pakistan to safeguard their water interests that too at the cost of huge economic losses the Jammu and Kashmir has suffered.
With the onset of armed rebellion in Kashmir, there has hardly been a movement forward on addressing the issues common to the people on both sides of the divide. Pakistan's known rhetoric that Kashmir is a jugular vein and that it supports the struggle on moral, diplomatic and political front would stop only there. But opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and later Poonch-Rawlakot road was certainly a big milestone in the process of coming to the rescue of lakhs of people who had been running from pillar to post to get permission and the formalities of visit done to see each other. There is no doubt a big question mark over the procedure being adopted in issuing the travel permits and it is not in measure with the expectations of the people, nevertheless, every month nearly 500 people mostly on Poonch-Rawlakot route travel to the other side. This is clear that the permits have so far been restricted to divided families and in many of their cases as well inordinate delays have become the hallmark of the process. Since the number of divided families in Poonch-Rajouri belt and on the other side in that area is higher the numbers are always on an up. This step as part of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan has certainly come as a major relief for those who cannot ordinarily afford to travel to Delhi to get visa and move on further to Pakistan and its Administered Kashmir. One cannot deny the fact that the cumbersome procedure is a major hiccup to make it the most enviable CBM in the process, but to discredit it out rightly would also not be fair on part of those who do not see it 'serving their interests'.
Now the opening of these roads for trade purposes from October 21 is yet another leap in the process, notwithstanding the fact that it is overshadowed by the similar apprehensions. Those talking about it and involved in the process have been repeatedly making their concerns public. First concern was that apple was not part of the list which obviously would have made it meaningless. While India and Pakistan have tread on a new path of reconciliation as was evident from the New York statement of September 24, need is that all what has been written in the renewed pledge to end hostilities should be followed in letter and spirit. Merely starting the trade and making it hostage to the same procedural wrangling would prove counter-productive and make the whole exercise meaningless. To make the trade purposeful would mean that there should be no bar on any trade and it should serve as yet another road like Srinagar-Jammu highway. This road's importance has increased manifold in the recent weeks after hundreds of thousands of people braved bullets to cross it in search of an alternative. That was necessitated after economic blockade enforced by the Hindu right wing people in Jammu. So it demands that from essential commodities to handicraft to fruit, everything should be part of the lists which are likely to be finalized by the Chambers of Muzaffarabad and Srinagar by the middle of next month.
Whatever the reactions from political parties at the outset the people in general have welcomed the announcement, though with same apprehensions. In the long chain of reactions one is interesting, though not on unexpected lines. That is when the Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani termed it as a "non issue". Geelani needs to explain to the people that if this was a non issue why the senior executive member of Hurriyat Conference Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who laid down his life on this road, was leading the procession. It was the joint programme of all the separatists including Geelani to support the Muzaffarabad Chalo call given by traders. Both the Hurriyats had initially endorsed the three point charter of demands which included opening of this road for trade purposes, releasing of detainees and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. As they saw the Azadi sentiment rejuvenating they extended their agitation for the larger goal of freedom forgetting that what they had demanded a week earlier. The leaders are duty bound to make the position clear to the masses to avoid confusion.
This development has also unveiled a new facet in the Kashmir struggle which is, that for each single demand which ultimately is part of a larger demand the sacrifices have to be split. For re-opening of this road earlier for bus service a rally organized by PDP was attacked in which 13 people got killed. And this time the mass movement for the road took a heavy toll of over 50 people. Are we heading towards a compartmentalised structure of sacrifices to achieve the larger goal is the moot question. If so it is then better to follow exactly the same procedure to prevent the innocent lives from perishing. Leaders should think.
Bringing Knowledge to People Obsessed With Politics is not Easy
Forget books, even free internet does not overcome public indifference towards libraries
Trove Of Knowledge Lies Shunned, Ignored
Srinagar: A rare collection of almost 80,000 books has failed to evoke any interest from the book lover. The treasure trove of rare books in piled up in one of the oldest libraries in the valley but most of the books have remained unread.
The Sri Pratap Singh (SPS) Central library at Lal Mandi Srinagar is the oldest library in Srinagar. Armed with 80,000 books on a wide range of subjects the library has now turned high tech with the introduction of internet facilities also.
"Most of the times I have come to the library I have found it deserted as people in the city and elsewhere lack awareness about the literary assistance they can get from this library," Bashir Ahmad, a retired teacher said. Bashir Ahmad blamed the present curriculum for this state of affairs. "Students in most of the schools have been put under tremendous pressure and stress to devote most of their time in academic studies," he added.
The Sri Pratap Singh library was established in 1898. It is a free, government-run facility with just a few hundred registered members. The assets of this library range from pre-historical to modern times, from newspapers to philosophical texts and from modern studies to religious manuscripts.
Most people who visit this library prefer to read current affairs besides books on general studies. The visitors by and large belong to student community and engage themselves with material other than their academic subjects. Subject related books are either not available or are obsolete. "I mostly read newspapers and magazines. Books related to my subject are not available here", says Irfan Bashir, a B.Sc student and a regular member of SPS Library.
The administrators of this library feel that books related to the academic syllabus are available in School and College libraries, so their prime focus is on books of general significance. "The syllabus oriented books are available in academic institutions so we prefer to procure books of wider scope and greater interest", says Kuldeep Singh, Deputy Director, Book purchasing committee, SPS library.
In April 2006, internet was introduced in the library and a separate membership, almost free of cost, was started. But even this facility failed to generate interest among the visitors of the library. During their visit to the internet parlor of the library, reporters found that all computers were turned off and there was not even a single user browsing the net.
"Due to lack of awareness, such a facility goes waste. The administration did try to popularize this library but at the same time the reading habits of the people became an impediment for us," Kuldeep Singh said. "People lack awareness, and media can be used to publicize this library. But I think that our city has a low number of readers, and people prefer TV to books," he said.
Trove Of Knowledge Lies Shunned, Ignored
Srinagar: A rare collection of almost 80,000 books has failed to evoke any interest from the book lover. The treasure trove of rare books in piled up in one of the oldest libraries in the valley but most of the books have remained unread.
The Sri Pratap Singh (SPS) Central library at Lal Mandi Srinagar is the oldest library in Srinagar. Armed with 80,000 books on a wide range of subjects the library has now turned high tech with the introduction of internet facilities also.
"Most of the times I have come to the library I have found it deserted as people in the city and elsewhere lack awareness about the literary assistance they can get from this library," Bashir Ahmad, a retired teacher said. Bashir Ahmad blamed the present curriculum for this state of affairs. "Students in most of the schools have been put under tremendous pressure and stress to devote most of their time in academic studies," he added.
The Sri Pratap Singh library was established in 1898. It is a free, government-run facility with just a few hundred registered members. The assets of this library range from pre-historical to modern times, from newspapers to philosophical texts and from modern studies to religious manuscripts.
Most people who visit this library prefer to read current affairs besides books on general studies. The visitors by and large belong to student community and engage themselves with material other than their academic subjects. Subject related books are either not available or are obsolete. "I mostly read newspapers and magazines. Books related to my subject are not available here", says Irfan Bashir, a B.Sc student and a regular member of SPS Library.
The administrators of this library feel that books related to the academic syllabus are available in School and College libraries, so their prime focus is on books of general significance. "The syllabus oriented books are available in academic institutions so we prefer to procure books of wider scope and greater interest", says Kuldeep Singh, Deputy Director, Book purchasing committee, SPS library.
In April 2006, internet was introduced in the library and a separate membership, almost free of cost, was started. But even this facility failed to generate interest among the visitors of the library. During their visit to the internet parlor of the library, reporters found that all computers were turned off and there was not even a single user browsing the net.
"Due to lack of awareness, such a facility goes waste. The administration did try to popularize this library but at the same time the reading habits of the people became an impediment for us," Kuldeep Singh said. "People lack awareness, and media can be used to publicize this library. But I think that our city has a low number of readers, and people prefer TV to books," he said.
Walnut Industry gets News to Cheer About
Kashmiri walnuts records bumper growth
Srinagar: In spite of the bad weather during its flowering season, the walnut industry has recorded a bumper yield this year.
According to official records, this year the annual production is likely to cross last year's total production of 146,000 metric tonnes.
"The walnuts of the Kashmir have the distinction of being best in the world and there is good demand of the walnuts in the American markets," said G M Khaki chief Horticulture office.
Cultivated over an area of 75,000 hectares, the crop adds more than 220 crores to the economy of the valley
"This year the production has been good. This will boost the trade of walnuts. We also export walnuts among other fruits from Kashmir valley and the business has been very encouraging," said Abdul Rashid parray, a walnut trader from Kulgam district.
Widely known for their superior quality and taste, Kashmiri walnuts have high demand not only in the markets in Jammu and Kashmir but also in other Countries as well.
Ghulam Rasool, another fruit dealer talking to this newspaper said that as the walnuts have been included in the cross-LoC trade, it will certainly boost the morale of the walnut growers.
"Besides selling the dry fruits in the Indian markets, we have a good demand of our produce in other Central Asian countries. If the trade is restored through the Srinagar –Muzaffarabad road then it would help us to market our produce to Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan," Parray said.
Walnuts are a high-energy food, rich in oil, vitamins and minerals. This fruit happens to be a popular ingredient in baked foods. As a dry fruit, it is in great demand particularly during the autumn and winter seasons.
"No just the Indian markets but the Walnuts of Kashmir have a huge potential in the world markets," Bashir Ahmad a local trader said, adding " The export of walnuts can bring good foreign exchange to the states economy ,"
Among the tourists visiting the Kashmir valley, no shopping list is complete without walnuts to relish during the holidays and also to carry home.
The walnuts unlike other fruits of the valley have greater shelf life and can last for more than one year.
Srinagar: In spite of the bad weather during its flowering season, the walnut industry has recorded a bumper yield this year.
According to official records, this year the annual production is likely to cross last year's total production of 146,000 metric tonnes.
"The walnuts of the Kashmir have the distinction of being best in the world and there is good demand of the walnuts in the American markets," said G M Khaki chief Horticulture office.
Cultivated over an area of 75,000 hectares, the crop adds more than 220 crores to the economy of the valley
"This year the production has been good. This will boost the trade of walnuts. We also export walnuts among other fruits from Kashmir valley and the business has been very encouraging," said Abdul Rashid parray, a walnut trader from Kulgam district.
Widely known for their superior quality and taste, Kashmiri walnuts have high demand not only in the markets in Jammu and Kashmir but also in other Countries as well.
Ghulam Rasool, another fruit dealer talking to this newspaper said that as the walnuts have been included in the cross-LoC trade, it will certainly boost the morale of the walnut growers.
"Besides selling the dry fruits in the Indian markets, we have a good demand of our produce in other Central Asian countries. If the trade is restored through the Srinagar –Muzaffarabad road then it would help us to market our produce to Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan," Parray said.
Walnuts are a high-energy food, rich in oil, vitamins and minerals. This fruit happens to be a popular ingredient in baked foods. As a dry fruit, it is in great demand particularly during the autumn and winter seasons.
"No just the Indian markets but the Walnuts of Kashmir have a huge potential in the world markets," Bashir Ahmad a local trader said, adding " The export of walnuts can bring good foreign exchange to the states economy ,"
Among the tourists visiting the Kashmir valley, no shopping list is complete without walnuts to relish during the holidays and also to carry home.
The walnuts unlike other fruits of the valley have greater shelf life and can last for more than one year.
Kashmir gets its first steel processing plant
When will the agriculture sector (agrarian economy) get its due?
A First for Kashmir
Srinagar: Counseling the youth to be part in the industrialization, the Governor N. N. Vohra Monday said that central and state governments were providing immense incentives for the growth of industries in the state.
While addressing at the foundation laying ceremony of Steel Processing Unit at Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora Pulwama, Vohra said that the 2004 Industry Policy offers wide ranging incentives to the entrepreneurs and industrialists.
Governor Vohra alongwith Union Minister of Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan laid the foundation of first of its kind 1.60 lakh tonnes annual capacity steel plant.
Vohra said that Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora spread over an area of 6000 kanals would be providing employment to over 4500 people.
"104 industrial units have been provided land in the Centre and 20 units have started functioning," he said, adding, Rs 250 crore were being invested for industrial growth in the Lassipora Centre.
Complimenting Central Government and Union Steel Ministry for setting up a steel processing unit in the valley, Vohra said that the plant would help to meet the steel demand of the valley besides assuring employment to a good number of people.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan speaking on the occasion, said that the steel processing unit at Lassipora would be completed by next year end and would start production by January 2010.
Promising the expansion of the unit after it becomes operational, Paswan said that the unit is being set up in the Valley with a view to cover backward areas under industrialization programme.
Paswan announced that the initial cost of Rs 90 crore of the up coming unit would be enhanced to Rs 150 crore to ensure full-fledged facilities in the unit.
The Minister disclosed that the unit would provide direct employment to 500 persons and to 4000 indirectly. He also announced that the semi-skilled and unskilled work force in the unit would be engaged locally.
Paswan said that the unit will have 40000 tonnes annual capacity TMT Bar Mill, 60000 tones annual capacity cut-to-cut length line for GP coil unit and 60000 tonnes annual capacity corrugation line for GC sheets unit.
A First for Kashmir
Srinagar: Counseling the youth to be part in the industrialization, the Governor N. N. Vohra Monday said that central and state governments were providing immense incentives for the growth of industries in the state.
While addressing at the foundation laying ceremony of Steel Processing Unit at Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora Pulwama, Vohra said that the 2004 Industry Policy offers wide ranging incentives to the entrepreneurs and industrialists.
Governor Vohra alongwith Union Minister of Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan laid the foundation of first of its kind 1.60 lakh tonnes annual capacity steel plant.
Vohra said that Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora spread over an area of 6000 kanals would be providing employment to over 4500 people.
"104 industrial units have been provided land in the Centre and 20 units have started functioning," he said, adding, Rs 250 crore were being invested for industrial growth in the Lassipora Centre.
Complimenting Central Government and Union Steel Ministry for setting up a steel processing unit in the valley, Vohra said that the plant would help to meet the steel demand of the valley besides assuring employment to a good number of people.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan speaking on the occasion, said that the steel processing unit at Lassipora would be completed by next year end and would start production by January 2010.
Promising the expansion of the unit after it becomes operational, Paswan said that the unit is being set up in the Valley with a view to cover backward areas under industrialization programme.
Paswan announced that the initial cost of Rs 90 crore of the up coming unit would be enhanced to Rs 150 crore to ensure full-fledged facilities in the unit.
The Minister disclosed that the unit would provide direct employment to 500 persons and to 4000 indirectly. He also announced that the semi-skilled and unskilled work force in the unit would be engaged locally.
Paswan said that the unit will have 40000 tonnes annual capacity TMT Bar Mill, 60000 tones annual capacity cut-to-cut length line for GP coil unit and 60000 tonnes annual capacity corrugation line for GC sheets unit.
Work is worship, but why not in Kashmir?
Is it our culture that manifests in delay and denial about everthing unpleasant?
Why isn't a healthy work culture evolving in the valley?
Javaid Malik (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: "Work is worship," thus goes the old adage. But in Kashmir it seems to have lost its significance, as people are never tired of manufacturing excuses to shirk their work.
"It's strange that people wait for strike calls to while away their precious time in idle gossip or for remaining glued to their television sets. At times, I fail to understand why they have become lethargic and lazy. If we don't change ourselves, it will have far reaching consequences," says Ghulam Ahmad,70.
Recalling the days when he was young, Ahmad says, "When I was young, there were not many government or private jobs and most Kashmiris used to make both their ends meet by farming, trading and other chores. Our elders always used to tell us that the more we work the more we will earn."
Ahmed believes that times have changed and people with fixed salaries think no matter whether they work or not they would get their pay packets on due date.
Not many decades ago, even after doing their day's work, many people would follow gainful pursuits like growing vegetables in kitchen gardens, spinning, and embroidering. This would not only boost their earnings, it would more importantly keep them active.
Not long ago, the former chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had gone whole hog to introduce what he called "work culture." For engineering disciplines, in particular, he went for double and triple shifts of working. "Despite claims, however, most government institutions function in the same leisurely manner and the work in most cases goes on at a snails pace. But, he tried at least," says Mushtaq Zahid.
Interestingly, in Kashmir the work shirkers seek refuge even in religion. A large number of Muslims abstain from work for better part of Fridays on the plea they have to offer prayer or attend a fourth day ceremony. Indeed, an hour's break is officially allowed on the day for Friday prayers. With the passage of time, many people have development some kind of inertia on such days.
The 80-year old Muhammad Yousuf Banday is upset particularly with the younger generation for staying away from work on Fridays. "Friday is an auspicious day and we just have to take one or two hours off for prayers. It's unfortunate that most people these days don't do anything on Fridays," Banday says.
An advocate who wished not to be named narrated his recent experience: "I was in my friend's office on Thursday night, and he called up one of his colleagues to assign him some important task for Friday. My friend was astonished at the response: How can I do it? It's Friday tomorrow."
Visibly concerned at the negative trend, the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin says, "Shirking work is dishonesty. Almighty Allah knows our necessities and priorities. No one can shirk work in the name of Allah," he said, adding that in the holy Qur'an, Allah ordains, "The moment yee are free from Salat, spread in the land and get busy in the quest for Allah's blessings (making the livelihood)." In other words, getting busy in making a livelihood is next in importance to Salat (prayers).
Eminent sociologist of the Valley, Dr Bashir Ahmed Dabla, says that shirking work has become one of the intrinsic parts of our cultural life. "We don't value time. We can afford to waste hours together in gossip and the same reflects in our offices and homes," Dabla says, and adds, "History stands testimony to the fact that our kings used to listen to music for hours together without worrying about people. Our culture is luxurious."
The result of growing lethargy and inertia is not far to seek. From a people who used to produce many of their daily necessities, they are turning into mere consumers, and bad ones for that. The situation has degenerated to the extent that people across the valley have to import most necessities from outside and have, lately, become quite vulnerable to exploitation, political as well as economic. The recent economic blockade was just a manifestation and an eye-opener.
Why isn't a healthy work culture evolving in the valley?
Javaid Malik (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: "Work is worship," thus goes the old adage. But in Kashmir it seems to have lost its significance, as people are never tired of manufacturing excuses to shirk their work.
"It's strange that people wait for strike calls to while away their precious time in idle gossip or for remaining glued to their television sets. At times, I fail to understand why they have become lethargic and lazy. If we don't change ourselves, it will have far reaching consequences," says Ghulam Ahmad,70.
Recalling the days when he was young, Ahmad says, "When I was young, there were not many government or private jobs and most Kashmiris used to make both their ends meet by farming, trading and other chores. Our elders always used to tell us that the more we work the more we will earn."
Ahmed believes that times have changed and people with fixed salaries think no matter whether they work or not they would get their pay packets on due date.
Not many decades ago, even after doing their day's work, many people would follow gainful pursuits like growing vegetables in kitchen gardens, spinning, and embroidering. This would not only boost their earnings, it would more importantly keep them active.
Not long ago, the former chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had gone whole hog to introduce what he called "work culture." For engineering disciplines, in particular, he went for double and triple shifts of working. "Despite claims, however, most government institutions function in the same leisurely manner and the work in most cases goes on at a snails pace. But, he tried at least," says Mushtaq Zahid.
Interestingly, in Kashmir the work shirkers seek refuge even in religion. A large number of Muslims abstain from work for better part of Fridays on the plea they have to offer prayer or attend a fourth day ceremony. Indeed, an hour's break is officially allowed on the day for Friday prayers. With the passage of time, many people have development some kind of inertia on such days.
The 80-year old Muhammad Yousuf Banday is upset particularly with the younger generation for staying away from work on Fridays. "Friday is an auspicious day and we just have to take one or two hours off for prayers. It's unfortunate that most people these days don't do anything on Fridays," Banday says.
An advocate who wished not to be named narrated his recent experience: "I was in my friend's office on Thursday night, and he called up one of his colleagues to assign him some important task for Friday. My friend was astonished at the response: How can I do it? It's Friday tomorrow."
Visibly concerned at the negative trend, the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin says, "Shirking work is dishonesty. Almighty Allah knows our necessities and priorities. No one can shirk work in the name of Allah," he said, adding that in the holy Qur'an, Allah ordains, "The moment yee are free from Salat, spread in the land and get busy in the quest for Allah's blessings (making the livelihood)." In other words, getting busy in making a livelihood is next in importance to Salat (prayers).
Eminent sociologist of the Valley, Dr Bashir Ahmed Dabla, says that shirking work has become one of the intrinsic parts of our cultural life. "We don't value time. We can afford to waste hours together in gossip and the same reflects in our offices and homes," Dabla says, and adds, "History stands testimony to the fact that our kings used to listen to music for hours together without worrying about people. Our culture is luxurious."
The result of growing lethargy and inertia is not far to seek. From a people who used to produce many of their daily necessities, they are turning into mere consumers, and bad ones for that. The situation has degenerated to the extent that people across the valley have to import most necessities from outside and have, lately, become quite vulnerable to exploitation, political as well as economic. The recent economic blockade was just a manifestation and an eye-opener.
Saving Nageen or Killing Nageen?
It remains to be seen if the Government is capable of protecting our dying lakes
Hi-tech resort at Nigeen to attract tourists
SRINAGAR: Tourism trade may be going through a rough phase these days but the department of tourism wishes to waste no time in developing new areas for attracting the tourists in near future.
According to a local news gathering agency a fresh idea in this direction has started to take shape on the banks of the famous Nigeen Lake in Srinagar.
The department has developed a tourist resort here so that tourists coming to Srinagar feel a new and added charm around this picturesque lake.
"Nigeen Lake was the preferred destination before the onset of militancy in the state. People especially the foreigners used to throng this place," deputy director department of tourism, TK Sadhoo told the news agency.
"We are making an effort to bring Nigeen back on the tourism map by developing it like it was twenty years back. Besides, a resort is scheduled to be completed on the banks of the Lake so that more and more tourists feel attracted to visit this place", added Sadhoo.
Situated on the banks of Nigeen Lake, this resort is believed to provide impetus to the ailing tourism industry in Kashmir.
Sprawling on an area of almost 15,570 sq. ft, this resort has all facilities of high class lodging.
"It is a full-fledged resort cum club and it houses an eight bedroom guest house, lobbies, card room, restaurant, billiards room, herbal massage centers, separate steam and sona bath parlors for men and women and a multipurpose hall", Sadhoo said.
The official said that department is trying to explore the medicinal value of Kashmiri herbs and is planning to use these herbs in the massage centers of this resort.
He said "The massage centers will use Kashmiri herbs and it will help us to grow economically as well."
According to the official department is planning to use the multipurpose hall as a banquet hall and has decided to throw it open to its members on concessional rates.
"We have devised membership mechanism to provide this hall to people on concession", added Sadoo.
He informed that the multi crore project has been completed in a record time of about six months and is expected to be functional from October this year.
"We started work on this project in April this year and it's complete by now", claimed T.K Sadhoo.
With International Airport coming up at Srinagar, this resort is expected to buzz with business soon but seeing the extravagance of this resort it seems that only a particular section of tourists can enjoy its facilities.
Hi-tech resort at Nigeen to attract tourists
SRINAGAR: Tourism trade may be going through a rough phase these days but the department of tourism wishes to waste no time in developing new areas for attracting the tourists in near future.
According to a local news gathering agency a fresh idea in this direction has started to take shape on the banks of the famous Nigeen Lake in Srinagar.
The department has developed a tourist resort here so that tourists coming to Srinagar feel a new and added charm around this picturesque lake.
"Nigeen Lake was the preferred destination before the onset of militancy in the state. People especially the foreigners used to throng this place," deputy director department of tourism, TK Sadhoo told the news agency.
"We are making an effort to bring Nigeen back on the tourism map by developing it like it was twenty years back. Besides, a resort is scheduled to be completed on the banks of the Lake so that more and more tourists feel attracted to visit this place", added Sadhoo.
Situated on the banks of Nigeen Lake, this resort is believed to provide impetus to the ailing tourism industry in Kashmir.
Sprawling on an area of almost 15,570 sq. ft, this resort has all facilities of high class lodging.
"It is a full-fledged resort cum club and it houses an eight bedroom guest house, lobbies, card room, restaurant, billiards room, herbal massage centers, separate steam and sona bath parlors for men and women and a multipurpose hall", Sadhoo said.
The official said that department is trying to explore the medicinal value of Kashmiri herbs and is planning to use these herbs in the massage centers of this resort.
He said "The massage centers will use Kashmiri herbs and it will help us to grow economically as well."
According to the official department is planning to use the multipurpose hall as a banquet hall and has decided to throw it open to its members on concessional rates.
"We have devised membership mechanism to provide this hall to people on concession", added Sadoo.
He informed that the multi crore project has been completed in a record time of about six months and is expected to be functional from October this year.
"We started work on this project in April this year and it's complete by now", claimed T.K Sadhoo.
With International Airport coming up at Srinagar, this resort is expected to buzz with business soon but seeing the extravagance of this resort it seems that only a particular section of tourists can enjoy its facilities.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
It is Official - J&K is the Third Most Corrupt State in India
Transparency International (TI) announces its "Merit List
Most corrupt states: J&K at No: 3
Syed Junaid Hashmi (Kashmir Times)
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir retains the dubious distinction of being among the top ten most corrupt states of India with fig leaf type relief that in the list, it has been overtaken by Assam and Bihar at number 1 and 2 slots respectively. This less than nominal change in the dubious order is known to be more because of the higher qualification of Assam than an improvement in the standard of administration and public life in Jammu and Kashmir.
These facts brought out by Transparency International India and the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) Delhi in the India Corruption Study 2007 make a mockery of the erstwhile coalition government's claim of having cleansed public life from the menace of corruption in the state. Interestingly, this is one of the frequent theme songs of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and patron of People's Democratic Party Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Jammu and Kashmir achieved the dubious distinction of being 2nd most corrupt state in the country in a similar study conducted by the same agency in the year 2005. Both the former Chief Ministers vehemently claim of having reduced the level of corruption in the public life but the study points towards the continuation of the state's drift towards being crowned as the most corrupt state in the country.
This drift is alarming in the wake of the state's government's claim of having reduced the corruption to the lowest ebb during the last six years. Moreover, the study has been conducted between November 2007 and January 2008. It is the same period when former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's cleansing operation in the forest and other departments was nearing conclusion. It is the same period which saw resignation of former Minister for School Education and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed from both the posts. He was forced to resign after MLA Sangrama Shoaib Nabi Lone accused Sayeed of taking money from him for sanctioning an ETT college. Azad had then claimed that "state has done remarkably well in reducing corruption from the public life". But the study of the transparency international belies the claims of the former Chief Minister.
The study, like the earlier ones, is based on CMS PEE (Perception, Experience, Estimation) model where the scope is not limited to perceptions about corruption in general, but perception in specific context of a service and, more importantly, actual experience of paying bribe by BPL households in availing one or more of the 11 selected public services in Jammu and Kashmir. Depending on the frequency of interaction, the eleven services have been divided broadly into "basic services" (Public Distribution System, Hospital, School Education, Electricity and Water Supply Services) and "need based services" (Land Records / Registration, Housing, Forest, NREGS, Banking and Police Service).
The study does not include operational irregularities in the system and any corruption that does not involve citizens, directly. Except Government Hospital and Rural Finance Institutions, most other services rank among most corrupt services in the country. The police rank the highest on the corruption index. This is followed by the Housing and land records/registration.
The study says that in these services, the percentage of those who think corruption has increased in the previous one year is also high. It further affirms that these services are monopolistic in the nature, with more scope for discretionary decision making and also because the money involved in these transactions is higher. State government has made some degree of improvement in reducing corruption in the last one year in the case of School Education and Banking services.
The study points towards the fact that despite claims and some initiatives for redressal of complaints in services like Police, they have not helped either in reducing perceptions nor experiences of corrupt practices in the public life. Within State among the various Departments in the State, 78 percent of the respondents conceived Police as the most corrupt department, followed by Housing (70 percent) Land Administration (69 percent), Public Distribution System (54 percent), NREGS (47 percent) and Hospital (46 percent).
It is important to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir has been the only state which passed a bill to attach the assets of corrupt public officials when there is prima-facie evidence against them, pending investigations and prosecutions.
However, the study affirms that corruption has remained unaffected and Infact, increased to alarming levels in the Police Services and Land Records / Registration. Two other notable features which came out in present have been that petty corruption was markedly less when technology was used for delivery of the service and when Civil Society Groups were involved in assisting citizens.
Most corrupt states: J&K at No: 3
Syed Junaid Hashmi (Kashmir Times)
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir retains the dubious distinction of being among the top ten most corrupt states of India with fig leaf type relief that in the list, it has been overtaken by Assam and Bihar at number 1 and 2 slots respectively. This less than nominal change in the dubious order is known to be more because of the higher qualification of Assam than an improvement in the standard of administration and public life in Jammu and Kashmir.
These facts brought out by Transparency International India and the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) Delhi in the India Corruption Study 2007 make a mockery of the erstwhile coalition government's claim of having cleansed public life from the menace of corruption in the state. Interestingly, this is one of the frequent theme songs of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and patron of People's Democratic Party Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Jammu and Kashmir achieved the dubious distinction of being 2nd most corrupt state in the country in a similar study conducted by the same agency in the year 2005. Both the former Chief Ministers vehemently claim of having reduced the level of corruption in the public life but the study points towards the continuation of the state's drift towards being crowned as the most corrupt state in the country.
This drift is alarming in the wake of the state's government's claim of having reduced the corruption to the lowest ebb during the last six years. Moreover, the study has been conducted between November 2007 and January 2008. It is the same period when former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's cleansing operation in the forest and other departments was nearing conclusion. It is the same period which saw resignation of former Minister for School Education and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed from both the posts. He was forced to resign after MLA Sangrama Shoaib Nabi Lone accused Sayeed of taking money from him for sanctioning an ETT college. Azad had then claimed that "state has done remarkably well in reducing corruption from the public life". But the study of the transparency international belies the claims of the former Chief Minister.
The study, like the earlier ones, is based on CMS PEE (Perception, Experience, Estimation) model where the scope is not limited to perceptions about corruption in general, but perception in specific context of a service and, more importantly, actual experience of paying bribe by BPL households in availing one or more of the 11 selected public services in Jammu and Kashmir. Depending on the frequency of interaction, the eleven services have been divided broadly into "basic services" (Public Distribution System, Hospital, School Education, Electricity and Water Supply Services) and "need based services" (Land Records / Registration, Housing, Forest, NREGS, Banking and Police Service).
The study does not include operational irregularities in the system and any corruption that does not involve citizens, directly. Except Government Hospital and Rural Finance Institutions, most other services rank among most corrupt services in the country. The police rank the highest on the corruption index. This is followed by the Housing and land records/registration.
The study says that in these services, the percentage of those who think corruption has increased in the previous one year is also high. It further affirms that these services are monopolistic in the nature, with more scope for discretionary decision making and also because the money involved in these transactions is higher. State government has made some degree of improvement in reducing corruption in the last one year in the case of School Education and Banking services.
The study points towards the fact that despite claims and some initiatives for redressal of complaints in services like Police, they have not helped either in reducing perceptions nor experiences of corrupt practices in the public life. Within State among the various Departments in the State, 78 percent of the respondents conceived Police as the most corrupt department, followed by Housing (70 percent) Land Administration (69 percent), Public Distribution System (54 percent), NREGS (47 percent) and Hospital (46 percent).
It is important to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir has been the only state which passed a bill to attach the assets of corrupt public officials when there is prima-facie evidence against them, pending investigations and prosecutions.
However, the study affirms that corruption has remained unaffected and Infact, increased to alarming levels in the Police Services and Land Records / Registration. Two other notable features which came out in present have been that petty corruption was markedly less when technology was used for delivery of the service and when Civil Society Groups were involved in assisting citizens.
A Counterpoint Against Recent Commentaries Critical of Hurriyat
Riyaz offers a counterpoint in defense of the Hurriyat
Expecting too much from APHC shows how little we know about others
(Mr. Riyaz Masroor, 36, was born and raised in Srinagar. He is a Srinagar based journalist who writes in English, Urdu and kashmiri. Besides working in the local press, his articles have appeared on BBC Radio online, Himal Southasia and the Journal of International Federation of Journalists.)
Most Kashmiri column writers seem to have held hostage their critical thinking to the problems of Hurriyat Conference and its loose affiliates. I have earlier mentioned in these lines that the Hurriyat Conference is the product of a particular situation not the creator of this situation.
I may elaborate that the Hurriyat, therefore, is neither the total problem nor the total solution. It, in fact, may be part of the solution yet it is not even the part of the problem.
When the opinion makers hand out lengthy prescriptions of strategy to APHC telling it how to protect the people and ensure their survival, it is the sheer display of conceptual uncertainty that is rampant among our tiny yet much celebrated writer community.
If the purpose of their stingy writings is to empower the popular aspirations with reason and knowledge and orient these aspirations toward healthy progression, that purpose is sadly being defeated by expecting a right thing from a wrong quarter.
Take for example these expectations:
• Hurriyat should protect life from further annihilation
• Transform the resistance concept from a death-aspiring into a life-saving model.
• Enrich the concept of freedom with relevant content to make the advocacy a success.
These expectations have no problem per se. But two things become clear in these expectations, recurrently appearing in Kashmir's English press. For one, Hurriyat Conference is mistakenly understood as an entity endowed with state powers.
Secondly, while heaping scorn over the separatists for their incapacity to "lead the nation" our worthy writers show an unhealthy continuation of primitive understanding about the concept of leadership.
Let's take these conceptual flaws about political expectations and definition leadership one by one.
Expectations
Anyone trying to understand the Kashmir issue in isolation with the modern systems of governance and public welfare is most likely to digress in the course of his or her commentary. Before we attach too many expectations to APHC we better have a review of our general knowledge about the duties of a democratic government.
The primary aims of government, says Bertrand Russell in one of the famed Reith Lectures of BBC, should be three: security, justice and conservation. "These," according to Russell, "are things of the utmost importance to human happiness, and they are things which only government can bring about."
Just compare Russell's model of governance and the aforementioned expectations from Hurriyat Conference and you will know how erroneously a dissenter group riding over the popular sentiment is being elevated to the status of a government.
'Liberty of the subject' and 'rights of man' is the ideal which the champions of human rights have espoused and achieved. But they achieved these goals when their point of dissent and criticism was an unjust government not a group, however faulty, sharing their ideals.
Protection of public life is a security debate, which should not be confused with conflict politics. And security can only be expected from a government, howsoever flawed in character and form.
How funny it looks when the government forces kill unarmed civilians our writers cry: Hurriyat should stop this and don't let more people die. Why this unnecessary importance to Hurriyat leaders? Is it possible when the killing of innocent persons has their 'calendar of protests' in tatters and people disobey their calls and take to streets?
It is not the question of who should ensure the public security; the question is who can actually ensure the public security. Some columnist may wish that Hurriyat should provide public safety, but the bitter fact is only the government can do that.
When expression of dissent at mass level is dealt with brute force, forces like Hurriyat get automatically relevant because they have allied themselves with the dominant sentiment. People respect the alliance not the person. Syed Ali Geelani may have contested more elections than Omar Abdullah but the former derives social sanctity out of the alliance he has forged with the popular sentiment. We have seen a former minister, late Abdul Gani Lone, espousing the Kashmir cause and yet drawing crowds in the name of Azadi.
When such socially credible but politically powerless forces are urged to "safeguard public life" it is like deriding the popular sentiment because such calls make it appear as 'destructive', though destruction comes when some actors choose to mess up. So, those enjoying affinity with sentiment cannot ensure safety but those flirting with the sentiment besides enjoying power can do that if they wish so. When a smaller player is assigned with a bigger role things are more likely to go wrong.
Leadership
Much of the newsprint has been blackened in Kashmir to lament over the "leadership vacuum". A quick glance over the evolving definitions of the leadership will tell us how much flawed and mythological this debate has been.
The leadership is nowadays said to be an occasional act, not a fixed role, which can come from any direction. In the same parlance Hurriyat Conference, in this multi-act conflict theater has been an occasional actor, not a lead role player (Though it sometimes wants to play the lead role).
In fact, there is no lead actor. We've witnessed occasional leadership acts coming from National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, APHC and United Jihad Council. All of them have their own set of stigmas and flaws yet all of them have provided an occasional act of leadership with varying degrees of importance during their respective innings.
Their achievements and failures have to be understood and critically analyzed in the light of a 'background role' played by New Delhi and Islamabad. Hurriyat leaders are not the only ones in the game and they don't possess the magic lamp of Aladdin. Are our writers willing to introspect?
Expecting too much from APHC shows how little we know about others
(Mr. Riyaz Masroor, 36, was born and raised in Srinagar. He is a Srinagar based journalist who writes in English, Urdu and kashmiri. Besides working in the local press, his articles have appeared on BBC Radio online, Himal Southasia and the Journal of International Federation of Journalists.)
Most Kashmiri column writers seem to have held hostage their critical thinking to the problems of Hurriyat Conference and its loose affiliates. I have earlier mentioned in these lines that the Hurriyat Conference is the product of a particular situation not the creator of this situation.
I may elaborate that the Hurriyat, therefore, is neither the total problem nor the total solution. It, in fact, may be part of the solution yet it is not even the part of the problem.
When the opinion makers hand out lengthy prescriptions of strategy to APHC telling it how to protect the people and ensure their survival, it is the sheer display of conceptual uncertainty that is rampant among our tiny yet much celebrated writer community.
If the purpose of their stingy writings is to empower the popular aspirations with reason and knowledge and orient these aspirations toward healthy progression, that purpose is sadly being defeated by expecting a right thing from a wrong quarter.
Take for example these expectations:
• Hurriyat should protect life from further annihilation
• Transform the resistance concept from a death-aspiring into a life-saving model.
• Enrich the concept of freedom with relevant content to make the advocacy a success.
These expectations have no problem per se. But two things become clear in these expectations, recurrently appearing in Kashmir's English press. For one, Hurriyat Conference is mistakenly understood as an entity endowed with state powers.
Secondly, while heaping scorn over the separatists for their incapacity to "lead the nation" our worthy writers show an unhealthy continuation of primitive understanding about the concept of leadership.
Let's take these conceptual flaws about political expectations and definition leadership one by one.
Expectations
Anyone trying to understand the Kashmir issue in isolation with the modern systems of governance and public welfare is most likely to digress in the course of his or her commentary. Before we attach too many expectations to APHC we better have a review of our general knowledge about the duties of a democratic government.
The primary aims of government, says Bertrand Russell in one of the famed Reith Lectures of BBC, should be three: security, justice and conservation. "These," according to Russell, "are things of the utmost importance to human happiness, and they are things which only government can bring about."
Just compare Russell's model of governance and the aforementioned expectations from Hurriyat Conference and you will know how erroneously a dissenter group riding over the popular sentiment is being elevated to the status of a government.
'Liberty of the subject' and 'rights of man' is the ideal which the champions of human rights have espoused and achieved. But they achieved these goals when their point of dissent and criticism was an unjust government not a group, however faulty, sharing their ideals.
Protection of public life is a security debate, which should not be confused with conflict politics. And security can only be expected from a government, howsoever flawed in character and form.
How funny it looks when the government forces kill unarmed civilians our writers cry: Hurriyat should stop this and don't let more people die. Why this unnecessary importance to Hurriyat leaders? Is it possible when the killing of innocent persons has their 'calendar of protests' in tatters and people disobey their calls and take to streets?
It is not the question of who should ensure the public security; the question is who can actually ensure the public security. Some columnist may wish that Hurriyat should provide public safety, but the bitter fact is only the government can do that.
When expression of dissent at mass level is dealt with brute force, forces like Hurriyat get automatically relevant because they have allied themselves with the dominant sentiment. People respect the alliance not the person. Syed Ali Geelani may have contested more elections than Omar Abdullah but the former derives social sanctity out of the alliance he has forged with the popular sentiment. We have seen a former minister, late Abdul Gani Lone, espousing the Kashmir cause and yet drawing crowds in the name of Azadi.
When such socially credible but politically powerless forces are urged to "safeguard public life" it is like deriding the popular sentiment because such calls make it appear as 'destructive', though destruction comes when some actors choose to mess up. So, those enjoying affinity with sentiment cannot ensure safety but those flirting with the sentiment besides enjoying power can do that if they wish so. When a smaller player is assigned with a bigger role things are more likely to go wrong.
Leadership
Much of the newsprint has been blackened in Kashmir to lament over the "leadership vacuum". A quick glance over the evolving definitions of the leadership will tell us how much flawed and mythological this debate has been.
The leadership is nowadays said to be an occasional act, not a fixed role, which can come from any direction. In the same parlance Hurriyat Conference, in this multi-act conflict theater has been an occasional actor, not a lead role player (Though it sometimes wants to play the lead role).
In fact, there is no lead actor. We've witnessed occasional leadership acts coming from National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, APHC and United Jihad Council. All of them have their own set of stigmas and flaws yet all of them have provided an occasional act of leadership with varying degrees of importance during their respective innings.
Their achievements and failures have to be understood and critically analyzed in the light of a 'background role' played by New Delhi and Islamabad. Hurriyat leaders are not the only ones in the game and they don't possess the magic lamp of Aladdin. Are our writers willing to introspect?
A Story of Grit, Resilience and Hope
Afsana reports on a mother that is determined to see justice done even when she has to do it alone
(Ms. Afsana Rashid, 29, was born and raised in Srinagar and attended the Minto Circle High School. She graduated from the Government College for Women with a Bachelor's degree in science, and completed her post-graduation degree from the University of Kashmir, obtaining her Master's Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has received numerous world-wide recognition and awards for covering economic depravation and gender sensitive issues in Kashmiri journals, which include Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award, Bhorukha Trust Media Award 2007, and the 2006-07 UNFPA-Ladli Media Award. Her work on "Impact of conflict on subsistence livelihood of marginalised communities in Kashmir and Alternatives", was recognized by Action Aid India in 2005-06. She has travelled abroad attending a workshop on "conflict Reporting" by Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, and a seminar for women in conflict areas by IKV Pax Christi, Netherlands. In February 2008, she compiled a book, "Waiting for Justice: Widows and Half-widows.")
After losing four sons, Hajra fights for Survival
Srinagar: After losing four sons during the ongoing conflict, Hajra Bano, a resident of Wanigam village of Bandipora district finds it very difficult to carry on with the daily chores of life.
It also becomes difficult for her to take part in the monthly sit in carried out by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP).
Three sons of Hajra were martyred while as the fourth one was made to disappear.
Aged Hajra lived with her ailing husband till he passed away last winter. With great difficulty the couple eked their living. Now, left to fend on her own, Hajra hardly finds any to share her agonies and trauma.
With sobbing eyes, she feels guilty as she could not repay her husband's couple of debts. "I would love to repay them even if I have to go hungry for days together but it is not manageable," says Hajra adding, "There is no one with whom I could share my pains and sufferings."
Hajra says she lived with her younger son till recently "but he abandoned her, two months ago." She added that her daughters are married and they seldom visit her. "I don't regret that, after all they can't help me much," said Hajra.
After her son abandoned her, Hajra herself has to look for her necessities. "When I last time left for Srinagar to join the protest, I simply had black nun-chai (tea without milk) as I can't afford milk. I take meals once a day. It was one of my neighbours, who donated a sack of raw rice to me. But my son hardly cares…," says the aged-mother.
"Be aasis shaheedain hinz mouj, mya kya gow (I was a mother of martyrs, what happened to me)," said Hajra, who was operated upon few months back owing to certain health ailments. "Doctor had advised me to take medicines. Sometimes, I miss them out due to non-affordability," she said.
"Often" Hajra continues, "My pains turn unbearable but death is beyond your control. Though number of times, I wish to dig a grave for myself at least that would relieve me of my anxieties, but …" laments Hajra.
An apt case for widow-fund, Hajra says she is not its beneficiary. "It involves cumbersome procedure and who will take all those cudgels to get it sanctioned in my favour. Many people approached me with one or other reason promising to help but nothing is visible in the real sense," said Hajra in a fragile voice.
Hajra, a symbol of courage, has not succumbed. Despite all this she continues her fight. She has filed a case in State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) though she is not satisfied with its progress and doubts that she would get a verdict in her favour.
"For the last so many years I am approaching SHRC to seek justice but till date my efforts have borne no fruits. There is no one except Almighty who will help me. I will fight till my last breath," vows Hajra.
Last time when APDP staged the monthly sit in Hajra had few bucks in her pocket. Boarding the first (Bandipora-Batamaloo) bus of the day, Hajra covered a distance of three kilometers on foot (Batamaloo–Lal Chowk) to reach the spot where protest is to be held.
Narrating her woeful tale Hajra says, "Since I had not a penny in my pocket, I sold hen for Rs. 50 to my neighbour and insisted her to pay more keeping into consideration bird's weight. But she refused and I had no other option. Finally, I made it to the spot (where protest was staged by the Association)," said Hajra, while talking to this newspaper.
(Ms. Afsana Rashid, 29, was born and raised in Srinagar and attended the Minto Circle High School. She graduated from the Government College for Women with a Bachelor's degree in science, and completed her post-graduation degree from the University of Kashmir, obtaining her Master's Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has received numerous world-wide recognition and awards for covering economic depravation and gender sensitive issues in Kashmiri journals, which include Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award, Bhorukha Trust Media Award 2007, and the 2006-07 UNFPA-Ladli Media Award. Her work on "Impact of conflict on subsistence livelihood of marginalised communities in Kashmir and Alternatives", was recognized by Action Aid India in 2005-06. She has travelled abroad attending a workshop on "conflict Reporting" by Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, and a seminar for women in conflict areas by IKV Pax Christi, Netherlands. In February 2008, she compiled a book, "Waiting for Justice: Widows and Half-widows.")
After losing four sons, Hajra fights for Survival
Srinagar: After losing four sons during the ongoing conflict, Hajra Bano, a resident of Wanigam village of Bandipora district finds it very difficult to carry on with the daily chores of life.
It also becomes difficult for her to take part in the monthly sit in carried out by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP).
Three sons of Hajra were martyred while as the fourth one was made to disappear.
Aged Hajra lived with her ailing husband till he passed away last winter. With great difficulty the couple eked their living. Now, left to fend on her own, Hajra hardly finds any to share her agonies and trauma.
With sobbing eyes, she feels guilty as she could not repay her husband's couple of debts. "I would love to repay them even if I have to go hungry for days together but it is not manageable," says Hajra adding, "There is no one with whom I could share my pains and sufferings."
Hajra says she lived with her younger son till recently "but he abandoned her, two months ago." She added that her daughters are married and they seldom visit her. "I don't regret that, after all they can't help me much," said Hajra.
After her son abandoned her, Hajra herself has to look for her necessities. "When I last time left for Srinagar to join the protest, I simply had black nun-chai (tea without milk) as I can't afford milk. I take meals once a day. It was one of my neighbours, who donated a sack of raw rice to me. But my son hardly cares…," says the aged-mother.
"Be aasis shaheedain hinz mouj, mya kya gow (I was a mother of martyrs, what happened to me)," said Hajra, who was operated upon few months back owing to certain health ailments. "Doctor had advised me to take medicines. Sometimes, I miss them out due to non-affordability," she said.
"Often" Hajra continues, "My pains turn unbearable but death is beyond your control. Though number of times, I wish to dig a grave for myself at least that would relieve me of my anxieties, but …" laments Hajra.
An apt case for widow-fund, Hajra says she is not its beneficiary. "It involves cumbersome procedure and who will take all those cudgels to get it sanctioned in my favour. Many people approached me with one or other reason promising to help but nothing is visible in the real sense," said Hajra in a fragile voice.
Hajra, a symbol of courage, has not succumbed. Despite all this she continues her fight. She has filed a case in State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) though she is not satisfied with its progress and doubts that she would get a verdict in her favour.
"For the last so many years I am approaching SHRC to seek justice but till date my efforts have borne no fruits. There is no one except Almighty who will help me. I will fight till my last breath," vows Hajra.
Last time when APDP staged the monthly sit in Hajra had few bucks in her pocket. Boarding the first (Bandipora-Batamaloo) bus of the day, Hajra covered a distance of three kilometers on foot (Batamaloo–Lal Chowk) to reach the spot where protest is to be held.
Narrating her woeful tale Hajra says, "Since I had not a penny in my pocket, I sold hen for Rs. 50 to my neighbour and insisted her to pay more keeping into consideration bird's weight. But she refused and I had no other option. Finally, I made it to the spot (where protest was staged by the Association)," said Hajra, while talking to this newspaper.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
When Security Personnel Form a Nexus With Local Timber Smugglers, it is Another Kind of War
The Editorial in the Rising Kashmir plays up one side of the story, but the role of local unscrupulous officials among the State Forest Department is even more dastardly
War on forests
BSF personnel caught smuggling wood points towards a scandalous phenomenon in Kashmir
Ever since militancy erupted in our state, many brutal things happened under the cover of fighting it. Not just life and routine of Kashmir became a casualty to the unbridled powers given to security forces, but our resources too were subjected to a large scale loot and plunder.
The news about Border Security Forces personnel being caught while smuggling illicit timber by the Forest officials in Bandipora district, north Kashmir, is a miniscule part of a bigger phenomenon. There is an eyewitness account that has provided the details of it to the media. The incident is not an isolated one. From past two decades we have been a witness to a large scale felling of trees by unscrupulous elements, both civil and defence.
Since the forest areas have been made, literally out of bounds for a common man, these unscrupulous elements get a free hand in inflicting heavy damage to our forests. All of it may not get reported, rather very little trickles down to media circles but the general impression among the people in Kashmir is that security forces are taking an undue advantage of the circumstances and are involved in stealing the green gold at an enormous level. The concerned civil officials find themselves in a helpless situation because in the border areas and the forest divisions Army and Para military forces are the real masters. No one has the power to stop them from smuggling the wood from the forests of Kashmir. Since in the absence of any civilian check security forces enjoy unrestricted access to forest areas and the fact that none dares check their vehicles, the cutting of trees and smuggling the wood to the areas where they are needed is an easy affair for the security forces.
The news report about Bandipora incident also makes it clear. When the Forest officials, according to eyewitness account, fearing reprisal seized just one log and let the troopers carry the remaining three to their camp, how can one expect that the smuggling of wood can be stopped? When the Forest officials know that the wood is being smuggled for making furniture, which is later carried to the residential houses of security forces outside J&K and still fail to take any action, who is going to help us out?
Although it has not still been reported, but people apprehend that there is a nexus between artisans, labourers, mostly from outside state, and some people among security forces to use the wood smuggled from forests for various works in the security forces’ camps. Hefty bills are later framed against the work done. This way a patterned plunder of our forests is occurring, and there seems to be no end to it, unless the higher officials of the various security forces organisation, including Army, take cognisance of the matter. It is only then that the great environmental catastrophe can be avoided. Also the NGOs working for the preservation of environment can contribute by taking up the issue at national and international level. Even the political parties of Kashmir, both mainstream and separatist, can bring the matter into public domain and let the world know about it. Unless all pool their efforts the great game of plunder is not going to stop.
War on forests
BSF personnel caught smuggling wood points towards a scandalous phenomenon in Kashmir
Ever since militancy erupted in our state, many brutal things happened under the cover of fighting it. Not just life and routine of Kashmir became a casualty to the unbridled powers given to security forces, but our resources too were subjected to a large scale loot and plunder.
The news about Border Security Forces personnel being caught while smuggling illicit timber by the Forest officials in Bandipora district, north Kashmir, is a miniscule part of a bigger phenomenon. There is an eyewitness account that has provided the details of it to the media. The incident is not an isolated one. From past two decades we have been a witness to a large scale felling of trees by unscrupulous elements, both civil and defence.
Since the forest areas have been made, literally out of bounds for a common man, these unscrupulous elements get a free hand in inflicting heavy damage to our forests. All of it may not get reported, rather very little trickles down to media circles but the general impression among the people in Kashmir is that security forces are taking an undue advantage of the circumstances and are involved in stealing the green gold at an enormous level. The concerned civil officials find themselves in a helpless situation because in the border areas and the forest divisions Army and Para military forces are the real masters. No one has the power to stop them from smuggling the wood from the forests of Kashmir. Since in the absence of any civilian check security forces enjoy unrestricted access to forest areas and the fact that none dares check their vehicles, the cutting of trees and smuggling the wood to the areas where they are needed is an easy affair for the security forces.
The news report about Bandipora incident also makes it clear. When the Forest officials, according to eyewitness account, fearing reprisal seized just one log and let the troopers carry the remaining three to their camp, how can one expect that the smuggling of wood can be stopped? When the Forest officials know that the wood is being smuggled for making furniture, which is later carried to the residential houses of security forces outside J&K and still fail to take any action, who is going to help us out?
Although it has not still been reported, but people apprehend that there is a nexus between artisans, labourers, mostly from outside state, and some people among security forces to use the wood smuggled from forests for various works in the security forces’ camps. Hefty bills are later framed against the work done. This way a patterned plunder of our forests is occurring, and there seems to be no end to it, unless the higher officials of the various security forces organisation, including Army, take cognisance of the matter. It is only then that the great environmental catastrophe can be avoided. Also the NGOs working for the preservation of environment can contribute by taking up the issue at national and international level. Even the political parties of Kashmir, both mainstream and separatist, can bring the matter into public domain and let the world know about it. Unless all pool their efforts the great game of plunder is not going to stop.
Staring at the Crossroads of Reason and Rhetoric, a Patriot Suggests a way out
Ayaat has a suggestion for for politicians - the need of the hour is mature leadership to pull us out of the crisis
(Mr. Ayaat Butt lives in downtown, Srinagar.)
Reason must prevail
The voice of reason is not appeasement; it is an acknowledgment of reality. It is more pragmatism, less romanticism. Voice of reason is not prevailing over the rhetoric of hatred, both in New Delhi and Kashmir. It isn’t an issue of intention, it’s an issue of how ideology and sensibility effects the people. Both Jammu & Kashmir and New Delhi stand at the crossroads. The rhetoric is becoming shriller. Those who oppose any accommodation with Kashmir or New Delhi are leaving no stone unturned to issue warnings about the dangers that lie in the path of the reconciliation, invoking history in the bargain. As the infinitely stronger party in the conflict New Delhi must accept responsibility for its failed and oppressive policies. Here, repressive actions on the ground are continuing to feed the trend of radicalization on the pro-freedom side and are strengthening the radical viewpoint. To prove their point, they need only point out how New Delhi has not listened to any requests by the civil society to end those practices that serve to consolidate the occupation or release prisoners.
Hawks think it a mistake to negotiate with Kashmir until New Delhi creates situations of strength around the globe. I fear the Indian Political Leadership & common people would not understand the importance of saving Kashmir unless they saw how that tactical decision fit into the transcendent task of building India as future super power. India needs to blend strength with moral purpose.
The Kashmiri leadership is needed to be reminded what the fight was all about. It was not, in fact, about how the fate of Kashmir might affect its strategic situation in the south east Asia. That is how India and Pakistan thinks. It is about the fate of freedom in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., has said that there are times when “we need education in the obvious more than investigation of the obscure.” Think simple, not complex.
Will the leaders of Kashmir, on whom the aspirations of their desperate people rest, show the statesmanship expected of them to break out of the vicious circle or will they succumb to petty and devotee politics? Will they hand over to the next generation a future of peace and prosperity or death, destruction and uncertainty? Kashmiris are watching. We cannot afford now Kashmir going again as an intractable conflict. This time it needs a final push, so leadership needs to act, chalk out a blue print for solving the issue. You don’t need to remind Kashmiri’s the history of dispute, it is now in our blood. India also knows what Kashmir wants. They have heard much of We want sloganeering since 1947.Shows of strength and unnecessary hartals have been enough. We don’t need leaders with magnificent command on speeches and quasi-philosopher quotes or having bio-datas of jail service. We need to have negotiators, managers and experts. There is a need of very limited number of individuals who will be deciding the negotiating positions and tactics.
Lack of foresight and leadership has cost us dearly in the past. Kashmiri leadership should come forward with a masterstroke of astuteness. They have shown the representative Character. Let them challenge New Delhi to come forward for a seemingly open-ended dialogue and as such disassociate from the dead-end politics.
Despite what our political leaders say, there is a political solution to the conflict and there are partners for peace. If anything, we of the peace movement must not allow the powers-that-be to mystify the conflict, to present it as a “clash of civilizations.” The New Delhi-Srinagar conflict is political and as such it has a political solution.
Learning from history, India’s first prime minister displayed great statesmanship during the early years of Independence. India invited Lord Mountbatten to be its first Governor General. In that one gesture, all the acrimony of 200 years of colonial rule was forgotten. Later, when India became a republic, Nehru devised a formula whereby India continued to remain in the British Commonwealth. There is dire need for such statesmanship in the higher echelons of our leadership today.
Historically, longstanding and bitter conflicts have been resolved when leaders have shown statesmanship accompanied by magnanimity, a spirit of accommodation and the ability to put behind the past for the sake of a happy future.
In the 15th century, Yorkshire, represented by a white rose, and Lancashire, represented by a red rose, fought the famous War of the Roses. Ultimately, Henry of Lancaster defeated Richard III of York at the Battle of Bosworth Field to become Henry VII and found the House of Tudor. Henry promptly married Princess Elizabeth of York, in an act of reconciliation, uniting England. Rivalry has existed between Lancashire and Yorkshire ever since, although it is mainly on the cricket field, although Yorkshiremen still say that the only good thing to come out of Lancashire is the road to Yorkshire!
Both England and France, which fought each other for hundreds of years from the 14th to the 19th centuries, are today co-members of the European Union. The English still call the French “frogs’ and the French ridicule English cooking, but that has not stopped them from joining the two countries with the help of the ‘Chunnel’, a tunnel under the English Channel.
Where would we be today if world affairs were carried out in a primitive and schoolboyish he-pinched-me-first manner? Would Britain and the United States still be smarting from the American War of Independence? Would the American North and South still be wanting revenge on each other following the four-year Civil War in which over a million people died. In fact, one of the first acts of Abraham Lincoln was to set in motion the process of reconciliation.
The West has realised that a policy of forgive and forget yields far better results than vengeance and reparation. Allied leaders showed little statesmanship after the First World War, when they imposed extreme conditions on a defeated Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, creating an environment which gave rise to Hitler. The five-year Second World War resulted in millions of casualties, but this time victory also brought in its wake generosity, resulting in the establishment of the United Nations and the introduction of the Marshal Plan to revive a war-torn Europe.
No country suffered more in the Second World War than the Soviet Union, which lost 20million people, one-tenth of its population. Yet today Russia wants to join the European Union and NATO. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country gave back to Poland the part it had usurped after the War. It also granted the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania their freedom.
In the east also, a Japan which had carried out the attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbour and which became the only country to receive an atom bomb became the staunchest ally of the US.
Nearer present times, the United States lost nearly 65,000 men in their fifteen-year war in Vietnam. The US bombed Hanoi and mined Haiphong harbour during that war. Yet just a few years after the Americans departed from the top of the US embassy in 1974, the two countries are on friendlier grounds. A US president has made the first official visit to Vietnam and Vietnamese are flocking into the US.
(Mr. Ayaat Butt lives in downtown, Srinagar.)
Reason must prevail
The voice of reason is not appeasement; it is an acknowledgment of reality. It is more pragmatism, less romanticism. Voice of reason is not prevailing over the rhetoric of hatred, both in New Delhi and Kashmir. It isn’t an issue of intention, it’s an issue of how ideology and sensibility effects the people. Both Jammu & Kashmir and New Delhi stand at the crossroads. The rhetoric is becoming shriller. Those who oppose any accommodation with Kashmir or New Delhi are leaving no stone unturned to issue warnings about the dangers that lie in the path of the reconciliation, invoking history in the bargain. As the infinitely stronger party in the conflict New Delhi must accept responsibility for its failed and oppressive policies. Here, repressive actions on the ground are continuing to feed the trend of radicalization on the pro-freedom side and are strengthening the radical viewpoint. To prove their point, they need only point out how New Delhi has not listened to any requests by the civil society to end those practices that serve to consolidate the occupation or release prisoners.
Hawks think it a mistake to negotiate with Kashmir until New Delhi creates situations of strength around the globe. I fear the Indian Political Leadership & common people would not understand the importance of saving Kashmir unless they saw how that tactical decision fit into the transcendent task of building India as future super power. India needs to blend strength with moral purpose.
The Kashmiri leadership is needed to be reminded what the fight was all about. It was not, in fact, about how the fate of Kashmir might affect its strategic situation in the south east Asia. That is how India and Pakistan thinks. It is about the fate of freedom in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., has said that there are times when “we need education in the obvious more than investigation of the obscure.” Think simple, not complex.
Will the leaders of Kashmir, on whom the aspirations of their desperate people rest, show the statesmanship expected of them to break out of the vicious circle or will they succumb to petty and devotee politics? Will they hand over to the next generation a future of peace and prosperity or death, destruction and uncertainty? Kashmiris are watching. We cannot afford now Kashmir going again as an intractable conflict. This time it needs a final push, so leadership needs to act, chalk out a blue print for solving the issue. You don’t need to remind Kashmiri’s the history of dispute, it is now in our blood. India also knows what Kashmir wants. They have heard much of We want sloganeering since 1947.Shows of strength and unnecessary hartals have been enough. We don’t need leaders with magnificent command on speeches and quasi-philosopher quotes or having bio-datas of jail service. We need to have negotiators, managers and experts. There is a need of very limited number of individuals who will be deciding the negotiating positions and tactics.
Lack of foresight and leadership has cost us dearly in the past. Kashmiri leadership should come forward with a masterstroke of astuteness. They have shown the representative Character. Let them challenge New Delhi to come forward for a seemingly open-ended dialogue and as such disassociate from the dead-end politics.
Despite what our political leaders say, there is a political solution to the conflict and there are partners for peace. If anything, we of the peace movement must not allow the powers-that-be to mystify the conflict, to present it as a “clash of civilizations.” The New Delhi-Srinagar conflict is political and as such it has a political solution.
Learning from history, India’s first prime minister displayed great statesmanship during the early years of Independence. India invited Lord Mountbatten to be its first Governor General. In that one gesture, all the acrimony of 200 years of colonial rule was forgotten. Later, when India became a republic, Nehru devised a formula whereby India continued to remain in the British Commonwealth. There is dire need for such statesmanship in the higher echelons of our leadership today.
Historically, longstanding and bitter conflicts have been resolved when leaders have shown statesmanship accompanied by magnanimity, a spirit of accommodation and the ability to put behind the past for the sake of a happy future.
In the 15th century, Yorkshire, represented by a white rose, and Lancashire, represented by a red rose, fought the famous War of the Roses. Ultimately, Henry of Lancaster defeated Richard III of York at the Battle of Bosworth Field to become Henry VII and found the House of Tudor. Henry promptly married Princess Elizabeth of York, in an act of reconciliation, uniting England. Rivalry has existed between Lancashire and Yorkshire ever since, although it is mainly on the cricket field, although Yorkshiremen still say that the only good thing to come out of Lancashire is the road to Yorkshire!
Both England and France, which fought each other for hundreds of years from the 14th to the 19th centuries, are today co-members of the European Union. The English still call the French “frogs’ and the French ridicule English cooking, but that has not stopped them from joining the two countries with the help of the ‘Chunnel’, a tunnel under the English Channel.
Where would we be today if world affairs were carried out in a primitive and schoolboyish he-pinched-me-first manner? Would Britain and the United States still be smarting from the American War of Independence? Would the American North and South still be wanting revenge on each other following the four-year Civil War in which over a million people died. In fact, one of the first acts of Abraham Lincoln was to set in motion the process of reconciliation.
The West has realised that a policy of forgive and forget yields far better results than vengeance and reparation. Allied leaders showed little statesmanship after the First World War, when they imposed extreme conditions on a defeated Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, creating an environment which gave rise to Hitler. The five-year Second World War resulted in millions of casualties, but this time victory also brought in its wake generosity, resulting in the establishment of the United Nations and the introduction of the Marshal Plan to revive a war-torn Europe.
No country suffered more in the Second World War than the Soviet Union, which lost 20million people, one-tenth of its population. Yet today Russia wants to join the European Union and NATO. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country gave back to Poland the part it had usurped after the War. It also granted the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania their freedom.
In the east also, a Japan which had carried out the attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbour and which became the only country to receive an atom bomb became the staunchest ally of the US.
Nearer present times, the United States lost nearly 65,000 men in their fifteen-year war in Vietnam. The US bombed Hanoi and mined Haiphong harbour during that war. Yet just a few years after the Americans departed from the top of the US embassy in 1974, the two countries are on friendlier grounds. A US president has made the first official visit to Vietnam and Vietnamese are flocking into the US.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Kashmiri Capitalism at its Best
A true capitalist has no ideology other than to extract financial gain from his clients
Bravo ‘beggars’
With immense faith in hospitality of Srinagarites particularly during the blessed month of Ramadhan, many so-called beggars from far-flung areas of Kashmir have started to throng the city. Undeterred by the violence across the city, these’ beggars’ have taken over almost every Masjid and shrine.
As non-local beggars had to shift their Darbar outside the state following the turmoil, the locals beggars are having a free run. You name the place, they are there and in every situation. And they are not alone. They are accompanied by all the ‘products’ rather children of all sizes and ages, some with tangled and other with oiled hair. And they consider the newborn babies as an asset rather a passport to hassle free begging.
They are quick enough to give you a chase. If you are caught walking with a girl be it your colleague or relative, they consider it as golden opportunity to earn quick bucks. They with shower the couple you with all praises and even pray for bright future of their children. “Khuda Aap KI Jodhi Salamat Rakhay,” they frequent chant like humming of a bee to the much embarrassment of the unfortunate ‘couple’.
Recently when people were fighting pitched battles with troopers in old city, an aged woman, braving the tear gas shells, approached the angry youth saying ‘please give me money.’ However after failing in her mission, she raised her voice and started to taunt the troopers praying for their defeat. Pointing towards the CRPF troopers laced with batons, she said ‘Almighty Allah will save from these brutes if you pay me alms.’ Finally, the old women succeeded with her Public Relations skills and managed to get enough coins for a big feast.
These self-styled beggars were also found roaming freely during the recent curfew. And they didn’t even spare the troopers. “May God protect you,” a beggar told a trooper. Elated to hear prayers for his safety after tasting the heavy doses of Azadi slogans and helplessly watching Ragda Ragda dance recently, the trooper was quick enough to pay the price. And the beggar emerged as a winner rather an objective beggar.
(Greater Kashmir)
Bravo ‘beggars’
With immense faith in hospitality of Srinagarites particularly during the blessed month of Ramadhan, many so-called beggars from far-flung areas of Kashmir have started to throng the city. Undeterred by the violence across the city, these’ beggars’ have taken over almost every Masjid and shrine.
As non-local beggars had to shift their Darbar outside the state following the turmoil, the locals beggars are having a free run. You name the place, they are there and in every situation. And they are not alone. They are accompanied by all the ‘products’ rather children of all sizes and ages, some with tangled and other with oiled hair. And they consider the newborn babies as an asset rather a passport to hassle free begging.
They are quick enough to give you a chase. If you are caught walking with a girl be it your colleague or relative, they consider it as golden opportunity to earn quick bucks. They with shower the couple you with all praises and even pray for bright future of their children. “Khuda Aap KI Jodhi Salamat Rakhay,” they frequent chant like humming of a bee to the much embarrassment of the unfortunate ‘couple’.
Recently when people were fighting pitched battles with troopers in old city, an aged woman, braving the tear gas shells, approached the angry youth saying ‘please give me money.’ However after failing in her mission, she raised her voice and started to taunt the troopers praying for their defeat. Pointing towards the CRPF troopers laced with batons, she said ‘Almighty Allah will save from these brutes if you pay me alms.’ Finally, the old women succeeded with her Public Relations skills and managed to get enough coins for a big feast.
These self-styled beggars were also found roaming freely during the recent curfew. And they didn’t even spare the troopers. “May God protect you,” a beggar told a trooper. Elated to hear prayers for his safety after tasting the heavy doses of Azadi slogans and helplessly watching Ragda Ragda dance recently, the trooper was quick enough to pay the price. And the beggar emerged as a winner rather an objective beggar.
(Greater Kashmir)
When Greed Meets Opportunity
Spurious medicines in Kashmir is a relatively recent phenomenon and can be attributed to growing lawlessness in the society
Sale of sub-standard, spurious medicines surges; authorities in slumber
Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)
Srinagar: An alleged nexus between pharmacists, medical representatives and corrupt doctors is being blamed for mushrooming of illegal medical shops across the Kashmir Valley. A senior official of Drug Control department, requesting not to be named, said, “The nexus is promoting the sale of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs in Kashmir.” He said even the supplies which are being purchased by different hospitals of the Valley “are of sub-standard quality”.
According to him, the mushrooming of illegal medical shops in the Valley has not only given rise to the dangerous trend of self-medication but is forcing people to consume sub-standard drugs. “Not to speak of rural areas, even in Srinagar city there are scores of such outlets,” the official confessed.The drugs, which are supplied to government hospitals, usually do not conform to the specifications laid down in the Drug Act, he informed. As per the terms of supply, drugs supplied should match the specification laid down in the Drug Act and payment to the suppliers is to be released only after successful test are conducted on these drugs by the Drug and Food Control Organization.
Chief Medical Officer of SMHS Hospital, Dr. Altaf Ahmed told ‘Kashmir Images’: “Outside the SMHS Hospital, 60 percent medical shops are illegal and the drugs available are usually of sub-standard quality, the higher authorities are aware of it but they hardly take any action.”Such shops are opened at every corner of the city, he regretted, adding that someone who has works only for three months in any medical shop, opens his own shop in the fourth month “and in this way they are playing with the lives of people and nobody is stopping them.”He further informed that when the contract of any drug is given to any company, “at that time the samples received by the department are up-t-the-mark, but later that quality is not maintained and that happens because there is nobody to check it.”
When asked how many times the drug department has visited the SMHS Hospital in the last three months, Dr. Altaf informed: “To my knowledge they have never visited even though I request them to visit frequently in order to check diverse samples … If they do so, they will also serve to the society.”
Sale of sub-standard, spurious medicines surges; authorities in slumber
Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)
Srinagar: An alleged nexus between pharmacists, medical representatives and corrupt doctors is being blamed for mushrooming of illegal medical shops across the Kashmir Valley. A senior official of Drug Control department, requesting not to be named, said, “The nexus is promoting the sale of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs in Kashmir.” He said even the supplies which are being purchased by different hospitals of the Valley “are of sub-standard quality”.
According to him, the mushrooming of illegal medical shops in the Valley has not only given rise to the dangerous trend of self-medication but is forcing people to consume sub-standard drugs. “Not to speak of rural areas, even in Srinagar city there are scores of such outlets,” the official confessed.The drugs, which are supplied to government hospitals, usually do not conform to the specifications laid down in the Drug Act, he informed. As per the terms of supply, drugs supplied should match the specification laid down in the Drug Act and payment to the suppliers is to be released only after successful test are conducted on these drugs by the Drug and Food Control Organization.
Chief Medical Officer of SMHS Hospital, Dr. Altaf Ahmed told ‘Kashmir Images’: “Outside the SMHS Hospital, 60 percent medical shops are illegal and the drugs available are usually of sub-standard quality, the higher authorities are aware of it but they hardly take any action.”Such shops are opened at every corner of the city, he regretted, adding that someone who has works only for three months in any medical shop, opens his own shop in the fourth month “and in this way they are playing with the lives of people and nobody is stopping them.”He further informed that when the contract of any drug is given to any company, “at that time the samples received by the department are up-t-the-mark, but later that quality is not maintained and that happens because there is nobody to check it.”
When asked how many times the drug department has visited the SMHS Hospital in the last three months, Dr. Altaf informed: “To my knowledge they have never visited even though I request them to visit frequently in order to check diverse samples … If they do so, they will also serve to the society.”
With Tourism Having Tanked, Can the Cross Border Commerce Bring Some Hope?
As the tourist trade sinks, the hope shifts to upcoming visit by a Pakistani business delegation (two related stories)
Pak business delegation to visit state
Jammu: A 15-member traders’ delegation from Pakistan-administered Kashmir is scheduled to arrive in Jammu and Kashmir later this month to finalise commerce between the two parts of the state.
According to official sources here, the delegation will be arriving in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, Sep 22 to hold talks with Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and other business organisations to finalise the cross border trade between the divided parts of the state.
The delegation, said the sources, would also hold meetings with the state government officials and hold similar talks here Sep 25 and 26.
‘A list of articles to be traded (across the de facto border between India and Pakistan) has been prepared by either side. They include 13 Pakistani items that can come to this side while there are about 26 Indian items that can go there,’ said president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Jammu Ram Sahai.
Pakistani items that can be marketed in Indian Kashmir include precious stones, namdas (small rough wool embroidered carpets), furniture, medicinal herbs, embroidered items, pinenuts, spices, dry seeds, dry dates, Bengal grams, pulses and rock salt.
Traders from this side of the border would be sending carpets, wall hangings, paper machie, shawls, crewel embroidery, Kashmiri woolen products, cricket bats, silk, Kashmiri dry fruits, Kashmiri wazwan (special food delicacies), basmati rice, fresh fruits, black mushroom, red kidney beans and green tea besides other items.
The trade is expected to start from two points — Uri-Muzaffarabad in the Kashmir valley and Poonch-Rawalakot in the Jammu region.
‘
A similar delegation from Indian side of Kashmir will be visiting Pakistani side in October this year to give final touches to the quantum and tune of trade to be carried out between two sides,’ said the officials.
The trade between the two parts of Kashmir is expected to start in late October.(ENS)
Turbulence trounces tourist industry: More than hundred thousand would-be-tourists back out
Srinagar: At least 1,50,000 tourists have cancelled their trip to the Valley during past two months of uncertainty in the State causing a huge loss to the tourist industry- the backbone of the State economy. According to official figures, more than one and a half lac tourists have dropped the idea of spending their holidays in the Valley during past two months owing to the ongoing turmoil in the State.
Tourist industry, considered as a backbone of state economy, has incurred huge loss as the main season of tourist influx- June to September- witnessed a sudden uprise of people against transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine Board by the State government. With the onset of summers, hundreds of thousands of tourists started pouring in to the Valley from within the country and abroad. But the land row forced these tourists to cut short their visits and they started fleeing from the Valley as soon as protests against land transfer started picking up.
It would be pertinent to mention that during past few years, number of tourists, both national and international, had increased manifold as the normalcy, although for a short period, during these years had attracted tourists from all across the globe.All the sections of the society, directly or indirectly associated with the industry, have sustained losses and demand they be compensated by the government.“I had booked vehicles and hotels for two months before land controversy as the season seemed promising owing to the huge influx of tourists early this season. But the land controversy turned everything upside down,” said a tour operator Ghulam Muhammad, adding “Now it is my humble request to the authorities to compensate those who have incurred losses.”
Mushtaq Ahmad, who runs hotel at Boulevard road, while narrating his story of losses said “Come to my hotel and see it is deserted. It is really painful when you see all the rooms of hotel are vacant”.“Earlier this season, we had to return tourists who asked for the lodging as all the rooms were occupied”, he added.When asked about his business, Abdul Rehman, a Shikara owner, while pointing towards Boulevard road said, “The deserted look of this otherwise busy road tells everything”.
Pak business delegation to visit state
Jammu: A 15-member traders’ delegation from Pakistan-administered Kashmir is scheduled to arrive in Jammu and Kashmir later this month to finalise commerce between the two parts of the state.
According to official sources here, the delegation will be arriving in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, Sep 22 to hold talks with Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and other business organisations to finalise the cross border trade between the divided parts of the state.
The delegation, said the sources, would also hold meetings with the state government officials and hold similar talks here Sep 25 and 26.
‘A list of articles to be traded (across the de facto border between India and Pakistan) has been prepared by either side. They include 13 Pakistani items that can come to this side while there are about 26 Indian items that can go there,’ said president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Jammu Ram Sahai.
Pakistani items that can be marketed in Indian Kashmir include precious stones, namdas (small rough wool embroidered carpets), furniture, medicinal herbs, embroidered items, pinenuts, spices, dry seeds, dry dates, Bengal grams, pulses and rock salt.
Traders from this side of the border would be sending carpets, wall hangings, paper machie, shawls, crewel embroidery, Kashmiri woolen products, cricket bats, silk, Kashmiri dry fruits, Kashmiri wazwan (special food delicacies), basmati rice, fresh fruits, black mushroom, red kidney beans and green tea besides other items.
The trade is expected to start from two points — Uri-Muzaffarabad in the Kashmir valley and Poonch-Rawalakot in the Jammu region.
‘
A similar delegation from Indian side of Kashmir will be visiting Pakistani side in October this year to give final touches to the quantum and tune of trade to be carried out between two sides,’ said the officials.
The trade between the two parts of Kashmir is expected to start in late October.(ENS)
Turbulence trounces tourist industry: More than hundred thousand would-be-tourists back out
Srinagar: At least 1,50,000 tourists have cancelled their trip to the Valley during past two months of uncertainty in the State causing a huge loss to the tourist industry- the backbone of the State economy. According to official figures, more than one and a half lac tourists have dropped the idea of spending their holidays in the Valley during past two months owing to the ongoing turmoil in the State.
Tourist industry, considered as a backbone of state economy, has incurred huge loss as the main season of tourist influx- June to September- witnessed a sudden uprise of people against transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine Board by the State government. With the onset of summers, hundreds of thousands of tourists started pouring in to the Valley from within the country and abroad. But the land row forced these tourists to cut short their visits and they started fleeing from the Valley as soon as protests against land transfer started picking up.
It would be pertinent to mention that during past few years, number of tourists, both national and international, had increased manifold as the normalcy, although for a short period, during these years had attracted tourists from all across the globe.All the sections of the society, directly or indirectly associated with the industry, have sustained losses and demand they be compensated by the government.“I had booked vehicles and hotels for two months before land controversy as the season seemed promising owing to the huge influx of tourists early this season. But the land controversy turned everything upside down,” said a tour operator Ghulam Muhammad, adding “Now it is my humble request to the authorities to compensate those who have incurred losses.”
Mushtaq Ahmad, who runs hotel at Boulevard road, while narrating his story of losses said “Come to my hotel and see it is deserted. It is really painful when you see all the rooms of hotel are vacant”.“Earlier this season, we had to return tourists who asked for the lodging as all the rooms were occupied”, he added.When asked about his business, Abdul Rehman, a Shikara owner, while pointing towards Boulevard road said, “The deserted look of this otherwise busy road tells everything”.
With Most Private Schools Per Capita in India, Kashmir has yet to Produce Outstanding Academic Scholars on a Consistent Basis
And here is the reason why - three related stories on issues of the day disturbing the young scholarly minds in Kashmir ...
School children burdened with extra classes
Srinagar: The announcement of curtailment of holidays and holding of extra classes by most of the educational institutions to compensate for the loss of working days in the wake of the recent mass agitation has not gone well with the parents of lower class students. They believe that such measures are suitable for the higher classes only as small children need more time to comprehend the lessons.
Many parents spoke to Rising Kashmir regarding the “inaptness” of holding extra classes for primary class students with curtailment of holidays. Parents blamed the school authorities of overburdening the students of primary classes by assigning them many assignments with tight deadlines.
One of the parents, Kuldeep Kour expressed serious concern for “coercing” the children to complete the already large syllabus by the school authorities to meet the examination in time without bearing in mind its negative effects on the children.“Due to heavy workload in school my son who is in 4th standard felt unconscious and subsequently became febrile,” she said.
Muhammad Rafiq another parent said, “With the pending of the syllabus, the school authorities besides conducting frequent classes give tough assignments to the children, which is really frustrating for them.”Rafiq said the timetable for examination has been set taking into account the programme of the Coordination Committee which indicates that the schools are more eager to rid themselves of the burden rather then sincerely thinking of compensation of the loss of working days.
Parents are of the opinion that the students of primary classes should be promoted to the next class in time and if felt necessary the examinations of the previous classes can be held during the first or second month of the new academic session.“This way any loss of time is made good and no one escapes from being examined properly,” added Rafiq.
Commenting on the issue, Director Education, Shagufta Parveen said, “I don’t think the primary classes have huge syllabus. But since the parents are complaining about it, we will look into the matter for its immediate solution.”
Sopore college students stage demo : Demand relaxation in time, syllabus
Sopore: Students of Sopore Degree College on Monday staged protest demonstrations demanding reduction in syllabus in view of the time lost due to strikes and curfew imposed in the Valley.
Infuriated over the decision of Kashmir University to hold examinations on time with complete syllabus, hundreds of students protested in college campus demanding relaxation in time and syllabus.Shouting slogans against Kashmir University and government, students said the varsity decision of holding examinations on time is injustice with them. "We have just completed 20 percent syllabus. We were ignored in the meeting of Principals where the decision of conducting examinations was taken," said a student Javid Ahmed of B.A 3rd year. "They should change time of examination or reduce syllabus otherwise we will take to streets now," said Tunfail Inafayat, a student of final year."We have already lost time of two months due to strikes and curfew.
It seems that they are taking revenge on us for taking part in protests by holding examination on time," the students said adding that they will continue with the protests.Later the students dispersed peacefully after submitting memorandum to the Principal of the college demanding relaxation in syllabus.The class work was hit in the college as students took part in protests.
Students appeal to KU authorities
Srinagar: Students from various professional colleges today appealed to the Kashmir University authorities to allow them to take their vehicles into the campus premises during examinations period. A group of students of Government Medical College here said they were not allowed to take in their vehicles into campus. “We appeal to the authorities to treat our admit cards as vehicle passes,” said a women student of pre-final. The students said they have to walk a long distance to reach their respective centres.
School children burdened with extra classes
Srinagar: The announcement of curtailment of holidays and holding of extra classes by most of the educational institutions to compensate for the loss of working days in the wake of the recent mass agitation has not gone well with the parents of lower class students. They believe that such measures are suitable for the higher classes only as small children need more time to comprehend the lessons.
Many parents spoke to Rising Kashmir regarding the “inaptness” of holding extra classes for primary class students with curtailment of holidays. Parents blamed the school authorities of overburdening the students of primary classes by assigning them many assignments with tight deadlines.
One of the parents, Kuldeep Kour expressed serious concern for “coercing” the children to complete the already large syllabus by the school authorities to meet the examination in time without bearing in mind its negative effects on the children.“Due to heavy workload in school my son who is in 4th standard felt unconscious and subsequently became febrile,” she said.
Muhammad Rafiq another parent said, “With the pending of the syllabus, the school authorities besides conducting frequent classes give tough assignments to the children, which is really frustrating for them.”Rafiq said the timetable for examination has been set taking into account the programme of the Coordination Committee which indicates that the schools are more eager to rid themselves of the burden rather then sincerely thinking of compensation of the loss of working days.
Parents are of the opinion that the students of primary classes should be promoted to the next class in time and if felt necessary the examinations of the previous classes can be held during the first or second month of the new academic session.“This way any loss of time is made good and no one escapes from being examined properly,” added Rafiq.
Commenting on the issue, Director Education, Shagufta Parveen said, “I don’t think the primary classes have huge syllabus. But since the parents are complaining about it, we will look into the matter for its immediate solution.”
Sopore college students stage demo : Demand relaxation in time, syllabus
Sopore: Students of Sopore Degree College on Monday staged protest demonstrations demanding reduction in syllabus in view of the time lost due to strikes and curfew imposed in the Valley.
Infuriated over the decision of Kashmir University to hold examinations on time with complete syllabus, hundreds of students protested in college campus demanding relaxation in time and syllabus.Shouting slogans against Kashmir University and government, students said the varsity decision of holding examinations on time is injustice with them. "We have just completed 20 percent syllabus. We were ignored in the meeting of Principals where the decision of conducting examinations was taken," said a student Javid Ahmed of B.A 3rd year. "They should change time of examination or reduce syllabus otherwise we will take to streets now," said Tunfail Inafayat, a student of final year."We have already lost time of two months due to strikes and curfew.
It seems that they are taking revenge on us for taking part in protests by holding examination on time," the students said adding that they will continue with the protests.Later the students dispersed peacefully after submitting memorandum to the Principal of the college demanding relaxation in syllabus.The class work was hit in the college as students took part in protests.
Students appeal to KU authorities
Srinagar: Students from various professional colleges today appealed to the Kashmir University authorities to allow them to take their vehicles into the campus premises during examinations period. A group of students of Government Medical College here said they were not allowed to take in their vehicles into campus. “We appeal to the authorities to treat our admit cards as vehicle passes,” said a women student of pre-final. The students said they have to walk a long distance to reach their respective centres.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Bible of Resistance that the Hurriyat Conference wants us to follow is apocryphal
Mehmood: If the resistance-calendar framed for us by Geelani Sahib constitutes the Genesis of this book, then sorry to say, it is not about creation; it is about annihilation
(Mr. Mehmood-ur-Rashid, mid-30's, lives and works in Srinagar.)
Reverse the order of things
Geelani SahIb walks down the Mount Resistance and hands over to his people the commandments for protest. It enjoins on us to carry forward the programme of protest; succinctly put, it includes Just a few days of routine work, interspersed by programmes of protest, punctuated (punctured!) by the strike calls and half-strike calls (Fridays) and concluded with the call to assemble at Lal Chowk.
Armageddon!
Not encouraged to undertake any detailed analysis or critique of this programme of protest, one can terminate the topic only by saying this much; this programme is disappointing, if not ridiculous. And that is to say the least. There cannot be any better and easier way to burn the resources of resistance than the continued disruption of life that was announced by Hurriyat Conference. To buy from Orwellian improvements on language, it is an un-programme, rather than a programme. It is like switching off an entire nation.
It never means that disruption and protest has no significance in any Resistance movement. What it means is that exclusive reliance on cessation-of-routine and disruption-of-life is an indication of resistance movement being shorn of vision and bereft of purpose. It uncovers the dark and nasty side of resistance; one that has always paved the way for chaos and bloodshed. It also speaks of how tentative this leadership is and also reveals their inability to think long term and positive. It casts a shadow of doubt on the very outcome of this Resistance.
An easier way of keeping the unwilling and questioning people at bay is to ask for alternatives. If people don't protest, go on strike, pelt stones, and shout slogans, then what shall they do? (Really what shall they do? That is the question to be answered.) It is a readily available stone that can be hurled on the cynic's head. Geelani Sahab can very well shout back on all those who disagree with his programme, and ask for an alternative course of action. It may not be, making an honest confession, all that easy to produce one; and this too is a fact that one who leads a people amidst crisis of this magnitude knows the situation better. He has also the advantage of being in the thick of it. His is the first hand experience. An armchair analyst is ensconced far away from the heat of things to comment on how to negotiate with the situation, not to speak of questioning the pioneers and leaders of the Resistance. But does that mean we should stop questioning? Does that entail an unlimited, unhindered, and on the nod acceptance of whatever is revealed from Mount Resistance? Geelani Sahab must not have forgotten the basics of his ideological manual that anybody, except God and His Prophet (SAW), can be questioned about his word and deed; so all of us reserve the right to question. And there are a good number of people who, not just for the considerations of material loss and gain, find the recently issued periodic table of resistance highly wanting in any constructive scheme of empowering the people, so that they can better resist the onslaught of power.
Real problem with Kashmiri Resistance is the wrong order of things. We are being forced to believe that first freedom will dawn on us and then we have to work on the making of this nation. Essentially it is a suicidal thought. It makes resistance not only costlier but also prone to failure. It may require a detailed discourse to explain this idea but off hand one can point out that the inverted pyramid style of revolutionary change through resistance is potentially a dangerous idea. It is because of this that chaos sets in the very matrix of resistance- society. One of its characteristic features is the devaluation of human life. Gallons of blood flow painting the ground red, but everyone convinces himself that this is the cost of change. Another hideous truth about it is that such movements succeed only to fail. As it gives rise to an extremely fascist system of power that breeds on suspicion and complete disregard of peopel's aspirations it concludes in a state of endless strife. The above thoughts don't emanate from cynicism or paranoia but are very well borne by historical facts. The reason for India being a success and Pakistan a failure is that Pakistan was a product of haste while as India was the outcome of decades of toil and hardwork by Congress. The roots of democracy were deeply embedded in the scheme of things when it comes to India. In case of Pakistan it was contrary. Result of all this is in front of us. In the not so remote past mankind has witnessed many bloody revolutions that occurred without the required amount of ground work having been done. Bolshevik Revolution of Russia and even before that French revolution, are some of the glaring examples. Why go in the back of beyond, Afghanistan is right in front of us. The failure of Mujahideen leadership in consolidating the gains in battlefield, once the Russian forces withdrew, was the direct fall out of not having established a democratic leadership that could put the people of Afghanistan on the path of reconstruction. All these examples stare us in the face. Do we still need any clarifications? If we are still stand convinced that unless India leaves our land nothing constructive can be done, then let us for a while presume that India was scheduled to pack off the very next day. Just imagine what will follow? What will hold us as a single people and who will manage the land, its people and recourses? The thought only sends a chill down the spine.
Here Hurriyat Leadership, more importantly Geelani Sahab, need to do a rethinking. They are under an obligation to reverse the order of things. A gradual, calibrated and measured ways of bringing about any grand change, need to be explored. Instead of making a roster of sorts for the people to follow, Hurriyat should chalk down a course for its leaders following which they can lay the foundation of a capable, democratic and enlightened political force that can negotiate with the State; while it stays here and also when it agrees to dissolve the status quo. If this is not done, it will not only cost us more lives, but in case we make it through it will ensure the emergence of an authoritarian regime, that will justify itself either in the name of religion or national security. That day we will realise that we had only been fighting for failure.
So the first thing to be done is to democratise Hurriyat Conference. Up till now it constitutes of many close associations, mistaken for parties, and people hardly know who is who in this conglomerate. A ring of mysterious darkness surrounds this political platform; and to begin with the rings needs to be lifted
(Mr. Mehmood-ur-Rashid, mid-30's, lives and works in Srinagar.)
Reverse the order of things
Geelani SahIb walks down the Mount Resistance and hands over to his people the commandments for protest. It enjoins on us to carry forward the programme of protest; succinctly put, it includes Just a few days of routine work, interspersed by programmes of protest, punctuated (punctured!) by the strike calls and half-strike calls (Fridays) and concluded with the call to assemble at Lal Chowk.
Armageddon!
Not encouraged to undertake any detailed analysis or critique of this programme of protest, one can terminate the topic only by saying this much; this programme is disappointing, if not ridiculous. And that is to say the least. There cannot be any better and easier way to burn the resources of resistance than the continued disruption of life that was announced by Hurriyat Conference. To buy from Orwellian improvements on language, it is an un-programme, rather than a programme. It is like switching off an entire nation.
It never means that disruption and protest has no significance in any Resistance movement. What it means is that exclusive reliance on cessation-of-routine and disruption-of-life is an indication of resistance movement being shorn of vision and bereft of purpose. It uncovers the dark and nasty side of resistance; one that has always paved the way for chaos and bloodshed. It also speaks of how tentative this leadership is and also reveals their inability to think long term and positive. It casts a shadow of doubt on the very outcome of this Resistance.
An easier way of keeping the unwilling and questioning people at bay is to ask for alternatives. If people don't protest, go on strike, pelt stones, and shout slogans, then what shall they do? (Really what shall they do? That is the question to be answered.) It is a readily available stone that can be hurled on the cynic's head. Geelani Sahab can very well shout back on all those who disagree with his programme, and ask for an alternative course of action. It may not be, making an honest confession, all that easy to produce one; and this too is a fact that one who leads a people amidst crisis of this magnitude knows the situation better. He has also the advantage of being in the thick of it. His is the first hand experience. An armchair analyst is ensconced far away from the heat of things to comment on how to negotiate with the situation, not to speak of questioning the pioneers and leaders of the Resistance. But does that mean we should stop questioning? Does that entail an unlimited, unhindered, and on the nod acceptance of whatever is revealed from Mount Resistance? Geelani Sahab must not have forgotten the basics of his ideological manual that anybody, except God and His Prophet (SAW), can be questioned about his word and deed; so all of us reserve the right to question. And there are a good number of people who, not just for the considerations of material loss and gain, find the recently issued periodic table of resistance highly wanting in any constructive scheme of empowering the people, so that they can better resist the onslaught of power.
Real problem with Kashmiri Resistance is the wrong order of things. We are being forced to believe that first freedom will dawn on us and then we have to work on the making of this nation. Essentially it is a suicidal thought. It makes resistance not only costlier but also prone to failure. It may require a detailed discourse to explain this idea but off hand one can point out that the inverted pyramid style of revolutionary change through resistance is potentially a dangerous idea. It is because of this that chaos sets in the very matrix of resistance- society. One of its characteristic features is the devaluation of human life. Gallons of blood flow painting the ground red, but everyone convinces himself that this is the cost of change. Another hideous truth about it is that such movements succeed only to fail. As it gives rise to an extremely fascist system of power that breeds on suspicion and complete disregard of peopel's aspirations it concludes in a state of endless strife. The above thoughts don't emanate from cynicism or paranoia but are very well borne by historical facts. The reason for India being a success and Pakistan a failure is that Pakistan was a product of haste while as India was the outcome of decades of toil and hardwork by Congress. The roots of democracy were deeply embedded in the scheme of things when it comes to India. In case of Pakistan it was contrary. Result of all this is in front of us. In the not so remote past mankind has witnessed many bloody revolutions that occurred without the required amount of ground work having been done. Bolshevik Revolution of Russia and even before that French revolution, are some of the glaring examples. Why go in the back of beyond, Afghanistan is right in front of us. The failure of Mujahideen leadership in consolidating the gains in battlefield, once the Russian forces withdrew, was the direct fall out of not having established a democratic leadership that could put the people of Afghanistan on the path of reconstruction. All these examples stare us in the face. Do we still need any clarifications? If we are still stand convinced that unless India leaves our land nothing constructive can be done, then let us for a while presume that India was scheduled to pack off the very next day. Just imagine what will follow? What will hold us as a single people and who will manage the land, its people and recourses? The thought only sends a chill down the spine.
Here Hurriyat Leadership, more importantly Geelani Sahab, need to do a rethinking. They are under an obligation to reverse the order of things. A gradual, calibrated and measured ways of bringing about any grand change, need to be explored. Instead of making a roster of sorts for the people to follow, Hurriyat should chalk down a course for its leaders following which they can lay the foundation of a capable, democratic and enlightened political force that can negotiate with the State; while it stays here and also when it agrees to dissolve the status quo. If this is not done, it will not only cost us more lives, but in case we make it through it will ensure the emergence of an authoritarian regime, that will justify itself either in the name of religion or national security. That day we will realise that we had only been fighting for failure.
So the first thing to be done is to democratise Hurriyat Conference. Up till now it constitutes of many close associations, mistaken for parties, and people hardly know who is who in this conglomerate. A ring of mysterious darkness surrounds this political platform; and to begin with the rings needs to be lifted
There is no Such Thing as Half Pregnant
Jehangir notes that even the supremo is unable to open (or close) the gates of anarchy at will
(Mr. Jehangir Rashid, 34, was born in Nowshera, Srinagar. He completed his school education from Green Land High School in Hawal, Srinagar, and his college degree from the Department of Distance Education, University of Kashmir. He earned his Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Kashmir. He is currently employed as a Chief Correspondent in the Daily Etalaat, and worked as a special correspondent for the Kashmir Times. Jehangir won the Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award for Writing for his reporting on the 2005 earthquake. He enjoys listening to old melodies and watching old movies and cricket matches.)
Rein in these miscreants!
Srinagar: Giving damn to coordination committee’s call that there will be no shut down on Saturday miscreants in uptown localities resorted to stone pelting forcing the shopkeepers to down their shutters in the morning. The chaos even forced pedestrians to retreat from the civil lines areas to escape the disturbance.
Importantly, Hurriyat-combine coordination committee had asked people to carry on normal business on Saturday. Even prominent separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani emphatically asked people not observe shut down. The statement in this regard was issued by some of the dailies here.
A group of miscreants in the morning on Saturday appeared in Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Abi Guzar and pelted stones on shop keepers and forced them to observe hartal. The miscreants even smashed the show cases of shops around Regal Chowk. Not only they pelted stones on the shops, they even used abusive language against the shopkeepers in this holy month of Ramzan
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar and Yasin Malik owe an explanation to the people about the frequent stone pelting incidents which put people in trouble more than the security forces. They must realize that the security forces thereafter, go berserk and attack the residential houses and beat up whosoever come their way. Even the old and ailing are not spared.
The same happened today when police as well as CRPF troopers entered the houses in the Sarie Balla area and beat up the inmates. They damaged the window panes of these houses and hurled abuses on the inmates.
These leaders need to ponder over the issue and identify the miscreants responsible for creating chaos in the society when world community is watching the Kashmir situation with apt interest.
The leaders should also realize that everybody including education department as also university authorities extended their co-operation to the Hurriyat leaders’ programme of resistance and they accordingly set the calendar of holding exams and entrance tests.
The parents were worried more today because the students were taking entrance test at different institutions like SP college and women’s college in Regal Chowk. The parents could not park their vehicles in the area given the disturbances. Thanks to the miscreants and their unholy activities.
These people also faced the wrath at the hands of police as well as security forces. The parents were waiting for their children to finish their exams and then they could accompany them to their homes. As the disturbance started showing its effects the police as well as CRPF cops resorted to baton charge and beat up the parents who were waiting on the pavement as well as over bridge.
Today’s activities annoyed Syed Ali Shah Geelani to the extent that he spoke to Yasin Malik and conveyed his dismay over the activities of miscreants in the up- town areas which is considered to strong hold of Malik.
There was let up in the stone pelting incidents in the afternoon in most of the areas even though the same continued in areas like Sarie Balla and Maharaja Bazar. Late in the evening the stone pelting incidents were reported from Chota Bazar, Habba Kadal and Rainawari.
Incidentally, here is the Hartal Schedule:
September 8 2008 --- General Strike
September 9 to September 11 --- No Strike
September 12 (Friday) ---- Strike after 12:30 pm and protests after Friday prayers till 5pm.
September 13 to September 17 ---- No Strike (Conduct of professional Exams)
September 18 ---- Protests at all District Headquarters
September 19 (Friday ) ---- Strike after 12:30 pm and protests after Friday congregation prayers till 5pm.
September 20 Saturday --- General Strike
September 21 to 25 No Strike
September 26 Jummat-ul-Vida Syed Ali Geelani will address Friday congregation prayers at Hazrabal, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq at Jamia Masjid and Muhammad Yasin Malik at Chrar-e-Sharief. Peaceful protests after the prayers.
September 27 to October 02 No Strike
October 06 Lal Chowk March
(Mr. Jehangir Rashid, 34, was born in Nowshera, Srinagar. He completed his school education from Green Land High School in Hawal, Srinagar, and his college degree from the Department of Distance Education, University of Kashmir. He earned his Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Kashmir. He is currently employed as a Chief Correspondent in the Daily Etalaat, and worked as a special correspondent for the Kashmir Times. Jehangir won the Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award for Writing for his reporting on the 2005 earthquake. He enjoys listening to old melodies and watching old movies and cricket matches.)
Rein in these miscreants!
Srinagar: Giving damn to coordination committee’s call that there will be no shut down on Saturday miscreants in uptown localities resorted to stone pelting forcing the shopkeepers to down their shutters in the morning. The chaos even forced pedestrians to retreat from the civil lines areas to escape the disturbance.
Importantly, Hurriyat-combine coordination committee had asked people to carry on normal business on Saturday. Even prominent separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani emphatically asked people not observe shut down. The statement in this regard was issued by some of the dailies here.
A group of miscreants in the morning on Saturday appeared in Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Abi Guzar and pelted stones on shop keepers and forced them to observe hartal. The miscreants even smashed the show cases of shops around Regal Chowk. Not only they pelted stones on the shops, they even used abusive language against the shopkeepers in this holy month of Ramzan
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar and Yasin Malik owe an explanation to the people about the frequent stone pelting incidents which put people in trouble more than the security forces. They must realize that the security forces thereafter, go berserk and attack the residential houses and beat up whosoever come their way. Even the old and ailing are not spared.
The same happened today when police as well as CRPF troopers entered the houses in the Sarie Balla area and beat up the inmates. They damaged the window panes of these houses and hurled abuses on the inmates.
These leaders need to ponder over the issue and identify the miscreants responsible for creating chaos in the society when world community is watching the Kashmir situation with apt interest.
The leaders should also realize that everybody including education department as also university authorities extended their co-operation to the Hurriyat leaders’ programme of resistance and they accordingly set the calendar of holding exams and entrance tests.
The parents were worried more today because the students were taking entrance test at different institutions like SP college and women’s college in Regal Chowk. The parents could not park their vehicles in the area given the disturbances. Thanks to the miscreants and their unholy activities.
These people also faced the wrath at the hands of police as well as security forces. The parents were waiting for their children to finish their exams and then they could accompany them to their homes. As the disturbance started showing its effects the police as well as CRPF cops resorted to baton charge and beat up the parents who were waiting on the pavement as well as over bridge.
Today’s activities annoyed Syed Ali Shah Geelani to the extent that he spoke to Yasin Malik and conveyed his dismay over the activities of miscreants in the up- town areas which is considered to strong hold of Malik.
There was let up in the stone pelting incidents in the afternoon in most of the areas even though the same continued in areas like Sarie Balla and Maharaja Bazar. Late in the evening the stone pelting incidents were reported from Chota Bazar, Habba Kadal and Rainawari.
Incidentally, here is the Hartal Schedule:
September 8 2008 --- General Strike
September 9 to September 11 --- No Strike
September 12 (Friday) ---- Strike after 12:30 pm and protests after Friday prayers till 5pm.
September 13 to September 17 ---- No Strike (Conduct of professional Exams)
September 18 ---- Protests at all District Headquarters
September 19 (Friday ) ---- Strike after 12:30 pm and protests after Friday congregation prayers till 5pm.
September 20 Saturday --- General Strike
September 21 to 25 No Strike
September 26 Jummat-ul-Vida Syed Ali Geelani will address Friday congregation prayers at Hazrabal, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq at Jamia Masjid and Muhammad Yasin Malik at Chrar-e-Sharief. Peaceful protests after the prayers.
September 27 to October 02 No Strike
October 06 Lal Chowk March
A Question of Character
Afshana's idealism meets ground reality upon opening a baby cereal box, but in the process she exposes the greatest weakness among our gene
(Ms. Syeda Afshana, 34, was born in Srinagar. She attended the Vishwa Bharti High School in Rainawari, Srinagar, and the Government Women's College in Srinagar where she received a B.Sc. degree. She completed her Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 1999 and was the Gold Medallist (first position holder) in her graduating class. She is currently a Lecturer in the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the Kashmir University and pursuing her doctorate on the role of internet after 9/11.)
Let’s be free from malice towards each other
Last frozen night
When gloom hung in the air
like a pestilent cloud,
not a whiff of air
not a branch stirred.
But the wings of a dream
fluttered over the dreamscape
in mine part of mouthful sky....
The Phoenix had come!
To divulge that
dreams slip in,
as life flows on anyhow.
What if dead babies are
fished out of drains,
sisters have gone astray,
brothers are loitering....
the wolves go on living,
fatter and merrier
they grow endlessly.
What if orphans become criminals,
widows start begging,
bullets boomerang.....
the black hearted black men
with bagfuls of black money
continue to dabble in sins,
the blackest ever.
Adversity withers, prosperity blooms.
What if I kill you
and you kill everybody;
what if drones and moths
sting the innocence;
what if you worship the rising sun
and chase the fugitive sunshine;
what if rivers are stagnated
and hills stand naked
because of foul deeds?
Any moment now, any day now
you’ll be taken in for repairs
the Phoenix told me.
Morbid brains, malicious hearts
would be overhauled.
And a small band of animals
will stride out upon the earth,
upright, firm and strong,
avid to weave a dream.....
to see a stream of consciousness
awaking conscience from
waking slumber
and
making you humans humane.
Nations get what they deserve. From rulers to leaders, things are ordained as per the moral fiber of the community. Besides the weather seasons, even the triumphs and tragedies shape up in accordance with the societal character.
The recent disturbances over here brought many a lesson to the fore. Certain things got vindicated by the very nature of this agitation. And the most painful, and equally pitiful, was the exposition of our character. Perhaps the typical Kashmiri thinking that has not amended its disposition, inspite of the harrowing experiences it got through during the past two decades of gory mayhem, was revealed.
Various incidents narrated our miserable makeup. A phone call from a friend during curfew days, provided an eye-opener. She talked about the milkman who fetches milk to her home. Despite severe restrictions on mobility, he somehow managed to reach the locality almost every day. As the curfew got more stringent, he hiked the price of each litre of milk by four rupees. Taking advantage of the situation, he threatened to stop the milk supply to those who objected his disgustingly opportunistic behaviour. My friend had no option but to agree. Even then, the quality of milk degenerated with each passing day. Most probably, he adulterated it with more amount of water to meet the demand of his helpless consumers.
A personal experience was also upsetting. Due to “shortage” of baby food, there was hardly anything available in the market prior to curfew. I had managed to get few infant cereal packets which got consumed during the curfew days. The moment there was relaxation in the curfew, I asked my hubby to arrange something for the baby. He got just one packet of cereal food from the local shopkeeper. That was all what the shopkeeper was left with, as claimed by him. In the rush of the hour, my hubby had only checked the expiry date of the packet, which was still intact. The moment I opened it up, I saw a transparent tape on the outer pack, and the interior air-tight foil containing the content was torn. The whole mixture was scattered in the outer pack, making me suspicious. I emptied the contents on a sheet of paper, and discovered rodent excreta in it. It was shocking to observe that people don’t spare even baby food to be tampered with!
Yet another incident in my locality was quite surprising. A mobile relief carrier containing vegetables had arrived. As the people jostled around the vehicle to take the relief, the driver of the carrier was threatened by the local vegetable vendor to vacate the place since it was affecting his sales. The locals objected and there was a noisy brawl. The frightened driver fled from the scene and the vendor rejoiced seeing sapping customers coming back to purchase veggies from his shop at a high price.
There are scores of episodes and events that occurred amidst us recently, and that make us re-think on our collective character. Apart from hoarding of goods to skyrocketing of prices, we have shown that we are the ones who feel happy in taking fat salary pack every month but are highly reluctant to recompense the same through our work.
Undoubtedly, we have offered so many sacrifices for so long. We have lost things that are irreparable. The magnitude of sufferings is so colossal that it will take aeons to wipe the scalding tears from the miffed eyes. Nonetheless, the unwavering and unrelenting spirit has unpredictably not been able to salvage some of our values. It sounds quite paradoxical. Usually, adversity brings up the best of values in humans. That too, when they are involved in a bloody battle for a cause.
Perhaps, the privation here has hardened us to extreme. We yell slogans as well as selfishness. We offer sacrifices as well as offenses. We retrieve as well as retreat. We the people have proven to be a blend of disproportionate matter beyond belief. And that’s what is suicidal for any nation. The character building is more critical in framing of its identity and destiny.
Yes, let’s desire to be free. Free from malice towards each other. Free from self-centeredness. Free from failings of collective morality. And of course, free from political subjugation as well. But let’s first make ourselves deserving for the same. That’s the Herculean Task!
(Ms. Syeda Afshana, 34, was born in Srinagar. She attended the Vishwa Bharti High School in Rainawari, Srinagar, and the Government Women's College in Srinagar where she received a B.Sc. degree. She completed her Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 1999 and was the Gold Medallist (first position holder) in her graduating class. She is currently a Lecturer in the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the Kashmir University and pursuing her doctorate on the role of internet after 9/11.)
Let’s be free from malice towards each other
Last frozen night
When gloom hung in the air
like a pestilent cloud,
not a whiff of air
not a branch stirred.
But the wings of a dream
fluttered over the dreamscape
in mine part of mouthful sky....
The Phoenix had come!
To divulge that
dreams slip in,
as life flows on anyhow.
What if dead babies are
fished out of drains,
sisters have gone astray,
brothers are loitering....
the wolves go on living,
fatter and merrier
they grow endlessly.
What if orphans become criminals,
widows start begging,
bullets boomerang.....
the black hearted black men
with bagfuls of black money
continue to dabble in sins,
the blackest ever.
Adversity withers, prosperity blooms.
What if I kill you
and you kill everybody;
what if drones and moths
sting the innocence;
what if you worship the rising sun
and chase the fugitive sunshine;
what if rivers are stagnated
and hills stand naked
because of foul deeds?
Any moment now, any day now
you’ll be taken in for repairs
the Phoenix told me.
Morbid brains, malicious hearts
would be overhauled.
And a small band of animals
will stride out upon the earth,
upright, firm and strong,
avid to weave a dream.....
to see a stream of consciousness
awaking conscience from
waking slumber
and
making you humans humane.
Nations get what they deserve. From rulers to leaders, things are ordained as per the moral fiber of the community. Besides the weather seasons, even the triumphs and tragedies shape up in accordance with the societal character.
The recent disturbances over here brought many a lesson to the fore. Certain things got vindicated by the very nature of this agitation. And the most painful, and equally pitiful, was the exposition of our character. Perhaps the typical Kashmiri thinking that has not amended its disposition, inspite of the harrowing experiences it got through during the past two decades of gory mayhem, was revealed.
Various incidents narrated our miserable makeup. A phone call from a friend during curfew days, provided an eye-opener. She talked about the milkman who fetches milk to her home. Despite severe restrictions on mobility, he somehow managed to reach the locality almost every day. As the curfew got more stringent, he hiked the price of each litre of milk by four rupees. Taking advantage of the situation, he threatened to stop the milk supply to those who objected his disgustingly opportunistic behaviour. My friend had no option but to agree. Even then, the quality of milk degenerated with each passing day. Most probably, he adulterated it with more amount of water to meet the demand of his helpless consumers.
A personal experience was also upsetting. Due to “shortage” of baby food, there was hardly anything available in the market prior to curfew. I had managed to get few infant cereal packets which got consumed during the curfew days. The moment there was relaxation in the curfew, I asked my hubby to arrange something for the baby. He got just one packet of cereal food from the local shopkeeper. That was all what the shopkeeper was left with, as claimed by him. In the rush of the hour, my hubby had only checked the expiry date of the packet, which was still intact. The moment I opened it up, I saw a transparent tape on the outer pack, and the interior air-tight foil containing the content was torn. The whole mixture was scattered in the outer pack, making me suspicious. I emptied the contents on a sheet of paper, and discovered rodent excreta in it. It was shocking to observe that people don’t spare even baby food to be tampered with!
Yet another incident in my locality was quite surprising. A mobile relief carrier containing vegetables had arrived. As the people jostled around the vehicle to take the relief, the driver of the carrier was threatened by the local vegetable vendor to vacate the place since it was affecting his sales. The locals objected and there was a noisy brawl. The frightened driver fled from the scene and the vendor rejoiced seeing sapping customers coming back to purchase veggies from his shop at a high price.
There are scores of episodes and events that occurred amidst us recently, and that make us re-think on our collective character. Apart from hoarding of goods to skyrocketing of prices, we have shown that we are the ones who feel happy in taking fat salary pack every month but are highly reluctant to recompense the same through our work.
Undoubtedly, we have offered so many sacrifices for so long. We have lost things that are irreparable. The magnitude of sufferings is so colossal that it will take aeons to wipe the scalding tears from the miffed eyes. Nonetheless, the unwavering and unrelenting spirit has unpredictably not been able to salvage some of our values. It sounds quite paradoxical. Usually, adversity brings up the best of values in humans. That too, when they are involved in a bloody battle for a cause.
Perhaps, the privation here has hardened us to extreme. We yell slogans as well as selfishness. We offer sacrifices as well as offenses. We retrieve as well as retreat. We the people have proven to be a blend of disproportionate matter beyond belief. And that’s what is suicidal for any nation. The character building is more critical in framing of its identity and destiny.
Yes, let’s desire to be free. Free from malice towards each other. Free from self-centeredness. Free from failings of collective morality. And of course, free from political subjugation as well. But let’s first make ourselves deserving for the same. That’s the Herculean Task!
Should Politics Trump Common Sense on the LOC Trade?
Arjimand thinks big and comes short of endorsing the present euphoria on the cross-border commerce
(Mr. Arjimand Hussain Talib, 33, is from Srinagar and matriculated from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial School in 1991. He subsequently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Bangalore University. He is also an alumni of the International Academy for Leadership, Gummerbach, Germany. Arjimand writes regular weekly columns for the Greater Kashmir and The Kashmir Times since 2000 on diverse issues of political economy, development, environment and social change and has over 450 published articles to his credit. His forthcoming books: " Kashmir: Towards a New Political Economy", and "Water: Spark for another Indo-Pak War?" are scheduled for release in 2008.)
Re-thinking LoC Trade: There are some serious missing links in the current debate
Srinagar: As the air continues to be filled with smoke over the actual Indian and Pakistani positions on the trans-LoC trade, there seem to be some serious missing links in our domestic debate on the issue as well. Looking at the statements of our trade bodies and leaders of the Coordination Committee, for now it seems our strategy is overly unilateralist and unidirectional. There is so much emphasis on our own economic benefits and reach to international markets through the Jhelum Valley Road that there seems little space for the other party to tread on.
Cost benefit analysis – and, sorry, not emotive sloganeering – continues to guide international trade between sovereign states. In other words, Kashmir’s current approach to the trans-LoC trade needs re-thinking as it seems to be high on emotional quotient and low on realistic strategy. Let us not forget that international trade is very rarely based on emotive politics and that modern nation states weigh matters through the prisms of mutual benefit. The point is that we are bound to offer the other side of Kashmir and Islamabad some tangible benefits too before the idea could meaningfully materialize, or else this exercise would also be lost in meaningless symbolism.
Our approach and statements – especially on the question of our “unbridled access” to Central Asian and Middle Eastern markets – reflects that our emotions and thinking are frozen in pre-1947 times. The current international trade system - including trade in Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Middle Eastern countries - is influenced by altogether new dynamics. Sloganeering alone within the limited scope of trans-LoC trade may not necessarily mean Kashmir’s automatic access to world markets and unidirectional trade benefits. We have a lot of homework to do to make it go beyond symbolism.
The first thing for us to do is to deeply understand the dynamics of the current Indo-Pak trade and the factors that influence the international trade in the South Asian region. One thing to recognize is that the current balance of Indo-Pak bilateral trade is too much to Pakistan’s disadvantage, and as such there are some serious misgivings in Islamabad over the idea of an import flood from Kashmir – which naturally under the current system would be in Indian currency. The prospects of Kashmiri goods flooding Pakistan with the trade taking place in Indian currency are bleak without Srinagar being able to offer matching trading benefits to Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.
Indo-Pak bilateral trade swelled from $235.74 million in 2001-02 to more than $ 2 billion last fiscal year. Between July 2007 and June 2008, Pakistan imported goods worth around $1.409 billion from India against $ 1.281 billion in the previous fiscal year.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s exports to India have increased from less than $50 million in 2001-02 to about $300 million in 2005-06. This trade imbalance to Pakistan is a big cause of worry to her. The reason that Pakistan continues to disapprove granting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India is that the trade balance is highly in India’s favor.
The main commodities of Indian exports to Pakistan include sugar, dyes, plastic & petroleum products and cotton while main import items from Pakistan are petroleum & crude products, fruits & nuts, cotton yarn & fabrics and organic chemicals.
Beyond the official trade imbalance, Islamabad is also worried about the unofficial Indo-Pak trade through third countries, which is estimated at $10 billion - again at Pakistan’s disadvantage. A World Bank study has estimated informal trade between India and Pakistan at $545 million in 2005 alone. The smuggled trade exports to Pakistan include industrial machinery, tyres, chemicals and tea. Indian imports in this category include edible oil, spices, dry fruits and pulses.
Another factor which is normally not considered in this issue is the Afghanistan factor. Pakistan is currently losing out in Afghanistan to Indian and Iranian businesses. Presently, most of the trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan takes place in the informal sector, where the volume of clandestine business (smuggling or re-routing of Afghan transit trade goods) between the two countries is estimated to be more than 10 billion dollars. Pak-Afghan trade witnessed a decline of almost 400 million dollars in 2006-07 because Indian manufacturers have flooded Afghan markets with their goods, ousting Pakistani products.
Kashmir’s trading bodies need to identify commodities which they can offer to Muzaffarabad and Islamabad in exchange of their fruit and other exports to mutual satisfaction. It is also important to note that the market for Kashmir’s handicrafts in the other part of Kashmir and Pakistan is limited. When we talk in the historical sense, trade across the LoC was not limited to Muzaffarabad and Pakistan; it fledged much beyond those borders.
What we also need to recognize is that a meaningful cross-LoC trade has something to do with the minimum convergence of ideas and interests between Srinagar, New Delhi, Muzaffarabad and Islamabad. Quite naturally, there are many convergences between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. But what seem to be consistently ignored are the basic trading aspirations of the people living close to the LoC on the either side, whose day-to-day small historical trade has vanished because of the LoC. A trans-LoC trade which does not take into account their needs and aspirations may not be entirely fruitful. One of the daunting tasks before the trading bodies of the Indian Administered Kashmir and the Pakistan Administered Kashmir is to articulate their interests before their respective governments. Governmental thinking may be overly bogged with geo-politics and not necessarily in tune with people’s aspirations.
Srinagar and Muzaffarabad’s trading communities need to sit together and have a re-look at the lists of trade items that New Delhi and Islamabad had shared for the cross-LoC trade some time back. They have also to explore ways of how their trade interests could go beyond the borders with Afghanistan and the Arabian Sea. That is something where trading communities could make a beginning and Kashmir’s political leadership makes that part of the larger political discourse.
The reason that the trans-LoC trade idea has not made progress is that this trade is treated as a function of the overall Indo-Pak trade and the chronic geo-politics, where Pakistan’s disadvantage automatically aggravates. That may not work, let us understand. Cross-LoC trade offers opportunity not only to the divided parts of Kashmir but even to New Delhi and Islamabad. The only thing to do is to bid good bye to old dirty geo politics and make economics guide the sail.
(Mr. Arjimand Hussain Talib, 33, is from Srinagar and matriculated from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial School in 1991. He subsequently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Bangalore University. He is also an alumni of the International Academy for Leadership, Gummerbach, Germany. Arjimand writes regular weekly columns for the Greater Kashmir and The Kashmir Times since 2000 on diverse issues of political economy, development, environment and social change and has over 450 published articles to his credit. His forthcoming books: " Kashmir: Towards a New Political Economy", and "Water: Spark for another Indo-Pak War?" are scheduled for release in 2008.)
Re-thinking LoC Trade: There are some serious missing links in the current debate
Srinagar: As the air continues to be filled with smoke over the actual Indian and Pakistani positions on the trans-LoC trade, there seem to be some serious missing links in our domestic debate on the issue as well. Looking at the statements of our trade bodies and leaders of the Coordination Committee, for now it seems our strategy is overly unilateralist and unidirectional. There is so much emphasis on our own economic benefits and reach to international markets through the Jhelum Valley Road that there seems little space for the other party to tread on.
Cost benefit analysis – and, sorry, not emotive sloganeering – continues to guide international trade between sovereign states. In other words, Kashmir’s current approach to the trans-LoC trade needs re-thinking as it seems to be high on emotional quotient and low on realistic strategy. Let us not forget that international trade is very rarely based on emotive politics and that modern nation states weigh matters through the prisms of mutual benefit. The point is that we are bound to offer the other side of Kashmir and Islamabad some tangible benefits too before the idea could meaningfully materialize, or else this exercise would also be lost in meaningless symbolism.
Our approach and statements – especially on the question of our “unbridled access” to Central Asian and Middle Eastern markets – reflects that our emotions and thinking are frozen in pre-1947 times. The current international trade system - including trade in Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Middle Eastern countries - is influenced by altogether new dynamics. Sloganeering alone within the limited scope of trans-LoC trade may not necessarily mean Kashmir’s automatic access to world markets and unidirectional trade benefits. We have a lot of homework to do to make it go beyond symbolism.
The first thing for us to do is to deeply understand the dynamics of the current Indo-Pak trade and the factors that influence the international trade in the South Asian region. One thing to recognize is that the current balance of Indo-Pak bilateral trade is too much to Pakistan’s disadvantage, and as such there are some serious misgivings in Islamabad over the idea of an import flood from Kashmir – which naturally under the current system would be in Indian currency. The prospects of Kashmiri goods flooding Pakistan with the trade taking place in Indian currency are bleak without Srinagar being able to offer matching trading benefits to Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.
Indo-Pak bilateral trade swelled from $235.74 million in 2001-02 to more than $ 2 billion last fiscal year. Between July 2007 and June 2008, Pakistan imported goods worth around $1.409 billion from India against $ 1.281 billion in the previous fiscal year.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s exports to India have increased from less than $50 million in 2001-02 to about $300 million in 2005-06. This trade imbalance to Pakistan is a big cause of worry to her. The reason that Pakistan continues to disapprove granting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India is that the trade balance is highly in India’s favor.
The main commodities of Indian exports to Pakistan include sugar, dyes, plastic & petroleum products and cotton while main import items from Pakistan are petroleum & crude products, fruits & nuts, cotton yarn & fabrics and organic chemicals.
Beyond the official trade imbalance, Islamabad is also worried about the unofficial Indo-Pak trade through third countries, which is estimated at $10 billion - again at Pakistan’s disadvantage. A World Bank study has estimated informal trade between India and Pakistan at $545 million in 2005 alone. The smuggled trade exports to Pakistan include industrial machinery, tyres, chemicals and tea. Indian imports in this category include edible oil, spices, dry fruits and pulses.
Another factor which is normally not considered in this issue is the Afghanistan factor. Pakistan is currently losing out in Afghanistan to Indian and Iranian businesses. Presently, most of the trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan takes place in the informal sector, where the volume of clandestine business (smuggling or re-routing of Afghan transit trade goods) between the two countries is estimated to be more than 10 billion dollars. Pak-Afghan trade witnessed a decline of almost 400 million dollars in 2006-07 because Indian manufacturers have flooded Afghan markets with their goods, ousting Pakistani products.
Kashmir’s trading bodies need to identify commodities which they can offer to Muzaffarabad and Islamabad in exchange of their fruit and other exports to mutual satisfaction. It is also important to note that the market for Kashmir’s handicrafts in the other part of Kashmir and Pakistan is limited. When we talk in the historical sense, trade across the LoC was not limited to Muzaffarabad and Pakistan; it fledged much beyond those borders.
What we also need to recognize is that a meaningful cross-LoC trade has something to do with the minimum convergence of ideas and interests between Srinagar, New Delhi, Muzaffarabad and Islamabad. Quite naturally, there are many convergences between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. But what seem to be consistently ignored are the basic trading aspirations of the people living close to the LoC on the either side, whose day-to-day small historical trade has vanished because of the LoC. A trans-LoC trade which does not take into account their needs and aspirations may not be entirely fruitful. One of the daunting tasks before the trading bodies of the Indian Administered Kashmir and the Pakistan Administered Kashmir is to articulate their interests before their respective governments. Governmental thinking may be overly bogged with geo-politics and not necessarily in tune with people’s aspirations.
Srinagar and Muzaffarabad’s trading communities need to sit together and have a re-look at the lists of trade items that New Delhi and Islamabad had shared for the cross-LoC trade some time back. They have also to explore ways of how their trade interests could go beyond the borders with Afghanistan and the Arabian Sea. That is something where trading communities could make a beginning and Kashmir’s political leadership makes that part of the larger political discourse.
The reason that the trans-LoC trade idea has not made progress is that this trade is treated as a function of the overall Indo-Pak trade and the chronic geo-politics, where Pakistan’s disadvantage automatically aggravates. That may not work, let us understand. Cross-LoC trade offers opportunity not only to the divided parts of Kashmir but even to New Delhi and Islamabad. The only thing to do is to bid good bye to old dirty geo politics and make economics guide the sail.
Floriculture in Kashmir Needs More Than Open Access to Match Holland
Rhetoric aside, floriculture has the potential of big business in Kashmir but it needs foreign investment and technology
Valley Florists seek lucrative markets across borders
Baba Umar (Rising Kashmir)
Srinagar: With commercial floriculture becoming a blossoming business option for the Valley entrepreneurs, the demand for seeking high selling markets other than New Delhi is gaining momentum. For the Jammu and Kashmir Flowers Growers Association (JKFGA) is demanding reopening of the traditional Srinagar-Muzafarabad road immediately.“If the government wishes the State to excel in the commercial floriculture, then they need to erase all boundaries that are impeding our business,” JKFGA, President Tajendra Singh told Rising Kashmir on Friday.
Singh said that the State has full potential in overtaking the Holland—that holds 93 percent of the world commercial floral business.“We have technology and the units across the State are producing good harvest—so it becomes essential to have diverse markets to sell your products,” Singh said.
The demand has come at a time when the economic blockade on the valley spelt doom on the business fraternity of the valley, pushing people to think for alternatives and much-sought demand.
JKFGA, President said that saffron bulbs, flower bulbs, and planting material is in great demand across Pakistan and all central Asian countries and Kashmir can fill that demand.“Why can’t we make Kashmir a commercial flower hub to satisfy markets across central Asia instead of Dubai,” Singh further said.
The local entrepreneurs are making huge inroads in the flower markets of New Delhi; however, with the commercial flowers business growing, and after some instances of products being vandalized on the Srinagar-Jammu highway by the unruly mob, the need for other markets is being felt by the florist fraternity.“I was traveling with my goods when at Chenani; I was stopped by the Hindu mob. I was told to sell my products at Rawalpindi,” said Zakir Ahmad, who runs a unit at North Kashmir’s Islamabad.The young entrepreneur who had just started the enterprise was told to take his goods by foot to Delhi markets.“But fortunately a lorry helped me to ferry my merchandise to Delhi,” he said. However, it needed a cold storage for his flowers that were no longer fresh and he had to suffer heavy losses on his yearly produce. Zakir along with other 12 entrepreneurs would always fly to Delhi to sell their merchandise, but during curfew days they had to travel by road which would witness vandalizing and brutal actions by the mob there in Jammu. Zakir also wished to have different trade routes for the Kashmir fresh flowers owing to growing potential in this sector.“Our climate, soil, and geography resembles with that of Holland, so if they can produce world’s most of the commercial flowers why can’t Kashmir,” he said.
Meanwhile, JKFGA, President said that valley entrepreneurs had to witness a slump in this business due to crisis in Kashmir and the estimation of losses is being done by the government.“Ours is a delicate commodity. So it needs to be ferried to markets before flowers are cut from the plant. It was a peak season for selling, but the situation in the valley was quite detrimental for the flower growers there,” Tajendra Singh said.According to figures available, there are some 200-300 small flower growers in the state, while as there are 35 high technology floriculture units in J&K of which valley has 12 such units.
Valley Florists seek lucrative markets across borders
Baba Umar (Rising Kashmir)
Srinagar: With commercial floriculture becoming a blossoming business option for the Valley entrepreneurs, the demand for seeking high selling markets other than New Delhi is gaining momentum. For the Jammu and Kashmir Flowers Growers Association (JKFGA) is demanding reopening of the traditional Srinagar-Muzafarabad road immediately.“If the government wishes the State to excel in the commercial floriculture, then they need to erase all boundaries that are impeding our business,” JKFGA, President Tajendra Singh told Rising Kashmir on Friday.
Singh said that the State has full potential in overtaking the Holland—that holds 93 percent of the world commercial floral business.“We have technology and the units across the State are producing good harvest—so it becomes essential to have diverse markets to sell your products,” Singh said.
The demand has come at a time when the economic blockade on the valley spelt doom on the business fraternity of the valley, pushing people to think for alternatives and much-sought demand.
JKFGA, President said that saffron bulbs, flower bulbs, and planting material is in great demand across Pakistan and all central Asian countries and Kashmir can fill that demand.“Why can’t we make Kashmir a commercial flower hub to satisfy markets across central Asia instead of Dubai,” Singh further said.
The local entrepreneurs are making huge inroads in the flower markets of New Delhi; however, with the commercial flowers business growing, and after some instances of products being vandalized on the Srinagar-Jammu highway by the unruly mob, the need for other markets is being felt by the florist fraternity.“I was traveling with my goods when at Chenani; I was stopped by the Hindu mob. I was told to sell my products at Rawalpindi,” said Zakir Ahmad, who runs a unit at North Kashmir’s Islamabad.The young entrepreneur who had just started the enterprise was told to take his goods by foot to Delhi markets.“But fortunately a lorry helped me to ferry my merchandise to Delhi,” he said. However, it needed a cold storage for his flowers that were no longer fresh and he had to suffer heavy losses on his yearly produce. Zakir along with other 12 entrepreneurs would always fly to Delhi to sell their merchandise, but during curfew days they had to travel by road which would witness vandalizing and brutal actions by the mob there in Jammu. Zakir also wished to have different trade routes for the Kashmir fresh flowers owing to growing potential in this sector.“Our climate, soil, and geography resembles with that of Holland, so if they can produce world’s most of the commercial flowers why can’t Kashmir,” he said.
Meanwhile, JKFGA, President said that valley entrepreneurs had to witness a slump in this business due to crisis in Kashmir and the estimation of losses is being done by the government.“Ours is a delicate commodity. So it needs to be ferried to markets before flowers are cut from the plant. It was a peak season for selling, but the situation in the valley was quite detrimental for the flower growers there,” Tajendra Singh said.According to figures available, there are some 200-300 small flower growers in the state, while as there are 35 high technology floriculture units in J&K of which valley has 12 such units.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Saving the Big Lake - Can the Governor Succeed Where Others Have Failed?
There are no short-cuts, only a holistic approach will do
Vohra calls for mass movement to save Dal
Khidmat News Network
Srinagar: Sharing the concern of the civil society on the shrinking of the Dal Lake, Governor, N N Vohra, today called for a mass movement for conserving the Kashmir's pride heritage.
Interacting with the leading Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of Srinagar here this evening, the Governor reiterated his resolve to do, whatever was required to be done, for restoring the pristine glory of the Dal.
Vohra felt nostalgic about the blue waters of the lake that had mesmerized generations of tourists till a few decades ago, and reminded the people of Kashmir to ponder over the wrongs committed over the years that have left this glorious water body to a virtual village pond. He felt that the Governmental measures alone would not be enough to save the lake and made a passionate appeal to the NGOs, social organisations, students, environmentalists and all others who may be concerned to shoulder the bounden duty of restoring the glory of the lake. The
Governor also referred to his recent meetings and visit to the lake for reviewing the measures being taken up for its conservation. He said that the Dal Development Project envisages a holistic approach for addressing the grey areas, which have been responsible for the present condition of the lake. He said that a massive campaign has been launched to ensure round-the-year manual de-weeding and hoped that the civil society will also do its bit by creating the requisite awareness for arresting the continuing pollution and joining the conservation drive.
Vohra called upon the NGOs to play their crucial role in eradicating social evils, safeguarding the environment, creating awareness about the need to effectively preserve the fragile eco system of the Valley. He also observed that these organizations could do a yeomen's job for improving literacy, especially among females, and helping in the empowerment of women and under-privileged sections of the society. Being the stake holders in the development of the State, they must redouble their efforts in building a harmonious society based on social justice, love and communal amity.
The NGOs urged the Governor for taking effective measures for improving the quality of education, as this sector had suffered immensely during the recent situation. They requested for organizing coaching and tutioning of the students by organizing extra classes.
Earlier, a delegation of fruit growers from Rafiabad led by Mohammed Dilawar Mir, former Minister, also called on the Governor and sought immediate implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme, to ensure better marketing of the Kashmir fruit. The delegation also apprised the Governor about various problems of the Rafiabad area including, inter alia, proper tendering of all the Rural Development Works and review of the selections made under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
Vohra calls for mass movement to save Dal
Khidmat News Network
Srinagar: Sharing the concern of the civil society on the shrinking of the Dal Lake, Governor, N N Vohra, today called for a mass movement for conserving the Kashmir's pride heritage.
Interacting with the leading Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of Srinagar here this evening, the Governor reiterated his resolve to do, whatever was required to be done, for restoring the pristine glory of the Dal.
Vohra felt nostalgic about the blue waters of the lake that had mesmerized generations of tourists till a few decades ago, and reminded the people of Kashmir to ponder over the wrongs committed over the years that have left this glorious water body to a virtual village pond. He felt that the Governmental measures alone would not be enough to save the lake and made a passionate appeal to the NGOs, social organisations, students, environmentalists and all others who may be concerned to shoulder the bounden duty of restoring the glory of the lake. The
Governor also referred to his recent meetings and visit to the lake for reviewing the measures being taken up for its conservation. He said that the Dal Development Project envisages a holistic approach for addressing the grey areas, which have been responsible for the present condition of the lake. He said that a massive campaign has been launched to ensure round-the-year manual de-weeding and hoped that the civil society will also do its bit by creating the requisite awareness for arresting the continuing pollution and joining the conservation drive.
Vohra called upon the NGOs to play their crucial role in eradicating social evils, safeguarding the environment, creating awareness about the need to effectively preserve the fragile eco system of the Valley. He also observed that these organizations could do a yeomen's job for improving literacy, especially among females, and helping in the empowerment of women and under-privileged sections of the society. Being the stake holders in the development of the State, they must redouble their efforts in building a harmonious society based on social justice, love and communal amity.
The NGOs urged the Governor for taking effective measures for improving the quality of education, as this sector had suffered immensely during the recent situation. They requested for organizing coaching and tutioning of the students by organizing extra classes.
Earlier, a delegation of fruit growers from Rafiabad led by Mohammed Dilawar Mir, former Minister, also called on the Governor and sought immediate implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme, to ensure better marketing of the Kashmir fruit. The delegation also apprised the Governor about various problems of the Rafiabad area including, inter alia, proper tendering of all the Rural Development Works and review of the selections made under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
Misfortune Meets Indifference in Today's Valley
Where are the NGO's?
Valley's lone leprosy hospital remains a neglected lot
Syed Yasir (Kashmir Times)
SRINAGAR: The leprosy patients, admitted to the valley's lone leprosy hospital, continue to remain a neglected lot. The hundred odd leprosy patients in the hospital suffer because of the lack of very basic facilities like proper accommodation and medical facilities.
The patients admitted in the Leper Colony have been the worst sufferers. After getting shifted to hospital here from various far-flung areas decades ago, they have struck quite a chord with each other. These patients, after having formed strong social bonding over the years within the hospital, believe that this place is more than a home for them. But today these patients feel absolutely neglected as this place continues to degenerate due to a poor infrastructure.
Situated on the banks of Dal Lake, the hospital campus has become a route for the foreign tourists to commute to the nearby houseboats, troubling the patients with vehicular pollution and moreover a risk to life. "A huge number of vehicles pass through the hospital campus every day and it becomes quite risky to even go for a walk on my wheelchair," said a patient in the hospital, who is living in the hospital for more than 45 years now and has lost both his arms and hands due to leprosy.
The patients are blaming the successive governments for the improper functioning of the hospital. They, however, praise a number of local NGOs and people for their voluntary support. "Although we have a support staff to serve us here, the higher authorities don't even visit us", the patients said, adding that leprosy patient who along with her family, stays in one of the congested mud houses constructed decades ago.
Apart from the few newly constructed rooms, the Leprosy hospital presents the look of an ancient heritage site, with the patient wards housed in muddy structures and improper drainage system running across the campus. Ironically, while a huge water filtration plant, based right in the hospital campus has been a great menace for the patients, their taps often go dry.
The patients after strongly reacting to the concerned authorities proposed plan of moving this hospital to Khonmoh a few months back, seem to be stuck between an absolute political and bureaucratic failure to properly run the only leprosy hospital of the valley. "They (authorities) wanted to shift all of us to a nine room health centre away from the city. Rather than taking us to such an odd place it is better if they develop this place," said another patient.
With every passing day, the degraded leper colony instead of a redressal is receiving more wounds and the patients continue to bleed (literally). Most of the patients suffering from various skin and eye ailments complain of inadequate drugs available at the dispensary and have also stressed for an ambulance at this residential hospital
Valley's lone leprosy hospital remains a neglected lot
Syed Yasir (Kashmir Times)
SRINAGAR: The leprosy patients, admitted to the valley's lone leprosy hospital, continue to remain a neglected lot. The hundred odd leprosy patients in the hospital suffer because of the lack of very basic facilities like proper accommodation and medical facilities.
The patients admitted in the Leper Colony have been the worst sufferers. After getting shifted to hospital here from various far-flung areas decades ago, they have struck quite a chord with each other. These patients, after having formed strong social bonding over the years within the hospital, believe that this place is more than a home for them. But today these patients feel absolutely neglected as this place continues to degenerate due to a poor infrastructure.
Situated on the banks of Dal Lake, the hospital campus has become a route for the foreign tourists to commute to the nearby houseboats, troubling the patients with vehicular pollution and moreover a risk to life. "A huge number of vehicles pass through the hospital campus every day and it becomes quite risky to even go for a walk on my wheelchair," said a patient in the hospital, who is living in the hospital for more than 45 years now and has lost both his arms and hands due to leprosy.
The patients are blaming the successive governments for the improper functioning of the hospital. They, however, praise a number of local NGOs and people for their voluntary support. "Although we have a support staff to serve us here, the higher authorities don't even visit us", the patients said, adding that leprosy patient who along with her family, stays in one of the congested mud houses constructed decades ago.
Apart from the few newly constructed rooms, the Leprosy hospital presents the look of an ancient heritage site, with the patient wards housed in muddy structures and improper drainage system running across the campus. Ironically, while a huge water filtration plant, based right in the hospital campus has been a great menace for the patients, their taps often go dry.
The patients after strongly reacting to the concerned authorities proposed plan of moving this hospital to Khonmoh a few months back, seem to be stuck between an absolute political and bureaucratic failure to properly run the only leprosy hospital of the valley. "They (authorities) wanted to shift all of us to a nine room health centre away from the city. Rather than taking us to such an odd place it is better if they develop this place," said another patient.
With every passing day, the degraded leper colony instead of a redressal is receiving more wounds and the patients continue to bleed (literally). Most of the patients suffering from various skin and eye ailments complain of inadequate drugs available at the dispensary and have also stressed for an ambulance at this residential hospital
Who Pushed Migrant Labor out of Kashmir? Rising Kashmir Says Jammu Agitation was Responsible for it, but That is not What the Record Shows
Record shows that Ali Shah Geelani's Hurriyat has repeatedly given "ultimatums" to migrant labor to pack up and leave. So why did not the kiln industry speak up then? First, the need for migrant labor, followed by what Mr. Geelani said previously, and now what the government is doing about it (three reports)
Flight of labour tells on valleys construction, brick klin industry
Srinagar: Migrant labourers mostly from Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh and other states who left the valley during the ongoing stir; have pushed the labour intensive activities here on standstill.It is exactly three month before that the migrant labourers, who are employed in various urban jobs, agriculture and construction projects, have left the valley on the account of frequent shut downs and curfews following the economic blockade imposed by rightwing Hindus in Jammu.
“Every year they used to leave the valley on the onset of winter season, but this year they left very early because of the situation that left them jobless,” said Rashid Ahmad, owner of a bakery factory in Srinagar, where he used to have five Bihari labourers as employees.Summer witnesses a lot of commercial activities in Kashmir, which otherwise remains almost cut-off during the acute winter season.However, with no migrant labourers around, a work force vacuum is being felt in all the sectors where the non-state migrants are mostly employed.“There are nearly 350 brick kilns in the valley and each kiln employs more than 200 outside state labourers. Their untimely migration has left most of the kilns totally shut,” said vice-president of Kashmir Brick Kiln Association Shabir Ahmad Sofi. He said the economic blockade coupled with shortage of manpower has witnessed almost 80 percent of the kilns closing their business which has incurred a loss of around Rs 60 crore to this industry.
The labourers, mostly from Bihar, who come to Kashmir in the monsoon, come from the flood- devastated districts of their home state. And as they have little economic activities during these months in their villages in Bihar they migrate to Kashmir and other states.Meanwhile, not only are the brick kiln owners feeling vexed, valley’s giant construction agencies are also bearing the maximum brunt.“The construction industry has suffered tremendous losses during past two months. And with no labourer available, all of the projects are lying standstill,” said President of the Chamber of Infrastructural Development Kashmir (CIDK), Parvaiz Ahmad Dar. Dar said that the magnitude of the manpower is witnessing an all time low which has pushed all the contractors to think on the option of winding up their projects unfinished.“Even if we continue with the projects, we will definitely face cost escalations on all our projects,” President CIDK further added.
All the 25 construction agencies affiliated with the chamber have stopped working on their major projects which include projects of entities like Asian Development Bank (ADB), Indian Railways Construction Company (IRCON), National Highway Authority (NHA) and World Bank.Dar said that almost 500 migrant labourers are employed by each of the construction agency and there were 50 major construction projects in progress when the economic blockade and early migration first began.“If the situation persists, there are bleak chances of getting all the work done within the stipulated time,” Dar added.
Meanwhile, Muzaffar Shah, President IRCON Kashmir, said that the construction companies have informed the groups like Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) which undertakes the ADB projects in the State and others about the uncertainty prevailing in the industry.“It is unnatural that we complete construction plans within the stipulated time. We have informed the agencies for whom we carry out projects about the ambiguity in the valley,” Shah said.Shah said that there are 150 construction agencies in the valley and the economic blockade was already an impediment in furnishing the construction schemes which was followed by acute shortage of man power.
Here is what Mr. Geelani said earlier ...
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman, Huriyat (G), has pressed hard on the issue of removal of all non-resident Kashmiris, mostly working as semi-skilled labourers (like masons, carpenters, barbers, etc). They have been working in Kashmir valley for more than 14 years now. They have gradually replaced their local counterparts because they are more efficient, accept lower wages and put in longer hours.
According to Geelani, these people have acquired a great deal of influence in the daily life of Kashmiris. “These people are everywhere, right from our business establishments to our kitchens”, says he. According to him, these non-resident Kashmiris, who are mostly from Bihar, UP and Punjab play a major role in the day-by-day moral degradation of Kashmir’s conservative and clean society. They have exposed Kashmiris to all the bad things - bad culture, bad language and bad habits. The crime rate in the areas where they live is higher. Liquor consumption is a daily affair. Kidnapping is rampant and disrespect for women is common. Innocent Kashmiris fall prey to the vices that these people have introduced in the valley.
The Government has adopted a middle-of-the road course ....
Srinagar: To defuse the crisis related to ‘outsiders’ staying in the valley, the government has decided to form a committee in every district to deal with the issue.
The committee will comprise of the district commissioner, the superintendent of police and the assistant labour commissioner, official sources said, adding it would assess presence of migrant workforce and possibility of their registration.
Though feasibility of registration of floating migrant labour is anybody's guess, the government believes it will end the crisis sparked by hardliner Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani asking outsiders to leave. Geelani later had toned down his demand and said he wanted all outsiders to be registered and verified by the government, which many believe is almost impossible.
Official sources said the decision to form the committee was taken after soliciting views from all quarters, including the extremists.
However, official sources insisted it would not inconvenience the migrant workers in any way, and they would be under no legal binding.
"I am not sure how we can work it out, but it would be for us to reach out to the outsider workers not for them," a senior police official said, adding it would a difficult exercise as hundreds of migrant workers leave and arrive in the valley every week.
The committee will forward its report to the government for an appropriate decision.
Flight of labour tells on valleys construction, brick klin industry
Srinagar: Migrant labourers mostly from Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh and other states who left the valley during the ongoing stir; have pushed the labour intensive activities here on standstill.It is exactly three month before that the migrant labourers, who are employed in various urban jobs, agriculture and construction projects, have left the valley on the account of frequent shut downs and curfews following the economic blockade imposed by rightwing Hindus in Jammu.
“Every year they used to leave the valley on the onset of winter season, but this year they left very early because of the situation that left them jobless,” said Rashid Ahmad, owner of a bakery factory in Srinagar, where he used to have five Bihari labourers as employees.Summer witnesses a lot of commercial activities in Kashmir, which otherwise remains almost cut-off during the acute winter season.However, with no migrant labourers around, a work force vacuum is being felt in all the sectors where the non-state migrants are mostly employed.“There are nearly 350 brick kilns in the valley and each kiln employs more than 200 outside state labourers. Their untimely migration has left most of the kilns totally shut,” said vice-president of Kashmir Brick Kiln Association Shabir Ahmad Sofi. He said the economic blockade coupled with shortage of manpower has witnessed almost 80 percent of the kilns closing their business which has incurred a loss of around Rs 60 crore to this industry.
The labourers, mostly from Bihar, who come to Kashmir in the monsoon, come from the flood- devastated districts of their home state. And as they have little economic activities during these months in their villages in Bihar they migrate to Kashmir and other states.Meanwhile, not only are the brick kiln owners feeling vexed, valley’s giant construction agencies are also bearing the maximum brunt.“The construction industry has suffered tremendous losses during past two months. And with no labourer available, all of the projects are lying standstill,” said President of the Chamber of Infrastructural Development Kashmir (CIDK), Parvaiz Ahmad Dar. Dar said that the magnitude of the manpower is witnessing an all time low which has pushed all the contractors to think on the option of winding up their projects unfinished.“Even if we continue with the projects, we will definitely face cost escalations on all our projects,” President CIDK further added.
All the 25 construction agencies affiliated with the chamber have stopped working on their major projects which include projects of entities like Asian Development Bank (ADB), Indian Railways Construction Company (IRCON), National Highway Authority (NHA) and World Bank.Dar said that almost 500 migrant labourers are employed by each of the construction agency and there were 50 major construction projects in progress when the economic blockade and early migration first began.“If the situation persists, there are bleak chances of getting all the work done within the stipulated time,” Dar added.
Meanwhile, Muzaffar Shah, President IRCON Kashmir, said that the construction companies have informed the groups like Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) which undertakes the ADB projects in the State and others about the uncertainty prevailing in the industry.“It is unnatural that we complete construction plans within the stipulated time. We have informed the agencies for whom we carry out projects about the ambiguity in the valley,” Shah said.Shah said that there are 150 construction agencies in the valley and the economic blockade was already an impediment in furnishing the construction schemes which was followed by acute shortage of man power.
Here is what Mr. Geelani said earlier ...
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman, Huriyat (G), has pressed hard on the issue of removal of all non-resident Kashmiris, mostly working as semi-skilled labourers (like masons, carpenters, barbers, etc). They have been working in Kashmir valley for more than 14 years now. They have gradually replaced their local counterparts because they are more efficient, accept lower wages and put in longer hours.
According to Geelani, these people have acquired a great deal of influence in the daily life of Kashmiris. “These people are everywhere, right from our business establishments to our kitchens”, says he. According to him, these non-resident Kashmiris, who are mostly from Bihar, UP and Punjab play a major role in the day-by-day moral degradation of Kashmir’s conservative and clean society. They have exposed Kashmiris to all the bad things - bad culture, bad language and bad habits. The crime rate in the areas where they live is higher. Liquor consumption is a daily affair. Kidnapping is rampant and disrespect for women is common. Innocent Kashmiris fall prey to the vices that these people have introduced in the valley.
The Government has adopted a middle-of-the road course ....
Srinagar: To defuse the crisis related to ‘outsiders’ staying in the valley, the government has decided to form a committee in every district to deal with the issue.
The committee will comprise of the district commissioner, the superintendent of police and the assistant labour commissioner, official sources said, adding it would assess presence of migrant workforce and possibility of their registration.
Though feasibility of registration of floating migrant labour is anybody's guess, the government believes it will end the crisis sparked by hardliner Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani asking outsiders to leave. Geelani later had toned down his demand and said he wanted all outsiders to be registered and verified by the government, which many believe is almost impossible.
Official sources said the decision to form the committee was taken after soliciting views from all quarters, including the extremists.
However, official sources insisted it would not inconvenience the migrant workers in any way, and they would be under no legal binding.
"I am not sure how we can work it out, but it would be for us to reach out to the outsider workers not for them," a senior police official said, adding it would a difficult exercise as hundreds of migrant workers leave and arrive in the valley every week.
The committee will forward its report to the government for an appropriate decision.
73 Projects Costing Rs. 1092 Coming up under the Asian Development Bank Funding
This is addition to Rs. 1002 crore investment propsals for 23 projects cleared by the Government (2 reports)
73 projects costing Rs 1092 cr coming up under ADB funding in the State
Srinagar: Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is constructing 73 mega projects in the state under Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding. These projects are coming up at a commulative cost of Rs 1092 crores. This was stated at a high level meeting chaired by Advisor to Governor, Mr. C. Phunsog here today.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing projects taken up by ERA under ADB funding in the state.The meeting was informed that in Kashmir division 21 road projects costing Rs 358 crore, 17 bridges costing Rs 40.45 crore, 4 drainage projects costing Rs 102 crore and four urban water supply schemes are being executed by ERA. Whileas in Jammu, the Agency is constructing nine roads at a cost of Rs. 181 crore, three bridges at a cost of Rs.7.6 crore, four drainage projects at a cost of Rs 65.43 crore and 11 urban water supply schemes costing Rs 230.73 crores. The projects on completion would help to improve and expand the road connectivity, drinking water and drainage treatment facilities in the state.
Addressing the meeting Mr. Phunsog directed the concerned agencies and officers for ensuring timely completion of the ongoing projects and using quality material in their execution. He said that delay in the execution of the projects would not be tolerated and anyone guilty of it would face severe consequences. He said that close monitoring of the ongoing projects and timely review was essential for early completion of the projects.
The Advisor impressed upon the executing agencies to make proper surveys keeping in view the needs of the habitants while taking up new projects in hand. He also said that land requisition process be also expedited for newly upcoming projects and the ongoing ones which have got halted for want of required land. He also said that other impediments coming in the way of the execution should be removed so that work goes on smoothly.
Those who attended the meeting included Financial Commissioner Planning & Development Mr. S. L. Bhat,Principal Secretary/CEO, ERA, Mr. Pankaj Jain, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Mr. Masood Samoon, Commissioner/Secretary Housing & Urban Development Mrs. Seema Lankar, Director General Finance ERA Mr. B. L. Motto, Director ERA Jammu Mrs Veena Gupta, Director ERA Kashmir Mr. Tariq Ahmad Mir, Project Managers Transport Jammu, Kashmir and other senior officers and engineers of ERA.
Rs 1,002 cr investment proposals cleared
Srinagar: The government has cleared 23 projects, including that of Steel Authority of India, worth Rs 1,002 crore, an official spokesman said here today. Apex Clearance Committee (APCC) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary S S Kapur yesterday approved a Rs 100-crore investment proposal of SAIL for setting up a steel processing unit at Pulwama in Kashmir, the spokesman said.
He said the project would have a production capacity of one lakh tonnes of TMT bars and GC sheets per annum and create large number of employment for locals.He said Shri Cements project, which has an investment of Rs 164 crore, was also approved. The project would create ancillary units.
The other projects cleared by the committee included projects for manufacturing of high precision auto components, terri-towels, cement, hi-tech batteries, low tension and high tension wire cables, steel products, paints, DG sheets, electric motors and steel pipes, the spokesman said.These projects would provide direct employment to about 5,500 people, he added.
(Kashmir Images)
73 projects costing Rs 1092 cr coming up under ADB funding in the State
Srinagar: Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is constructing 73 mega projects in the state under Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding. These projects are coming up at a commulative cost of Rs 1092 crores. This was stated at a high level meeting chaired by Advisor to Governor, Mr. C. Phunsog here today.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing projects taken up by ERA under ADB funding in the state.The meeting was informed that in Kashmir division 21 road projects costing Rs 358 crore, 17 bridges costing Rs 40.45 crore, 4 drainage projects costing Rs 102 crore and four urban water supply schemes are being executed by ERA. Whileas in Jammu, the Agency is constructing nine roads at a cost of Rs. 181 crore, three bridges at a cost of Rs.7.6 crore, four drainage projects at a cost of Rs 65.43 crore and 11 urban water supply schemes costing Rs 230.73 crores. The projects on completion would help to improve and expand the road connectivity, drinking water and drainage treatment facilities in the state.
Addressing the meeting Mr. Phunsog directed the concerned agencies and officers for ensuring timely completion of the ongoing projects and using quality material in their execution. He said that delay in the execution of the projects would not be tolerated and anyone guilty of it would face severe consequences. He said that close monitoring of the ongoing projects and timely review was essential for early completion of the projects.
The Advisor impressed upon the executing agencies to make proper surveys keeping in view the needs of the habitants while taking up new projects in hand. He also said that land requisition process be also expedited for newly upcoming projects and the ongoing ones which have got halted for want of required land. He also said that other impediments coming in the way of the execution should be removed so that work goes on smoothly.
Those who attended the meeting included Financial Commissioner Planning & Development Mr. S. L. Bhat,Principal Secretary/CEO, ERA, Mr. Pankaj Jain, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Mr. Masood Samoon, Commissioner/Secretary Housing & Urban Development Mrs. Seema Lankar, Director General Finance ERA Mr. B. L. Motto, Director ERA Jammu Mrs Veena Gupta, Director ERA Kashmir Mr. Tariq Ahmad Mir, Project Managers Transport Jammu, Kashmir and other senior officers and engineers of ERA.
Rs 1,002 cr investment proposals cleared
Srinagar: The government has cleared 23 projects, including that of Steel Authority of India, worth Rs 1,002 crore, an official spokesman said here today. Apex Clearance Committee (APCC) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary S S Kapur yesterday approved a Rs 100-crore investment proposal of SAIL for setting up a steel processing unit at Pulwama in Kashmir, the spokesman said.
He said the project would have a production capacity of one lakh tonnes of TMT bars and GC sheets per annum and create large number of employment for locals.He said Shri Cements project, which has an investment of Rs 164 crore, was also approved. The project would create ancillary units.
The other projects cleared by the committee included projects for manufacturing of high precision auto components, terri-towels, cement, hi-tech batteries, low tension and high tension wire cables, steel products, paints, DG sheets, electric motors and steel pipes, the spokesman said.These projects would provide direct employment to about 5,500 people, he added.
(Kashmir Images)
Those who Seek Freedom for Themselves Need to Respect the Freedom of Others
A letter in the Kashmir Times and an editorial in the Kashmir Images describes the dilemma faced by the "silent majority"
Letter to the Kashmir Times
Time table for hartals?
After so many hartals and curfews in valley the kids of valley are not in a mood to move towards their schools on normal days even. Few months ago, a person used to wait eagerly for a holiday or Sunday but now one does not need to wait. According to the date sheet provided by the Kashmir Coordination Committee, kids are very much satisfied to see so many holidays in the month of September which had very few gazetted holidays.
We can not blame kids only but the adults too who are working in schools and other offices are also always praying for maximum hartals in a week's time. They also don't wish to attend offices on daily basis. The month of Ramazan and rainy weather with pinch of cold wave, and all of them love to remain indoors.
A time table provided for hartals for the month of September by the Coordination Committee could only help them organize themselves better, is what many feel.
- Musavir Wani
Editoral in the Kashmir Images
Those who seek freedom for themselves need to respect the freedom of others. But unfortunately in Kashmir it is not so. The Coordination Committee, that claims to be spearheading a protest programme for Kashmir’s “freedom”, is scuttling the freedom of Kashmiris at every step. Mistaking the public’s participation in huge rallies as support to their individual selves, the leaders have started behaving like dictators. By issuing a calendar telling people what to do and what not to do, the Coordination Committee has tried to humiliate the intellect of the same people for whose “azadi” it claims to be striving.
In no civilised society can people be taken for a ride by a group of politicians and then dictated to schedule their working hours and other daily routines according to the whims of the group. The leaders and the Coordination Committee may be feeling on cloud nine as, till date, their programmes are getting good response of the people but they should not shut their eyes to the reality that people could be stretched to a certain limit alone. And if they are forced beyond stretchable limits, it would prove disastrous both for the leaders as well as for the people. It is true that people are responding to the calls and programmes of Coordination Committee but the Committee leaders need to realise that people are not following the programmes for the sake of individual selves of leaders but for the ‘bigger cause.’ The cause is – people want resolution of Kashmir issue according to their own aspirations and sentiments not that of leaders who fight over leadership slots and slogans in the public.
Strikes have never taken any nation to any positive direction. It is a leftist style of agitation with the intention of incurring loses over the capitalist industrialists. But here in Kashmir, the road side vegetable seller closes down and his closing down impacts neither the government nor any other force but simply the vegetable seller himself. It is interesting that the leaders, who used to describe hunger strikes as unislamic have resorted to strikes which have no Islamic history.
What have these strikes done to the education of Kashmiri children? How many days they have attended schools? Have the leaders and the Coordination Committee or these leaders ever thought about these issues? Do they want Kashmir’s future generation to remain unlettered so that they can’t raise their voices and pose questions allowing the present lot of politicians to do whatever suits their short term political agendas?
People are silent but that doesn’t mean they respect the Calendar Culture of Coordination Committee. Peoples’ silence doesn’t indicate their respect to the Coordination Committee’s illogical programmes but it indicates their respect towards the cause and their belief that the leaders may lead them to their desired goal. Despite the stupidity of the programmes, people stand by these with a hope that something good may happen. But the Coordination Committee should not take people for a ride. People have stopped questioning for a while but once they see that their silence is being exploited by some for their short term political gains they will speak up and once they speak up, leaders will have no place to hide.
Letter to the Kashmir Times
Time table for hartals?
After so many hartals and curfews in valley the kids of valley are not in a mood to move towards their schools on normal days even. Few months ago, a person used to wait eagerly for a holiday or Sunday but now one does not need to wait. According to the date sheet provided by the Kashmir Coordination Committee, kids are very much satisfied to see so many holidays in the month of September which had very few gazetted holidays.
We can not blame kids only but the adults too who are working in schools and other offices are also always praying for maximum hartals in a week's time. They also don't wish to attend offices on daily basis. The month of Ramazan and rainy weather with pinch of cold wave, and all of them love to remain indoors.
A time table provided for hartals for the month of September by the Coordination Committee could only help them organize themselves better, is what many feel.
- Musavir Wani
Editoral in the Kashmir Images
Those who seek freedom for themselves need to respect the freedom of others. But unfortunately in Kashmir it is not so. The Coordination Committee, that claims to be spearheading a protest programme for Kashmir’s “freedom”, is scuttling the freedom of Kashmiris at every step. Mistaking the public’s participation in huge rallies as support to their individual selves, the leaders have started behaving like dictators. By issuing a calendar telling people what to do and what not to do, the Coordination Committee has tried to humiliate the intellect of the same people for whose “azadi” it claims to be striving.
In no civilised society can people be taken for a ride by a group of politicians and then dictated to schedule their working hours and other daily routines according to the whims of the group. The leaders and the Coordination Committee may be feeling on cloud nine as, till date, their programmes are getting good response of the people but they should not shut their eyes to the reality that people could be stretched to a certain limit alone. And if they are forced beyond stretchable limits, it would prove disastrous both for the leaders as well as for the people. It is true that people are responding to the calls and programmes of Coordination Committee but the Committee leaders need to realise that people are not following the programmes for the sake of individual selves of leaders but for the ‘bigger cause.’ The cause is – people want resolution of Kashmir issue according to their own aspirations and sentiments not that of leaders who fight over leadership slots and slogans in the public.
Strikes have never taken any nation to any positive direction. It is a leftist style of agitation with the intention of incurring loses over the capitalist industrialists. But here in Kashmir, the road side vegetable seller closes down and his closing down impacts neither the government nor any other force but simply the vegetable seller himself. It is interesting that the leaders, who used to describe hunger strikes as unislamic have resorted to strikes which have no Islamic history.
What have these strikes done to the education of Kashmiri children? How many days they have attended schools? Have the leaders and the Coordination Committee or these leaders ever thought about these issues? Do they want Kashmir’s future generation to remain unlettered so that they can’t raise their voices and pose questions allowing the present lot of politicians to do whatever suits their short term political agendas?
People are silent but that doesn’t mean they respect the Calendar Culture of Coordination Committee. Peoples’ silence doesn’t indicate their respect to the Coordination Committee’s illogical programmes but it indicates their respect towards the cause and their belief that the leaders may lead them to their desired goal. Despite the stupidity of the programmes, people stand by these with a hope that something good may happen. But the Coordination Committee should not take people for a ride. People have stopped questioning for a while but once they see that their silence is being exploited by some for their short term political gains they will speak up and once they speak up, leaders will have no place to hide.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Why is Glass Always Half-full for Kashmiris?
Kashmir is the capital of global conspiracies, and while the world is watching the particle beam experiment near Geneva with fascination, in Kashmir it is producing a different kind of anxiety
Kashmir panicky over Big Bang experiment: Weatherman dispels rumors of earthquake
Rising Kashmir News
Srinagar: The ongoing experiments by the European scientists at Geneva to recreate conditions that existed immediately after the “Big Bang” caused panic in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as the rumors of an earthquake spreading among people.The news spread fast that the experiments are underway in Geneva. Most of the private news channels based in New Delhi kept the people informed and updated about the experiment.
People across the Valley felt a bit terrified and rang up the Metrological Department to inquire about the experiments.T K Jotshi, Assistant Director Met Deptt told Rising Kashmir that since morning, he received numerous calls from the people from different parts of the Valley enquiring about the repercussions of the experiment. “The fear is on the higher side as two earthquakes jolted the Valley in past week,” said Jotshi.Urging people not to worry, he said, “The experiment was carried in a controlled manner and there is nothing to worry. It will not lead to doomsday like situation in Kashmir.
Several leading scientists of the world have also refuted the fears of planetary annihilation by this experiment.”One of the Physics scholars, who did not want to be named, said that the experiment has been given a go ahead after a proper study was conducted by the scientist from different countries.
“The apprehensions are totally baseless,” he said.He, however, said that there has been criticism from a group of scientists. “Due to the criticism by some scientists, people have panicked world over”.“It is only of experimental nature and will produce conditions similar to the original ‘Big Bang’ to see how the matter was held together after the bang,” he said.He added that such fears were associated with several experiments in the past and people are always sceptical about the results.
The Big Bang experiment, which is being carried out at on the French and Swiss border near Geneva, is using the biggest and most complex machine - the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) inside 27-km tunnel deep beneath the surface. The scientists will race a beam of sub-atomic particles just under the speed of light and later fire a beam in opposite direction with energies up to seven times greater than any achieved before.
The experiment is believed to provide vital clues about the origin of the earth and universe.
Kashmir panicky over Big Bang experiment: Weatherman dispels rumors of earthquake
Rising Kashmir News
Srinagar: The ongoing experiments by the European scientists at Geneva to recreate conditions that existed immediately after the “Big Bang” caused panic in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as the rumors of an earthquake spreading among people.The news spread fast that the experiments are underway in Geneva. Most of the private news channels based in New Delhi kept the people informed and updated about the experiment.
People across the Valley felt a bit terrified and rang up the Metrological Department to inquire about the experiments.T K Jotshi, Assistant Director Met Deptt told Rising Kashmir that since morning, he received numerous calls from the people from different parts of the Valley enquiring about the repercussions of the experiment. “The fear is on the higher side as two earthquakes jolted the Valley in past week,” said Jotshi.Urging people not to worry, he said, “The experiment was carried in a controlled manner and there is nothing to worry. It will not lead to doomsday like situation in Kashmir.
Several leading scientists of the world have also refuted the fears of planetary annihilation by this experiment.”One of the Physics scholars, who did not want to be named, said that the experiment has been given a go ahead after a proper study was conducted by the scientist from different countries.
“The apprehensions are totally baseless,” he said.He, however, said that there has been criticism from a group of scientists. “Due to the criticism by some scientists, people have panicked world over”.“It is only of experimental nature and will produce conditions similar to the original ‘Big Bang’ to see how the matter was held together after the bang,” he said.He added that such fears were associated with several experiments in the past and people are always sceptical about the results.
The Big Bang experiment, which is being carried out at on the French and Swiss border near Geneva, is using the biggest and most complex machine - the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) inside 27-km tunnel deep beneath the surface. The scientists will race a beam of sub-atomic particles just under the speed of light and later fire a beam in opposite direction with energies up to seven times greater than any achieved before.
The experiment is believed to provide vital clues about the origin of the earth and universe.
When is Large not Large Enough!
When it involves two contradictory stories on tourist traffic in the valley
Following land transfer row staff retrenchment takes place in tourism sector - Tourist traders not able to pay salaries to employees
Afsana Rashid (Daily Khidmat)
Srinagar:Once upon a time the tourism sector used to provide jobs to the unemployed youth of Kashmir valley and the sector used to contribute towards the economy, but of late a disturbing trend has emerged thus giving sleepless nights to Kashmiris as a whole.
With staff-retrenchment in tourism and allied sectors already set in, effects of Amarnath land unrest seem harder to get rid of.
Complete lull prevails in the tourism sector here since June 23 when the agitation against transfer of 800 kanals of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) started.
Despite the deal struck between the authorities and the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) last week, the tourist traders as well as associations apprehend that aftermaths might affect their bread and butter in the next season as well.
“Tremendous retrenchment in staff has already begun. We are not in a position to pay our employees. It has affected us badly,” said Siraj Ahmad, senior vice president Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Association (KHARA).
“There has been a complete lull in the Srinagar city since June 23 and our hotels are completely vacant,” said Ahmad. “Kashmir is burning and the government is giving superficial figures not based on truth,” said Ahmad. He added that Kashmir issue has to be solved first and then the tourism will follow.
Ahmad said that up to June (before agitation), tourism was flourishing. “It was going on very good scale. Had the same situation continued, there would have been overwhelming rush of tourists to the valley,” said Ahmad.
Disputing the number of tourist arrivals made available by the government from June-August, the tourist associations claim the figures to be exaggerated. According to them, there is nominal presence of tourists in the valley and specific measures need to be taken by the government to revive the position.
M. Azim Tuman, President House Boat Owners Association (HBOA), said that the present position of tourists in the valley has trickled down to absolute zero. “This time we have no tourists here. It’s journalists who are coming here as tourists,” said Tuman adding, “We apprehend the situation to be same up to ending 2009.”
Habibullah Mir, former president KHARA while talking to this newspaper said, “We are mentally disturbed and don’t know what to do. We are trying to ensure that we pay the salaries of our employees first.”
He said that the situation has been same throughout valley be it Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Srinagar. “We have to feed the employees and give them their salaries so that they can continue on with their job. It is concerning us at this point of time,” said Mir.
“The main questions this time are revival of tourism sector in the valley and if at all tourists would come next year,” said Mir adding, “We have been suffering losses every year since 1989.”
When asked about Confidence Building Measures that might help to improve the situation of tourists in the valley, Tuman said these are nothing more than “Confusion Building Measures”.
“Government should sponsor teams who should be sent outside the state to revive the tourism sector here. We should be taken into confidence before arriving at any conclusion,” said president HBOA.
R
ejecting the figures given by the government, he said that daily tourist arrivals in the month of August never reached to 320. It’s not the correct figure.
“When the tourists were leaving the valley after Amarnath land row HBOA set up free langar (free kitchen) to the tourists for three consecutive days on Tang Bagh-Boulevard road. Even free accommodation was provided to them. Despite that what happened in Jammu especially in Samba (where the tourist bus was attacked), the flow of tourists to the valley declined,” said Tuman.
Rejecting the official claims about the number of tourists present in the valley since June–August, former president KHARA said the figures are exaggerated. “We were expecting boost of tourists this year. Around 10–12 lakh tourists were expected by the end of this year,” said Mir.
Mir said that they were expecting tremendous boost of tourists in September-October this year. “But our hopes are shattered now. Media needs to help us out by providing right facts and figures and helping people to understand the whole scenario,” said the former president KHARA.
He added that specific measures needed to be done during the whole winter to ensure tourists next year. Explaining the specific measures he said, “Teams have to be sent outside the state and we need to tell them that tourists were not harassed, but were kept as guests, which remains a fact as well.” Asked if they would like to accompany that squad, Mir replied in positive.
Describing the figures put forth by the government as “exaggerated” senior vice president KHARA, said, “I don’t know how the government has collected these figures. The situation has been grim right from June 23 till the moment. It is absolutely not the correct figure and just yesterday we had a meeting over it.”
He too apprehended the future of tourism in the valley. “I don’t think tourism is going to revive in future. There is complete lull so far as tourism is concerned and the same might continue in future. I don’t know what its impact would be in the coming year,” said Ahmad.
According to the official statistics, valley witnessed one and a half lakh tourists in June that came down to 51 thousand in July and 11 thousand in August. Besides, the available figures show 6500 as daily arrivals in June and 320 in August.
Drawing a comparison between the corresponding years, the statistics show 13 lakh of tourists registered in August last year and just eight lakh this year.
Tourists in Valley register 97 percentincrease, despite strikes, curfews
Shabir Ibn Yusuf (Kashmir Times)
SRINAGAR: Despite more than two month long agitation over Amarnath land row tourism officials claim that tourist' arrivals in valley registered 97 per cent increase up to July.
In August, the number was equal to the number of tourists visiting the valley during a day in peace times. A senior official of tourism department said that over five lakh domestic tourists visited Kashmir valley this year up to July 25, which is 97 percent higher than corresponding figures of last year.
The official attributed the increase to revival of the tourist industry in the state.However a middle rung tourism official said that during the month of August only a nine thousand tourists visited the valley. "Earlier five to six thousand tourists used to visit valley each day," he said.
Tourism industry witnessed revival in the sector after the sanction of loans in favour of the houseboat owners in 1998 and 2004 under state package and prime minister's employment package. He said the number of house boats registered is 1200 and further registration has been banned.
The senior tourism official said the conservation of Dal and Nageen lakes warrants that the number of house boats be feasible. He said that to meet the demand for construction of dry docks for repairs; the Department of Tourism has already released Rs 20 lakh to the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). He added that the issue of rehabilitation of families living in kitchen boats and wooden sheds likely to be affected by the realignment programme is being addressed by LAWDA.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive plan has formulated for promotion of eco-tourism in valley.A K Srivastav, Chief Wildlife warden said, "A comprehensive action plan has been formulated for promotion of eco-tourism in the state keeping in view its tremendous potential." He said that the Wildlife department in collaboration with Karnataka Tourism Department will impart training and capacity building to staff, tour operators wildlife guides, bird watchers and the locals involved in management.
Following land transfer row staff retrenchment takes place in tourism sector - Tourist traders not able to pay salaries to employees
Afsana Rashid (Daily Khidmat)
Srinagar:Once upon a time the tourism sector used to provide jobs to the unemployed youth of Kashmir valley and the sector used to contribute towards the economy, but of late a disturbing trend has emerged thus giving sleepless nights to Kashmiris as a whole.
With staff-retrenchment in tourism and allied sectors already set in, effects of Amarnath land unrest seem harder to get rid of.
Complete lull prevails in the tourism sector here since June 23 when the agitation against transfer of 800 kanals of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) started.
Despite the deal struck between the authorities and the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) last week, the tourist traders as well as associations apprehend that aftermaths might affect their bread and butter in the next season as well.
“Tremendous retrenchment in staff has already begun. We are not in a position to pay our employees. It has affected us badly,” said Siraj Ahmad, senior vice president Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Association (KHARA).
“There has been a complete lull in the Srinagar city since June 23 and our hotels are completely vacant,” said Ahmad. “Kashmir is burning and the government is giving superficial figures not based on truth,” said Ahmad. He added that Kashmir issue has to be solved first and then the tourism will follow.
Ahmad said that up to June (before agitation), tourism was flourishing. “It was going on very good scale. Had the same situation continued, there would have been overwhelming rush of tourists to the valley,” said Ahmad.
Disputing the number of tourist arrivals made available by the government from June-August, the tourist associations claim the figures to be exaggerated. According to them, there is nominal presence of tourists in the valley and specific measures need to be taken by the government to revive the position.
M. Azim Tuman, President House Boat Owners Association (HBOA), said that the present position of tourists in the valley has trickled down to absolute zero. “This time we have no tourists here. It’s journalists who are coming here as tourists,” said Tuman adding, “We apprehend the situation to be same up to ending 2009.”
Habibullah Mir, former president KHARA while talking to this newspaper said, “We are mentally disturbed and don’t know what to do. We are trying to ensure that we pay the salaries of our employees first.”
He said that the situation has been same throughout valley be it Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Srinagar. “We have to feed the employees and give them their salaries so that they can continue on with their job. It is concerning us at this point of time,” said Mir.
“The main questions this time are revival of tourism sector in the valley and if at all tourists would come next year,” said Mir adding, “We have been suffering losses every year since 1989.”
When asked about Confidence Building Measures that might help to improve the situation of tourists in the valley, Tuman said these are nothing more than “Confusion Building Measures”.
“Government should sponsor teams who should be sent outside the state to revive the tourism sector here. We should be taken into confidence before arriving at any conclusion,” said president HBOA.
R
ejecting the figures given by the government, he said that daily tourist arrivals in the month of August never reached to 320. It’s not the correct figure.
“When the tourists were leaving the valley after Amarnath land row HBOA set up free langar (free kitchen) to the tourists for three consecutive days on Tang Bagh-Boulevard road. Even free accommodation was provided to them. Despite that what happened in Jammu especially in Samba (where the tourist bus was attacked), the flow of tourists to the valley declined,” said Tuman.
Rejecting the official claims about the number of tourists present in the valley since June–August, former president KHARA said the figures are exaggerated. “We were expecting boost of tourists this year. Around 10–12 lakh tourists were expected by the end of this year,” said Mir.
Mir said that they were expecting tremendous boost of tourists in September-October this year. “But our hopes are shattered now. Media needs to help us out by providing right facts and figures and helping people to understand the whole scenario,” said the former president KHARA.
He added that specific measures needed to be done during the whole winter to ensure tourists next year. Explaining the specific measures he said, “Teams have to be sent outside the state and we need to tell them that tourists were not harassed, but were kept as guests, which remains a fact as well.” Asked if they would like to accompany that squad, Mir replied in positive.
Describing the figures put forth by the government as “exaggerated” senior vice president KHARA, said, “I don’t know how the government has collected these figures. The situation has been grim right from June 23 till the moment. It is absolutely not the correct figure and just yesterday we had a meeting over it.”
He too apprehended the future of tourism in the valley. “I don’t think tourism is going to revive in future. There is complete lull so far as tourism is concerned and the same might continue in future. I don’t know what its impact would be in the coming year,” said Ahmad.
According to the official statistics, valley witnessed one and a half lakh tourists in June that came down to 51 thousand in July and 11 thousand in August. Besides, the available figures show 6500 as daily arrivals in June and 320 in August.
Drawing a comparison between the corresponding years, the statistics show 13 lakh of tourists registered in August last year and just eight lakh this year.
Tourists in Valley register 97 percentincrease, despite strikes, curfews
Shabir Ibn Yusuf (Kashmir Times)
SRINAGAR: Despite more than two month long agitation over Amarnath land row tourism officials claim that tourist' arrivals in valley registered 97 per cent increase up to July.
In August, the number was equal to the number of tourists visiting the valley during a day in peace times. A senior official of tourism department said that over five lakh domestic tourists visited Kashmir valley this year up to July 25, which is 97 percent higher than corresponding figures of last year.
The official attributed the increase to revival of the tourist industry in the state.However a middle rung tourism official said that during the month of August only a nine thousand tourists visited the valley. "Earlier five to six thousand tourists used to visit valley each day," he said.
Tourism industry witnessed revival in the sector after the sanction of loans in favour of the houseboat owners in 1998 and 2004 under state package and prime minister's employment package. He said the number of house boats registered is 1200 and further registration has been banned.
The senior tourism official said the conservation of Dal and Nageen lakes warrants that the number of house boats be feasible. He said that to meet the demand for construction of dry docks for repairs; the Department of Tourism has already released Rs 20 lakh to the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). He added that the issue of rehabilitation of families living in kitchen boats and wooden sheds likely to be affected by the realignment programme is being addressed by LAWDA.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive plan has formulated for promotion of eco-tourism in valley.A K Srivastav, Chief Wildlife warden said, "A comprehensive action plan has been formulated for promotion of eco-tourism in the state keeping in view its tremendous potential." He said that the Wildlife department in collaboration with Karnataka Tourism Department will impart training and capacity building to staff, tour operators wildlife guides, bird watchers and the locals involved in management.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Recalling a great Kashmiri Saint
The amazing life of a saint revered by both Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits and called Padshah by his followers
Rishi Peer Padshah
Dr. B. N. Sharga
Kashmir has been regarded as the land of gods and goddesses from times immemorial. Its rich natural resources of flora and fauna have always been a great attraction for different people since ages. In the golden period of its history it was considered to be an ideal place for meditation and for spiritual pursuits to become one with the supreme being. That is why it has produced a galaxy of saints, sages, savants, ascetics, mystics, Rishis, holymen, godmen, and Peers etc., in different periods to guide the people on the path of truth and self realisation to attain salvation. These spiritually enlightened persons with supernatural powers used to command a great respect among their followers. The Kashmiri Pandits call such holymen as Rishis whereas the converts whose ancestors embraced Islam and became Muslims for whatever reasons call them as Peers because worshipping any body is against the tennets of Islam. That is how this Rishi Peer tradition came into existence in Kashmir. One such holyman became popular as Rishi Peer in the 17th century among his very large number of both Hindu and Muslim disciples, who used to pay their obeisance to him with same respect and devotion.
Rishi Peer's ancestors were originally the residents of the commercial town Sopore in the Kashmir Valley and were rich shawl merchants. They were basically Sopori Pandits. One of his ancestors Pt. Madhav Joo Khoshoo after completing his education left his family trade and migrated to Srinagar for a government job. He subsequently became a mint officer during the reign of Mughal emperor Shahjahan (1627-1658) when Ali Mardan Khan was the governor of Kashmir. Some Shohda having some jealousy with this mint officer poisoned the ears of Ali Mardan Khan that the mint officer was minting under weight gold coins to earn quick buck. Ali Mardan Khan then summoned this mint officer to his court to find out the truth. Ali Mardan Khan ordered the mint officer to weigh the gold coins before him. He found the gold coins accurate in weight. Impressed by the honesty of the mint officer, he honoured the latter with a royal khilat and a jagir. Since this mint officer was a left hander and used to do every thing very quickly by his left hand so he was nick named as Khoshoo meaning a left hander in the Kashmiri language.
This mint officer Pt. Madhav Joo Khoshoo built a house in Batiyar mohalla near Ali Kadal for the living of his family members. His one son Pt. Govind Joo Khoshoo, who was born around 1595 was a highly orthodox and superstitious person like many Kashmiri Pandits of his era. He used to go to Hari Parbat daily in the morning to perform its Parikrama and then to pay his obeisance to goddess Sharika there. Due to his spiritual bent of mind and lack of interest in worldly affairs he had no inclination to get married. But after great pressure from his blood relations he agreed to tight the knot and got married in 1635 at the ripe age of 40 years with Siddhlakshmi. As to sire a son at such an advanced age generally becomes quite difficult biologically unless the use of modern fertility techniques is taken, which were naturally not available then So this matured couple took recourse to meditation to invoke cosmic power to get their wish fulfilled. The worship of Bhadrakali with full devotion and concentration brought the dividents and Siddhlakshmi at long last became pregnant, It was a practice among the Kashmiri Pandits in those days that the first child should be born in the Mata Maal i.e. in-laws place. So when the time to deliver the child came near Siddhlakshmi was taken to Srinagar her mother's place on a boat from Handwara according to the prevalent custom in the community. While Siddhlakshmi was in the boat on her way to Srinagar she started having delivery pains at Sopore and gave birth to a son in 1637 who was then named as Keshav after Lord Krishna who was also born somewhat under the same circumstances. The bank of the Jhelum river at Sopore where this little child Keshav was born in 1637 is still revered as the birth place of Rishi Peer and a shrine was built there in his memory. A large number of devotees pay their obeisance in this shrine.
This little Keshav was not an ordinary child. He was born after invoking cosmic power. So just after his birth it is said that a mystic yogi woke up and told his disciples that a second sun had risen on the horizon of Kashmir, to guide all of us. The mystic came out from his hermitage and went up to the Shikara and kissed the forehead of Keshav and placed two gold coins in his delicate hands.
Thus on the 6th day of dark fortnight of the Baisakh month of the Hindu calendar the great spiritual saint of Kashmir Rishi Peer was born as Keshav with divine powers to perform miracles. Initially he refused to suck the milk from the breasts of his mother but when another saint Sahib Kaul explained the laws of nature to him, Keshav started sucking the milk from the breasts of his mother without any hesitation in a natural way.
Keshav was a very bright and intelligent child. When he became 5 years old in 1642 his yagnopavit sanskar was performed as per social traditions in the community. He was then admitted in a school for his formal education. But he was more interested in spiritual pursuits. He used to go to Hari Parbat daily with his father, who was a deeply religious person. The ambience of the holy hill with abode of goddess Sharika had a great impact on the mind of young Keshav and sparked the fire of spiritualism in him. Here he came into close contact with two other enlightened persons Naan Shah and Atma Ram and thus his journey to be one with the ultimate divine power began. In the company of these two ascetics he built an Ashram in Devi Aangan in front of Hari Parbat. When his parents observed that their son was taking no interest in worldly affairs they married him with a beautiful girl to change his mind, but their all efforts could not distract young Keshav from the path of spiritualism. Meanwhile his father Pt. Govind Joo Khoshoo left for his heavenly abode and his mother Siddhlakshmi then sent him to his maternal uncle's village for studies. But he continued the same routine there without any change.
One day when his maternal uncle under whose care he was living went away for some work young Keshav left the Goshi village secretly and came to Hari Parbat straight from there to continue his spiritual pursuits. He then performed the circumbulation of Hari Parbat on naked knees for full forty days with great devotion and succeeded in getting darshan of goddess Sharika in flesh and blood, who blessed him and asked for a boon Keshav humbly said I simply want a Guru who can lead me to the ultimate truth to which the goddess Sharika replied that the first person who will come in your way will be your Guru and then disappeared.
The first person who came in front of Keshav was Kishan Joo Kar a shabbily dressed fakir. Keshav paid no attention to this fakir as he was looking for someone in the attire of a Brahmin to make him his Guru. Kishan Joo Kar then went to Keshav's residence and after taking a few puffs from the hubble bubble kept there told Keshav's mother that hence on no one would use this hubble bubble till the return of Keshav. When Keshav came back home his mother informed him about the visit of Kishan Joo Kar. Keshav then realised that Kishan Joo Kar came to his house on the command of goddess Sharika and made him his Guru. Keshav then took a few puffs from the same hubble bubble and soon he went into trance and felt the realization of the ultimate truth. He then expressed his desire to his mother to become a saint. But his mother was not prepared to partake the company of her only son. So to keep his mother happy Keshav then started doing deep meditation in his own house, with great devotion and concentration.
Keshav did tapasiya for 14½ years during which period he only took milk, honey and fruits as his diet. After this his body started radiating a glow like sun and became a great saint of very high spiritual order with supernatural powers to perform miracles. The people started coming to his house in hordes to pay their obeisance to him and he became famous as Rishi Peer all over the Valley among his large number of followers. He became a Rishi for the Hindus and a Peer for the Muslims of the Valley. It was then decided to offer him 14½ paise as Niyaz.
Rishi Peer had performed a number of miracles during his life span, but it will not be possible for me to write about all of them in this piece. In 1675 when Iftikhar Khan was the subedar of Kashmir a big fire broke out and engulfed the entire Ali Kadal area. When the leaping flames could not be controlled by all possible means then the people in utter panic approached Rishi Peer for his divine help who then threw his one wooden sandle into the fire and lo behold the fire was extinguised within no time.
Once his mother Siddhlakshmi expressed the desire to take her to Shadipore for a holy dip in the confluence of Sindh and Jhelum rivers there. But due to her poor health it was not possible for her to bear the strain of that arduous journey. To fulfill her wish Rishi Peer brought the Harmukh Ganga on her door step. This became famous as a shrine between the Ali Kadal bridge and Batiyar ghat.
One day a renowned Muslim seer requested Rishi Peer to pay a visit to the former's place for a dinner. Rishi Peer agreed on one condition that all the dishes should be prepared in pure ghee and without any part being missing. At the appointed time mouth watering Mughlai delicacies were served to Rishi Peer and his disciples. Rishi Peer before taking them recited a few mantras and sprinkled some water on them. To utter surprise of every one the cooked dishes came back to life in original form and a cock was found with one leg. Its another leg was eaten away by the Muslim cook while cooking. In anger Rishi Peer scolded the Muslim seer who had invited him for the dinner for breaking his promise which would only be compensated when he would give his own leg. Rishi Peer refused to take anything for not fulfilling the laid down conditions and went away cursing his host.
Due to all such miracles and Rishi Peer's various other acts of benevolence providing succour to the poor and needy his popularity among the masses started growing very fast. The people out of sheer reverence began to address him as Padshah or king. This development rang the alarm bells for the subedar Saif Khan who took it as a big challenge to his power and position. To cut Rishi Peer to size Saif Khan then wrote a nasty letter to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Delhi that a person here moves in a palanquin with thousands of his followers both Hindus and Muslims, who claims himself to be a king. He puts a mark of his ring like a royal seal on the orders he passes and accepts offerings according to his own sweet will. On reading this letter Aurangzeb became red with anger and issued a royal decree to arrest this man and to bring him to the former's court for awarding a suitable punishment to challenge the authority of the Mughal empire. When the sepoys went to Rishi Peer's house to arrest him for producing him before Aurangzeb at Delhi Rishi Peer told the sepoys about his inability and requested them to come the next morning.
The same night Aurangzeb while sleeping in his bedroom at Delhi observed a unique phenomenon. He saw a man approaching his bed room sitting on a lion. He became so much frightened that his whole body started trembling. With a choked voice he asked that man who are you. The man politely replied that I am Rishi Peer from Srinagar whome you have summoned by your firman. Aurangzeb became so much frightened with this awe inspiring sight that he begged for forgiveness for the foolish act of his subedar. He asked Risi Peer to sit on the throne and to issue a new firman in which the subedar was dictated to address Rishi Peer as Peer Pandit Padshah, Hardul Jahan Mushkil Asan with full respect to him. From hence on he became popular as Peer Pandit Padshah.
It is also said that Rishi Peer had a spiritual discourse with his contemporary saint poetes's Roopa Bhawani and some Sufis from Baghdad. When his mother Siddhlakshmi died he dedicated everything whatever he gained in her memory. He then performed tapasiya again for another 14 years taking only milk, honey and water to attain salvation. Due to all this he became very weak and it became impossible for him even to stand on his own feet. He left his mortal frame in 1697 at the age of 60 years. His Hindu disciples took his mortal frame for consigning it in fire, but when his Muslim disciples came to know about his death they insisted that his body should be buried as per Muslim customs. When the tussel was going on between these two groups over the issue of performing the last rites some body uncovered the bier carrying the dead body and found only 27 flowers in place of the dead body. The Muslims then went away and the Hindus consigned those flowers in a fire on the bank of river Jhelum in Batiyar mohalla. A temple was built at that site in his memory which still stands even today.
Rishi Peer had a son Rihanand who also developed spiritual bent of mind under the influence of his father. The death of Rishi Peer gave such a shock to his son Rihanand that he became an ascetic with no interest in this materialistic world. He too started living on a frugal diet and died around 1700 AD. He had two sons Kashi Pandit and Lal Pandit. Kashi Pandit did not marry and became a saint whereas Lal Pandit led a happy married life. Lal Pandit's descendants adopted the surname Peer. Why they preferred a Muslim term Peer over the Hindu term Rishi is not clear. May be under the influence of the majority community in the Valley they did so.
Rishi Peer and Lucknow.
The Kashmiri Pandits who settled down at Kashmiri Mohalla in Lucknow during the Nawabi period between 1775 and 1778 had a very great admiration for Rishi Peer as their ancestors were mostly his disciples. So when the British annexed Oudh in 1856, the Kashmiri Pandits of Lucknow started a caste festival Rishi Peer Ka jaag in memory of this great saint to keep their flock togather and to prevent their social customs and traditions from the onslaught of the western way of life.
This yearly caste festival was being organised in the Bagia of Pt. Bhola Nath Bakshi (Angoori Bagh) on a very large scale, but it had to be abandoned in 1906 when some serious differences cropped up in the community over its continuation. Some liberal and progressive Kashmiri Pandits with western ideas under the leadership of Pt. Brij Narain Chakbast dubbed this caste festival as dogmatic and emphasized the need for bringing reforms in the community to enable it to face the fast changing social scenario. Since then no caste festival could be organised at Lucknow on such a massive scale till date.
The famous Urdu poet of Lucknow Pt. Ratan Nath Dar Sarshar composed the following couplets in the honour of Rishi Peer as his tribute to that great saint.
Maddah-e-janab-e-Rishi Peer aiya hai
Darbar mein shahon ke fakir aiya hai
Khursheed ki aankh kyon na jhapke Sarshar
Ek zarra-e-khak-e-Kashmir aiya hai
After the mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1990 due to terrorist's violence a new trend has started of building replicas of various Kashmiri shrines in different parts of the country outside the Valley. A replica of Rishi Peer's shrine has been built at Palora Top, in Suraksha Vihar, Jammu, whose foundation was laid by Padma Shree Pt. Jagan Nath Kaul on 24th April, 2006. The white marble statue of Rishi Peer was installed in this shrine on 21st March, 2008. Rishi Peer's one wooden sandle was brought from Ali Kadal, Srinagar to be kept in this shrine as his relic.
Before the mass exodus every year on the birthday and nirvan divas of Rishi Peer a big Mela used to take place at Ali Kadal. A large number of devotees used to come at this shrine to pay their obeisance to the holy relic of Rishi Peer. Kulcha and black seeds of Ishband after touching them with the holy relic used to be served to the devotees as naveed. Rishi Peer left this world about three centuries back, but the fragrence of his aura still continues. A spoon does not know the taste of the soup, an ignorant does not know the pleasure of the supreme bliss.
Rishi Peer Padshah
Dr. B. N. Sharga
Kashmir has been regarded as the land of gods and goddesses from times immemorial. Its rich natural resources of flora and fauna have always been a great attraction for different people since ages. In the golden period of its history it was considered to be an ideal place for meditation and for spiritual pursuits to become one with the supreme being. That is why it has produced a galaxy of saints, sages, savants, ascetics, mystics, Rishis, holymen, godmen, and Peers etc., in different periods to guide the people on the path of truth and self realisation to attain salvation. These spiritually enlightened persons with supernatural powers used to command a great respect among their followers. The Kashmiri Pandits call such holymen as Rishis whereas the converts whose ancestors embraced Islam and became Muslims for whatever reasons call them as Peers because worshipping any body is against the tennets of Islam. That is how this Rishi Peer tradition came into existence in Kashmir. One such holyman became popular as Rishi Peer in the 17th century among his very large number of both Hindu and Muslim disciples, who used to pay their obeisance to him with same respect and devotion.
Rishi Peer's ancestors were originally the residents of the commercial town Sopore in the Kashmir Valley and were rich shawl merchants. They were basically Sopori Pandits. One of his ancestors Pt. Madhav Joo Khoshoo after completing his education left his family trade and migrated to Srinagar for a government job. He subsequently became a mint officer during the reign of Mughal emperor Shahjahan (1627-1658) when Ali Mardan Khan was the governor of Kashmir. Some Shohda having some jealousy with this mint officer poisoned the ears of Ali Mardan Khan that the mint officer was minting under weight gold coins to earn quick buck. Ali Mardan Khan then summoned this mint officer to his court to find out the truth. Ali Mardan Khan ordered the mint officer to weigh the gold coins before him. He found the gold coins accurate in weight. Impressed by the honesty of the mint officer, he honoured the latter with a royal khilat and a jagir. Since this mint officer was a left hander and used to do every thing very quickly by his left hand so he was nick named as Khoshoo meaning a left hander in the Kashmiri language.
This mint officer Pt. Madhav Joo Khoshoo built a house in Batiyar mohalla near Ali Kadal for the living of his family members. His one son Pt. Govind Joo Khoshoo, who was born around 1595 was a highly orthodox and superstitious person like many Kashmiri Pandits of his era. He used to go to Hari Parbat daily in the morning to perform its Parikrama and then to pay his obeisance to goddess Sharika there. Due to his spiritual bent of mind and lack of interest in worldly affairs he had no inclination to get married. But after great pressure from his blood relations he agreed to tight the knot and got married in 1635 at the ripe age of 40 years with Siddhlakshmi. As to sire a son at such an advanced age generally becomes quite difficult biologically unless the use of modern fertility techniques is taken, which were naturally not available then So this matured couple took recourse to meditation to invoke cosmic power to get their wish fulfilled. The worship of Bhadrakali with full devotion and concentration brought the dividents and Siddhlakshmi at long last became pregnant, It was a practice among the Kashmiri Pandits in those days that the first child should be born in the Mata Maal i.e. in-laws place. So when the time to deliver the child came near Siddhlakshmi was taken to Srinagar her mother's place on a boat from Handwara according to the prevalent custom in the community. While Siddhlakshmi was in the boat on her way to Srinagar she started having delivery pains at Sopore and gave birth to a son in 1637 who was then named as Keshav after Lord Krishna who was also born somewhat under the same circumstances. The bank of the Jhelum river at Sopore where this little child Keshav was born in 1637 is still revered as the birth place of Rishi Peer and a shrine was built there in his memory. A large number of devotees pay their obeisance in this shrine.
This little Keshav was not an ordinary child. He was born after invoking cosmic power. So just after his birth it is said that a mystic yogi woke up and told his disciples that a second sun had risen on the horizon of Kashmir, to guide all of us. The mystic came out from his hermitage and went up to the Shikara and kissed the forehead of Keshav and placed two gold coins in his delicate hands.
Thus on the 6th day of dark fortnight of the Baisakh month of the Hindu calendar the great spiritual saint of Kashmir Rishi Peer was born as Keshav with divine powers to perform miracles. Initially he refused to suck the milk from the breasts of his mother but when another saint Sahib Kaul explained the laws of nature to him, Keshav started sucking the milk from the breasts of his mother without any hesitation in a natural way.
Keshav was a very bright and intelligent child. When he became 5 years old in 1642 his yagnopavit sanskar was performed as per social traditions in the community. He was then admitted in a school for his formal education. But he was more interested in spiritual pursuits. He used to go to Hari Parbat daily with his father, who was a deeply religious person. The ambience of the holy hill with abode of goddess Sharika had a great impact on the mind of young Keshav and sparked the fire of spiritualism in him. Here he came into close contact with two other enlightened persons Naan Shah and Atma Ram and thus his journey to be one with the ultimate divine power began. In the company of these two ascetics he built an Ashram in Devi Aangan in front of Hari Parbat. When his parents observed that their son was taking no interest in worldly affairs they married him with a beautiful girl to change his mind, but their all efforts could not distract young Keshav from the path of spiritualism. Meanwhile his father Pt. Govind Joo Khoshoo left for his heavenly abode and his mother Siddhlakshmi then sent him to his maternal uncle's village for studies. But he continued the same routine there without any change.
One day when his maternal uncle under whose care he was living went away for some work young Keshav left the Goshi village secretly and came to Hari Parbat straight from there to continue his spiritual pursuits. He then performed the circumbulation of Hari Parbat on naked knees for full forty days with great devotion and succeeded in getting darshan of goddess Sharika in flesh and blood, who blessed him and asked for a boon Keshav humbly said I simply want a Guru who can lead me to the ultimate truth to which the goddess Sharika replied that the first person who will come in your way will be your Guru and then disappeared.
The first person who came in front of Keshav was Kishan Joo Kar a shabbily dressed fakir. Keshav paid no attention to this fakir as he was looking for someone in the attire of a Brahmin to make him his Guru. Kishan Joo Kar then went to Keshav's residence and after taking a few puffs from the hubble bubble kept there told Keshav's mother that hence on no one would use this hubble bubble till the return of Keshav. When Keshav came back home his mother informed him about the visit of Kishan Joo Kar. Keshav then realised that Kishan Joo Kar came to his house on the command of goddess Sharika and made him his Guru. Keshav then took a few puffs from the same hubble bubble and soon he went into trance and felt the realization of the ultimate truth. He then expressed his desire to his mother to become a saint. But his mother was not prepared to partake the company of her only son. So to keep his mother happy Keshav then started doing deep meditation in his own house, with great devotion and concentration.
Keshav did tapasiya for 14½ years during which period he only took milk, honey and fruits as his diet. After this his body started radiating a glow like sun and became a great saint of very high spiritual order with supernatural powers to perform miracles. The people started coming to his house in hordes to pay their obeisance to him and he became famous as Rishi Peer all over the Valley among his large number of followers. He became a Rishi for the Hindus and a Peer for the Muslims of the Valley. It was then decided to offer him 14½ paise as Niyaz.
Rishi Peer had performed a number of miracles during his life span, but it will not be possible for me to write about all of them in this piece. In 1675 when Iftikhar Khan was the subedar of Kashmir a big fire broke out and engulfed the entire Ali Kadal area. When the leaping flames could not be controlled by all possible means then the people in utter panic approached Rishi Peer for his divine help who then threw his one wooden sandle into the fire and lo behold the fire was extinguised within no time.
Once his mother Siddhlakshmi expressed the desire to take her to Shadipore for a holy dip in the confluence of Sindh and Jhelum rivers there. But due to her poor health it was not possible for her to bear the strain of that arduous journey. To fulfill her wish Rishi Peer brought the Harmukh Ganga on her door step. This became famous as a shrine between the Ali Kadal bridge and Batiyar ghat.
One day a renowned Muslim seer requested Rishi Peer to pay a visit to the former's place for a dinner. Rishi Peer agreed on one condition that all the dishes should be prepared in pure ghee and without any part being missing. At the appointed time mouth watering Mughlai delicacies were served to Rishi Peer and his disciples. Rishi Peer before taking them recited a few mantras and sprinkled some water on them. To utter surprise of every one the cooked dishes came back to life in original form and a cock was found with one leg. Its another leg was eaten away by the Muslim cook while cooking. In anger Rishi Peer scolded the Muslim seer who had invited him for the dinner for breaking his promise which would only be compensated when he would give his own leg. Rishi Peer refused to take anything for not fulfilling the laid down conditions and went away cursing his host.
Due to all such miracles and Rishi Peer's various other acts of benevolence providing succour to the poor and needy his popularity among the masses started growing very fast. The people out of sheer reverence began to address him as Padshah or king. This development rang the alarm bells for the subedar Saif Khan who took it as a big challenge to his power and position. To cut Rishi Peer to size Saif Khan then wrote a nasty letter to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Delhi that a person here moves in a palanquin with thousands of his followers both Hindus and Muslims, who claims himself to be a king. He puts a mark of his ring like a royal seal on the orders he passes and accepts offerings according to his own sweet will. On reading this letter Aurangzeb became red with anger and issued a royal decree to arrest this man and to bring him to the former's court for awarding a suitable punishment to challenge the authority of the Mughal empire. When the sepoys went to Rishi Peer's house to arrest him for producing him before Aurangzeb at Delhi Rishi Peer told the sepoys about his inability and requested them to come the next morning.
The same night Aurangzeb while sleeping in his bedroom at Delhi observed a unique phenomenon. He saw a man approaching his bed room sitting on a lion. He became so much frightened that his whole body started trembling. With a choked voice he asked that man who are you. The man politely replied that I am Rishi Peer from Srinagar whome you have summoned by your firman. Aurangzeb became so much frightened with this awe inspiring sight that he begged for forgiveness for the foolish act of his subedar. He asked Risi Peer to sit on the throne and to issue a new firman in which the subedar was dictated to address Rishi Peer as Peer Pandit Padshah, Hardul Jahan Mushkil Asan with full respect to him. From hence on he became popular as Peer Pandit Padshah.
It is also said that Rishi Peer had a spiritual discourse with his contemporary saint poetes's Roopa Bhawani and some Sufis from Baghdad. When his mother Siddhlakshmi died he dedicated everything whatever he gained in her memory. He then performed tapasiya again for another 14 years taking only milk, honey and water to attain salvation. Due to all this he became very weak and it became impossible for him even to stand on his own feet. He left his mortal frame in 1697 at the age of 60 years. His Hindu disciples took his mortal frame for consigning it in fire, but when his Muslim disciples came to know about his death they insisted that his body should be buried as per Muslim customs. When the tussel was going on between these two groups over the issue of performing the last rites some body uncovered the bier carrying the dead body and found only 27 flowers in place of the dead body. The Muslims then went away and the Hindus consigned those flowers in a fire on the bank of river Jhelum in Batiyar mohalla. A temple was built at that site in his memory which still stands even today.
Rishi Peer had a son Rihanand who also developed spiritual bent of mind under the influence of his father. The death of Rishi Peer gave such a shock to his son Rihanand that he became an ascetic with no interest in this materialistic world. He too started living on a frugal diet and died around 1700 AD. He had two sons Kashi Pandit and Lal Pandit. Kashi Pandit did not marry and became a saint whereas Lal Pandit led a happy married life. Lal Pandit's descendants adopted the surname Peer. Why they preferred a Muslim term Peer over the Hindu term Rishi is not clear. May be under the influence of the majority community in the Valley they did so.
Rishi Peer and Lucknow.
The Kashmiri Pandits who settled down at Kashmiri Mohalla in Lucknow during the Nawabi period between 1775 and 1778 had a very great admiration for Rishi Peer as their ancestors were mostly his disciples. So when the British annexed Oudh in 1856, the Kashmiri Pandits of Lucknow started a caste festival Rishi Peer Ka jaag in memory of this great saint to keep their flock togather and to prevent their social customs and traditions from the onslaught of the western way of life.
This yearly caste festival was being organised in the Bagia of Pt. Bhola Nath Bakshi (Angoori Bagh) on a very large scale, but it had to be abandoned in 1906 when some serious differences cropped up in the community over its continuation. Some liberal and progressive Kashmiri Pandits with western ideas under the leadership of Pt. Brij Narain Chakbast dubbed this caste festival as dogmatic and emphasized the need for bringing reforms in the community to enable it to face the fast changing social scenario. Since then no caste festival could be organised at Lucknow on such a massive scale till date.
The famous Urdu poet of Lucknow Pt. Ratan Nath Dar Sarshar composed the following couplets in the honour of Rishi Peer as his tribute to that great saint.
Maddah-e-janab-e-Rishi Peer aiya hai
Darbar mein shahon ke fakir aiya hai
Khursheed ki aankh kyon na jhapke Sarshar
Ek zarra-e-khak-e-Kashmir aiya hai
After the mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1990 due to terrorist's violence a new trend has started of building replicas of various Kashmiri shrines in different parts of the country outside the Valley. A replica of Rishi Peer's shrine has been built at Palora Top, in Suraksha Vihar, Jammu, whose foundation was laid by Padma Shree Pt. Jagan Nath Kaul on 24th April, 2006. The white marble statue of Rishi Peer was installed in this shrine on 21st March, 2008. Rishi Peer's one wooden sandle was brought from Ali Kadal, Srinagar to be kept in this shrine as his relic.
Before the mass exodus every year on the birthday and nirvan divas of Rishi Peer a big Mela used to take place at Ali Kadal. A large number of devotees used to come at this shrine to pay their obeisance to the holy relic of Rishi Peer. Kulcha and black seeds of Ishband after touching them with the holy relic used to be served to the devotees as naveed. Rishi Peer left this world about three centuries back, but the fragrence of his aura still continues. A spoon does not know the taste of the soup, an ignorant does not know the pleasure of the supreme bliss.
Keeping the Kashmiri Nation in the Dark
Afsana's investigative report is interesting and yet not surprising
(Ms. Afsana Rashid, 29, was born and raised in Srinagar and attended the Minto Circle High School. She graduated from the Government College for Women with a Bachelor's degree in science, and completed her post-graduation degree from the University of Kashmir, obtaining her Master's Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has received numerous world-wide recognition and awards for covering economic depravation and gender sensitive issues in Kashmiri journals, which include Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award, Bhorukha Trust Media Award 2007, and the 2006-07 UNFPA-Ladli Media Award. Her work on "Impact of conflict on subsistence livelihood of marginalised communities in Kashmir and Alternatives", was recognized by Action Aid India in 2005-06. She has travelled abroad attending a workshop on "conflict Reporting" by Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, and a seminar for women in conflict areas by IKV Pax Christi, Netherlands. In February 2008, she compiled a book, "Waiting for Justice: Widows and Half-widows.")
New Delhi in contact with Separatists
Afsana Rashid
Srinagar: The Government of India (GOI) is in constant touch with some of the separatist leaders who have been arrested more than a week ago and New Delhi is hopeful that some breakthrough would be achieved while taking on board these people while traversing on the path aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.
Highly placed sources told this newspaper that the GOI wants to take on board important separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) and Mohammad Yasin Malik, chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) before arriving at any decision aimed at solving the Kashmir imbroglio.
“New Delhi is fully aware that leaders like Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik have a say in the Kashmir valley and it is important to take them along while arriving at any solution of the Kashmir problem. These leaders visited New Delhi thrice during the past one week or so and deliberations were carried out with them. More rounds of the talks are likely to be held in the coming days,” said the sources.
The three separatists were arrested during the intervening night of August 23 and 24 in the wake of “Lal Chowk Chalo” programme last week announced by the Coordination Committee.
“The three separatists were taken to New Delhi thrice during the last eight days to hold talks with the GOI and the process is likely to continue over the next few days. After their return from New Delhi these leaders have been placed at Cheshmashahi,” said the sources.
The sources said that people living in the Jammu region have received a shot in the arm after the agreement between Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) and the panel appointed by Governor Narendra Nath Vohra.
“The Samiti would soon come out with its demands revolving around a parallel concept (as autonomy in Kashmir) and equal allocation of funds to Jammu region. Following the deal with state government, the Samiti is gearing to demand equal status for Jammuites in secretariat and equal funds for that region. These people are also going to demand that the heads of departments in the Jammu region to be locals (Dogras) and not from the Kashmir valley,” said the sources.
“As Kashmiris demand the status of autonomy, the Samiti too is planning to come out with some similar concept. They no longer want to stay with the Kashmir valley as a state. These people have been encouraged after the deal between the Samiti and the governor appointed panel. They believe that there every demand would be fulfilled and the same is driving them to move ahead,” said the sources.
(Daily Khidmat)
(Ms. Afsana Rashid, 29, was born and raised in Srinagar and attended the Minto Circle High School. She graduated from the Government College for Women with a Bachelor's degree in science, and completed her post-graduation degree from the University of Kashmir, obtaining her Master's Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has received numerous world-wide recognition and awards for covering economic depravation and gender sensitive issues in Kashmiri journals, which include Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award, Bhorukha Trust Media Award 2007, and the 2006-07 UNFPA-Ladli Media Award. Her work on "Impact of conflict on subsistence livelihood of marginalised communities in Kashmir and Alternatives", was recognized by Action Aid India in 2005-06. She has travelled abroad attending a workshop on "conflict Reporting" by Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, and a seminar for women in conflict areas by IKV Pax Christi, Netherlands. In February 2008, she compiled a book, "Waiting for Justice: Widows and Half-widows.")
New Delhi in contact with Separatists
Afsana Rashid
Srinagar: The Government of India (GOI) is in constant touch with some of the separatist leaders who have been arrested more than a week ago and New Delhi is hopeful that some breakthrough would be achieved while taking on board these people while traversing on the path aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.
Highly placed sources told this newspaper that the GOI wants to take on board important separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) and Mohammad Yasin Malik, chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) before arriving at any decision aimed at solving the Kashmir imbroglio.
“New Delhi is fully aware that leaders like Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik have a say in the Kashmir valley and it is important to take them along while arriving at any solution of the Kashmir problem. These leaders visited New Delhi thrice during the past one week or so and deliberations were carried out with them. More rounds of the talks are likely to be held in the coming days,” said the sources.
The three separatists were arrested during the intervening night of August 23 and 24 in the wake of “Lal Chowk Chalo” programme last week announced by the Coordination Committee.
“The three separatists were taken to New Delhi thrice during the last eight days to hold talks with the GOI and the process is likely to continue over the next few days. After their return from New Delhi these leaders have been placed at Cheshmashahi,” said the sources.
The sources said that people living in the Jammu region have received a shot in the arm after the agreement between Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) and the panel appointed by Governor Narendra Nath Vohra.
“The Samiti would soon come out with its demands revolving around a parallel concept (as autonomy in Kashmir) and equal allocation of funds to Jammu region. Following the deal with state government, the Samiti is gearing to demand equal status for Jammuites in secretariat and equal funds for that region. These people are also going to demand that the heads of departments in the Jammu region to be locals (Dogras) and not from the Kashmir valley,” said the sources.
“As Kashmiris demand the status of autonomy, the Samiti too is planning to come out with some similar concept. They no longer want to stay with the Kashmir valley as a state. These people have been encouraged after the deal between the Samiti and the governor appointed panel. They believe that there every demand would be fulfilled and the same is driving them to move ahead,” said the sources.
(Daily Khidmat)
APHC needs wisdom more than crowd
A thought provoking commentary, but in all honesty can these leaders escape from their own spin!
(Shuhab Hashmi, 38, was born in Baramulla, and graduated from the Degree College in Sopore, and completed his M.A. from the University of Kashmir. He is a Columnist, and in his spare time enjoys reading, discussions and traveling.)
APHC needs wisdom more than crowd
The latest phase of uprising in Kashmir has thrown up challenges for many quarters. They need to ponder over nuances of this uprising and explain what it means to them. But the biggest challenge is for those representing the resistance movement under the two umbrellas of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
Recent squabble over the programme given by Jammu and Kashmir Co-ordination Committee has once again brought to the fore the fact that egoistic stands are still playing an important role in lives of these politicians. Though the senior leader Syed Ali Geelani, who heads one faction of Hurriyat tried to settle the dust by endorsing the programme but the dangers the whole issue conveyed were louder.
At this juncture when the people rallied behind the leaders, rather forced them to lead them in a bid to decide their future, each and every step they take is being watched very cautiously. At the time when people broke all the barriers of ideology or what the conflict has brought to them in last 20 years, the leaders have a responsibility to give them a direction. But if they are themselves directionless and do not rise above the petty politics and their egos, they will be rejected once for all. The ongoing struggle for future had once been buried under the thick layers of electoral processes and development, but the land issue broke all the myths and tore the impression apart that Kashmir was resting on the status quo. The message in the recent uprising which took shape in the form of long ending processions comprising lakhs of people was loud and clear. It is the disputed nature of the state which has nurtured a sentiment over many decades and is cementing force for the people of all hues. In the past 10 years we have seen thousands of people attending the rallies of mainstream political parties whose goal has been the development and prosperity, of course with a demand to resolve the Kashmir issue whether under the autonomy title or the self rule smokescreen; but in the procession for "Azadi' same crowd can be seen indicating that there is no change in people's minds vis-a-vis the basic issue.
The separatist camp, of which Hurriyat is the "Naqeeb", besides Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and others, is merely representing the sentiment. Not more than two or three leaders of this camp are the real politicians who have a mass base and if put to electoral test cannot win more than two or three seats. But the biggest cushion they have in the present time is the strong will of the people to get their future decided. Geelani's "slip of tongue" at the rally in Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) ground was enough indicator of how people believe in the leaders. Notwithstanding the fact that he has stood like a rock in last 20 years and did not compromise on his stand of Kashmir to become "atoot ang of Pakistan", but when he spoke of himself being the only leader of Kashmir's resistance movement it took him no time to feel the heat. Consequently he had to call a press conference and apologise to the nation. This time the sacrifices of people are of much higher magnitude than that of leaders, and that is why their dictating power is more ruthless.
This time people are closely watching what this leadership is doing. It was after lot of bloodletting in initial years from 1990 onwards, that a platform called APHC came into existence. It was the force called people which had pushed this arrangement ahead. For many political analysts it was a pure imagination to see likes of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to Syed Ali Geelani, to Abdul Gani Bhat and Moulvi Abbas Ansari heading this form. This goes without doubt that New Delhi felt scared of this platform till September 2003, when its leaders themselves decided to fell apart. There might have been genuine reasons for those who played a role in that split but now there is a God send opportunity for them to be united as apparently no differences have crept on the basic issue of resolving Kashmir. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who paid a heavy price of his uncle and 100 years old Islamia School has since turned into a hard-liner and does not talk anything but the final resolution. So is the Sajjad Lone, chairman of People's Conference who became bone of contention in September 2003 for his alleged involvement in fielding proxy candidates. It is not the election time for them to look for the fortunes and work for electoral adjustments to eye for plum cabinet berth. There is a long road ahead to that process if they have resolved to take this movement to logical end.
It is still a conflict situation where the Hurriyat leaders have to work for hammering out a solution. For all of them there is no dispute on the basic issue and its resolution. Then why this Co-ordination Committee cannot take them back to September 2003 position and give them a jerk to dismantle the factions and be one for the cause. They will be relieved of these contemptuous sub titles like moderates and hard-liners and people will like this gesture. Let all of them form a common ground and move forward, engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue with New Delhi (in case there is an offer without conditions) and show to the world that they are for resolution of the issue through peaceful means. They should also pick up the threads from Sajjad Lone's "Achievable Nationhood" and start working towards a blueprint on which they can start talking. This will be the real test for them as well New Delhi and it will lend credibility to the peaceful agitation in Kashmir. In absence of any concrete programme, it becomes convenient for New Delhi to refuse entering into a meaningful dialogue with Hurriyat Conference. Once they have a practicable programme they will rid themselves of the perennial criticism that since they don’t have any concrete suggestions or plans, New Delhi finds no point talking to them. To make any gains from the current phase of public mobilisation and to compel New Delhi for starting a meaningful dialogue, Hurriyat Conference needs to work hard on the details of their programme and make it possible on ground that some healthy changes occur in Kashmir that can give this people a sense of achievement and lay foundations for the ultimate resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
(Shuhab Hashmi, 38, was born in Baramulla, and graduated from the Degree College in Sopore, and completed his M.A. from the University of Kashmir. He is a Columnist, and in his spare time enjoys reading, discussions and traveling.)
APHC needs wisdom more than crowd
The latest phase of uprising in Kashmir has thrown up challenges for many quarters. They need to ponder over nuances of this uprising and explain what it means to them. But the biggest challenge is for those representing the resistance movement under the two umbrellas of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
Recent squabble over the programme given by Jammu and Kashmir Co-ordination Committee has once again brought to the fore the fact that egoistic stands are still playing an important role in lives of these politicians. Though the senior leader Syed Ali Geelani, who heads one faction of Hurriyat tried to settle the dust by endorsing the programme but the dangers the whole issue conveyed were louder.
At this juncture when the people rallied behind the leaders, rather forced them to lead them in a bid to decide their future, each and every step they take is being watched very cautiously. At the time when people broke all the barriers of ideology or what the conflict has brought to them in last 20 years, the leaders have a responsibility to give them a direction. But if they are themselves directionless and do not rise above the petty politics and their egos, they will be rejected once for all. The ongoing struggle for future had once been buried under the thick layers of electoral processes and development, but the land issue broke all the myths and tore the impression apart that Kashmir was resting on the status quo. The message in the recent uprising which took shape in the form of long ending processions comprising lakhs of people was loud and clear. It is the disputed nature of the state which has nurtured a sentiment over many decades and is cementing force for the people of all hues. In the past 10 years we have seen thousands of people attending the rallies of mainstream political parties whose goal has been the development and prosperity, of course with a demand to resolve the Kashmir issue whether under the autonomy title or the self rule smokescreen; but in the procession for "Azadi' same crowd can be seen indicating that there is no change in people's minds vis-a-vis the basic issue.
The separatist camp, of which Hurriyat is the "Naqeeb", besides Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and others, is merely representing the sentiment. Not more than two or three leaders of this camp are the real politicians who have a mass base and if put to electoral test cannot win more than two or three seats. But the biggest cushion they have in the present time is the strong will of the people to get their future decided. Geelani's "slip of tongue" at the rally in Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) ground was enough indicator of how people believe in the leaders. Notwithstanding the fact that he has stood like a rock in last 20 years and did not compromise on his stand of Kashmir to become "atoot ang of Pakistan", but when he spoke of himself being the only leader of Kashmir's resistance movement it took him no time to feel the heat. Consequently he had to call a press conference and apologise to the nation. This time the sacrifices of people are of much higher magnitude than that of leaders, and that is why their dictating power is more ruthless.
This time people are closely watching what this leadership is doing. It was after lot of bloodletting in initial years from 1990 onwards, that a platform called APHC came into existence. It was the force called people which had pushed this arrangement ahead. For many political analysts it was a pure imagination to see likes of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to Syed Ali Geelani, to Abdul Gani Bhat and Moulvi Abbas Ansari heading this form. This goes without doubt that New Delhi felt scared of this platform till September 2003, when its leaders themselves decided to fell apart. There might have been genuine reasons for those who played a role in that split but now there is a God send opportunity for them to be united as apparently no differences have crept on the basic issue of resolving Kashmir. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who paid a heavy price of his uncle and 100 years old Islamia School has since turned into a hard-liner and does not talk anything but the final resolution. So is the Sajjad Lone, chairman of People's Conference who became bone of contention in September 2003 for his alleged involvement in fielding proxy candidates. It is not the election time for them to look for the fortunes and work for electoral adjustments to eye for plum cabinet berth. There is a long road ahead to that process if they have resolved to take this movement to logical end.
It is still a conflict situation where the Hurriyat leaders have to work for hammering out a solution. For all of them there is no dispute on the basic issue and its resolution. Then why this Co-ordination Committee cannot take them back to September 2003 position and give them a jerk to dismantle the factions and be one for the cause. They will be relieved of these contemptuous sub titles like moderates and hard-liners and people will like this gesture. Let all of them form a common ground and move forward, engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue with New Delhi (in case there is an offer without conditions) and show to the world that they are for resolution of the issue through peaceful means. They should also pick up the threads from Sajjad Lone's "Achievable Nationhood" and start working towards a blueprint on which they can start talking. This will be the real test for them as well New Delhi and it will lend credibility to the peaceful agitation in Kashmir. In absence of any concrete programme, it becomes convenient for New Delhi to refuse entering into a meaningful dialogue with Hurriyat Conference. Once they have a practicable programme they will rid themselves of the perennial criticism that since they don’t have any concrete suggestions or plans, New Delhi finds no point talking to them. To make any gains from the current phase of public mobilisation and to compel New Delhi for starting a meaningful dialogue, Hurriyat Conference needs to work hard on the details of their programme and make it possible on ground that some healthy changes occur in Kashmir that can give this people a sense of achievement and lay foundations for the ultimate resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Governor Vohra's Personal Agony
In a private conversation with the author on September 4, Governor Vohra laments about the disruption in academic career of students because of lengthy shutdowns in J&K
Disturbed academic calendar leaves students in lurch
Mehboob Jeelani (Rising Kashmir)
Srinagar, Sep 05: The education sector in Kashmir valley has been severely hit with educational institutions remaining closed for a duration amounting to five months till August leaving a working period of just four months in the current academic session.
Till August this year, strikes and curfews have taken the number of holidays observed in educational institutions to 164 days, which includes 90 days of winter vacations, 11 days of state holidays, 7 days of summer break, 26 Sundays besides about 30 days of strikes and curfews.
Loss of working days for such a long duration is bound to affect the academic calendar and thereby the education sector of the valley.This undue break in the academic calendar has created difficulties particularly to those students who are about to appear in the secondary, higher secondary and university level examinations with major portion of syllabus still incomplete. “Now I don’t think about my school. Every morning we expect it to be an off day and having excessive holidays is no fun,” said Heeba Shafi, a 7th grade student of New-Convent high school.“We could have completed our syllabus in private coaching centres but due to curfews and strikes it was impossible to leave home,” said Shahid Rafiq, a 12th grade student of Sri-Pratap Higher Secondary School.
The brunt of the situation is borne by the students who are completely dependent on the school teaching. With hardly 50-days of working days left, these students are concerned fearing worsening of the situation in the valley. “Due to some financial problems I can’t go for private classes. I can manage to pass few subjects but I am naive particularly with physics, chemistry and mathematics,” said Mudasir Hussain, a 10th grade student.
Meanwhile, Secretary Education, GA Peer said that for a time being stress has been laid on all the educational institutions to take extra classes to compensate the loss.“We are holding a meeting on September 15 with chief education officers, educationists and senior academicians to discuss the situation. I appeal the teacher community to put extra efforts to complete the pending syllabus,” said Peer.
Disturbed academic calendar leaves students in lurch
Mehboob Jeelani (Rising Kashmir)
Srinagar, Sep 05: The education sector in Kashmir valley has been severely hit with educational institutions remaining closed for a duration amounting to five months till August leaving a working period of just four months in the current academic session.
Till August this year, strikes and curfews have taken the number of holidays observed in educational institutions to 164 days, which includes 90 days of winter vacations, 11 days of state holidays, 7 days of summer break, 26 Sundays besides about 30 days of strikes and curfews.
Loss of working days for such a long duration is bound to affect the academic calendar and thereby the education sector of the valley.This undue break in the academic calendar has created difficulties particularly to those students who are about to appear in the secondary, higher secondary and university level examinations with major portion of syllabus still incomplete. “Now I don’t think about my school. Every morning we expect it to be an off day and having excessive holidays is no fun,” said Heeba Shafi, a 7th grade student of New-Convent high school.“We could have completed our syllabus in private coaching centres but due to curfews and strikes it was impossible to leave home,” said Shahid Rafiq, a 12th grade student of Sri-Pratap Higher Secondary School.
The brunt of the situation is borne by the students who are completely dependent on the school teaching. With hardly 50-days of working days left, these students are concerned fearing worsening of the situation in the valley. “Due to some financial problems I can’t go for private classes. I can manage to pass few subjects but I am naive particularly with physics, chemistry and mathematics,” said Mudasir Hussain, a 10th grade student.
Meanwhile, Secretary Education, GA Peer said that for a time being stress has been laid on all the educational institutions to take extra classes to compensate the loss.“We are holding a meeting on September 15 with chief education officers, educationists and senior academicians to discuss the situation. I appeal the teacher community to put extra efforts to complete the pending syllabus,” said Peer.
Is Development a Process of Expanding Freedoms?
An Editorial in the Kashmir Images argues that Freedom and Development are two sides of the same coin
What is Freedom
Historically speaking, economics, a science inherently smitten by the desire to quantify, has often been too narrow in its approach to development. An empirical science, as it is seen, its gurus have all along prioritized the material needs of humankind over equally pressing emotional and psychological needs.
Ironically while discussing what motivates economic growth, which usually entails the use of elaborate equations and complex graphs; when ends and means of sustaining economic progress are suggested, little heed is paid to the intricate interdependence of various needs and the causal factors that are the major stumbling blocks in the way to securing the general welfare of the population. Understandably then, most of what is written about economic problems and development fails to strike a humanistic chord.
It is here in this uncanny world of hard-fact and thick-skinned economic terms, theories, concepts and policies that some economists come in with a new brand of softer, gentler, humane and wise economics emphasizing the importance of social by placing the well-being of humans at center-stage of economic policy so that it is seen as both the goal and the means for development, and not simply a side-effect. By linking the economic progress and development with the political freedoms enjoyed by the people, this brand of economics suggests that political freedoms are, and truly so, subservient to the economic well-being of the population. Indeed the very concept that “freedom promotes development” is a pleasant depart from the conventional wisdom that prioritizes economic growth over political enfranchisement.
Development should be seen as a process of expanding freedoms. "If freedom is what development advances, then there is a major argument for concentrating on that overarching objective, rather than on some particular means, or some chosen list of instruments". To achieve development, therefore requires the removal of poverty, tyranny, lack of economic opportunities, social deprivation, neglect of public services, and the machinery of repression. Unfortunately even when the “freedom” has been much-publicized slogan in Kashmir during the past decade and a half, not even those selling their political merchandize in its wraps have ever bothered to talk about poverty, social and economic opportunities or the issues of public services and utilities. Instead everything has been made secondary to the politics so much so that even the economic hardships of the day-to-day life fail to evoke a stir anywhere.
Unfortunately here again, both separatists as well as mainstream politicians cut a very sorry figure as neither has displayed any understanding of and sincerity toward peoples’ welfare. Understandably, ‘freedom’ has been relegated to a hollow slogan meant for political rhetoric only. Now in the aftermath of the recent ‘economic blockade’ of the valley, together with all sorts of miseries and hardship it brought to the people, it is very much pertinent to expect that the Kashmiri leadership would try and deduce some lasting lessons from it. And they certainly must because people of Kashmir have really paid a very high price of human lives!
What is Freedom
Historically speaking, economics, a science inherently smitten by the desire to quantify, has often been too narrow in its approach to development. An empirical science, as it is seen, its gurus have all along prioritized the material needs of humankind over equally pressing emotional and psychological needs.
Ironically while discussing what motivates economic growth, which usually entails the use of elaborate equations and complex graphs; when ends and means of sustaining economic progress are suggested, little heed is paid to the intricate interdependence of various needs and the causal factors that are the major stumbling blocks in the way to securing the general welfare of the population. Understandably then, most of what is written about economic problems and development fails to strike a humanistic chord.
It is here in this uncanny world of hard-fact and thick-skinned economic terms, theories, concepts and policies that some economists come in with a new brand of softer, gentler, humane and wise economics emphasizing the importance of social by placing the well-being of humans at center-stage of economic policy so that it is seen as both the goal and the means for development, and not simply a side-effect. By linking the economic progress and development with the political freedoms enjoyed by the people, this brand of economics suggests that political freedoms are, and truly so, subservient to the economic well-being of the population. Indeed the very concept that “freedom promotes development” is a pleasant depart from the conventional wisdom that prioritizes economic growth over political enfranchisement.
Development should be seen as a process of expanding freedoms. "If freedom is what development advances, then there is a major argument for concentrating on that overarching objective, rather than on some particular means, or some chosen list of instruments". To achieve development, therefore requires the removal of poverty, tyranny, lack of economic opportunities, social deprivation, neglect of public services, and the machinery of repression. Unfortunately even when the “freedom” has been much-publicized slogan in Kashmir during the past decade and a half, not even those selling their political merchandize in its wraps have ever bothered to talk about poverty, social and economic opportunities or the issues of public services and utilities. Instead everything has been made secondary to the politics so much so that even the economic hardships of the day-to-day life fail to evoke a stir anywhere.
Unfortunately here again, both separatists as well as mainstream politicians cut a very sorry figure as neither has displayed any understanding of and sincerity toward peoples’ welfare. Understandably, ‘freedom’ has been relegated to a hollow slogan meant for political rhetoric only. Now in the aftermath of the recent ‘economic blockade’ of the valley, together with all sorts of miseries and hardship it brought to the people, it is very much pertinent to expect that the Kashmiri leadership would try and deduce some lasting lessons from it. And they certainly must because people of Kashmir have really paid a very high price of human lives!
Without Self-Sufficiency Independence is Only a Dream
The author presents a strong argument why Kashmiris must earn the respect of the world before anyone takes them seriously
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
Shahid–ul-Islam
In The Dance of Wounded Souls, Robert Burney says that a dysfunctional civilization predisposes us to look outside for reaffirmation and emotional sustenance. In depending on a particular relationship for a sense of self worth, we give another person the absolute power to make us feel good about ourselves, to feel worthy and lovable. That person then very easily becomes the villain who can abuse and oppress us. This codependent, toxic variety of relationship gives the other person absolute power over our self-esteem and continued existence. In a healthy interrelationship, we make a choice to be with another being - and voluntarily abdicate some power over our lives – but we do not give him or her the power to fully determine our self worth or all other aspects of our survival. Burney’s analysis of codependent behavior is the perfect analogy for Kashmir’s dysfunctional relationships, past or present, which have always been abusive, oppressive, and never allowed the empowerment of our people either emotionally or economically.
Our Kashmiri nation, and rightfully so, has always been consumed by the wish to legitimize its claim for independence and special status vis-à-vis its partners and the rest of the world. However, while shouting our throats hoarse for freedom from our oppressors, we have dismally failed to introspect and never mustered the moral courage to realistically look beyond our struggle for independence to make it sustainable if achieved. As the old adage goes, the road to hell — or in our case to freedom — is often paved with the best of intentions. However, while it comes as great relief that the need for economic self sufficiency has finally made its way into the subtext of our rallying cries, truth is we have always only paid lip service to this most crucial of issues and remained firmly locked in our codependent mindsets. In the most recent context, we must tell ourselves that economic blockages go well beyond obstructions erected on highways. We must be prepared to not only demand the free flow of goods along current or future trade routes, but also make every human effort that the goods carried along these routes are indigenously produced, fully utilizing our own natural and intellectual properties. Some immediate steps we can take are as follows:
As has already been pointed out by others, during our latest period of struggle and as a result of the shortages of commodities we have been facing, truckloads of vegetables and other foods have poured from villages into our city and towns. We must turn these temporary and voluntary emergency measures into a model for developing our own and permanent rural-urban market linkages, and begin an immediate “Grow and Buy Local” campaign. This could include fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry products, and also meats. Many of these items are currently imported into Kashmir, even though we have more than adequate capacity to develop our own community based food industries throughout the state.·
As part of that campaign, we must urge our people to desist from buying pre-packaged, processed foods that have been produced outside Kashmir and are sold at our markets at much higher prices than those fetched by local goods. We must make it clear to outside manufacturers that we are ready to boycott their goods if they can be produced indigenously and until they agree to create production facilities in Kashmir, offering employment opportunities for locals. While this was the presumed intent of tax holidays promulgated through industrial policies aimed at encouraging private investment into Kashmir, it should be mandatory for all manufacturer peddling their goods in our nation, not only for those planning to come here for the sole purpose of enjoying certain income and excise tax exemptions. ·
We must more aggressively encourage the right kind of direct international private investment into Kashmir, provided that investors agree to negotiate and enter into partnerships with a broad range of locals, and consider the setting up of infrastructure not only near the city but also in less developed areas to assure equitable development. In many parts of the world, factory, office building and hotel owners, among others, are required to fund and construct their own access roads and attendant infrastructure. It is a requirement we should explore as well. ·
While I am stating the obvious, we must make every effort to become more self-sufficient in the power sector. Our grievances regarding India’s exploitative policies towards Kashmir, especially in the hydel sector, are well known. However, in the absence of any immediate relief, we must look towards the development of alternative sources of energy that can be generated on a community level. China, as an example, is making great strides in switching to the generation of electricity through bio-gasification, small-scale hydel projects, wind power, and increased use of advanced solar energy, especially in its rural areas. We must look at international best practices to find fitting models for Kashmir.·
As we will always depend on a vibrant tourism sector, we must encourage the development of community-based tourism throughout the state so that our people can benefit directly. We should not focus on outside investment for large-scale tourism infrastructure, but concentrate on highlighting what we already have and aim to either preserve or upgrade it. ·
Most importantly, we will have to immediately create local private employment opportunities through community run large or small-scale enterprises in all sectors, but especially in horticulture and agriculture. Lakhs of unemployed youth are impatiently waiting in line for government jobs financed through India sponsored schemes and are mostly promised to garner votes from desperate populations without any choice. While the desire for this type of employment is understandable in the current absence of viable alternatives, we must find ways to break free from that codependence by convincing our youth that private employment opportunities are inherently more rewarding than those provided by outside governmental agencies. ·
To that end, our own successful industrialists must be pressurized to help create these opportunities through expansion of their existing units to other areas of the nation. Across the board, they must also be urged to perform their social responsibility in sectors such as education, social service, power and other community development by working together more closely with the people. Employment of outsiders should be avoided at all costs and all levels unless the necessary expertise cannot be allocated amongst us. ·
Along the same lines, we also must urge our well-to-do non-resident Kashmiri friends and relatives to immediately invest in social sectors of Kashmir. Too many seem only interested in talking about the fate of our nation and upgrading their vacation homes in the Valley instead of actively becoming part of the solution. They must put their money where their mouth is.·
To facilitate that type of social investment from legitimate sources here and abroad, let us immediately set up a “Greater Kashmir Social Development Foundation,” as an umbrella extra-governmental, non-profit body to receive and appropriate funding for the relief of the most marginalized of us during times of severe distress, and also with a view to improving certain critical areas of their lives promptly without having to request formal government or international aid agency intervention. The organization should be non-political and chaired by one member of each of the groups representing the true aspirations of our nation’s people.·
In our increasingly water-starved areas, we must aid residents to begin practicing both rain and snow water harvesting for irrigation and/ or drinking water purposes. Our nation’s water shortage has reached crisis proportions. ·
We must commit to arresting the unconscionable destruction of our heritage sites and natural environment, both hallmarks of Kashmir’s cultural and geographical legacy. Years of unrest and greed of timber mafias have allowed the irresponsible plunder of our forests to go unchecked for too long. Moreover, the rampant conversion of our traditional neighborhoods and countryside into concrete jungles, becoming a permanent blot on our landscape and an additional drain on our energy efficiency, must be curbed. Both not only bring us closer to environmental disaster, but also seriously dilute important aspects of our Kashmiri ethnic identity.
Clearly, these are only a few practical suggestions for the road ahead. Much or all of it will require some tough choices and also sacrifices from those of us who have directly or indirectly benefited from the economic codependencies we have developed over the years as a result of continuous upheaval and internal divisions. Yet, for once we must put all our efforts into developing a greater sense of common purpose beyond freedom, and immediately embark on a path to greater economic, not only political and emotional, independence as a prerequisite for the permanent absence of outside interference we so desperately crave. This will mean not only fighting our external oppressors, but also battling the enemy within, which has undoubtedly been contributing to our inability to effectively stand on our own feet and either forced us to remain in toxic relationships or predisposed us to develop new dysfunctional ones.
Only after seriously focusing on achieving greater economic self-reliance will we be able to navigate our future relationships with confidence and a true sense of self-worth, and be enabled to negotiate our own terms from a true position of strength. The best relationships are those based on respect for a partner’s individuality and full equality. Mutual codependence, emotionally or economically, can never be the basis for a sustainable match, as it will always seriously inhibit continued growth and independent thinking. It is in this context that we now must begin to immediately implement homegrown and lasting solutions that will make it possible for Kashmir to enter into healthier relationships in the future.
Most importantly, we must remember that to throw off the shackles of a dysfunctional marriage, we have to stop standing with a begging bowl outside the bedroom of the abusive spouse we wish to divorce. Planning a life after marriage may not be what many of us would like to discuss caught up as we are in the fervor of the moment. However, the rightful demand by our leading intellectuals to adequately prepare for a life without partner needs to be addressed without delay.
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
Shahid–ul-Islam
In The Dance of Wounded Souls, Robert Burney says that a dysfunctional civilization predisposes us to look outside for reaffirmation and emotional sustenance. In depending on a particular relationship for a sense of self worth, we give another person the absolute power to make us feel good about ourselves, to feel worthy and lovable. That person then very easily becomes the villain who can abuse and oppress us. This codependent, toxic variety of relationship gives the other person absolute power over our self-esteem and continued existence. In a healthy interrelationship, we make a choice to be with another being - and voluntarily abdicate some power over our lives – but we do not give him or her the power to fully determine our self worth or all other aspects of our survival. Burney’s analysis of codependent behavior is the perfect analogy for Kashmir’s dysfunctional relationships, past or present, which have always been abusive, oppressive, and never allowed the empowerment of our people either emotionally or economically.
Our Kashmiri nation, and rightfully so, has always been consumed by the wish to legitimize its claim for independence and special status vis-à-vis its partners and the rest of the world. However, while shouting our throats hoarse for freedom from our oppressors, we have dismally failed to introspect and never mustered the moral courage to realistically look beyond our struggle for independence to make it sustainable if achieved. As the old adage goes, the road to hell — or in our case to freedom — is often paved with the best of intentions. However, while it comes as great relief that the need for economic self sufficiency has finally made its way into the subtext of our rallying cries, truth is we have always only paid lip service to this most crucial of issues and remained firmly locked in our codependent mindsets. In the most recent context, we must tell ourselves that economic blockages go well beyond obstructions erected on highways. We must be prepared to not only demand the free flow of goods along current or future trade routes, but also make every human effort that the goods carried along these routes are indigenously produced, fully utilizing our own natural and intellectual properties. Some immediate steps we can take are as follows:
As has already been pointed out by others, during our latest period of struggle and as a result of the shortages of commodities we have been facing, truckloads of vegetables and other foods have poured from villages into our city and towns. We must turn these temporary and voluntary emergency measures into a model for developing our own and permanent rural-urban market linkages, and begin an immediate “Grow and Buy Local” campaign. This could include fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry products, and also meats. Many of these items are currently imported into Kashmir, even though we have more than adequate capacity to develop our own community based food industries throughout the state.·
As part of that campaign, we must urge our people to desist from buying pre-packaged, processed foods that have been produced outside Kashmir and are sold at our markets at much higher prices than those fetched by local goods. We must make it clear to outside manufacturers that we are ready to boycott their goods if they can be produced indigenously and until they agree to create production facilities in Kashmir, offering employment opportunities for locals. While this was the presumed intent of tax holidays promulgated through industrial policies aimed at encouraging private investment into Kashmir, it should be mandatory for all manufacturer peddling their goods in our nation, not only for those planning to come here for the sole purpose of enjoying certain income and excise tax exemptions. ·
We must more aggressively encourage the right kind of direct international private investment into Kashmir, provided that investors agree to negotiate and enter into partnerships with a broad range of locals, and consider the setting up of infrastructure not only near the city but also in less developed areas to assure equitable development. In many parts of the world, factory, office building and hotel owners, among others, are required to fund and construct their own access roads and attendant infrastructure. It is a requirement we should explore as well. ·
While I am stating the obvious, we must make every effort to become more self-sufficient in the power sector. Our grievances regarding India’s exploitative policies towards Kashmir, especially in the hydel sector, are well known. However, in the absence of any immediate relief, we must look towards the development of alternative sources of energy that can be generated on a community level. China, as an example, is making great strides in switching to the generation of electricity through bio-gasification, small-scale hydel projects, wind power, and increased use of advanced solar energy, especially in its rural areas. We must look at international best practices to find fitting models for Kashmir.·
As we will always depend on a vibrant tourism sector, we must encourage the development of community-based tourism throughout the state so that our people can benefit directly. We should not focus on outside investment for large-scale tourism infrastructure, but concentrate on highlighting what we already have and aim to either preserve or upgrade it. ·
Most importantly, we will have to immediately create local private employment opportunities through community run large or small-scale enterprises in all sectors, but especially in horticulture and agriculture. Lakhs of unemployed youth are impatiently waiting in line for government jobs financed through India sponsored schemes and are mostly promised to garner votes from desperate populations without any choice. While the desire for this type of employment is understandable in the current absence of viable alternatives, we must find ways to break free from that codependence by convincing our youth that private employment opportunities are inherently more rewarding than those provided by outside governmental agencies. ·
To that end, our own successful industrialists must be pressurized to help create these opportunities through expansion of their existing units to other areas of the nation. Across the board, they must also be urged to perform their social responsibility in sectors such as education, social service, power and other community development by working together more closely with the people. Employment of outsiders should be avoided at all costs and all levels unless the necessary expertise cannot be allocated amongst us. ·
Along the same lines, we also must urge our well-to-do non-resident Kashmiri friends and relatives to immediately invest in social sectors of Kashmir. Too many seem only interested in talking about the fate of our nation and upgrading their vacation homes in the Valley instead of actively becoming part of the solution. They must put their money where their mouth is.·
To facilitate that type of social investment from legitimate sources here and abroad, let us immediately set up a “Greater Kashmir Social Development Foundation,” as an umbrella extra-governmental, non-profit body to receive and appropriate funding for the relief of the most marginalized of us during times of severe distress, and also with a view to improving certain critical areas of their lives promptly without having to request formal government or international aid agency intervention. The organization should be non-political and chaired by one member of each of the groups representing the true aspirations of our nation’s people.·
In our increasingly water-starved areas, we must aid residents to begin practicing both rain and snow water harvesting for irrigation and/ or drinking water purposes. Our nation’s water shortage has reached crisis proportions. ·
We must commit to arresting the unconscionable destruction of our heritage sites and natural environment, both hallmarks of Kashmir’s cultural and geographical legacy. Years of unrest and greed of timber mafias have allowed the irresponsible plunder of our forests to go unchecked for too long. Moreover, the rampant conversion of our traditional neighborhoods and countryside into concrete jungles, becoming a permanent blot on our landscape and an additional drain on our energy efficiency, must be curbed. Both not only bring us closer to environmental disaster, but also seriously dilute important aspects of our Kashmiri ethnic identity.
Clearly, these are only a few practical suggestions for the road ahead. Much or all of it will require some tough choices and also sacrifices from those of us who have directly or indirectly benefited from the economic codependencies we have developed over the years as a result of continuous upheaval and internal divisions. Yet, for once we must put all our efforts into developing a greater sense of common purpose beyond freedom, and immediately embark on a path to greater economic, not only political and emotional, independence as a prerequisite for the permanent absence of outside interference we so desperately crave. This will mean not only fighting our external oppressors, but also battling the enemy within, which has undoubtedly been contributing to our inability to effectively stand on our own feet and either forced us to remain in toxic relationships or predisposed us to develop new dysfunctional ones.
Only after seriously focusing on achieving greater economic self-reliance will we be able to navigate our future relationships with confidence and a true sense of self-worth, and be enabled to negotiate our own terms from a true position of strength. The best relationships are those based on respect for a partner’s individuality and full equality. Mutual codependence, emotionally or economically, can never be the basis for a sustainable match, as it will always seriously inhibit continued growth and independent thinking. It is in this context that we now must begin to immediately implement homegrown and lasting solutions that will make it possible for Kashmir to enter into healthier relationships in the future.
Most importantly, we must remember that to throw off the shackles of a dysfunctional marriage, we have to stop standing with a begging bowl outside the bedroom of the abusive spouse we wish to divorce. Planning a life after marriage may not be what many of us would like to discuss caught up as we are in the fervor of the moment. However, the rightful demand by our leading intellectuals to adequately prepare for a life without partner needs to be addressed without delay.
A Kashmiri Perspective of Terrorism in India
Dr. Pandit lays out an argument forgetting that India is a civilizational society where culture, more than religion, plays a decisive role in defining public and private lives
Changing the mindset
Dr Altaf Pandit
On 26th July, at least seventeen blasts, within a short span of 36 minutes, rocked Ahmedabad, reportedly killing 49 people and injuring more than a hundred. One day earlier, nine blasts had hit the silicon city Banglore leaving many dead and many more injured. This time not only the market places, restaurants, railway station and cinema theatres, but even hospitals were not spared.
This is a case of pure terrorism and no words are enough to condemn such barbaric acts of indiscriminate and wanton destruction. Once again some valuable and innocent lives were lost who were not possibly related any way with the grievances or goals of the perpetrators of these gruesome killings. No moral, ethical, religious or political cause can sanction or justify such an act as a means for some thing noble and sacred. Whatever the reasons or compulsions the perpetrators might have, killing innocent non-combatant people indiscriminately symbolizes nothing but insanity, sadism and desperate sense of defeat. Not to speak of Islam, which demands for highest standards of behavior and practice even in times of war and acute emergencies, even ordinary human ethical values can not allow anyone to stoop this low and be a cause of death and destruction of those with whom he has no apparent connection. Those commentators who drag ‘Islamism’ in all this should revisit Islamic history and convince themselves about Islam’s moderate, forward looking pro-life message. Al-Quran is explicit and categorical that who saves one life saves the whole humanity and that who kills one life without justice kills the whole humanity; and that should be the final verdict and principle in this matter.
More saddening, than the blasts, was the response of the analysts and the experts on Indian electronic and print media while commenting on these blasts. To them it was again the failure of secret service intelligence, lack of appropriate laws and thus a simple case of law and order. The right-wing Hindu analysts blamed the congress led government for scraping the draconian laws meant to counter terrorism, like POTA and TADA, and lamented the insufficiency of deterrent laws against terrorism. Some emphasis was on the strengthening of secret surveillance and policing at gross roots level. While Congress spokesperson maintained that law and order is the responsibility of the state governments, the BJP blamed the Centre for negligence in providing intelligence inputs regarding these events. Even there were certain voices which suggested that one can not sleep comfortably until all the mosquitoes are expelled out of the bed, an obvious reference to Indian Muslims.
One wonders that Indian intellectuals do not let themselves look beyond this stereotype understanding. A pseudo sense of nationalism has made them captive to the so-called national interest and has bereft them of making any objective and real analysis of the causes which led to such repercussions. Though there is a remote possibility that the blasts are the handiwork of state political and intelligence agencies, but more apparently it seems an act of pure revenge. Once a well know social activist working in post Godra Ahmedabad told me that during the last Gujarat Assembly election campaign, a sensational rumor was making rounds in the journalistic community of Gujarat. Precisely it was this: Mr Advani had sensed that Narinder Modi might get him killed in Gujarat in order to incite communal passions and polarize the population along communal lines to ensure success in state elections. So, Mr. Advani cut short his Gujarat election tour and returned to Delhi before the Scheduled time. Thus, given the nature of politics prevalent in India (and other parts of the subcontinent) and the lowest ebb it can touch—like one core drama in parliament recently—the hand of political forces in these blasts can not be completely ruled out.
If the involvement of Muslim youth of India in these blasts is a reality, it will be an unfortunate course of action which will lead them to no where; neither it will be in the interest of the country. As is widely believed, this time it is exclusively the local Muslims who have taken to march on this path which is no way connected to their religion and usually leads to a dead end. These acts can simply represent a manifestation of deep felt collective shame, anger and a natural desperate sense of retaliation when a whole community is pushed to the wall. By and large, the Muslim population which forms second largest majority of India, has been subjected again and again to continuous humiliation, state sponsored massacres, mass rapes, ethnic cleansing, and a worst sort of perpetual subjugation coupled with criminal negligence of civil society and permanent and outright denial of justice. Not only occasional riots and massacres, but a continuous denial of citizenship rights at equal footing with other co-citizens; economic, political and psychological isolation and mistrust, has culminated into a fertile ground to feed the germs of terrorism. Young generation of Indian Muslims is forced time and again to prove their loyalty to the nation even after sixty years of freedom, for the simple fault that their grandparents had chosen to reject the two nation theory of Qaidi Azam A.M. Jinnah
In Modern India, the growing capitalist economy, on the one hand is opening up new opportunities to masses, but on the other the fruits of progress are not percolating down to the bottom, and new challenges are emanating which adds to this social unrest. Rising inflation, cruel competition and widening social disparity among privileged and unprivileged is touching new heights, resulting in socio-economic insecurities. The marginalized communities, particularly Indian Muslims, who were left behind in the race of progress and in the process of nation building, partially due to their own inertia and inaction, partially due to the forces of history and partially due to their deliberate socio-economic isolation by state apparatus and policies, do not see a hopeful future in a shared national destiny, once again proving Mr Jinnah correct.
It seems that Indian policy makers, intellectuals and journalists refuse to see deeper into the real contributing causes, to make an honest evaluation of their mistakes and to start making up the loses by right decisions. And more of the space of these set mindsets is occupied by omnipotent and omnipresent Pakistan’s ISI. ISI has to perform its professional duties as long as it finds a breeding ground of terrorists on Indian soil, in the same way as RAW will continue to inflict wounds on Pakistan until Pakistanis will not learn to keep their house in order. These blasts should provide an opportunity to the decision makers of India, Indian intellectuals and opinion makers to rise beyond their communal mindsets and abhor seeing through the myopic lenses of pseudo-national interests, so that a rational understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism can be reached at. Only then a genuine retrospect of the policies adopted so far, is possible which can lead to corrections in the programme of nation building; a process which is incomplete with-out taking along this sizable portion of the Indian population. At the end of the day, it is a war which is to be fought by wining ‘hearts and minds’ and not merely by upgrading secret service intelligence mechanism and improved surveillance systems. It is fundamentally a ‘war of ideas’ to be won or lost by concrete effective actions on ground
Changing the mindset
Dr Altaf Pandit
On 26th July, at least seventeen blasts, within a short span of 36 minutes, rocked Ahmedabad, reportedly killing 49 people and injuring more than a hundred. One day earlier, nine blasts had hit the silicon city Banglore leaving many dead and many more injured. This time not only the market places, restaurants, railway station and cinema theatres, but even hospitals were not spared.
This is a case of pure terrorism and no words are enough to condemn such barbaric acts of indiscriminate and wanton destruction. Once again some valuable and innocent lives were lost who were not possibly related any way with the grievances or goals of the perpetrators of these gruesome killings. No moral, ethical, religious or political cause can sanction or justify such an act as a means for some thing noble and sacred. Whatever the reasons or compulsions the perpetrators might have, killing innocent non-combatant people indiscriminately symbolizes nothing but insanity, sadism and desperate sense of defeat. Not to speak of Islam, which demands for highest standards of behavior and practice even in times of war and acute emergencies, even ordinary human ethical values can not allow anyone to stoop this low and be a cause of death and destruction of those with whom he has no apparent connection. Those commentators who drag ‘Islamism’ in all this should revisit Islamic history and convince themselves about Islam’s moderate, forward looking pro-life message. Al-Quran is explicit and categorical that who saves one life saves the whole humanity and that who kills one life without justice kills the whole humanity; and that should be the final verdict and principle in this matter.
More saddening, than the blasts, was the response of the analysts and the experts on Indian electronic and print media while commenting on these blasts. To them it was again the failure of secret service intelligence, lack of appropriate laws and thus a simple case of law and order. The right-wing Hindu analysts blamed the congress led government for scraping the draconian laws meant to counter terrorism, like POTA and TADA, and lamented the insufficiency of deterrent laws against terrorism. Some emphasis was on the strengthening of secret surveillance and policing at gross roots level. While Congress spokesperson maintained that law and order is the responsibility of the state governments, the BJP blamed the Centre for negligence in providing intelligence inputs regarding these events. Even there were certain voices which suggested that one can not sleep comfortably until all the mosquitoes are expelled out of the bed, an obvious reference to Indian Muslims.
One wonders that Indian intellectuals do not let themselves look beyond this stereotype understanding. A pseudo sense of nationalism has made them captive to the so-called national interest and has bereft them of making any objective and real analysis of the causes which led to such repercussions. Though there is a remote possibility that the blasts are the handiwork of state political and intelligence agencies, but more apparently it seems an act of pure revenge. Once a well know social activist working in post Godra Ahmedabad told me that during the last Gujarat Assembly election campaign, a sensational rumor was making rounds in the journalistic community of Gujarat. Precisely it was this: Mr Advani had sensed that Narinder Modi might get him killed in Gujarat in order to incite communal passions and polarize the population along communal lines to ensure success in state elections. So, Mr. Advani cut short his Gujarat election tour and returned to Delhi before the Scheduled time. Thus, given the nature of politics prevalent in India (and other parts of the subcontinent) and the lowest ebb it can touch—like one core drama in parliament recently—the hand of political forces in these blasts can not be completely ruled out.
If the involvement of Muslim youth of India in these blasts is a reality, it will be an unfortunate course of action which will lead them to no where; neither it will be in the interest of the country. As is widely believed, this time it is exclusively the local Muslims who have taken to march on this path which is no way connected to their religion and usually leads to a dead end. These acts can simply represent a manifestation of deep felt collective shame, anger and a natural desperate sense of retaliation when a whole community is pushed to the wall. By and large, the Muslim population which forms second largest majority of India, has been subjected again and again to continuous humiliation, state sponsored massacres, mass rapes, ethnic cleansing, and a worst sort of perpetual subjugation coupled with criminal negligence of civil society and permanent and outright denial of justice. Not only occasional riots and massacres, but a continuous denial of citizenship rights at equal footing with other co-citizens; economic, political and psychological isolation and mistrust, has culminated into a fertile ground to feed the germs of terrorism. Young generation of Indian Muslims is forced time and again to prove their loyalty to the nation even after sixty years of freedom, for the simple fault that their grandparents had chosen to reject the two nation theory of Qaidi Azam A.M. Jinnah
In Modern India, the growing capitalist economy, on the one hand is opening up new opportunities to masses, but on the other the fruits of progress are not percolating down to the bottom, and new challenges are emanating which adds to this social unrest. Rising inflation, cruel competition and widening social disparity among privileged and unprivileged is touching new heights, resulting in socio-economic insecurities. The marginalized communities, particularly Indian Muslims, who were left behind in the race of progress and in the process of nation building, partially due to their own inertia and inaction, partially due to the forces of history and partially due to their deliberate socio-economic isolation by state apparatus and policies, do not see a hopeful future in a shared national destiny, once again proving Mr Jinnah correct.
It seems that Indian policy makers, intellectuals and journalists refuse to see deeper into the real contributing causes, to make an honest evaluation of their mistakes and to start making up the loses by right decisions. And more of the space of these set mindsets is occupied by omnipotent and omnipresent Pakistan’s ISI. ISI has to perform its professional duties as long as it finds a breeding ground of terrorists on Indian soil, in the same way as RAW will continue to inflict wounds on Pakistan until Pakistanis will not learn to keep their house in order. These blasts should provide an opportunity to the decision makers of India, Indian intellectuals and opinion makers to rise beyond their communal mindsets and abhor seeing through the myopic lenses of pseudo-national interests, so that a rational understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism can be reached at. Only then a genuine retrospect of the policies adopted so far, is possible which can lead to corrections in the programme of nation building; a process which is incomplete with-out taking along this sizable portion of the Indian population. At the end of the day, it is a war which is to be fought by wining ‘hearts and minds’ and not merely by upgrading secret service intelligence mechanism and improved surveillance systems. It is fundamentally a ‘war of ideas’ to be won or lost by concrete effective actions on ground
Kashmir Economic Front: The Editorial in the Rising Kashmir Raises Eyebrows
An Editorial in the Rising Kashmir discusses the new organization, but also raises the possibility that financial loss figures being announced by traders recently are inflated and untrue.
Economic Front
The setting up of Kashmir Economic Front , a joint forum of various trade and industrial bodies for framing and espousing strategies to make Kashmir economy self reliant is a welcome step , even if much belatedly taken.
The front shall comprise of industrial and trade bodies including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA), Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Houseboat Owners Association, Kashmir Transporters Federation and Kashmir Flourmills Association as its members.
Besides, it has also been articulated that the front shall also comprise of reputed economists as its members. The formation of the Economic Front comes in the wake of economic blockade that was unilaterally imposed on the valley by Hindu right wing activists by blocking the Srinagar Jammu highway. The front is supposed to come out with strategies for trade, commerce and industry so as to make Kashmir self sustaining on every front.
While the move is a step in right direction, what it calls for is a more organized and broad based set up that encompasses players from varied fields that touch on most of the sectors of the economy. Looking at Kashmir from economic standpoint, it is quite evident that the valley possesses a vast amount of resource base both material and human to embark on the mission of self reliance. The conflict economy of Kashmir has already brunt heavy losses and forming a front only for the sake of it will once again lead to one more abortive attempt of bringing the economy back on track. What it calls for is a more organized effort from the forum and the first thing would be identification of potential sectors that are contributing substantially to State’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
For the time there is no disagreement on that power, horticulture, artisan sector and tourism are the areas that present opportunities for capitalization. The forum would do much good to formulate committees for each potential sector identified with members not only from trade and industrial bodies but also experts from the field, bankers and members from civic bodies so as to evolve into pressure group that is to be taken seriously both the government and others.
The trade bodies need to take a lesson from their counterparts across the tunnel that have been forthright in exaggerating their losses while the trade and industrial bodies are still doing their part of thinking to arrive at the estimated losses. Given these conditions formulating strategies for self reliance of Kaashmir’s economy sounds a daunting task.
Economic Front
The setting up of Kashmir Economic Front , a joint forum of various trade and industrial bodies for framing and espousing strategies to make Kashmir economy self reliant is a welcome step , even if much belatedly taken.
The front shall comprise of industrial and trade bodies including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA), Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Houseboat Owners Association, Kashmir Transporters Federation and Kashmir Flourmills Association as its members.
Besides, it has also been articulated that the front shall also comprise of reputed economists as its members. The formation of the Economic Front comes in the wake of economic blockade that was unilaterally imposed on the valley by Hindu right wing activists by blocking the Srinagar Jammu highway. The front is supposed to come out with strategies for trade, commerce and industry so as to make Kashmir self sustaining on every front.
While the move is a step in right direction, what it calls for is a more organized and broad based set up that encompasses players from varied fields that touch on most of the sectors of the economy. Looking at Kashmir from economic standpoint, it is quite evident that the valley possesses a vast amount of resource base both material and human to embark on the mission of self reliance. The conflict economy of Kashmir has already brunt heavy losses and forming a front only for the sake of it will once again lead to one more abortive attempt of bringing the economy back on track. What it calls for is a more organized effort from the forum and the first thing would be identification of potential sectors that are contributing substantially to State’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
For the time there is no disagreement on that power, horticulture, artisan sector and tourism are the areas that present opportunities for capitalization. The forum would do much good to formulate committees for each potential sector identified with members not only from trade and industrial bodies but also experts from the field, bankers and members from civic bodies so as to evolve into pressure group that is to be taken seriously both the government and others.
The trade bodies need to take a lesson from their counterparts across the tunnel that have been forthright in exaggerating their losses while the trade and industrial bodies are still doing their part of thinking to arrive at the estimated losses. Given these conditions formulating strategies for self reliance of Kaashmir’s economy sounds a daunting task.
Anatomy of the Loss: Adding up Economic Losses During Periods of Anarchy
Kashmiris do not feel the full pain of economic loss because the State budget is mostly contributed by the Indian taxpayer. Anywhere else, it would be a disaster. In Kashmir, it is "gimme time" ....
Valley loses Rs 6000 Cr in 40 days
Srinagar: The ongoing agitation and subsequent clamping of curfew in the Valley has given a big jolt to the State’s economy with experts estimating a loss of over Rs 6000 crore during the past 40-day turmoil.
“Cumulatively, we have suffered an economic loss of Rs 150 crore every day in all the sectors including business and service sectors. This makes Rs 6000 crore loss to the Valley during the past 40 days of agitation and curfew,” said Shakeel Qalander, President Federation Chambers and Industries, Kashmir.
Kashmir is reeling under intense protests, demonstration and curfew for the past 40 days from the nine days protests on the land transfer row to the present weeklong imposition of curfew after the people in Valley rose against the economic blockade which subsequently turned into a mass uprising and huge rallies for Azadi (freedom).
This has not been only time when Kashmir witnessed shutdown, protests and curfews but traders claim they have suffered losses not only in these 40 days but since 1947.And, as the government is compensating the traders in Jammu for the losses they suffered in two months of shutdown on land transfer issue, Kashmiri traders are claiming losses incurred since 1947.
“It is not the case of losses our traders incurred in past 40 days only. We have been suffering losses since 1947. Our case is bigger than the case of Jammuites and it will continue till the solution of Kashmir dispute is lingering. If the government will call us, we will claim the losses we have incurred since 1947,” said Mubeen Shah, President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries. He said that the Kashmir traders suffered a loss of 1,837 days from 1990 to 1998.
Noted economist of the Valley, Prof Nisar Ali said that the losses that the State is incurring during the ongoing crisis sums up to half of this year’s state budget, which he said is Rs 18,500 crore.“Each day, we are suffering Rs 30 crore losses in retail transactions and Rs 20 crore in salaries (as government has to pay salary of all these days when there was no work) and there are almost equal losses in other sectors like tourism, handicrafts, horticulture, health, pharmaceutics and industries. “These losses go beyond Rs 6000 crore in a month,” he said adding this is almost half of the state’s annual budget.
The business turnover in the Valley of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) is Rs 1800 crore. However, due to ongoing agitation business of 1.35 lakh traders associated with FMGC trade has suffered tremendously. “Our trade got totally crumpled. We do not have stocks available here not are the stocks coming from outside. We have incurred 100 percent losses,” said Jan Muhammad Koul, president of Jammu and Kashmir Traders Federation.
Like tourism and horticulture, the handloom and handicraft sector has also been hit severely. “Our loss exceeds Rs 1000 crore as we can not slip out orders. The spin dates too could not be met due to the present turmoil,” said Ali Muhammad Sherazi, handicraft dealer and president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK). He said that the import and export business has suffered much. ‘The main season to fill the orders in Valley’s handicraft business is July to September and we had Ramadhan orders from Gulf countries. But we could not meet those orders,” Sherazi said.
Valley loses Rs 6000 Cr in 40 days
Srinagar: The ongoing agitation and subsequent clamping of curfew in the Valley has given a big jolt to the State’s economy with experts estimating a loss of over Rs 6000 crore during the past 40-day turmoil.
“Cumulatively, we have suffered an economic loss of Rs 150 crore every day in all the sectors including business and service sectors. This makes Rs 6000 crore loss to the Valley during the past 40 days of agitation and curfew,” said Shakeel Qalander, President Federation Chambers and Industries, Kashmir.
Kashmir is reeling under intense protests, demonstration and curfew for the past 40 days from the nine days protests on the land transfer row to the present weeklong imposition of curfew after the people in Valley rose against the economic blockade which subsequently turned into a mass uprising and huge rallies for Azadi (freedom).
This has not been only time when Kashmir witnessed shutdown, protests and curfews but traders claim they have suffered losses not only in these 40 days but since 1947.And, as the government is compensating the traders in Jammu for the losses they suffered in two months of shutdown on land transfer issue, Kashmiri traders are claiming losses incurred since 1947.
“It is not the case of losses our traders incurred in past 40 days only. We have been suffering losses since 1947. Our case is bigger than the case of Jammuites and it will continue till the solution of Kashmir dispute is lingering. If the government will call us, we will claim the losses we have incurred since 1947,” said Mubeen Shah, President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries. He said that the Kashmir traders suffered a loss of 1,837 days from 1990 to 1998.
Noted economist of the Valley, Prof Nisar Ali said that the losses that the State is incurring during the ongoing crisis sums up to half of this year’s state budget, which he said is Rs 18,500 crore.“Each day, we are suffering Rs 30 crore losses in retail transactions and Rs 20 crore in salaries (as government has to pay salary of all these days when there was no work) and there are almost equal losses in other sectors like tourism, handicrafts, horticulture, health, pharmaceutics and industries. “These losses go beyond Rs 6000 crore in a month,” he said adding this is almost half of the state’s annual budget.
The business turnover in the Valley of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) is Rs 1800 crore. However, due to ongoing agitation business of 1.35 lakh traders associated with FMGC trade has suffered tremendously. “Our trade got totally crumpled. We do not have stocks available here not are the stocks coming from outside. We have incurred 100 percent losses,” said Jan Muhammad Koul, president of Jammu and Kashmir Traders Federation.
Like tourism and horticulture, the handloom and handicraft sector has also been hit severely. “Our loss exceeds Rs 1000 crore as we can not slip out orders. The spin dates too could not be met due to the present turmoil,” said Ali Muhammad Sherazi, handicraft dealer and president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK). He said that the import and export business has suffered much. ‘The main season to fill the orders in Valley’s handicraft business is July to September and we had Ramadhan orders from Gulf countries. But we could not meet those orders,” Sherazi said.
Kashmir Simmering
Aditi talks about the resiliance of ordinary Kashmiris in the face of political leaders and media determined to push its own political agenda
(Ms. Aditi Bhaduri, 38, is an independent journalist based in Kolkata. She has a Masters in International Relations with specialisation in Arab-Islamic world, Russian linguistics, internal displacement and gender inequalities. She was a Rotary Goodwill Ambassador to the US.
She is one of the few Indian journalists to have reported from the West Bank, Palestine, on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and writes for the Indian print media in English, and is also a correpondent with Newsline (Karachi) and Women's eNews (New York). Recently she was awarded the UNFPA-Population First LAADLI National Media Award 2008 for gender sensitive reporting. She has recently started studying the Kashmir issue as part of her interest in the Islamic ummah and its interaction vis-a-vis other communities).
Kashmir simmering
Kashmir is being suffocated more by the hartals called by the local leaders. Snapshots of life in the valley as the unrest unfolds…
Twenty-year-old Laila sighed "Why are we being made to pay for whatever is happening in Jammu?"
No cause for concern
Kashmir's leaders were protesting against the alleged "economic blockade" imposed on it by Jammu by calling for strikes. Yet, Kashmiris seemed to be stocked with food. Ghulam Mohammed Dar, a resident of downtown Zeina Kadal, faced no food problem. Even during the bandh, his local butcher and vegetable vendors are able to stock him up with food. This is pretty much true of most residents in Srinagar.
"We have our supplies, enough rice and pulses to last us a couple of months and meat supplies from our local supplier," says Tariq, owner of a modest hotel in Lal Chowk. The problem is with buyers — customers were few and far in between.
A resident of Aish Muqam, working in Srinagar, complains that shopkeepers have been taking advantage of the blockade and rumours of impending shortage by hiking prices of vegetables and rice.
And though "economic blockade" is on the lips of many, few seemed to be affected by it as far as food is concerned. There is no starvation. Kashmir is a society where people are used to hoarding food that sees them through the long winter each year.
Rather than by the "economic blockade" from Jammu, Kashmir is being suffocated by the hartal and bandh calls given by Hurriyat leaders.
Forced to comply
The owner of a handicraft shop on Srinagar's upmarket Poloview Road -- ,is often forced to keep his shop closed. "I don't care which party calls for a shutdown, I'd rather continue with my business, but I don't want to take risks. Miscreants can easily damage my shop and goods and then who would compensate me?" So against his will, he heeds the bandh calls.
And then there are the fruit growers —According to Butt, 60 per cent of the packed fruits ready for transportation to markets have been spoilt. Yet, there was really no need to launch the march to Muzzafarabad, foreseen to fail in any case — the fruit growers wanted to get to India through Muzzafarabad! That Hurriyat leaders would support the march came as no surprise. People have also been wondering why no preventive curfew was imposed on the day of the march.
What followed is there for all to see. But as of now, Kashmir is not starving, simply simmering.
(Ms. Aditi Bhaduri, 38, is an independent journalist based in Kolkata. She has a Masters in International Relations with specialisation in Arab-Islamic world, Russian linguistics, internal displacement and gender inequalities. She was a Rotary Goodwill Ambassador to the US.
She is one of the few Indian journalists to have reported from the West Bank, Palestine, on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and writes for the Indian print media in English, and is also a correpondent with Newsline (Karachi) and Women's eNews (New York). Recently she was awarded the UNFPA-Population First LAADLI National Media Award 2008 for gender sensitive reporting. She has recently started studying the Kashmir issue as part of her interest in the Islamic ummah and its interaction vis-a-vis other communities).
Kashmir simmering
Kashmir is being suffocated more by the hartals called by the local leaders. Snapshots of life in the valley as the unrest unfolds…
Twenty-year-old Laila sighed "Why are we being made to pay for whatever is happening in Jammu?"
No cause for concern
Kashmir's leaders were protesting against the alleged "economic blockade" imposed on it by Jammu by calling for strikes. Yet, Kashmiris seemed to be stocked with food. Ghulam Mohammed Dar, a resident of downtown Zeina Kadal, faced no food problem. Even during the bandh, his local butcher and vegetable vendors are able to stock him up with food. This is pretty much true of most residents in Srinagar.
"We have our supplies, enough rice and pulses to last us a couple of months and meat supplies from our local supplier," says Tariq, owner of a modest hotel in Lal Chowk. The problem is with buyers — customers were few and far in between.
A resident of Aish Muqam, working in Srinagar, complains that shopkeepers have been taking advantage of the blockade and rumours of impending shortage by hiking prices of vegetables and rice.
And though "economic blockade" is on the lips of many, few seemed to be affected by it as far as food is concerned. There is no starvation. Kashmir is a society where people are used to hoarding food that sees them through the long winter each year.
Rather than by the "economic blockade" from Jammu, Kashmir is being suffocated by the hartal and bandh calls given by Hurriyat leaders.
Forced to comply
The owner of a handicraft shop on Srinagar's upmarket Poloview Road -- ,is often forced to keep his shop closed. "I don't care which party calls for a shutdown, I'd rather continue with my business, but I don't want to take risks. Miscreants can easily damage my shop and goods and then who would compensate me?" So against his will, he heeds the bandh calls.
And then there are the fruit growers —According to Butt, 60 per cent of the packed fruits ready for transportation to markets have been spoilt. Yet, there was really no need to launch the march to Muzzafarabad, foreseen to fail in any case — the fruit growers wanted to get to India through Muzzafarabad! That Hurriyat leaders would support the march came as no surprise. People have also been wondering why no preventive curfew was imposed on the day of the march.
What followed is there for all to see. But as of now, Kashmir is not starving, simply simmering.
Economic Cost of Recent Mayhem in J&K - Rs. 20,000 Crores (Rs. 200 Billion)
The loss due to agitation in the valley is estimated at Rs. 9,000 crores and in Jammu at Rs. 10,000 crores
Amarnath land row cost Kashmir valley over Rs 90 billion
Srinagar: Over two months of protests, curfews and shutdowns caused due to agitations in Kashmir triggered by the Amarnath land row issue cost Valley according to an estimate over 9,000 crores (Rs 90 billion). The worst hit sectors include tourism, fruit, hosiery, carpets, handicrafts, dry fruits, and forest-based herbal products.
In the last one-and-a-half months, exports fell by at least 80 percent because of the agitation, which has brought the movement of goods, particularly fruits, to a virtual halt.
A news agency quoted the president of the Federation of Chamber of Industries, Shaqeel Qalandar, as saying that the Kashmir valley loses Rs 150 crores per day which makes it 9,000 crores for the two months of agitation.
The local traders here are demanding that the Central government should pay for their losses.
According to a recent survey done by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), Jammu and Kashmir, was poised to attract fresh investment volume of Rs 280 billion by 2012, including export orders of around Rs 130billion.
Earlier, in a communique released from Jammu it was stated that the agitation caused the Jammu suffer losses worth 9,980 crores (99.80 billions).
Amarnath land row cost Kashmir valley over Rs 90 billion
Srinagar: Over two months of protests, curfews and shutdowns caused due to agitations in Kashmir triggered by the Amarnath land row issue cost Valley according to an estimate over 9,000 crores (Rs 90 billion). The worst hit sectors include tourism, fruit, hosiery, carpets, handicrafts, dry fruits, and forest-based herbal products.
In the last one-and-a-half months, exports fell by at least 80 percent because of the agitation, which has brought the movement of goods, particularly fruits, to a virtual halt.
A news agency quoted the president of the Federation of Chamber of Industries, Shaqeel Qalandar, as saying that the Kashmir valley loses Rs 150 crores per day which makes it 9,000 crores for the two months of agitation.
The local traders here are demanding that the Central government should pay for their losses.
According to a recent survey done by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), Jammu and Kashmir, was poised to attract fresh investment volume of Rs 280 billion by 2012, including export orders of around Rs 130billion.
Earlier, in a communique released from Jammu it was stated that the agitation caused the Jammu suffer losses worth 9,980 crores (99.80 billions).
Monday, September 1, 2008
Surprise! Jammu and Kashmir has been decorated with a Medal for Being "Alarmingly Corrupt"
Transparency International exposes the underbelly of Kashmir's secret weapon (corruption) that ensures a status quo among the rich and the powerful in the State
JK among top 4 corrupt states: TI
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is in the list of top four corrupt states of India in “national corruption index” of a survey done by Transparency International.
The state-by-state survey by Transparency International India and the Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi places four Indian states in its “Alarmingly Corrupt” category. These are -Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The next rung of “Very Highly Corrupt” states include Karnataka - which was ranked 17th in a 2005 Transparency International India survey - Rajasthan as well as Tamil Nadu. Not as notorious but still “Highly Corrupt” are the five states of Chhatisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala and Orissa. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal are the “Moderately Corrupt” states of India.
The survey is a part of efforts by Transparency International India to reduce corruption by promoting and supporting transparent and ethical practices in the Government sector. Transparency International had randomly selected a sample of 22,728 BPL households from all across the country, including Bangalore, Bidar, Raichur and Chitradurga. The BPL families were surveyed to ascertain which were the most unhappy and extorted lot and in which state. The police department in all these states tops the corruption chart followed by others including the Forest Department, Land Records / Registration and Housing. Electricity, banking, education, water supply and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme fell under the other corrupt services.
The survey ascertained that nearly Rs 883 crore was paid as bribes in the year 2007 by BPL families to avail of these public services - which include getting a ration card as well as for admissions in schools. Of the entire bribe money, Rs 214.8 crore was paid to the police.
JK among top 4 corrupt states: TI
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is in the list of top four corrupt states of India in “national corruption index” of a survey done by Transparency International.
The state-by-state survey by Transparency International India and the Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi places four Indian states in its “Alarmingly Corrupt” category. These are -Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The next rung of “Very Highly Corrupt” states include Karnataka - which was ranked 17th in a 2005 Transparency International India survey - Rajasthan as well as Tamil Nadu. Not as notorious but still “Highly Corrupt” are the five states of Chhatisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala and Orissa. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal are the “Moderately Corrupt” states of India.
The survey is a part of efforts by Transparency International India to reduce corruption by promoting and supporting transparent and ethical practices in the Government sector. Transparency International had randomly selected a sample of 22,728 BPL households from all across the country, including Bangalore, Bidar, Raichur and Chitradurga. The BPL families were surveyed to ascertain which were the most unhappy and extorted lot and in which state. The police department in all these states tops the corruption chart followed by others including the Forest Department, Land Records / Registration and Housing. Electricity, banking, education, water supply and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme fell under the other corrupt services.
The survey ascertained that nearly Rs 883 crore was paid as bribes in the year 2007 by BPL families to avail of these public services - which include getting a ration card as well as for admissions in schools. Of the entire bribe money, Rs 214.8 crore was paid to the police.
Can our Civil Society Ever March to a Different Beat Than the Wishes of the Majority?
Zahid Mohammad underlines the freedom of thought in the Indian Civil Society
(Mr. Z. G. Mohammad, 59, was born and raised in Srinagar. He earned his Master's degree in English literature from the Kashmir University and has completed a course in Mass Communication from Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He is a writer and a journalist who has written for many newspapers, including the Statesman, the Sunday, and the Kashmir Times. He currently works for the Greater Kashmir.)
“Leave Past Behind Embrace Future”
It has been belied- belied in stronger words that the ‘sentiment’ is dead. More than often we were told during past couple of years that the ‘sentiment that sustained Kashmir movement for past six decades was dead.’ It were not only people in power who cried this from the rooftops that political narrative of the state had changed and the ‘people’s focus was development and not freedom’ but even some “leaders” that espoused the cause of freedom for many years believed so. Articulating their fatigue they even suggested to those having faith in their political beliefs to take the hemlock and forget the ‘cause’.
It is always lack of fidelity with the cause- whatever the cause that sets in fatigue in leadership or the people. History bears testimony that people of Kashmir have always had unflinching and resolute faith in their ‘cause’. They not only professed it with full vigor under difficult situations but offered innumerable sacrifices for not allowing it getting relegated to the pages of history. It in fact has been leadership that either because of lack of political foresight or lack of ability to understand the nuances of various political developments within the state or the sub-continent not only reversed the gains of various political movements launched in the past but also defeated the very ‘cause’ by either taking hurried or wrong decisions at right moments. The cases in point are 1947, 1964, 1975 and 1990. It in fact has been this syndrome that by and large has been responsible both for what Aliaster Lamb called as birth of a tragedy or its continuation for past sixty years.
Now people have once again shown their faith in their cause- the cause that they have been nursing for past seventy six years. It is unprecedented in Kashmir history. In my view there is no instance more when more than a million people converged on the streets of Srinagar for presenting a memorandum to the United Nation’s for implementing the international agreement on Kashmir signed by India, Pakistan and endorsed by the international community for allowing people of entire state as it stood on August 15, 1947 their right to self-determination. It was no less than a referendum.
True, the global community is yet to endorse the verdict of people of Kashmir but some silver linings have started appearing on India’s intellectual firmament. The most important achievement of the ‘ongoing great peoples march’ has been in the words of Barkha Dutt, has been, “cry for ‘azaadi’ in the volatile valley of Kashmir has suddenly found a chorus among some of Delhi’s sharpest thinkers.” This time it is not only people like Gautam Navlkahi, Prof. Angana Chaterjee and Arundhati Roy let may not call them ‘the ultra liberal faction’ but people with conscience and qualms and a strong sense of right and wrong that have always seen ‘India as oppressor and Kashmir people as throttled victims.’ And have supported the ‘cause of right to self-determination for the people of the state but ‘this time the advocates for Kashmir’s freedom come from another extreme position.
It is a great achievement of this ‘people’s movement for liberty’ that very that only brought the ‘reluctant Kashmir leadership’ but changed Kashmir narrative of Indian intelligentsia. If one analysis dispassionately just two articles published on the same day in two leading Indian Newspapers one by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar and another by Vir Sanghvi they sufficiently indicate that the mindset of Indian Intelligentsia is fast changing and they have started looking at Kashmir beyond official handouts. Those who have been watching Indian media since 1990, when the movement for ‘right to self-determination was reborn in the state would vouch for me that it is for the first time when a powerful section of Indian intelligentsia is strongly advocating for what in general terms is described as Azadi for Kashmir. It is no less than a confession statement when Swaminathan writes, “I was once hopeful of Kashmir’s integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmiri alienation looks greater than ever. India seeks to integrate with Kashmir, not rule it colonially. Yet, the parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort”. The arguments that he has advanced against the theory of accession of the state with India are not only sufficient to make Kashmir intelligentsia wiser but should make the pro-India leadership that has been taking pride in their fathers and grandfathers for having endorsed the accession with India humble. He has a strong point when he writes about the accession, “Many Indians say that Kashmir legally became an integral part of India when the maharaja of the state signed the instrument of accession. Alas, such legalisms become irrelevant when ground realities change. Indian kings and princes, including the Mughals, acceded to the British Raj. The documents they signed became irrelevant when Indians launched an independence movement. The British insisted for a long time that India was an integral part of their Empire, the Jewel in its crown, and would never be given up. Imperialist Blimps remained in denial for decades. I fear we are in similar denial on Kashmir” Or when he states, “The politically correct story of the maharaja’s accession ignores a devastating parallel event. Just as Kashmir had a Hindu maharaja ruling over a Muslim majority, Junagadh had a Muslim nawab ruling over a Hindu majority? The Hindu maharaja acceded to India, and the Muslim nawab to Pakistan.
But while India claimed that the Kashmiri accession to India was sacred, it did not accept Junagadh’s accession to Pakistan. India sent troops into Junagadh, just as Pakistan sent troops into Kashmir. The difference was that Pakistan lacked the military means to intervene in Junagadh, while India was able to send troops into Srinagar. The Junagadh nawab fled to Pakistan, whereas the Kashmir maharaja sat tight. India’s double standard on Junagadh and Kashmir was breathtak”. As a patriot wedded to betterment of India Vir Sanghvi making an in-depth cost analysis of Kashmir dispute concludes, “I reckon we should hold a referendum in the Valley. Let the Kashmiris determine their own destiny. If they want to stay in India, they are welcome. But if they don’t, then we have no moral right to force them to remain. If they vote for integration with Pakistan, all this will mean is that Azad Kashmir will gain a little more territory. If they opt for independence, they will last for about 15 minutes without the billions that India has showered on them. But it will be their decision.” What has was said by Ambassador Yusuf Buch about Dr. Anagana Chateerji, let me repeat that for all those Indians who have been looking at Kashmir dispute dispassionately that they remind us of ‘the freedom from bigotry, the luster and lucidity of India of C.R.Das and Gokhale and Sarojini Nadiu. The most genuine patriots are those who help to purge their motherland of the wrongs committed in her name’.
The real conscience keepers of a nation are its writers; here I am reminded of two American poets Robert Bly and David Ray who in 1965 created an organization American Writers against the Vietnam War that organized readings, meetings, rallies and demonstration against Vietnam War. It were these writers that shook President Lyndon Johnson with their cries, “LBJ, LBJ, how many did you kill today’? Outside White House ‘that he no longer had the stomach for the option of continuing the war’. It is intellectuals like Swaminathan and Vir Sangvi who need to join people like Arundhati and Gautam in changing mind set of Indian political leadership, giving them the courage to face the realities about Kashmir and endorse people’s verdict- whatever that is.
(Mr. Z. G. Mohammad, 59, was born and raised in Srinagar. He earned his Master's degree in English literature from the Kashmir University and has completed a course in Mass Communication from Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He is a writer and a journalist who has written for many newspapers, including the Statesman, the Sunday, and the Kashmir Times. He currently works for the Greater Kashmir.)
“Leave Past Behind Embrace Future”
It has been belied- belied in stronger words that the ‘sentiment’ is dead. More than often we were told during past couple of years that the ‘sentiment that sustained Kashmir movement for past six decades was dead.’ It were not only people in power who cried this from the rooftops that political narrative of the state had changed and the ‘people’s focus was development and not freedom’ but even some “leaders” that espoused the cause of freedom for many years believed so. Articulating their fatigue they even suggested to those having faith in their political beliefs to take the hemlock and forget the ‘cause’.
It is always lack of fidelity with the cause- whatever the cause that sets in fatigue in leadership or the people. History bears testimony that people of Kashmir have always had unflinching and resolute faith in their ‘cause’. They not only professed it with full vigor under difficult situations but offered innumerable sacrifices for not allowing it getting relegated to the pages of history. It in fact has been leadership that either because of lack of political foresight or lack of ability to understand the nuances of various political developments within the state or the sub-continent not only reversed the gains of various political movements launched in the past but also defeated the very ‘cause’ by either taking hurried or wrong decisions at right moments. The cases in point are 1947, 1964, 1975 and 1990. It in fact has been this syndrome that by and large has been responsible both for what Aliaster Lamb called as birth of a tragedy or its continuation for past sixty years.
Now people have once again shown their faith in their cause- the cause that they have been nursing for past seventy six years. It is unprecedented in Kashmir history. In my view there is no instance more when more than a million people converged on the streets of Srinagar for presenting a memorandum to the United Nation’s for implementing the international agreement on Kashmir signed by India, Pakistan and endorsed by the international community for allowing people of entire state as it stood on August 15, 1947 their right to self-determination. It was no less than a referendum.
True, the global community is yet to endorse the verdict of people of Kashmir but some silver linings have started appearing on India’s intellectual firmament. The most important achievement of the ‘ongoing great peoples march’ has been in the words of Barkha Dutt, has been, “cry for ‘azaadi’ in the volatile valley of Kashmir has suddenly found a chorus among some of Delhi’s sharpest thinkers.” This time it is not only people like Gautam Navlkahi, Prof. Angana Chaterjee and Arundhati Roy let may not call them ‘the ultra liberal faction’ but people with conscience and qualms and a strong sense of right and wrong that have always seen ‘India as oppressor and Kashmir people as throttled victims.’ And have supported the ‘cause of right to self-determination for the people of the state but ‘this time the advocates for Kashmir’s freedom come from another extreme position.
It is a great achievement of this ‘people’s movement for liberty’ that very that only brought the ‘reluctant Kashmir leadership’ but changed Kashmir narrative of Indian intelligentsia. If one analysis dispassionately just two articles published on the same day in two leading Indian Newspapers one by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar and another by Vir Sanghvi they sufficiently indicate that the mindset of Indian Intelligentsia is fast changing and they have started looking at Kashmir beyond official handouts. Those who have been watching Indian media since 1990, when the movement for ‘right to self-determination was reborn in the state would vouch for me that it is for the first time when a powerful section of Indian intelligentsia is strongly advocating for what in general terms is described as Azadi for Kashmir. It is no less than a confession statement when Swaminathan writes, “I was once hopeful of Kashmir’s integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmiri alienation looks greater than ever. India seeks to integrate with Kashmir, not rule it colonially. Yet, the parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort”. The arguments that he has advanced against the theory of accession of the state with India are not only sufficient to make Kashmir intelligentsia wiser but should make the pro-India leadership that has been taking pride in their fathers and grandfathers for having endorsed the accession with India humble. He has a strong point when he writes about the accession, “Many Indians say that Kashmir legally became an integral part of India when the maharaja of the state signed the instrument of accession. Alas, such legalisms become irrelevant when ground realities change. Indian kings and princes, including the Mughals, acceded to the British Raj. The documents they signed became irrelevant when Indians launched an independence movement. The British insisted for a long time that India was an integral part of their Empire, the Jewel in its crown, and would never be given up. Imperialist Blimps remained in denial for decades. I fear we are in similar denial on Kashmir” Or when he states, “The politically correct story of the maharaja’s accession ignores a devastating parallel event. Just as Kashmir had a Hindu maharaja ruling over a Muslim majority, Junagadh had a Muslim nawab ruling over a Hindu majority? The Hindu maharaja acceded to India, and the Muslim nawab to Pakistan.
But while India claimed that the Kashmiri accession to India was sacred, it did not accept Junagadh’s accession to Pakistan. India sent troops into Junagadh, just as Pakistan sent troops into Kashmir. The difference was that Pakistan lacked the military means to intervene in Junagadh, while India was able to send troops into Srinagar. The Junagadh nawab fled to Pakistan, whereas the Kashmir maharaja sat tight. India’s double standard on Junagadh and Kashmir was breathtak”. As a patriot wedded to betterment of India Vir Sanghvi making an in-depth cost analysis of Kashmir dispute concludes, “I reckon we should hold a referendum in the Valley. Let the Kashmiris determine their own destiny. If they want to stay in India, they are welcome. But if they don’t, then we have no moral right to force them to remain. If they vote for integration with Pakistan, all this will mean is that Azad Kashmir will gain a little more territory. If they opt for independence, they will last for about 15 minutes without the billions that India has showered on them. But it will be their decision.” What has was said by Ambassador Yusuf Buch about Dr. Anagana Chateerji, let me repeat that for all those Indians who have been looking at Kashmir dispute dispassionately that they remind us of ‘the freedom from bigotry, the luster and lucidity of India of C.R.Das and Gokhale and Sarojini Nadiu. The most genuine patriots are those who help to purge their motherland of the wrongs committed in her name’.
The real conscience keepers of a nation are its writers; here I am reminded of two American poets Robert Bly and David Ray who in 1965 created an organization American Writers against the Vietnam War that organized readings, meetings, rallies and demonstration against Vietnam War. It were these writers that shook President Lyndon Johnson with their cries, “LBJ, LBJ, how many did you kill today’? Outside White House ‘that he no longer had the stomach for the option of continuing the war’. It is intellectuals like Swaminathan and Vir Sangvi who need to join people like Arundhati and Gautam in changing mind set of Indian political leadership, giving them the courage to face the realities about Kashmir and endorse people’s verdict- whatever that is.
A Time to Move Forward and Forget the Past
Since we highlighted the Cabinet Decision 94/7 and the Government Order 184-FST, we also reproduce the latest agreement on the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB)
Original text of agreement between Governor’s panel and Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS)
Jammu, Aug 31: Following is the test read out by governor’s adviser S S Bloeria and SASS convenor Leela Karan Sharma during a joint press conference soon after the forth round of talks concluded during the wee hours here today.
Dr. Bloeria said that the government has requested the Samiti to call off their proposed rally for today.
Following is the text of the joint statement issued at the press conference:
1. 'The Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which has been going on for many centuries, is a shining symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Jammu & Kashmir and reflective of the State's composite heritage. The Yatris have been welcomed with open arms by the people of both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and all required facilities have been made available for them. Sadly, certain decisions of the State Government relating to the Yatra created misunderstandings which led to controversy and agitation and loss of many precious lives. Apart from the damage to property, there has been a colossal loss to the State's economy in different sectors like transport, trade, industry, horticulture and tourism.
2. 'The Yatra to Shri Amarnathji Shrine has traditionally benefitted a large number of local residents, many of whom have crucial dependence on this annual pilgrimage for their livelihood.
3. 'There has been no occasion in the past on which the State Government has failed to provide the required support for the conduct of the Amarnathji Yatra. On the contrary, the extent and nature of governmental support to the Yatra has been progressively enhancing, from year to year.
4. 'In view of the need to seek a peaceful resolution of the fundamental issues, to settle all existing doubts and clarify the continuing responsibility of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir had constituted, on 6 August, 2008, a four-member Committee comprising:
Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Advisor to Governor
Justice (Retd) Shri G. D. Sharma
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu
Shri B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board -2-
5. 'The Committee held three rounds of discussions with the four-member Committee nominated by the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) which comprised:-
Shri Tilak Raj Sharma
Brif (Retd) Suchet Singh
Prof. Narinder Singh
Shri Pawan Kohli
6. 'The Governor has also held discussions with the leaders of political, social, religious, academic and other organizations in the Kashmir Valley. The predominant view, emerging out of the consultations, is that the Amarnathji Yatra, which is a centuries old tradition of J&K's rich composite heritage, will continue to be welcomed and supported by the people of Kashmir, in every possible way. It was also felt that while the Shrine Board could continue to use the land, as in the past, for Yatra purposes, nothing should be done to alienate or transfer the land. While an assuring convergence of views has emerged, the Governor is committed to continuing the consultative process to ensure against any remaining misunderstanding whatsoever on an issue which has earlier led to serious misperceptions and grade human and economic loss.
'Based on detailed discussions and deliberations held in the recent weeks, the following framework of action for resolving the issue relating to the use of land for the period of Yatra by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, at Baltal and Domail, has been agreed to:-
A. 'The State Government shall set aside for the use by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, exclusively, the land in Baltal and Domail (Compartment No. 63/S, Sindh Forest Division) comprising an area of 800 kanals, traditionally under use for the annual Yatra purposes.
B. 'The proprietary status/ownership/title of the land shall not undergo any change.
D. 'The Board shall use the aforesaid land for the duration of the Yatra (including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same) for the purpose of user by various service providers according to its needs and priorities.
'The aforesaid land shall be used according to the Board's requirements, from time to time, including for the following:-
i. 'Raising of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation and toilet facilities by the Board;
ii. 'Establishment of tented accommodation by private camping agencies (locals, permanent residents of the State);
iii. 'Setting up of the shops by shopkeepers (locals, permanent residents of the State);
iv. 'Facilities for Pony Walla’s and Pithu Walla’s;
v. 'Provision of healthcare and medical facilities;
vi. 'Setting up of free Langars by private persons and groups which are licensed by the Board;
vii. 'Facilities for helicopter operations/ parking of vehicles;
viii. 'Arrangements of security by local police/para-military forces and other security agencies as per the arrangements in place here-to-fore; and
ix. 'Undertaking measures relating to soil conservation, land protection and preservation of ecology.
2. 'It has further been agreed that the Board shall continue to remain responsible for the overall arrangements of the Yatra on both the routes during the Yatra period, including all arrangements as mandated under the provisions of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000 A.D.
3. 'Apart from the above, the Committee set up by the Samiti had, during the course of discussions, presented a fourteen-point "Charter of Demands" for consideration by the State Government. The main demands relate to withdrawal of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, provision of compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured and working out of appropriate packages of financial assistance to compensate losses of the transport sector, trade and industry, horticulture sector, hoteliers and tourist operators. The State Government has agreed to examine all these demands in an appropriate manner on time-bound basis.
4. 'In particular, as regards the registration of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, it is agreed that all cases of non-serious nature which shall mean bailable and compoundable will be withdrawn. The remaining cases will be reviewed, on the merits of each case, by a Committee headed by Shri Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary (Home) within 60 days. Till the completion of this process, no action will be taken in such cases. Also, specific allegations of atrocities on agitators, based on prima-facie evidence, could also be looked into by this Committee.
5. 'Ex-gratia relief will be extended in favour of the next of the kin of the deceased and in favour of permanently disabled and the injured in all cases covered under the existing rules of the State Government.
6. 'Further, a Working Group, under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will address all compensation issues relating to both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and the Central Government will be approached for extending enabling financial support to the State Government for this purpose within a period of two months. To make the exercise meaningful, one representative from each of the affected sectors will be associated with the deliberations of the Working Group.
7. 'The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board will be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents.
8. 'It is agreed that the Law Department in the State Government will examine the issue of disposal of LPA in terms of the understanding made hereinabove within one month.'
Sd/- Sd/-
(Lila Karan Sharma) (Dr. S. S. Bloeria)
Convener Advisor to Governor of J&K
Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti
Original text of agreement between Governor’s panel and Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS)
Jammu, Aug 31: Following is the test read out by governor’s adviser S S Bloeria and SASS convenor Leela Karan Sharma during a joint press conference soon after the forth round of talks concluded during the wee hours here today.
Dr. Bloeria said that the government has requested the Samiti to call off their proposed rally for today.
Following is the text of the joint statement issued at the press conference:
1. 'The Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which has been going on for many centuries, is a shining symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Jammu & Kashmir and reflective of the State's composite heritage. The Yatris have been welcomed with open arms by the people of both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and all required facilities have been made available for them. Sadly, certain decisions of the State Government relating to the Yatra created misunderstandings which led to controversy and agitation and loss of many precious lives. Apart from the damage to property, there has been a colossal loss to the State's economy in different sectors like transport, trade, industry, horticulture and tourism.
2. 'The Yatra to Shri Amarnathji Shrine has traditionally benefitted a large number of local residents, many of whom have crucial dependence on this annual pilgrimage for their livelihood.
3. 'There has been no occasion in the past on which the State Government has failed to provide the required support for the conduct of the Amarnathji Yatra. On the contrary, the extent and nature of governmental support to the Yatra has been progressively enhancing, from year to year.
4. 'In view of the need to seek a peaceful resolution of the fundamental issues, to settle all existing doubts and clarify the continuing responsibility of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir had constituted, on 6 August, 2008, a four-member Committee comprising:
Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Advisor to Governor
Justice (Retd) Shri G. D. Sharma
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu
Shri B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board -2-
5. 'The Committee held three rounds of discussions with the four-member Committee nominated by the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) which comprised:-
Shri Tilak Raj Sharma
Brif (Retd) Suchet Singh
Prof. Narinder Singh
Shri Pawan Kohli
6. 'The Governor has also held discussions with the leaders of political, social, religious, academic and other organizations in the Kashmir Valley. The predominant view, emerging out of the consultations, is that the Amarnathji Yatra, which is a centuries old tradition of J&K's rich composite heritage, will continue to be welcomed and supported by the people of Kashmir, in every possible way. It was also felt that while the Shrine Board could continue to use the land, as in the past, for Yatra purposes, nothing should be done to alienate or transfer the land. While an assuring convergence of views has emerged, the Governor is committed to continuing the consultative process to ensure against any remaining misunderstanding whatsoever on an issue which has earlier led to serious misperceptions and grade human and economic loss.
'Based on detailed discussions and deliberations held in the recent weeks, the following framework of action for resolving the issue relating to the use of land for the period of Yatra by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, at Baltal and Domail, has been agreed to:-
A. 'The State Government shall set aside for the use by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, exclusively, the land in Baltal and Domail (Compartment No. 63/S, Sindh Forest Division) comprising an area of 800 kanals, traditionally under use for the annual Yatra purposes.
B. 'The proprietary status/ownership/title of the land shall not undergo any change.
D. 'The Board shall use the aforesaid land for the duration of the Yatra (including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same) for the purpose of user by various service providers according to its needs and priorities.
'The aforesaid land shall be used according to the Board's requirements, from time to time, including for the following:-
i. 'Raising of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation and toilet facilities by the Board;
ii. 'Establishment of tented accommodation by private camping agencies (locals, permanent residents of the State);
iii. 'Setting up of the shops by shopkeepers (locals, permanent residents of the State);
iv. 'Facilities for Pony Walla’s and Pithu Walla’s;
v. 'Provision of healthcare and medical facilities;
vi. 'Setting up of free Langars by private persons and groups which are licensed by the Board;
vii. 'Facilities for helicopter operations/ parking of vehicles;
viii. 'Arrangements of security by local police/para-military forces and other security agencies as per the arrangements in place here-to-fore; and
ix. 'Undertaking measures relating to soil conservation, land protection and preservation of ecology.
2. 'It has further been agreed that the Board shall continue to remain responsible for the overall arrangements of the Yatra on both the routes during the Yatra period, including all arrangements as mandated under the provisions of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000 A.D.
3. 'Apart from the above, the Committee set up by the Samiti had, during the course of discussions, presented a fourteen-point "Charter of Demands" for consideration by the State Government. The main demands relate to withdrawal of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, provision of compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured and working out of appropriate packages of financial assistance to compensate losses of the transport sector, trade and industry, horticulture sector, hoteliers and tourist operators. The State Government has agreed to examine all these demands in an appropriate manner on time-bound basis.
4. 'In particular, as regards the registration of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, it is agreed that all cases of non-serious nature which shall mean bailable and compoundable will be withdrawn. The remaining cases will be reviewed, on the merits of each case, by a Committee headed by Shri Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary (Home) within 60 days. Till the completion of this process, no action will be taken in such cases. Also, specific allegations of atrocities on agitators, based on prima-facie evidence, could also be looked into by this Committee.
5. 'Ex-gratia relief will be extended in favour of the next of the kin of the deceased and in favour of permanently disabled and the injured in all cases covered under the existing rules of the State Government.
6. 'Further, a Working Group, under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will address all compensation issues relating to both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and the Central Government will be approached for extending enabling financial support to the State Government for this purpose within a period of two months. To make the exercise meaningful, one representative from each of the affected sectors will be associated with the deliberations of the Working Group.
7. 'The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board will be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents.
8. 'It is agreed that the Law Department in the State Government will examine the issue of disposal of LPA in terms of the understanding made hereinabove within one month.'
Sd/- Sd/-
(Lila Karan Sharma) (Dr. S. S. Bloeria)
Convener Advisor to Governor of J&K
Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti
The Drive to Self-Sufficiency in Power Takes off in the Puga Valley
A solution to energy crisis: Puga Geothermal Plant in Ladakh
Aamir Ali (Greater Kashmir)
Geothermal in Greek language means Earth and Heat. Geothermal energy is the heat produced inside earth. The Earth is composed of a number of layers known as the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. Temperatures in the Earth’s core can reach over 4,500°C and in the mantle it varies from 4,000°C to 1,100°C. In the Earth’s crust the temperature increases with depth. Under Earth’s crust, there is a layer of hot and molten rock called magma. Heat is continually produced there, mostly from the decay of naturally radioactive materials such as Uranium and Potassium. When magma comes close to the surface it heats ground water trapped in porous rock or water running along fractured rock surfaces and faults creating hydrothermal resources. These naturally occurring hydrothermal resources are called geothermal reservoirs. The energy from these geothermal reservoirs can be used to generate electricity, by using steam, heat or hot water to provide the force that can spin the turbine generators to produce electricity. The used geothermal water is then returned down through an injection well into the reservoir to be reheated and in order to sustain the reservoir.
There are three designs for geothermal power plants. In the first design, the steam goes directly through the turbine. In a second design, very hot water is converted to steam which is used to drive the turbine. In the third and most commonly adopted design, called binary system, the hot water is passed through a heat exchanger, where it is used to heat another liquid, like isobutane. The boiling point of isobutane is lower than water, so it easily gets converted into steam, to run the turbine. The choice design is determined by the geothermal resource. Usually hot water resources are more abundant than pure steam, so there is more potential in the binary design. The world’s geothermal energy production in 1990 was 5,033 megawatts and in 2000 it was 7,994 megawatts.
The estimated potential for geothermal energy in India is about 10,000 MW. In India, exploration and study of geothermal fields started in 1970. Around 350 potential geothermal locations have been identified in India by the GSI.
In March 2008, Puga Valley in Ladakh has been selected for tapping the geo-thermal energy for power generation by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Puga Valley is known for high temperature geothermal systems. The systems have been existing for the last 65 million years. The geothermal activity is concentrated in 3 sq. km area of the 15 km long Puga Valley. The Puga Valley is famous for its hot water springs. Every year hundreds of visitors come to this valley for a bath in these springs as this is known to help people suffering from rheumatic and skin diseases.
The State government has been encouraging participation of private sector in many sectors including geo-thermal energy, by allowing access to the data collected on geo-thermal resources and even to undertake investigations/assessment studies for geo-thermal energy and submission of Detailed Project Reports for exploitation of this renewal resource.
It is however ironical that reportedly no one approached the Union Ministry or the State government for financial support during the last three years for harnessing the geo-thermal energy. Geo thermal plants have almost no negative impact on the environment as these plants do not burn fuel to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a clean and environmentally sustainable natural resource which can generate electricity from the intense heat present inside the earth and can play an increasing role in meeting the world’s needs for clean energy. Private entrepreneurs should come forward to harness this clean and environmentally sustainable, natural & renewal geothermal resource, as a solution to the world energy crisis.
Aamir Ali (Greater Kashmir)
Geothermal in Greek language means Earth and Heat. Geothermal energy is the heat produced inside earth. The Earth is composed of a number of layers known as the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. Temperatures in the Earth’s core can reach over 4,500°C and in the mantle it varies from 4,000°C to 1,100°C. In the Earth’s crust the temperature increases with depth. Under Earth’s crust, there is a layer of hot and molten rock called magma. Heat is continually produced there, mostly from the decay of naturally radioactive materials such as Uranium and Potassium. When magma comes close to the surface it heats ground water trapped in porous rock or water running along fractured rock surfaces and faults creating hydrothermal resources. These naturally occurring hydrothermal resources are called geothermal reservoirs. The energy from these geothermal reservoirs can be used to generate electricity, by using steam, heat or hot water to provide the force that can spin the turbine generators to produce electricity. The used geothermal water is then returned down through an injection well into the reservoir to be reheated and in order to sustain the reservoir.
There are three designs for geothermal power plants. In the first design, the steam goes directly through the turbine. In a second design, very hot water is converted to steam which is used to drive the turbine. In the third and most commonly adopted design, called binary system, the hot water is passed through a heat exchanger, where it is used to heat another liquid, like isobutane. The boiling point of isobutane is lower than water, so it easily gets converted into steam, to run the turbine. The choice design is determined by the geothermal resource. Usually hot water resources are more abundant than pure steam, so there is more potential in the binary design. The world’s geothermal energy production in 1990 was 5,033 megawatts and in 2000 it was 7,994 megawatts.
The estimated potential for geothermal energy in India is about 10,000 MW. In India, exploration and study of geothermal fields started in 1970. Around 350 potential geothermal locations have been identified in India by the GSI.
In March 2008, Puga Valley in Ladakh has been selected for tapping the geo-thermal energy for power generation by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Puga Valley is known for high temperature geothermal systems. The systems have been existing for the last 65 million years. The geothermal activity is concentrated in 3 sq. km area of the 15 km long Puga Valley. The Puga Valley is famous for its hot water springs. Every year hundreds of visitors come to this valley for a bath in these springs as this is known to help people suffering from rheumatic and skin diseases.
The State government has been encouraging participation of private sector in many sectors including geo-thermal energy, by allowing access to the data collected on geo-thermal resources and even to undertake investigations/assessment studies for geo-thermal energy and submission of Detailed Project Reports for exploitation of this renewal resource.
It is however ironical that reportedly no one approached the Union Ministry or the State government for financial support during the last three years for harnessing the geo-thermal energy. Geo thermal plants have almost no negative impact on the environment as these plants do not burn fuel to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a clean and environmentally sustainable natural resource which can generate electricity from the intense heat present inside the earth and can play an increasing role in meeting the world’s needs for clean energy. Private entrepreneurs should come forward to harness this clean and environmentally sustainable, natural & renewal geothermal resource, as a solution to the world energy crisis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
