Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Patron of Arts and Heritage


Farooq Renzu champions for preservation of Kashmir's heritage

(Khawaja Farooq Renzu Shah, 56, was born in Srinagar. He matriculated from the Government Higher Secondary School in Nawa Kadal, and attended Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. He completed his L.L.B. degree from the University of Kashmir, securing the first position and a gold medal. He subsequently entered the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), and has served as District Commissioner, Budgam, and as the Director of Information in the state service. He is presently the Vice Chairman of the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA). He spends his leisure time writing novels and working on spiritual communication, and writing and propogating friendship, peace, progress and unity among the people of all religions and identities.)

Rare Kashmiri Heritage Treasure Being Displayed at Sangarmal Festival

Srinagar: A rare treasure of Kashmiri heritage and art is being unveiled at the inaugural ceremony of the Sangarmal festival beginning here Sunday.“A special stall has been set up at the festival which will put on display the rare heritage items collected and preserved by Miss Atiqa Bano, a renowned heritage collector”, said Farooq Renzu Vice Chairman of the Srinagar Development Authority which is organizing the festival. 

Giving details of items, the vice Chairman said many important heritage items of Kashmir shall be displayed. “The items include the oldest Takht and special royal utensils of sultanate period. 6 hundred year old earthen pots, 200 years old rare wooden jars, around 300 hundred years old rare furnishing items made of rare grass, rare manuscripts and a copy of 100 years old handwritten Quran Sharief with some inscription in gold”, said Renzu.“There are special rare lamps, wooden as well as earthen lamps of 14th and 15th century which will also be put for public display”, he added.In addition the special handicrafts shops shall also be displayed on the occasion on Sunday 10 June along with age old items which are a symbol of the rare art and craft of Kashmir. (KNS)
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1 comment:

shahishaharyar said...

Recently I have submitted 300 Arabic, Persian printed books from my Ancestral Library dating last about two centuries to Allama Iqbal Library university of Kashmir, besides some rare hand-written manuscripts. These shall be digitized and will also be used to help research scholars for digging our glorious past.

June 18, 2012 at 1:32 AM

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