Kashmir Story

CNN-IBN catches CRPF men in Srinagar firing.

2008-11-07T12:09:00.002+05:30

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/71313/crpf-men-in-srinagar-caught-on-camera-firing.html

TV footage shows troopers firing at crowd and assaulting CNN IBN Journalist.

‘Every film on Kashmir made by Bollywood is indeed fake’: Dholakia admits

2008-11-05T20:05:00.003+05:30

Lamhe shooting on Srinagar Streets. Pic by me

I have taken the risk which no one in Bollywood has taken by bringing stars of the caliber of Sunjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu to Kashmir in making a film on the lives of Kashmiri's. This film will be seen worldwide and the situation in Kashmir will be realistically portrayed to the audience around the globe.

My objective of this film is to show Kashmir like no Bollywood film has ever shown before. I may be hated in India for this, but the reality and the pain of Kashmir has to be shown. I have been told by people here that most Indian films on Kashmir are fakes. And after researching for two years; visiting villages and cities, meeting people from all walks of life from Srinagar to Uri, Tangdar to Drass, I have come to believe that every film on Kashmir made by Bollywood is indeed fake. And I want to break this tradition. If I had to make another fake film why would I convince my stars and unit to come here? I could have shot in Manali but Manali is not Kashmir and people from anywhere in the world don't share the pain of Kashmiri's.

There are scenes in my film where I show, half widows asking the forces questions, "Where are our husbands that you took away for normal interrogations seventeen years ago?" I also have scenes in my film where a common Kashmiri is harassed everyday by forces by asking them to prove their identity. Why should a Kashmiri have to show an I-card in his own home to anyone?

I have lines in my film where -people are asking the Indian media, (Aishwarya Rai ko chand dikha ki nahin, breaking news hai; lekin idhar satra saal se auraton ne apne mardo ko nahin dekha.. woh aap hindustanio ke liye koi news nahi). I am going to ask this question to my audience - who is accountable?

When in a crackdown innocent Kashmiri girls are picked up and raped and no one does anything about it.

Indians have been made to believe that a Kashmiri is a militant. You know it and I know it, that this is absolutely false, incorrect and ridiculous and I want to tell this to the public that the Kashmiri/s are one of the most sensitively emotional and fine human beings who have been cheated year after year by various governments.

If I were a Kashmiri today I would not trust anyone from India to make a pro-Kashmir film so I understand your sentiments and emotions when you want to know what I am portraying. Let me tell you that all three characters in 'my film Sanjay Dutt Bipasha Basu and Kanat Kapoor love Kashmir and want it to be Jannat forever. All protagonists are pro-Kashmir in my film.

My film is Pro-Kashmir and if you want me to be here with my unit and portray the reality I need your support and co-operation in showing the world the real Kashmir.

RAHUL DHOLAKIA

(DIRECTOR-LAMHE)

See more on: www.umerkashmiri.blogspot.com

'Lamhe' shooting stalled again

2008-11-04T22:22:00.001+05:30

Shooting of Bollywood film, Lamhe was once again stalled on Monday, second time in a week’s time. This time, the crew was stopped from filming at Government Degree College, Islamabad.

According to a group of students who had gathered to watch the shooting, they requested the crew for the script of the film and found therein that Kashmir dispute was attributed to unemployment and poverty following which they raised objections about the filming of the sequence in the campus.

However, Principal of Government Degree College Islamabad, Qazi Ahmadullah denied that there was any such reason to stop the crew from shooting inside the college campus.

“I stopped the shooting as it is not wise to shoot inside an educational institution and that too when the students are busy taking their classes,” Ahmadullah said.

“When the crew entered the college premises, there were lots of policemen guarding the crew who also entered the college premises. This created a disturbing atmosphere in the college which prompted me to stop the crew from shooting further as it became difficult to control the students who were inside the college in connection of the class work and the examinations,” Ahmadullah added.

According to witnesses, as soon as the crew of the film, made under the banner of GS Entertainment Private Limited, started to shoot a sequence inside the campus, college students jumped from the windows of their classes to watch it. Besides, hundreds of outsiders who came to know about the film shooting also poured in thereby disturbing the academic activities in the college campus.

Meanwhile, speaking about the reason to make a movie on Kashmir, director Rahul Dholakia told Rising Kashmir, “Several years ago I met some Kashmiri students in Mumbai. At the first instance, I didn’t knew that they are from Kashmir. When I asked them about their address they said they live in a beautiful prison called Kashmir where they have lost their identity. The words moved me and I decided to make a film that would portray the reality of what is going on in Kashmir and how Kashmiris are being humiliated.”

The shooting of the film starring Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Anupam Kher and Kunal Kapoor was stopped earlier on October 30 by fruit traders at Parimpora Mandi, Srinagar claiming that the film crew was taking controversial shots in the fruit Mandi.

Fruit traders stop Bollywood movie shoot

2008-10-31T10:15:00.000+05:30

They were portraying Kashmiris as terrorists: Fruit traders
We’re making a love story: Dolakia

Famous Bollywood director Rahul Dolakia and his crew while shooting a sequence of an upcoming movie 'Lamha’ at Parimpora Fruit Mandi Thursday were heckled away by fruit dealers fearing the scenes might harm the recently started cross-LoC trade and image of Kashmiris.

According to eyewitnesses, the crew of GS Entertainment Private Limited producing the film' Lamha' led by its director Dholakia and producer Lucky Sharma appeared at Fruit Mandi Parmipora at around 7 am to shoot a sequence of a film based on the ongoing Kashmir conflict.

The film has Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Anupam Kher and Kunal Kapoor in lead role.

President Parimpora Fruit Mandi Bashir Ahmad Bashir told Rising Kashmir that he received information that a film crew was shooting some controversial shots in the Mandi.

He said that the film director had not informed local police nor taken permission from the authorities before shooting in the Fruit Mandi premises.

"The shot was of a pheran clad gun wielding youth taking out arms and ammunition from a vehicle with other boxes full of grenades and ammunition," Bashir said.

"The shots seemingly were controversial and could have misrepresented the people of Kashmir. It seems like an act to disrupt the cross-LoC trade," he added.

“Apparently they were making a sequence showing that guns and other ammunition are being infiltrated into Kashmir in trucks through-LoC," Bashir said.

"I met the director and asked for the permission of shooting at the Mandi premises but he failed to produce it. Then we asked him to wind up the shoot and leave the place," said Bashir.

Kashmiri Fruits are exported to different Indian states from Parimpora Fruit Mandi and fruit dealers fear that a negative scene in the film could send wrong signals to the local and international market.

“We have informed all fruit mandis across the Valley not to allow film crew to shoot scenes which can be harmful for the Valley traders," Bashir added.

According to the dealers the director of the film apologized to the association members.

“Otherwise we would have filed an FIR against the director for shooting in Fruit Mandi without proper permission,” he said.

Director Rahul Dolakia and producer Lucky Sharma said that they were making a love story.

"We shot the film without seeking permission from the authorities. We tried to be sensitive toward the local sentiment but people felt that we were portraying a bad image about Kashmir, "Dolakia told media persons.

Dholakia told journalists at the spot that before planning to shoot in the Valley he had met the Chairmen of the parallel factions of the Hurriyat and apprised them about the story.

"I met Geelani and Mirwaiz and told them that my film will portray the actual situation in Kashmir. I started work on the film after their consent," Dholakia said.

This is for the first time that film makers had to bear embarrassment during shoot in the Valley.

Over the years, the big film houses have only projected Kashmir as “terrorist infested state” and in most films the average Kashmiri is portrayed in a negative role. However, Amir Khan starrer Fana was an exception.

Rahul Dholakia came into limelight after he directed a hit Parzania regarding the Gujarat riots that was acclaimed internationally.

How is it?

2008-10-30T10:37:00.003+05:30

Women walk back to their homes after collecting firewood for the hearth on a dusty road in Kashmir.

BBC’s George Arney travels to Kashmir to speak to young people

2008-10-29T11:34:00.004+05:30

The View from Kashmir

Members of the Kashmiri rock band - Blood Rock

A series of protests against Indian rule in Kashmir has left more than 30 people dead since August. Thousands of people have died in the violence there since 1989.

The latest protests have been spear headed by the so-called children of conflict - those who have only ever known the troubles.

For Assignment George Arney travels to Kashmir to speak to young people to find out what they want and how they view India.

Arney also speaks to a 28-year-0ld Indian army Captian, who also speaks about letting Kashmir go to its people forever.

Listen to the programme here (22 mins)

I’m a Kashmiri Pandit, I love my Kashmiri Muslim brothers

2008-08-14T10:09:00.001+05:30

Present circumstances have forced me to clarify certain misunderstandings about my community. Kashmiri Pandit (KP) is a peace loving and law abiding person who is more interested in the welfare of his family, education of his kids and least concerned about politics.

It is by compulsion he is asked to join some political rallies. We are victims of politics and every party has used us for their own hidden agenda. One particular party collected millions of dollars in our name all over world and distributed plastic buckets to our people living in Camps only for media coverage. We do not want to be labeled as communal because our friends are Muslims, our closest ties are with Muslims and we welcome them in our homes even today as we know we are from one race, one place and one ethnicity.

Some people give statements on our behalf and we get a reputation which we do not belong to. Recently one gentleman talked all nonsense on T.V. using all vulgar language which is not in our nature or blood. How can we be represented by insane people like Mr. XYZ? K.P. has no leader and everybody wants to come in lime light for personal gains.

I belong to a community of pseudo-intellectuals who are able to lecture on everything in the world, who can dethrone everyone in Coffee house discussions and can issue “Bata Gazette” while sitting in the four walls of their A.C. rooms. Every K.P. is a born leader. He hardly realizes the repercussions of his irresponsible statements. He is safe in Delhi, Bombay or Chennai but what about others who get misnomer due to his utterances. Let me make it clear to all Muslim brothers and sisters that:

- We have all love & respect for you people because you are our own people. Our culture, our history, our traditions, our tastes, our language is same. Outside Kashmir wherever we meet fellow Kashmiri Muslim we bring him to our place, prepare sheer chai with best ‘Malai’ on top – Why? Is he our relative – No! So why we cook Kashmiri dishes and eat together – Why? Is it appeasement – No! It is love for motherland, we get psychological satisfaction.

We do not want anybody to give statements on our behalf. Please leave us alone. Amaranth is here since many centuries so why make it a political issue. It was Mr. Malik who discovered it and we have been paying our respects to lord Shiva jointly. This Yatra is a source of income to people living in and around Pahalgam – Why snatch their bread. Let Yatra be managed by people of J & K State only without outside interference. Yatra should commence only after ‘Chadi Mubarak’ leads the procession as was our tradition in the past. Why change the tradition.

If required it may be allowed for another 15 days i.e. for one month only. It is religious Yatra do not make it Picnic. No artificial snow should be used and no stone shivling should be allowed to be installed there. It will hurt our sentiments. Huge traffic has already destroyed the glacier which is the primary source of water for Lidder Valley.

- Please restrict the number of Yatri’s for the sake of nature and ecology. We are not against any community; let us co-exist for the betterment of our people. Regionalism is not the Solution. We live in a global village where we can not live in isolation. We are interdependent so separation is not the Solution.

Europe is United, Berlin wall has fallen, world is coming closer; by another fifty years there will be no boundaries between nations. Unite people for the sake of future generation. Stop hate Campaigns, live and let people live in peace. Every community has 2% hard liners let 98% show their strength.

May God bring Peace and Prosperity to my beloved Kashmir. Tathastoo! Ameen!

Vikram Dhar
Andheri West, Mumbai.
Working with Microsoft

Thoughts of a Kashmiri Pandit on present crisis

2008-08-13T09:46:00.001+05:30

I am a born Kashmiri Pandit living in the dominion of United States from the past more than 35 years. I have a simple but genuine request to all of you to consider for the end of this land controversy which can prove fatal to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. I request you all to consider these points and circulate it more and more to the masses for the benefit of the common citizens of the State.

• Why is government not handing over the temples and shrines including the SASB to the local (Non Migrants having their property intact) Kashmiri Pandits? Can't these local Kashmiri Pandits look after their temples and shrines effectively?

• Why politics is done on the temple and forest land?

• Why will a person from Jammu (Non-Kashmiri) be a member of SASB when there is no one from Kashmiri Pandits a member in any board in Jammu Province?

• If any leaders / followers of Panun Kashmir or like minded people be given a chance to become the member of the SASB then the situation in J&K State will deteriorate because these groups are already bent to divide the Kashmir on religious lines. And these persons will use the Board to shield their misdeeds. Then why is government thinking about these persons to be the part of religious Boards? It seems that the government is not sincere towards the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

• In Kashmir there are many public figures who are more suitable for the job than any one from outside Kashmiris, as these persons live in Kashmir, own their own property and know their job well. Also these people's credentials are beyond doubt.

To name a few of them

Dr. T. N. Ganjoo, (Religious Scholar / Contemporary Historian)
Sathu Barbar Shah, Srinagar.
Dr. S. N. Dhar (Physician)
Rajbagh, Srinagar.
Mr. Sanjay K. Tickoo (Social Activist)
Sathu Barbar Shah, Srinagar.
Mr. A. K. Rajpuri (Social Activist)
Rajpura, Pulwama.
Mr. Kumar Ji Wanchoo (Industrilist)
Jawahir Nagar, Srinagar.
Mr. Anil Bhan (Lawyer)
Sonwar, Srinagar.
Mr. Vijay Sas (Social Activist)
Habba Kadal, Srinagar.
Mr. M. L. Bhat (Educationist / Social Activist)
Indira Nagar, Srinagar.

I think these names will be well known to all the readers, and I think that it is only they who can make the change happen and take the rotten lot out. Promote these names for the better future of Kashmir, Kashmiriyat and Kashmiri Pandits. As I too have lots of faith and hopes pinned in these names.

Ashutosh Moza
Director
Kashmir Peace Process
L.A., USA
ashutosh.moza@gmail.com

Kashmir hospitals running out of medicines, blood reserves

2008-08-12T19:38:00.002+05:30

‘We’re facing a grave crisis, graver than 1947 situation’

Baba Umar
Srinagar, August 11: The hospitals in Kashmir valley, which on Monday received hundreds of people injured in police firing are facing acute crisis and almost all are running short of essential equipments, medicines and blood.

At least four persons were killed and over 300 injured in police action on the processions which were heading to cross the Line of Control to protest the blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway by the rightwing parties.

The doctors at the city’s premier hospital SHMS said there is shortage of blood, cotton, medicines (only Siploxine injection is available in abundance), and angiocath as the hospital has received more than 80 injured among which three died.

“In case the situation prolongs for few more days, we will be in a limbo,” doctors at the SMHS said.

“Our hospital is short of all basic drugs and equipments necessary for conducting operations and treating critically injured. If the situation continues for a few more days, we will face an acute crisis,” said a senior doctor who is operating injured patients since Monday morning.

There has been such a rush of injured to the Bone and Joint Hospital that the cotton stocks, blood reserves and other necessary surgical equipments would last just for one more day.

Chief Medical Officer Bone and Joint Hospital, Burzulla, Dr Farooq said whatever medicine stock and other necessary equipment the hospital had is being put out for use.

Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent Bone and Joint Hospital, Burzulla, Dr Muhammad Ramzaan said: “As of now, we have enough of cotton and blood. But if the situation prolongs we would definitely run short of these essential items.”

He said that the hospital could face an acute crisis if the clashes and strike continues for two more days.

“We had asked the government for the supplies and the hospital is waiting for them to be airlifted to the Valley.”

The rush of injured to the Valley hospitals has occurred at a time when the rightwing parties are enforcing blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway and disrupting supplies to Kashmir.

Dr Ramzaan said owing to the crisis situation in the Valley for the past 20 years, the Bone and Joint hospital has many times written to the government about purchase of a traumatic van so that the injured could be ferried immediately from the spot to the hospital.

“However, nothing happened. Many injured die while being rushed to the hospital,” he said.

Other hospitals too are unable to handle the rush of the injured.

Medical experts termed the situation as ‘grave’, graver than the 1947 crisis.

“Kashmir is heading towards the worst-ever human crisis after 1947 turmoil. If the crisis prolongs it will be the worst scenario, more awful than the 1947 massacre of Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu,” said Medical Fair Price Shopkeepers Association (MFPSA), General Secretary, Muhammad Aslam.

Meanwhile, Principal Government Medical College (GMC), Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Shah told Rising Kashmir that the city hospitals have sufficient stock, but was quick to add that today’s situation is much difficult for hospitals to cope up with.

“We have been dealing with the crisis in the Valley for the past 18 years. But, the large number of injured that city hospitals are receiving today may affect the patient care,” he said.

Principal GMC said that if the present condition continues for more days, hospitals would be under tremendous pressure and the supplies may fall short.

About the trauma vans, which all hospitals lack in the Valley, Dr Shah said that the present crisis demands more and more trauma vans.

“But we don’t have any full fledged trauma van in the Valley, which is necessary at this point of time to save the lives,” he said.

Adding to woes, the patient care is being badly hit with paramilitary CRPF and police lying siege of the casualty ward of the SMHS hospital.

“Bullets and tear smoke canisters are being fired into the ward. We have management for patients but the injured are coming in batches and groups that too is being interrupted by the uniformed terrorists who are firing in every direction,” said a doctored.

He said army barged into the casualty, ransacked everything and fired at the patients and the hospital staff.

“They have violated the Geneva conventions. They are committing war crimes. What they failed to do in Jammu they are doing it here,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government issued fresh orders to outside medicine companies for airlifting medicines and other surgical equipment.

However, Head of Government’s Disaster Management Cell, Aamir Ali told Rising Kashmir that the government is ready to face any such crisis.

“We have asked for more supplies from All India Pharmaceutical Distributors Association (AIPHDA) Bombay. It will reach us in a day or two. In case of any emergency, we can airlift more supplies from outside,” he added.

Valley traders seek shifting MNC depots to Kashmir

2008-08-12T19:38:00.001+05:30

Say sales contribution from Valley is 80 pc

Baba Umar
Srinagar August 9

Keeping in view the economic blockade imposed by the right wing Hindu groups; traders in the valley are all set up to request Multi-National Companies (MNCs), who have depots in Jammu, to shift their depots to the valley.

“We are monitoring on how the demand for Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road opening goes like. May be after some days from now, we write to the MNCs to shift and open their depots here in the valley,” Chairman of the Traders and Manufacturer Federation of Kashmir (KTMF), Jan Mohammad Koul told Rising Kashmir.

He said the preparations of seeking alternatives to import and export goods to and from Kashmir is going on since Jammu imposed blockade on the valley.

According to KTMF, the move, if it goes well, could witness at least 30 large storage houses hoarding their supplies in valley that would minimize ‘blackmailing’ of Jammu to a larger extent.

“Once we have these MNCs here, the threat perception from Jammu would vanish,” KTMF chairman said.

With this the scope of clearing and forwarding agents (C&F) in Jammu who are handling these MNC storage houses would come to a close. These depots, according to the traders federation, have the capacity to store merchandise of more than two months and have been totally controlled by the Jammunities.

“And it is according to these agents that the distribution of goods takes place across the State. They could flood their region with stocks while as they could starve us of our share which we have already witnessed during past twenty days,” Koul said.

Traders body in the valley said that they are sure about getting this deal done, since the perception of MNCs about not operating here could be challenged at this time.

“We import at least 96 percent of our goods from outside. Of that, valley consumes about 80 percent while the rest 20 percent is consumed in the Jammu and Ladakh. So our case is strong. Any discrepancy in the consumption here would cost these MNCs very dear,” he further said.

He said, the MNC’s like Hindustan Lever, Proctor and Gamble and the likes were earlier apprehensive about the situation in Kashmir which made them to open their offices at Jammu.

“But now Jammu is also a disturbed place, much worse than Kashmir, at least we don’t burn trucks here, and that could serve as eye opener for these MNCs,” Koul added.

KMTF said that the move is being taken after the traders of the valley paid cores of rupees to these MNC’s as advance, while the supplies heading towards valley were thrown out of the trucks and drivers were beaten ruthlessly by the unruly mob in Jammu and Udhampur.

“Jammuites have shown their colour. They have caused us heavy losses in business and they are directly responsible for it. Had MNC depots been here, we could have survived the onslaught of the Jammu rioters,” another member of the KTMF said.

He said the traders might also ask banks to waive some percentage of the interest on their loans as interest rates are increasing with each passing day, further intensifying their miseries.

KTMF chairman also rebuked the government for failing to provide protection to the goods that were being ferried to the valley but looted on the highway at the several places.

“We are tax payers and the irony is that the State government has failed to secure our merchandise before entering the valley,” Koul said.

Blockade costs valley traders Rs 100 crore

2008-08-12T19:36:00.001+05:30

Jammu-based products to be boycotted

Baba Umar
Srinagar August 7:

Facing the economic blockade for over 17 days by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti at Jammu, traders on Thursday said that the business loss in valley so far has reached to more than Rs 100 crore.

“The Hindu fanatics in Jammu are bilking us. We have lost over 100 crores in business since the blockade began,” Chairman of the Traders and Manufacturer Federation of Kashmir, Jan Mohammad Koul told Rising Kashmir.

He said the callousness shown by Jammunities towards Kashmiri has led to the catastrophe in Kashmir which has become more intense since no supply has entered Kashmir for the past one month.

“Tucks ferrying goods are not being allowed to move in Kashmir. The government is a mute spectator to this. Nothing is being done to stop vandalizing and loot of our merchandise,” Koul said.

Every month, the valley receives chips, biscuits, cold drinks, juices worth 10 crore rupees, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) like soaps, shampoos, detergents worth 15 crore rupees. While as cooking oil and flour worth Rs 20 crore, rice, johar, pulses and spices worth Rs 50 crores is transported into the valley every month.

However, the valley traders claim that nothing has reached so far in the valley since the time blockade was imposed by the ‘communal forces in Jammu’.

“The people and the traders of Jammu have hurt our sentiments. They have blackmailed us and it seems to be a part of a well-knit ploy with the central government directly involved in it,” said Khurshid Ahmad, a wholesaler dealer of pulses and rice.

He said the Srinagar-Jammu highway is the lifeline of the valley which has been chocked by the fanatics in the Jammu and Udhampur.

KTMF has already decided to snap ties with Jammu traders and block all sorts of deals with them.

“Instead we will buy products directly from Punjab and Delhi traders,” KTMF Chairman further said.

He also said that the traders fraternitry has decided to boycott all Jammu-made products which include Dairy Fresh ice cream, Crystal Juice, SAP juice, Dairy fresh, Mamta Seweyaan, cooking oils like P Mark, V brand, Jumbo and PIR.

“These cooking oil brands are all sub standard and its marketing was rejected in the North India, but it was Kashmir that used to buy these products providing at least Rs 20 crore of sales every month to the Jammu. But now, no trader here will procure these brands onwards,” Koul said.

He said rejecting Jammu-based products would take the war of economic blockade back into the heart of Jammu.

“We cannot sit idle while they beat our truck drivers, choke our life line and attack the minority community in Jammu,” Koul further said.

KTMF Chairman further said that the federation is upbeat about opening Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road for trade.

“We are for this road since there is no guarantee that these people won’t block the Srinagar-Jammu highway second time,” he said.

Lack of Cold Storage Cost Rs 180 Cr to Fruit Industry

2008-08-12T19:35:00.000+05:30

Baba Umar
Srinagar August 6:

With no cold storage facility in the valley and access to the outside market due to 14-day long economic blockade by Hindu fanatics along Srinagar-Jammu highway, fruit growers say that they have lost as much as Rs 180 crore so far since the blockade began.

“The fruits are ripe. And almost 1000 trucks laden with fruits are waiting to cross over to Jammu and beyond, but the blockade is in effect. We cannot carry our fruits into the outside market,” President, North Kashmir Fruit Growers’ Association,” Bashir Ahmad Beigh told Rising Kashmir.

He said that the valley has no cold storage facility, where the growers or dealers could have stored their fruit, which has further augmented the problem.

“This is the peak season for pears. The fruit is ripe and needs immediate dispatch into the market; otherwise it turns rancid and smells pungent. It has a small shelf-life,” he said, adding, “cold storage facility would have been a benefit during difficult days like these.”

Beigh said that the fruits have ripened on the branches and the farmer could do nothing but see it fall down and perish, owing to blockade imposed by the Hindu protestors along the highway.

The second biggest industry after tourism is witnessing a sharp set back in the valley as more than 100 trucks laden with fruit from North Kashmir and more than 500 trucks overall to different parts of India are dispatched daily in this month every year.

But for the last five days only 83 trucks with fruits have reached to the Azadpur Mandi, Delhi—the prime destination of kashmiri fruits.

“You could estimate how much fruit has rotten and going to rot in the next few days. Had there been a cold storage we could have salvaged some thing,” said President, Fruit Growers Association Baramulla, Ghulam Rasool Bhat.

He said pears need immediate dispatch because August is the main season for the produce to be sold which is later overtaken by the apples and other fruits in the month of September to December.

“Pears could be salvaged for three days, but after that they start to soften and turns rancid,” he added.

Growers said that nearly 65 per cent of pears and apples stranded on the road have already rotten and decayed, causing huge losses to them.

“The plucked fruit is waiting in the trucks to be dispatched while as the farmers cannot pluck more from the trees which has caused the crop to over-ripe and fall due to its weight. This has incurred a loss of more than Rs 180 crore to farmers,” Bhat said.

He further said that fruit plucking is also not taking place since the valley has no storage facilities to store the harvest.

With this growers fear the permanent demise of the horticulture industry if the ‘Hindu fanatics’ continue with the blockade along Srinagar-Jammu Highway.

About 24 lakh families of the State are directly or indirectly involved with the Horticulture industry while as Kashmir exports more than 700,000 boxes of fruits every year among which pear and apples contribute a major share. The price range of a truck full of pears could go between 2-2.5 lakh, while as the range could hang around 3-4 lakh for apples.

Meanwhile fruit growers and dealers said that they have several times asked the government to establish cold storage facility at the various places in the valley, however, successive governments have always dilly-dallied the demand.

“I guess our Mandi is the largest in the Asia. But still it lacks basic facilities including a cold storage. Several times we asked the government to construct one at this Mandi but every time we were told to set up the cold storage facility on our own,” said Vice President, Sopore Fruit Growers Association, Fayaz Ahmad Malik.

Even at the North India’s second largest fruit Mandi at Parimpora lacks the basic facilities which include a cold storage for fruits.

“Cold storage facility is a basic necessity. We could salvage apples for more than 8 months while as pears and other delicate fruits could be saved for more than ten days, but the thing is that we don’t have such facility here,” said executive member, New Kashmir Fruit Association, (NKFA) Parimpora, Imtiyaz Ahmad.

He said the government is not willing to establish such a facility at Parimpora nor it is helping the Association to construct it on its own.

“We need land to establish a cold storage here in the Mandi, but the government is charging us Rs 12 lakh for a kanal of land. We also need subsidy from the government if it is serious to help the fruit growers and dealers,” he further said.

Mobile users unhappy over SMS ban -‘Service providers should compensate customers’

2008-08-12T19:34:00.000+05:30

Baba Umar
Srinagar August 5

After the government directed all mobile service providers here to put their SMS services offline from Sunday in the State, a large section of cell users in the valley have resented and called the move as uncalled for.

“I recharged my SIM for SMS service. But I was shocked to see that all the messages were not actually sent although the cell flashed ‘message sent’,” said an Airtel user.

She said that all the messages sent are still pending.

Having over a million customer base in the valley, Airtel has been flashing a message to its users about stopping the facility from Monday night. While BSNL, and Aircell, the other two service providers had put the SMS service on halt without any intimation to their subscribers.

The service was stopped in the State after the state government imposed ban on the SMS services on Sunday on the grounds that it was being used to flare the communal tension through smsing rumors in Jammu.

“Actually Airtel stopped the service on Sunday afternoon. I had two of my text messages blocked which were meant for my brother in Mumbai,” Arif Ahmad said.
He said that he has recharged his SIM for a special SMS scheme just before the service providers stopped the service.

With cost to SMS low compared to voice mail or call—depending on the SMS scheme, this service outage has left many without an affordable means of contact. And those who have already recharged their cell for schemes are asking for a benefit once the service is restored.

“My SMS special scheme is going to finish on Thursday. I have paid for it without receiving any service. And I should be considered for a benefit or the validity period of this scheme should be recounted once the service is restored,” Arif added.

Meanwhile industry experts have said the service provider has a strong customer base and crores of rupees has been accepted for short time SMS schemes, and by providing no services amounts to the violation of the Telecom Regularity Authority of India (TRAI) standards.

“They have violated the TRAI norms,” an expert said. “Those customers who have shelled out money for SMS services should be refunded for the money they have with the provider,” he added.

He further said that the recharge scheme should stand applicable once the sms service is restored.

Attempts to reach DGM mobile BSNL, Prem Chand and Airtel’s official spokesperson for their comments failed despite repeated efforts.

However, officials of the Aircel said that their low-priced schemes are valid for one long month and the ban is likely to be revoked after some days.

“The ban has not hampered our services and our all SMS schemes have a validity of more than a month, and the ban seems shall be cancelled after some days,” Aircel’s official, told Rising Kashmir.

Highway blockade creates medical emergency

2008-08-12T19:33:00.000+05:30

Life saving drugs run out of stock

Baba Umar

Srinagar Aug 04: With the rightwing activists enforcing blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway, the Valley is heading towards medical disaster owing to acute shortage of life saving drugs.

“Due to the continuous blockade of highway by the rightwing activists, we are running short of essential life saving drugs. Our stock is running short of drugs and the situation may head towards disaster if immediate remedial measures are not taken by the authorities,” said proprietor Dar-ul-Shifa Chemists, Syed Geelani.

Stating that situation is very precarious, he said that they are forced to give paracetamol to a patient even if he or she suffers from serious or severe pain. “We don’t have any other medicine available,” he said.

Warning that if the situation persists for few more days a catastrophe may take place, Geelani asked the international organizations like Red Cross to take stock of the current situation.

The Valley pharmacists maintained that the essential life saving drugs including anti-cancer medicines, insulin, typhoid injections, antibiotics, and apparatus’ like angiotensins, angiography material, pace makers, Trop-T are in short supply in the Valley.

“Aminoglobin, a life saving drug is widely in demand in the Valley. It is a must for the cancer patients. We have run out of its stock. I’m getting regular phone calls from the retailers about the supply. It has been looted or stopped in the Jammu by the rioters,” said Mehraj Ahmad of MRS Agencies.

He said that the Valley may face medical disaster if the situation is not tackled and supplies allowed to Kashmir. “The trucks loaded with medicines have remained stranded on the highway for several days. Some alternative measures have to be taken to bring medicines from Jammu.”

Terming the situation as ‘grave’, the Medical Fair Price Shopkeepers Association (MFPSA) said Kashmir is heading towards the worst-ever human crisis after 1947 turmoil.

“If the crisis prolongs it will be the worst scenario much more awful than the 1947 massacre of Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu,” said General Secretary, MFPSA, Muhammad Aslam.
The patients, who are under medical treatment or are scheduled to be operated upon, have stocked the medicines they need.

Some of them complained about the non-availability of drugs in the hospitals.

Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, a cardiac patient from Kakapora, Pulwama said that he has to take the medication regularly.

He said that missing a single dose would mean wastage of entire course of medication. “The drug is not available in Pulwama. So I came to the city. Unfortunately, the situation is no different here,” he said.

Meanwhile Medical Superintendent SMHS, Dr Waseem Qureshi told Rising Kashmir that there was a dearth of X-ray and CT scan films in the hospital.

However, he claimed that they had air-lifted the material on Monday and supply position had been restored.

He said that the hospital usually has six month’s supply and the 15 day’s strike will not affect the functioning.

However, there are reports that several trucks carrying life-saving drugs are stranded on Pathankote and Jammu. There are apprehensions that the medicines may have got damaged because of exposure to hot weather conditions.

The Deputy Drug and Food Controller, Kashmir, Nazir Ahmed Wani termed the situation as normal and said that he has not received any complaint from any part of the Valley regarding the shortage of medicines.

“We had a meeting with the pharmacists union of the Valley along with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, wherein they admitted that the stock of drugs lying with them will last for another three months,” he said.

However, Srinagar Chemists and Druggists Association President, Syed Parvaiz Sajad said that the stocks will last for only 45 days.

“After assessing the stock details from the distributors, we realised that the stocks are enough for another 45 days,” he claimed.

Growers lose Rs 60 Cr during highway blockade

2008-08-12T19:30:00.000+05:30

Baba Umar
Srinagar July 31:

Suffering a loss of Rs 60 crores during the frequent blockades en route Jammu by Shiv Sena activists, the valley fruit growers, most of them from north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Thursday decided to send their fruit to Muzaffarabad (PaK).

“We have lost nearly Rs 60 crores owing to the blockade. We cannot wait for more. We will take our fruit trucks to Muzafarabad from Saturday morning,” President of Baramulla Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat told Rising Kashmir.

He said that fruit especially apple, cherry and other fruits waiting to be taken to the outside market have rotted in the trucks which has caused huge losses to the fruit growers and people associated with the trade.

The association along with Sopore fruit growers association, New Kashmir fruit Association Parimpora and members of All Jammu and Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, today met the Divisional Commissioner Srinagar, where the North Kashmir’s fruit growers association took the decision.

“We have given two day ultimatum to the authorities, failing which, they would see us taking our fruit to Muzafarabad,” said another member of the Baramulla Fruit Growers and Dealers Association.

He said that the government should provide substitute route to export Kashmiri fruits to outside State as Jammu has always been troubling the trucks and fruit growers.

"If Shiv Sena and other Hindu fanatics are regularly interrupting our apple trucks in Jammu, we are bound to sell our fruit through Srinagar--Muzaffarabad road. And we will do it from this Saturday,” he further added.

Meanwhile dealers of these fruits are concerned over the situation saying that the fruit is being sold in the local market at 25 percent less their normal price.

“We are compelled to sell the fruit in the local market. Since it doesn’t sell much, the rates have taken a big dip,” said member New Kashmir fruit Association Parimpora, Imtiyaz Ahmad.

He said almost 100 trucks laden with fruit are supposed to move outside the valley daily along Srinagar –Jammu highway, however, all the fruits have been left to rot in Mandis or in the hundreds of trucks that are stranded on the highway.

“At least 250 trucks laden with fruits are lying stranded on the highway. And here we started to sell the fruit in the local market at cheap rates,” he added.

The blockade has come at a time when the fruit growers have already suffered massive damage due to destructive hailstorms and winds that lashed valley several months back.

“Not only that prices of transportation are sky rocketing. Blockade will further break our back. It is clearly a big loss," said Ghulam Muhammad, another fruit grower.

The fruit growers have said that they have asked the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to provide safety to the trucks carrying apples and other fruits from the valley exactly the way the authorities are providing security to the Yatris of the Amarnath Cave.

Talking to Rising Kashmir, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, however, maintained that the protection will be provided to the trucks ferrying fruits enroute Srinagar-Jammu Highway.

“I have assured all the members that their fruits will be protected on the highway,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Masood Samoon said.

However, he refused to comment on the ultimatum given by the Baramulla fruit growers association about ferrying their fruits to Muzafarabad from this Saturday.

“I do not want to comment on that,” he said.

Blockade hits marriage season

2008-08-12T19:26:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5670&Itemid=41

Mutton shortage triggers austere weddings

Umar | Aug 04

Srinagar: The ‘economic blockade’ imposed by Hindu fanatic groups on Kashmir has severely affected the marriage season here, with people gearing up to meet the challenge by observing the ceremonies in complete austerity.

“I have asked my guests not to come on my son’s marriage party. I have cancelled the invitation,” said Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, who had scheduled the party bash on August 6.

The blockade has resulted in supply crunch of essential commodities including mutton, poultry, milk etc that are used in Kashmir marriages and other social functions.

Showkat Ahmad whose marriage ceremony is scheduled for Monday has cancelled the Walima saying that the current circumstances have been instrumental in pushing the family to cancel the gathering.

“Economic blockade by the Hindu radicals have affected our get-together. But celebrating marriages with austerity can be one of our answers to show the world that we are not completely dependent on outsiders,” Showkat said.

The BJP-led agitators who have been blocking the Srinagar-Jammu Highway in Jammu has sent the whole valley on toes with business establishments, fruit growers and traders demanding the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road to be reopened.

Meanwhile mutton dealers maintained that the trucks are not being allowed to ferry sheep to this part of the State by the Hindu rioters and most of the sheep have died in the Lorries which has resulted in shortage of mutton supplies to the valley.

“There is no mutton in the market. We have ended up with no stocks. For five days the trucks carrying sheep are lying stranded at the Lakhanpora near Jammu, of which most of the livestock had died,” said Bashir Ahmad Regoo, a mutton dealer.

He said mutton dealers have suffered in crores after violent BJP activists blocked hundreds of goods laden trucks in and on the way to Jammu.

“This is the peak time for marriages in the valley and the blockade has come at a time when people have made all the prior arrangements including buying mutton. But let me confess that there is no supply of mutton. The drivers fear for their lives on the highway. They are not being allowed to move ahead,” said President, All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Union, Manzoor Ahmad Kanoon.

He said more than 200 trucks laden with livestock are stranded and have not yet entered the Kashmir valley.

Owing to blockade, the All Kashmir Butcher’s Union has already issued a public notice advising to observe marriages in complete austerity and Shariah.

Imported vegetable prices rise on supply crunch

2008-08-12T19:24:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5632&Itemid=41
Baba Umar | Aug 03

Srinagar: The blockade on Srinagar- Jammu Highway by Hindu fanatics has affected all the sectors of the Valley economy with prices of vegetables imported from Jammu witnessing a sharp rise and simultaneously dipping the prices of vegetables exported from here.

According to vegetable wholesalers, within five days of the highway blockade, the prices of imported vegetables like lemons, a key consumable item in summer season, rose by 200 percent while as prices of imported onions too increased by 15 percent. Even the price of peas increased by 6 percent, which the dealers reason to road blockade.

“The wholesale rate of lemons was Rs 14.75 a kg, now it has gone to Rs 40 and prices of peas and onions too increased by Rs 2. And this is all because of the blockade. Our goods are lying stranded on the trucks waiting to enter Kashmir,” said Muhammad Rafiq Parray, a wholesale vegetable dealer.

He said that the prices of the imported products would continue to rise until the blockade is not lifted.

"Prices may further rise as supply from outside has not reached the valley for more than five days,” he added.

Other vegetables that are imported from outside States also became expensive from the past several days owing to disturbances in supplies.

The wholesale prices of lady finger rose to Rs 19 a kilo as on July 28 against Rs 15 a Kilo as on August 3, while as other imported vegetables too are witnessing a price rise.

However, the blockade has also obstructed the export of domestic commodities resulting in mild dip in their prices.

The wholesale rate for a kilo of onion was Rs 7 which is now running as Rs 6. Even potatoes which were sold for Rs 7 a kilo in the wholesale market are now being sold between Rs 5-6 a kilo. And wholesale rates of cauliflower, which tops the list of excessive produce, too dipped from Rs 2.5 a kilo to Rs 2.

“This year’s produce has been tremendous. We were expecting a good season from the exports of Kashmiri Onions and Potatoes. But the road blockade has pushed us to sell these commodities on cheap rates in the domestic market,” Shabir Ahmad, another wholesale dealer of the vegetables said.

"It all depends on the influx and exit of the commodities we import and export. If it gets deferred or stopped, prices are bound to fluctuate,” he further added.

Valley traders demand opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad road

2008-08-12T19:21:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5625&Itemid=41

Baba Umar
Srinagar August 2:

Joining the chorus of fruit growers, valley traders have demanded that the road from Srinagar to Muzaffarbad be opened immediately in view of what they termed as the “blackmailing by the Hindu fanatics in Jammu”.

“This is sheer blackmailing. Let the rioters in Jammu solve their problems with the government. Or let the road to Muzaffarbad be opened. We will get our import supplies from there only,” said a provision wholesaler, Bilal Ahmad.

He said that there is a possibility that “miscreants” block the highway for traffic again in future too which would lead the valley into utter chaos.

“To counter that scenario, the road to Muzaffarbad is the only best option,” he added.

Kashmir valley which along with Jammu gets around 96 percent of consumables through imports from outside the State has witnessed a huge loss for business and industry setting traders furious over the Srinagar-Jammu highway blockade and buoyant about the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad Road.

“Stopping imports mean that the racist elements in Jammu want Kashmir to alienate and starve. They are blackmailing Kashmiris. It is a high time that Muzaffarbad road is opened for imports and exports,” said Bashir Ahmad Regoo, a mutton dealer.

Regoo said that all the mutton dealers are worried after violent Shiv Sainiks and BJP activists blocked hundreds of goods laden trucks in and on the way to Jammu, at a time when the peak season for marriages has already set in.

“My five trucks laden with animals are stranded at Madhavpora near Lakhanpor. And I received a call form the drivers that most of the sheep have died,” Regoo said.

He said that the loss can be assessed once he comes to know about how many of the sheep have died on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

“Let the trucks come and then I can count about how much I have lost. But I am worried more about the customers who have marriages coming up in the few weeks ahead and from whom I have already taken money,” Regoo said.

The demand of the local business men and traders have come at a time when fruit growers have already lost around Rs 60 crore owing to economic blockade and are exploring options for exporting their produce to other part of Kashmir - Muzaffarbad .

“It is we who are at the receiving end. Let them permanently stop the road to Jammu and open the Muzaffarbad road,” said President, All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Union, Manzoor Ahmad Kanoon.

He said almost 200 trucks laden with sheep are stranded waiting to be allowed to enter the valley.

Meanwhile administrators of the Trade Federation have also voiced the support for opening of Muzaffarbad road raising apprehensions that the road to Jammu is an important route that could be blocked again in future.

“We are in favour of the Srinagar –Muzaffarbad road opening,” said Chairman, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KMTF) Jaan Muhammad Koul.

He said that cores of rupees have already been paid by the traders to the MNC’s as advance via Telegraphy Transfer (TT) while the goods are stranded on the highway and most of which has been looted or vandalized.

“Traders have taken loans. Interest rates have upped. Our lives are getting ruined. Jammuites have shown their original colour. We are suffering heavy losses and they are directly responsible for it,” he added.

Advocating that Muzaffarbad road be opened for trade, he said that Mughal Road too should be opened as there is no guarantee that “these people won’t block Srinagar-Jammu highway again.”

“Hindutva forces are hell bent to destroy our economy and needs. It is better that Muzaffarbad road be opened so that we could get our imports from there,” the KMTF Chairman said.

He said that the blockade has affected the valleyites the most since 80 percent of the imports from MNC’s are consumed in the valley while only 20 percent of it is used in the Jammu region where the MNC’s have their depots.

“We are ready to seek opening of Muzaffarbad road,” he further added.

Blockade effect: State exchequer to lose 10 cr every month if fuel import stops

2008-08-12T19:17:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5555&Itemid=41

Baba Umar
Srinagar July 30:

At a time when economic blockades to the valley by various Hindu social, political, and religious groups in Jammu have become frequent, experts on Wednesday warned that the State exchequer could lose more than 10 crore every month due to non realization of sales tax on different fuel products.

“The State nearly collects Rs 34 lakh as sales tax per day from sale of several fuel products. Any discrepancy in the supplies would cost the State dear,” an industry expert said.

With 20 percent, 12 percent and 4 percent sales tax levied on petrol, diesel, and LPG, the valley motorists and households contribute more than Rs 125 crore as sales tax on the three commodities annually, however, experts indicate that any inconsistency in the supplies, would amount to huge loss for the State exchequer.

“The State collects sales tax of Rs 12.00 on every litre of petrol, Rs 4.59 per litre of diesel and Rs 14 on every LPG gas cylinder. If for instance the supplies impede and were never retrieved, one could imagine the loss to the State exchequer,” the expert added.

In Valley alone, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC) sells 40,000 litres of petrol, 1,00,000 litres of diesel and nearly 13,000 gas cylinders a day to the valley customers while as Bharat Petroleum trades 36,000 litres of petrol, 100,000 litres of diesel, and nearly 833 LPG cylinders to the valley households. And the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sells 70,000 litres of petrol and 1, 50, 000 litres of diesel and nearly 626 LPG cylinders a day.

However, experts said that the consumers and the traders related to the industry need not worry as the State cannot afford to lose such huge money. They said that the valley would keep on getting supplies it is supposed to obtain.

“Our fuel consumption means quite a good sales tax to the state exchequer, almost around Rs 1,27,01,32,110 a year. The government cannot afford to lose a penny from this amount. So believing that economic blockade would result in less or no consumption of fuel is absurd,” noted Economist, Prof Nissar Ali told Rising Kashmir.

He said what politicians fear cannot happen in reality as there is no chance of fuel supplies being stopped to the valley because it will hit the export agencies severely.

“No matter what comes, the valley would get its share of fuel supplies,” he said.

Furnishing details, he said that all the three regions of the State are importing around 83 crores litres of fuel supplies and out of this the Valley’s and Ladakh’s share jointly accounts for 60 percent of the total demand.

“It is fruitless even to believe that fuel supplies would be permanently cut off. We must remember that economic forces are stronger than any other pressure,” he said.

He said the valley including the Jammu region gets 96 percent of the commodities through imports and it would be useless to assume that fuel supplies would stop.

“Our demand of fuel commodities is high. Not only that, the survival of agencies who export these commodities to the State will be at stake and the government will not allow some thing like this to happen,” the economist added.

Nearly 13.4 crore litres of petrol, 36.6 crore litres of diesel, 18.00 crore of Mobil oil and 14.8 crore litres of Kerosene oil is imported into the State annually, besides nearly 14000 LPG cylinders are consumed daily in the valley.

He said the delayed supply is always salvaged.

“Almost 49.68 crore litres of the total supply is consumed in the valley and Ladakh, which can in no way be stopped. No doubt the supply will see a temporary stoppage due to problems in maintaining the law and order on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, but once the situation improves, the delayed supply will be recovered,” he said.

Meanwhile trade bodies too have asked the valleyites not to be anxious on the blockade on the Srinagar –Jammu highway.

“There is nothing to worry; trucks laden with fuel are coming to the valley and it will never stop,” President, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Shakeel Qalander told Rising Kashmir.

“The blockade is temporary,” he added.

Officials of the Sales Tax department too said that the valley is not running short of fuel and hence the supposed sales tax generated every day is intact.

“We have enough fuel as of now. No shortage has been reported so far,” Sales Tax Commissioner, Bashir Ahmad told Rising Kashmir.

Even the Chairman, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KMTF), M S Baqqal had already maintained that the blockade will not last for more than a week.

“It means losses worth crores of rupees to people, especially traders and businessmen in Jammu and outside,” he had said.

Lone at Night

2008-07-19T18:10:00.003+05:30

Just two decades back the shouts and yells of ‘wane raechh’ (men to guard shops) at night were common, at least, in the markets like Maharaj Gunj, Zaina Kadal or Lal Chowk. Baba Umar profiles one such person from Sarai-Bala

Hoshiyaaar, Khabardaar, he shouts at the top of his voice.

In the dead of chilly night, even his shadow doesn’t walk beside him. On the dusty two-way street, it is him and the heart within that move. His shouts and shrieks accompanied by the shrill of his whistle makes the night silence more pronounced. With a long and strong bamboo stick in hand, his fearsome appearance is enough to scare away those with ill intentions.Sixty-year-old Mehraj-ud-din Lone strolls side to side the vacant streets of Magarmal Bagh near exhibition that lies opposite Sarai Bala, Srinagar. His job is to guard a row of 50 shops. He is supposed to keep the burglars away. He was approached by the shop owners for help few months back, when thieves had broken into a shop. He agreed to offer his service to ensure that no nocturnal shoplifts happen in the area. He himself hails from Sarai-Bala.

Visibly flabby but tough from inside, Lone passes shop by shop, inspects the shutters and locks, till he reaches the sand-bunker housing troops that has been erected since long at the other extreme of the lane. “The troopers know that I’ve been in this job from the past five months,” he says as he lights a cigarette and unwraps the small brown toffee. “I enjoy these toffees.”Turning back from the lane-end, he re-looks all the locks with his long bamboo stick. He frequently beats it on the ground and iron shutters. He carries a high beam German made torch that helps him trace things in the pitch black environs. He whistles and runs towards a vehicle that stopped near a shop just few meters away. “Let me check who this is,” he leaps.“Everything is okay, it was police.” He says thumping the stick on an electric pole.

Donned in rubber boots, and the traditional Pheran, he hates nothing but cold. He has collected remnants of the coppice left over by the fruit vendors in the day. And he uses it for bonfire after 12 in the night.“It is very cold in the nights, so I warm myself with the little wood I find on the road edges,” Lone says.Lone’s night job starts from six in the evening and lasts until the muezzin calls people for the morning prayers. Throughout, he says, he doesn’t eat but keeps vigil across the row of shops, from one corner to another. “Dinner would leave me drowsy and I won’t be able to do justice with my job,” he says. "The shopkeepers pay me Rs 3000 month for being awake and alert in the nights," he smiles and raises a shout.

The night ends when he retires from the empty street for morning prayers, but his job doesn’t end there. Being a poor husband of an ailing wife besides father of two children, he has to work during the days also.“By profession I am a carpenter. I retired after 40 years of service few moths ago. Since I used to get only 4000 as salary, I had to do something after my retirement, that’s why I opted for the night job,” Lone says.

Lone used to work as a carpenter in the Joinery Mill at Pampore. With no pension after the retirement he was left with no option other than to work. And this made him to stand guard on these chillingly deserted streets near his house at Sarai Bala.“After I pray in the Iqra Masjid, I take a nap for three hours and then again I search for more work,” Lone says. Having so little time for a sleep does not stop him from dreaming. He too nurtures dreams and desires for the future fortunes of his beloved children. Though he finds little time for his wife and children, but he never fails in his duty as a responsible family head. He works against all the odds of his age and times. And with his daughter studying in primary classes and his son in 12th class, Lone’s responsibilities are increasing with each passing day.His hard earned money seems to fetch its value well as according to him both of his children are good at studies. He wishes to make his daughter a doctor and his son a police officer. “I wish my son becomes a top rung police official,” he adds.

While the people of the area lay fast asleep, Lone is on guard and shouts intermittently throughout the night. However, this job of his irks many. There have been complaints by the residents, especially women, that his shouts in the dead of night scare children. They also complain that he is sort of terror for the heart patients. “Weeks back some elders called on me. They said I should stop my work. ‘But will you help keep the burglars out of bay.’ I asked them and they left,” Lone says.Lone had heard his friend saying that people abuse and talk foul about him for disturbing them during their sleep. But it doesn’t shake him. He prefers to be silent about these complaints. “Even my relatives have stopped visiting me,” he says calmly. “Isn’t my profession at par with anybody else’s,” he asks.

Besides keeping a vigil on the shops he has a good eye on the current state of affairs too. He wishes that the oppression and bloodshed stop immediately. “When I was working in Pampore, troopers brought two youth from somewhere and both of them were shot dead. Next day I heard troops claiming that they killed two militants after an encounter,” he recalls. Lone says that he is waiting for the day when troops would withdraw and complete prosperity would return to Kashmir.“I am sixty now and I wish to see that day before my death,” he prays.

Suddenly he runs after some shadow-like appearance that moves stealthily on the other side of the street shouting “Hoshiyaaar, Khabardaar…...”

Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimarron

2008-07-06T18:31:00.007+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4902&Itemid=66
Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimarron

Baba Umar

Bodies can be leashed not the souls. For freedom is the song of souls. Liberty is to souls as flight is to birds. This is exactly what Dream work's Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimarron is all about. Employing the daring struggle of a wild horse, who loves freedom more than his life, as the metaphor of liberty and freedom; the animation film has wonderfully portrayed the essence of life that is instinctive in its origin and appeal across species inhabiting this wonderful planet.

The horse in action we come to see is Spirit, who right from birth challenges his seniors while racing down the meadows. He loves to drink water from a water body beside the herd of giant wild Bison. And when he grows up, he leads the Cimarron herd against all odds.

Spirit becomes a prey of his own inquisitiveness, when a needless exploration, miles down the American cowboy campfire, earns him a lariat around his neck and the riders take the unwilling animal over the army camp for labour. He loses his freedom for inquisitiveness.The alien people and place shocks Spirit. He regrets his decision to have come down from green slopes. And after seeing thousands of his likes roped and obeying their riders; his remorse deepens.

Man, as usual is known to be mean to horses. Likewise, the army's immediate reaction is to break down Spirit’s toughness. They starve him, accuse him of being disruptive when the defiant, determined Spirit bucks, kicks and throws rider after rider out of the square field where horses are beaten and rode by force. Apparently, they must have been erring for taking spirit as a novice.

However, the cavalry's leader (voice of James Cromwell) is a tough nut. But his order that a detained Red Indian be tied to a post with Spirit and kept without any food or water for three days turn into a bad scheme. The caged join forces and manage their escape thudding across the prairie grasslands while the cavalrymen bite their dust.

The Red Indian (voice of Daniel Studi), is the Spirit's new captor. Giving the name Spirit to his new animal, he teaches the stallion the doctrine of compromise and the power of love. Not with a man, but with a foxy blonde, blue-eyed mare —the Red Indian's friend.

While the love between two animals starts to germinate, Spirit longs to go back to his herd. However, an attack on the village by the cavalrymen puts the stallion to run again. The troops ransack through the village and leave Spirit's new girl dying in the roaring stream. Spirit manages to save his mate, but again finds himself caught up.

Next day, he is sent by train far away from his homeland to a countryside mountain where thousands of other horses are slogging with government laborers to construct a transcontinental railroad. Spirit is forced to join the band.

A time in the plot for exaggeration comes. With 'Rambo' style, Spirit dodges a bomb; neutralize a section of soldiers and gets away from a locomotive engine he just toppled. Not only he frees himself but also the horses, who had been forced to toil, escape in the jungles.Little red Indian also appears in the scene and helps him run away from the place.

All the shots are rousing, packed with action and amazingly animated.

However, the cavalry leader chases the fugitives atop a mountain where on one side a wide stream parts the two ridges and on the other side cavalrymen draw closer the duo.Spirit's perseverance filled with freedom to ramble again on the prairies takes him to the other ridge of the mountain with a mid air long jump along with the red Indian (the scene, which would later, become the cover picture of the film DVD's).

While one of the cavalrymen aims his gun on the escapees, the team leader stops him. He has realized the power of those who want to remain free of shackles. He nods towards the Spirit from this side to show that by coercion nothing can be tamed for long.

Stunningly tinted in picturesque sunset and columbine countryside watercolors, both the directors, Lorna Cook and Kelly Asbury had tried to explore a lyrical style of story written by John Fusco, utilizing music of Bryan Adams (Here I am kind of a) and a bare narration by Matt Damon to take on the plot.

It is a real treat to watch the juxtaposition of narrative with the cutting edge technology of visual medium that sparks a creative synergy between the story and its expression. And the mesmerizing special effects add proverbial icing to the visual cake of Spirit’s animation.

The animation film, which has performed exceptionally well across the Hollywood, is really an elegant, enjoyable film for movie lovers. However, this telling-tale of freedom and its costs holds a special charm for all those who dream about freedom very often but are yet to taste it and experience its spirit.

Love in Saudi Arabia

2008-07-05T19:51:00.004+05:30

May 12, 2008, 3:10 pm
Q&A: Love in Saudi Arabia
By Robert Mackey

As part of our series on young people in the Islamic world, Generation Faithful, this week we have published two articles on love and romance in Saudi Arabia; one about young men, by Michael Slackman and the other about young women, by Katherine Zoepf.
To broaden the discussion of the series, we have established an Arabic-language blog, to allow readers in the Middle East to read, and comment on, the articles. Here in the Majlis, we solicited questions from readers on the romantic lives of young people in the Kingdom for Ms. Zoepf and Amelie Le Renard, a French scholar who is working on a study of young women in Riyadh.
Here are answers from Ms. Zoepf and Ms. Le Renard to a selection of reader questions.

Q. May I know whether the girls felt safe and respected while in abayas?— Umar (Kashmir–South Asia)
A. Of course, it’s very difficult to make generalizations about any country, especially one as large and diverse as Saudi Arabia. But the vast majority of the young women I interviewed in several major Saudi cities told me that they liked their abayas and felt comfortable, respected, and protected while wearing them.
There were a handful of exceptions. I met a 20-year-old aspiring model who chafed at the requirement to cover her hair, and I met teenagers who told me that they yearned to wear colors. But more common were the students and busy young mothers who raved about the convenience of the abaya, how in a pinch they could throw it on over pajamas or old clothes and be fully dressed within seconds. Many fashionable young women also see their abayas as key accessories; Riyadh’s malls are full of high-end abaya stores where an elegant abaya-and-scarf set sells for $400 or more.— Katherine Zoepf
Q. It is obvious from the article that the Saudi teens have access to western music, movies and books. How does the contrast between their lives and the western world affect them? Also, what do they really think of teens and their behavior in the western world? Are their feelings of envy or disgust?— Sarah
A. Though there are no movie theaters in Saudi Arabia, and many conservative Saudi young people told me that they try to avoid listening to music, most of the Saudi teenagers I interviewed were quite familiar with Western movies and television shows. Their feelings about these movies and shows varied greatly, and it is enormously difficult to generalize. But most of the young people I met seemed very proud of their country and its history and confident in their culture and traditions. Though they enjoyed movies and television shows from other countries, I didn’t hear many expressions of envy for the lives of Western teenagers. The Saudi young people I met simply did not seem especially interested in living like the characters they had come to know from Western media.
The teenagers I met also seemed, by and large, perfectly comfortable with cultural relativism: they did not see it as a problem that they lived very differently from most Westerners or that most Westerners lived very differently from them.— Katherine Zoepf

Q. If Saudi women are not permitted to drive, who is behind the wheel when “numbering” occurs? I can’t imagine that anyone, in any country in the world, would think this practice safe or acceptable, especially when it’s accompanied by statements like this one from Ms. Zoepf’s supplementary article:
“Sometimes the girls get really scared, there are so many cars chasing them. Sometimes they’re in their car, crying and screaming for us to go away. It’s fun to make girls angry.” I thought the goal was to protect women.—Helen Pfeffer
A. Labor imported from developing countries is cheap in Saudi Arabia. A driver from the Philippines or Sri Lanka may earn as little as $400 per month, I was told, and even relatively poor Saudi families frequently employ servants to perform tasks, like driving, grocery shopping, or serving male guests, that Saudi social mores discourage local women from performing. So, young women from middle income families are usually driven around the city by chauffeurs, and when I went out numbering with the group of young Saudi men, the young men looked specifically for girls with chauffeurs. At one point, actually, I pointed out a couple of girls in the back of a car and asked why the young men I was with weren’t giving chase. They looked at me like I was crazy. “Can’t you see they’re with their father?” they asked. It was literally unthinkable for them to chase, to “number” girls who were accompanied by a father or brother. To do so would be a violation of the other man’s honor, and could lead to a fight or worse.— Katherine Zoepf
Q. When a Saudi girl is sent abroad to go to school, how does she feel when she returns? How do her relatives feel, now that she has become more “westernized”?— Cynthia
A. Again, it is hard to generalize about a country as large and diverse as Saudi Arabia, and I certainly met a number of women who had studied abroad. But most of these women had studied abroad after they had married (in some cases as young as 17 or 18), or while they were living with their families abroad. It is still very rare, I was told, for a Saudi family to allow an unmarried daughter to live and study overseas on her own.
The Saudi government gives scholarships for young people of both sexes to study overseas, but when an unmarried girl receives such a scholarship, the government requires a mahram (a male member of her immediate family - that is to say, a father, brother, or son) to travel with her and to live with her while she is studying abroad. I was told that some families are finding ways to circumvent this rule (having a brother travel with the girl abroad, then coming straight home and leaving her overseas, for example), but that this is still rare. The mahram rule is a real problem for many Saudi girls. If a girl receives a scholarship, but doesn’t have any male relatives available to travel with her (say her father works full-time, and her brothers aren’t old enough), she must usually give up her chance to study overseas.— Katherine Zoepf
Q. What are the consequences of violating rules that separate the sexes? Which are social norms, met with social disapproval when violated; which are laws, met with more serious consequences if not followed?— Sam
A. In Saudi Arabia as in other societies, it is necessary to distinguish between different norms: laws, religious teachings, but also unwritten norms such as social norms, familial norms, etc. For example, some Saudi women criticize some familial norms or even some laws in the name of religious teachings. In other words, women negotiate with the various norms they are subject to — and they negotiate in different ways, according to their social contexts and opinions.
About the separation between the sexes, it is stated by laws and codes, but the latter are changing, especially concerning workplaces. For example, more and more Saudi young women work in banks; some of them work in women-only workplaces, some others in mixed workplaces, with specific rest areas for women. Of course women have differentviews and preferences on this question, too: some of them prefer to work in women-only environments, some others in mixed environments.
A lot of considerations are taken into account into this kind of choice, including reputation; for this purpose, people have to conform to the most widespread behaviors, at least in public places. But the perception of what behaviors are considered correct is changing. For example, Saudi women’s work in hospitals — a workplace mixed between the sexes and also between social backgrounds — is more and more considered “normal.” And, at the same time, some behaviors that were normal before — such as women walking in the streets — have become bad considered in the big cities, except in some specific places.
So norms concerning the separation between the sexes are coming from diverse sources; their application differs according to place; norms are not fixed but changing; and people (women and men) have different ways of embodying and negotiating with these norms.— Amelie Le Renard
Q. How do young Saudis think of their current situation, in terms of the long duration of Saudi Arabian history? To elaborate, do they view society’s current rules as more strict than in the past, less strict, or unchanged? How do they foresee the future of Saudi society: Do they see changes in either direction? Do they themselves want changes in either direction and/or will they work for those changes?— Caroline
A. It is difficult to answer this question because of course, young people (women and men) have different views on the current situation. Some think society should be more Islamic, some think rules should be less strict. Besides, people are not allowed to form associations or trade unions, so there is no organized social movement asking for change, though there are (informal) Islamist movements.
About the perception of history, configurations have changed very quickly after the development of the state and the oil boom (1973), which has engendered very rapid urbanization, the development of salaried work, and consumption society. A lot of people magnify the ancient times, for the simplicity of life and tribal values, but at the same time they would not come back to it, for life was very difficult and people were very poor.— Amelie Le Renard
Q.How can Saudis justify not letting women drive cars?— Sandy
A. The question of car driving has become a symbol of how Westerners interfere in national questions and criticize Saudi rules. It makes the debate very complicated, because every person speaking against the ban is accused of being with Western — and especially American — imperialism. There have been petitions by women to obtain the right to drive cars and petitions by other women against the right to drive cars and the “Westernization” of Saudi Arabia.
During private conversations with Saudi women, a lot of them thought the ban on driving had no religious base, but they were used to it and would not ask for the end of the ban. A lot of them said they feared there would be problems of harassment from young men if women were to drive, which reveals their own perception of the city and public spaces.
Women are not equal under the ban on driving. Rich Saudi women have drivers, and the ones who suffer most from the ban are the women who cannot afford to pay for a driver. There is no public transportation in Riyadh, and unless they pay for a punctual driver, which is expensive too, women are dependent on men of their family, which alsomeans that brothers often spend their whole daytime driving their sisters to school, university, work, etc. Working women usually spend a non-negligible part of their salary on transportation.— Amelie Le Renard

KASHMIR STRIKES FIRST VICTORY

2008-07-03T15:58:00.000+05:30

Valley abuzz with celebrations after Govt surrenders on land transfer

Baba Umar
Srinagar, July 1:

Thousands of people danced to drumbeats, brandished torches and burst crackers in heart of the city at Lal Chowk this evening as a Jubilant-crowd celebrated what they termed as “a giant step towards liberation of Kashmir.”

The ecstatic people from across the city danced and chanted "Azadi, Azadi…" at the Ghanta Ghar pedestal (Clock Tower) before hoisting two JKLF flags atop the tower and hanging a cable of fire crackers around it.

JKLF leader Yasin Malik, Hurriyat leaders Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Zafar Akbar Bhat led the euphoric rally which included children, women and elderly people towards the city centre.

“It is just a piece of land we have managed to retrieve. Imagine the magnitude of celebrations when Kashmir would get freedom,” said delighted Nazir Ahmad who had come all the way from Eidgah along with his six friends to celebrate the event at the city centre.

The sounds of cheering and sloganeering near the Lal Chowk where people gathered mixed with those of firecrackers and torches that were followed by a long demonstration towards Jehangir Chowk, one of the city's main arteries and which leads to Batamaloo and inner city areas.

The crowd booed the government, lauded those who were injured or died in the nine-day protests and repeated unabatedly pro-Kashmiri and anti-Indian slogans.

“O, Kashmir we gave our blood for you, we will set you free from the chains of slavery,” a passionate elderly man cried as he waved a torch towards the sky.

Many were wrapped in the green flag; some wore the green and white shirts, and had their fingers forming ‘V’ meaning victory. “Soon we will liberate Kashmir exactly the way we liberated the Baltal land,” protestors chanted, while they danced around a bonfire of crackers with the smoke enveloping the air.

Even in the old city, at Seki Dafar, a large gathering of mostly youngsters danced to pro Kashmiri slogans at a dazzling roadside. They also lit candles in a never-seen before pattern forming “KASHMIR” on the road.

“Yeh Cha Azadi Hinz Maenz Raat” they chanted as the candle light glittered their costume and faces. “Change is in the air”, Azadi, Azadi” they kept on repeating.

People who relentlessly protested for past nine days were abuzz with freedom chants and vows with many of them saying that the first day of this month is historic.

“July 1 is historic. We must celebrate this day forever,” said a shopkeeper at the Bohri Kadal where young children had gathered in swarms booing the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad hastily.

In the up town, Rambagh, people came out of their houses and celebrated the day even as Paramilitary CRPF and police watched the excited crowd jeering them and sloganeering in favour of freedom.

“We want freedom”,” Down with India”, chanted the jubilant crowd.

Pedestrians and drivers were seen distributing money among the children for buying crackers.

In Chanapora, Kashmiri Sikhs led a massive procession of Muslims and Sikhs echoing a joint slogan “Jis Kashmir Ko Khoon Se Seecha Wo Kashmir Hamara Hai” during the celebration gatherings in the streets.

Later Hurriyat leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Zafar Akbar Bhat addressed the crowd before it dispersed.

Reports of celebrations also came form other parts of the city which included Rainawari, Khanyar, Eidgah, Zaina Kadal, Karn Nagar, Batamaloo, Magrarmal Bagh, Safa Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Chanapora, Rawalppra, Brazullah, Bagaat, Hyderpora and all other city peripheries.

In North Kashmir’s Kupwara, Bandipora, Sopore people came out on streets beating drums, singing Azadi and revolutionary songs as the news regarding the revocation of land transfer spread.

People in Budgam, Pulwama, Islamabad, Shopian, Kulgam and other districts also celebrated the cabinet decision of revoking the land transfer in the similar fashion.

Reports from Kupwara said that as soon as the news about the revocation of the controversial land transfer order spread, hundreds of youth came out of their houses and bursted numerous crackers amidst pro-freedom slogans.

The people also staged a candle light show to mark the ‘victory’. Men, women, and children were jubilant.

The news about Government revoking the land transfer order to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) triggered spontaneous celebrations across the Valley on Tuesday evening. While Action Committee Against Land Transfer (ACALT) called people to resume normal work from Wednesday and separatist leaders termed the revocation of order as Peoples’ victory.
Valley celebrates

Resume normal work from today: ACALT
Chairman Action Committee Against Land Transfer (ACALT) Mian Qayoom on Tuesday called off the protests and appealed masses to celebrate the first win and resume their normal activities from Wednesday.

“Its time to celebrate as government has cancelled the May 26 land transfer order and we have won our first war,” Mian Qayoom told a hurriedly called a press conference here.

Qayoom asked the people to celebrate this win by lighting candles and expressing their happiness with enthusiasm and valor.

Reacting on the statement of BJP, Bajrang Dal and other parties in Jammu regarding blockade of supllies to Kashmir Valley, Qayoom said “We should accept the challenge and try to become self reliant, self sufficient rather than depending on them.”

Qayoom also said that the statement of oil tanker association that they will not send oil to Kashmir is condemnable.
The ACALT Chairman while referring to the recent statement of Hilal War about non-locals should leave the Valley said, “Hilal sahib should reconsider his statement at this juncture. Our hundreds of youth are in India besides so many agencies are working here at this point of time.”

Qayoom thanked both the factions of Hurriyat Conference for their utmost support. He also expressed gratitude for their unrelenting support.Qayoom also thanked the mediamen for covering the issue and standing firm while performing their professional duties.

Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik hail people
Chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday termed the revocation of land transfer order as Peoples’ victory.

Syed Ali Geelani while lauding the people of Kashmir said, “People have shown that sentiment is alive and we are not going to surrender at any level. This is the victory of blood of martyrs.”

Geelani said that people should show same kind of resilience in coming elections by not casting their votes. “This is for the first time New Delhi bowed down before Kashmiris and this is just a start of our successes. They cannot jeopardize us on the basis of power and force.”

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “This is the result of sacrifices and we at this point of time have to be united against every odd. We need this sort of cooperation from people in future for our ultimate goal as well.”

JKLF Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik said, “ This is Peoples’ victory. This movement was led by the people and they have proved that masses can bring any revolution. I congratulate the people of Kashmir for remaining firm on their resolve.”

“This is for the first time since 1947 that Government has changed any of its decisions. This uprising should serve as an eye opener for the entire world. We salute the people of Kashmir.”

Malik hailed the militant leadership for staying away from the uprising and allowing people to go ahead on their own. “No one can crush peoples movement,” he added.

EYEING THE EVEREST

2008-07-01T18:59:00.002+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4176&Itemid=66

Kashmir by its mountainous geography beckons the audacious and adventurous from all over the world. Baba Umar talks to Shawket Putoo, who claims to have led expeditions to the first two base camps of Mount Everest. He wants to make it to the summit one day.

Just wee before Sonamarg in the lap of nature, on the green rug are pitched eight blue-coloured small octagonal tents. Tucked alongside the fork that takes the road to famous Thajiwas Glaciers, these tents stand opposite to the sparkling stream (Sindh) that gushes forth along the frills of a vast sloppy meadow, carpeted by lush green, where sheep graze in thousands.

Outside these tents, Shawket Putoo, a Kashmiri to have led any expeditions to the initial base camps of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, sits relaxed. He is enjoying the warmth of the big orange sun that has just emerged from the Himalayan ranges.

Donning sports gear, Shawket, a stout bearded man with red-cheeks and furrowed brow, leads the team of 'Highland Excursion Pvt Ltd', an offshoot group of the Australian adventure sports firm 'World Expeditions'.These days his team guides the incoming tourists for rafting in the Sindh and Zorbing or Sphereing (an adventure sports wherein a person rolls back and forth in a huge round ball, generally made of transparent plastic).

"It is a new concept here, but people are picking up," says Shawket, as he sips coffee, while a young man rolls (spheres) down the green slopes.

Having mastered each kind of adventure sports and a hardcore travel aficionado, Shawket says, it was Kashmir that injected a strong passion in him. Containing the elements of thrill and action, adventure sports lured and won him over.

"I was born at a place which fascinates everyone. Kashmir stimulated in me a desire…a desire to conquer Himalayas. And play amid its passes," he says.

Born in the Srinagar city's Khanyar area, Shawket had his primary studies from Biscoe School. Refusing to be in civil service, as per his parents’ wishes, he chose to become a fashion designer, for time being. He still carries an I-Card reading his designation at the Govt Women’s Polytechnic, Bemina where he would teach fashion designing from the year 2003 to 2006. Still then, expeditions and countryside adventures remained there as his first love.

Spending most of his time in the several rafting and skiing events that happened across India, the autumn of the year 2006 ultimately brought him near the giant Mount Everest. Shawket led an expeditionary team to Everest.

"That was an amazing experience," he says with a glint of pride.

However, after passing the first base camp journey ended at the base camp 2.Shawket couldn’t make it to the summit that year. It costs around 20 lakh rupees to reach the summit. His company had hired him for the first two base camps, which are more than 6,000 m above sea level.

"Thereafter the company had Sherpa's to accompany," he says.

In school, Shawket had trekked to Mahadev and after some more years, he says, he trekked to Kolahai, Annapurna Daulagari, Everest Circuit and Gokyo Lakes—all in Himalayas and more than 20 days of snowy treks. Even he has skied with the famous Australian skier and Everest Climber Nick Farr, several times. However, Everest is what he is vying for. But not alone, he wishes to carry both of his children along with him.

"Insha Allah (God willing), one day, I will kiss the Everest peak with my children," he says confidently.

And once on the tip, unlike others, Shawket will not be pitching any flag or a memento, but he will do something bizarre.

"I will change my clothes, ignite fire in my Kangri and will put on Pheran, for a while there," Shawket says with poise, hoping it won't amount to polluting the space.

Shawket believes himself to be a child of this planet and the whole world a playground for him. Wherever he wishes he wants to show up, anytime.For major part of the year, the nature lover stays outside his home. He hardly gets time to visit his family, however, he says, it has hardly affected any relationship.

"My dad knows me. He understands my profession and my likings. Even the lady, I got married to, was told much before the nuptials that the person would spend most of time in the jungles and mountains," Shawket says smilingly.

While he talks, his colleague, Joti from Nepal, complains of pain in the abdomen and ribs. Shawket hands over him some tablets and advices him to have tea and take rest.Joti's condition takes Shawket back in time when he was also badly wounded during Parasailing over the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

"I was actually following a Parasailing world record," he says.

Shawket talks about the summer of 1998 when he tried to create a world record by trying to claim an unaided 330 feet freefall from a parachute over the lake, which risked his life, as the attempt turned out to be unrecorded and he was injured seriously in the challenge.

"Everything was going as planned. But as the boat pulled me up, a sudden jerk off-loaded me in midair detaching the rope from the boat," he says.

The camera person on board who was recording the whole event had Shawket in the frame initially but the jerk caused imbalance and he lost his control. Shawket was out of frame now. Upwards, Shawket was hovering over the Lake and under the impression that everything is being recorded. And as soon as he left the parachute, the upward pull kept him suspended for about a second midair. That was challenging.

"And then I came down like a rocket," he says with jaws dropped.

The contact with water surface was so firm that it sent a splash of water in air with the diver successful in his feat. However, Shawket was fished out unconscious. He had his eardrums ruptured, a mid rib broken and chest profusely bleeding. And to his absolute shock later, nothing was recorded.He was successful in creating a record, but he needed to prove it through a camera. He was nowhere in the frame. Shawket did not try the heroics next time. He was sad. Not because he had evaded death angel, but his life-risking effort couldn't get recognition due to the technical failure.

Visibly disturbed over the event but content deep downwards, Shawket scratches his head, and sips his coffee which has turned cold. And the conversation again begins with a cup of tea.

"I am mad about two things; adventure and coffee —my permanent companions," he says.

Afterwards, as the sun starts descending, a reddish-orange hue permeates the skies beyond the mountains that stand guard on the rims of the Sonamarg valley. And the shadows of tents begin lengthening till they permanently disappear, while the shepherds hoot their herds down the slopes.

"Pack up boys," Shawket calls, followed by his colleagues winding up the raft boat and rolling the plastic sphere back.With a yawn and strange stare on the tip of mountain that has turned crimson red, Shawket says that expedition over these mountains is never an easy going.

Adventures really kick you in the stomach and you have no option but to feed on grass and many things. "Or perhaps it's the adventure of using water can for three days during a wild blizzard outside your tent," he says.

"But this all takes you to be a special person."

Soon the night shows up with a full moon. The clear sky allows one to see the peaks in their nightwear-- all blue and silver in the moonlight. Shortly the silence wraps up Sonamarg valley and everything around becomes soundless except Sindh.

WRITING STUNT

Even when Shawket was in Fashion Designing, so much was he into the job that he managed to write a dictionary on the fashion designing terminology. The first of its kind in Kashmir and India according to him; 'A-Z of Fashion' was its name. It was supposed to get published from Prentice Hall, a New Jersey based publisher of academic and reference textbooks and technology. He didn't publish it because he left his job in the polytechnic and joined the Highland Excursions; the profession his heart always desired.

Sensation Sans Sensibility

2008-03-27T11:23:00.003+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1696&Itemid=66

Sensationalism is the result of 24x7 media, overselling the news. Baba Umar evaluates the diverse treatment of the release of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh received in various media.

World is flat; this neo-capitalist perception may not be true for the whole globe but the statement holds water in the context of Kashmiris. Theirs has been a real flat world that has been time and again razed to ground along with centuries old aspirations and dreams.

Kashmiris are massacred whenever Indians perceive them as threat to their “territorial integrity”. Even Pakistan leaves them in the dock as a matter of exigency. Indians ridicule Kashmiris and back out from promises whenever they get a feel of having consolidated their position on ground. Between these two extremes no effort is spared to hurt, demoralize and demonize Kashmiri people. Kashmir, in a way, has turned out to be a project for the India’s national consciousness of which army, politicians, media and intellectuals are just active participants.

That is why recently when Kashmir Singh, a spy, released from Pakistani jail after 35 years, headline experts of several news agencies, newspapers, radio and television invoked their creative instincts to come up with something sensational. Nationalistic venom, Journalistic freedom, or creativity—call it anything, but valleyites believe that, in a veiled reference 'Kashmir' was made a butt of jokes. Media men came up with sensational headlines, which apparently were directed more towards Pakistan but hit the ‘national pride’ of Kashmiris, consciously, in the process of news blitz. ‘Pakistan hands over Kashmir to India’ was how United News of India (UNI) break news. 'India gets Kashmir back from Pak' read The Times of India issue. Pak returns Kashmir to India—flashed CNN-IBN and many more news media organizations following suit.

But apart from creativity, many believe that it was just another day of selling news while sensationalizing Kashmir. "These headlines are quite catchy, they just tried to add salt and pepper to sell their news—but again I feel sad to see the bartering of 'Kashmir' between India and Pakistan," says, Zahid, a media student from the Kashmir University. "The creativity is there, but these headlines were actually aimed to lampoon Kashmir.""If you try to draw out denotations from these headlines it clearly indicates favoritism on the part of copy editors," chips in another KU student. He says his jaws dropped on seeing papers declare "freedom of Kashmir from Pakistan" in their headlines. "When was Kashmir the part of either of these two countries?" he asks fiercely. "They could have added 'Singh' with the initial name, but they gave it a definite slant as if we were their property," he adds. Because Kashmir Singh's initial name is also the name of a region—Kashmir that is divided between India and Pakistan, and both of whom claim whole of it as their own part, media, mostly Indian had a good fun-time playing with the word.“Whenever the two countries have to settle their score, Kashmir always comes handy for both. And this is what we as Kashmiris have to think with utmost seriousness and then devise any forward movement”, says a University lecturer.

'Kashmir back from Pakistan after 35 years', NDTV ran as Breaking News, while other channels flashed 'India gets Kashmir from Pakistan after 35 years' as headline. Then there is a web portal news www. webindia123.com that pasted 'Pakistan returns Kashmir to India' on its home page. Daily News and Analysis (DNA) wrote 'Cheers & tears as Pak hands over Kashmir'.

"Kashmir is a scoop for news makers in both the countries—but the irony is news makers played with the sentiments of more than 10 million souls of J&K," said Fazal Ahmad, who runs a mobile phone shop in the city's Hari Singh High Street (HSHS). He says these headlines don't suggest Kashmir Singh as a free person, rather, in the present context it is clearly referred to the Kashmir region being ‘handover’ by Pakistan to India.

Many people believe that the name Kashmir Singh has been deliberately confused with the Kashmir only to get attention and improve audience attendance. "What if tomorrow any person with the name Bharat dies—shall they run, 'Bharat is no more’ as a headline," fumes Mohammed Rafiq Parray, a fan of NDTV and Times of India. He says the local press has been successful in upholding all the ethics of report writing and he didn't expect such headlines from these two media agencies.

Not only the locals, senior journalists and media men think that such organizations have undermined the journalism ethics and these headlines come in the ambit of "perverse journalism"."This is a bad journalism," says senior journalist of the valley and BBC Srinagar correspondent, Altaf Hussain. "To me it is a perverse journalism which is intended to oversell news."

HEADLINES:

Pakistan hands over Kashmir to India------UNI

Kashmir back from Pakistan after 35 years--- NDTV

Cheers & tears as Pak hands over Kashmir---DNA

Pak returns Kashmir to India, raises hopes----CNN-IBN

Pakistan returns Kashmir to India----www.news.webindia123.com

India gets Kashmir from Pakistan after 35 years----- CNN IBN

India gets Kashmir back from Pak---- The Times of India

Kashmir Azad Hogaya-----BBC Urdu

Jashn-e-Azadi

2008-03-03T20:36:00.001+05:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSnVVlX0ZNU

2008-02-27T21:19:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1108&Itemid=55

IGP says he has no information about the document

Baba UmarSrinagar, Feb 21:

The local human rights groups have contested the police report which documents only 331 custodial killings and 111 custodial disappearances since 1989, when armed rebellion broke out in the state.Newswire agency AFP reported Monday to have obtained a police document that confirms 331 custodial killings and 111 custodial deaths in the state in the past 18 years.

Khurram Parvez, coordinator Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) rubbished the police report and said that at least 9,000 to 10,000 custodial killings and 15,000 enforced disappearances had been reported since 1989.

“The police figures are ambiguous. They are nowhere near figures which we have recorded in only one district of the valley,” Parvez said.

The human rights group JKCCS have recorded 337 enforced disappearances and 416 custodial killings in district Baramulla only, which includes 205 civilians, 183 militants, seven released militants, eight political activists, seven Jamaat-e-Islami members, six renegades and troops.Downplaying the police figures Parvez said, “Our figures are based on door-to-door surveys. They are reliable and recognised.”

Police officials often have claimed that most of the disappeared people have crossed over the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between Pakistan and India.Parvez said that his organisation has separate figures of such people. “We have also recorded the figures of people who crossed over to the other side of Kashmir. We don’t count them among the people disappeared in custody,” said he.

However Inspector General of Police, Shiv Murari Sahai said that police have released no such report."We have been recording custodial disappearances and custodial killings and it is our job. However I am not aware of any such police report," he said.

According to indiatogether.com, Amnesty International in 1995 documented 706 cases of custodial killings in the period between 1990 and 1994. Almost all of them were killed after gruesome torture, the Amnesty International report said. In its response to the Amnesty International, New Delhi responded to 519 out of 706 cases in an evasive manner, dismissing half of them as "encounter killings" without supporting evidence despite eyewitness reports to the contrary.

‘Troops can kill unarmed wounded militants’

2008-02-27T21:11:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1054&Itemid=55
Baba Umar
Srinagar, Feb 18: Troopers deployed in Jammu and Kashmir enjoy more powers than guaranteed by the much hated Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). A top ICRC official told Rising Kashmir on condition of anonymity on Monday that the troopers can even “kill” a non combatant wounded militant “because the government of India is not signatory to the additional protocols of Geneva Conventions 1977”.

The official argued since India had not accepted the “disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir” such killings won’t amount to the breach of any Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions – and their sub rules that are part of international humanitarian law – prevent the killing of civilians, medics, aid workers and those who can no longer fight. According these rules the wounded, sick and prisoners of war come under specifically protected people.

But the same is not yet applicable to Kashmir because of India’s stated position on the territory. “For the applicability of Geneva Conventions all the parties involved in the conflict need to recognize that area as a conflict zone,” the ICRC official asserted.

Last week an injured militant, according to a lone eyewitness Ghulam Qadir, was shot dead by the personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Police after a gunfight at Aglar in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. “It was in the wee hours of Friday when the SOG men forced me to enter the gutted house,” Qadir, the lone eyewitness to the incident had said. “As I entered the house, I saw one militant with long hairs lying in one of the rooms in the rear end of the house. I could not believe that the militant was alive. He was little conscious and critically injured.”

Qadir said when he touched the militant identified by Police as Abdul Rehman, he (the militant) started wriggle in pain. “I lifted him. He asked to untie the ammunition pouch from his chest. I did that to relieve him.” Qadir said, “I held his head gently and somehow managed to bring him out of the completely gutted two storied house.

As we stepped outside I kept his head straight since he asked me to do so. Suddenly the SOG men standing nearby fired a volley of bullets in the militants head as he was in my lap,” Qadir said and broke down, adding, “I shouted and asked him to recite the Kalima (The Arabic declaration, according to Islamic jurisprudence, that there is no God but Allah). Qadir said the SOG men ordered him to frisk the militant after they had pumped bullets into his head.

Asked to comment on the aforementioned incident, the ICRC official said, “I am not in a position to say anything on this. But I can say this much that India has not accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory or a conflict region. By virtue of this stand no such clause of Geneva Convention which upholds the rights of wounded combatants will be relevant in Kashmir.”

The official, however, said if such an incident would have happened somewhere else then the killing of an unarmed and injured combatant would have qualified for the breach of Geneva Conventions.

“If the same had happened elsewhere, like in Sri Lanka, it was a clear case of violation of the Geneva Conventions and would have been considered as a brave breach,” the ICRC official added.

India has not yet signed and has been consistently opposing the protocol-II of the additional Geneva Conventions of 1977 that relate to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts.

Unarmed persons cannot be killed: ICRC

2008-02-27T21:05:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1065&Itemid=55
‘Even Indian constitution guarantees right to live’
Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 19: International Community of Red Cross (ICRC) Tuesday asserted that unarmed persons cannot be killed under any circumstances.“Unarmed persons cannot be killed under any circumstances,” an ICRC official said.

Philippe Stoll, ICRC Communication Coordinator wrote to Rising Kashmir in an email from Delhi that troopers or militants cannot “kill” a person who is wounded or not fighting anymore.“It is a violation of basic principles of law. These principles can be found in various treaties like the Geneva Conventions or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Stoll said.

He said that the same laws can be found even in the Indian constitution.“Article 21 of the Indian constitution guarantees the right to life,” he said. “Under all these laws and rules, the wounded, sick and prisoners of war come under specifically protected people,” Stoll said.

On Monday Rising Kashmir carried a report about the killing of an unarmed and wounded militant who, according to a lone eyewitness Ghulam Qadir, was shot dead by the personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Police after a gunfight at Aglar in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Qadir had said, he brought the militant out of the house who was little conscious and critically injured. “I saw one militant with long hair lying in one of the rooms in the rear end of the house. I could not believe that he was alive,” he had said.

Qadir had said that he held the wounded militant’s head gently and somehow managed to bring him out of the completely gutted two storied house.“As we stepped outside, the SOG men standing nearby fired a volley of bullets in the militants head as he was in my lap,” Qadir had said.

The ICRC official in his e-mail reaction to Rising Kashmir said, the killing is a violation of the basic principles of law.

The Truth of Terrorism

2007-12-27T15:27:00.000+05:30

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=44

The power of state and the media backed by it distorts the meaning of otherwise simple things.

Baba Umar

Terrorism, a policy that permits mighty nations to contain ‘enemies’, has become a term to brand an entire people.
During my stay in one of the princely states of erstwhile British India—Hyderabad, I planned to buy a television set. I asked a sales boy, barely 16, in one of the biggest shopping malls of the city to demonstrate some Television sets as I had to buy one. Before he could get the needful done, he inquired about our identity. My two friends who were accompanying me said that all of us are from Kashmir. The little chap hurled a one-liner. ‘Kashmir mein sab atankwadi hain’, every Kashmiri is a terrorist. How come? I retorted. Scratching his head, he said, “Aaj tak kehta hai’ , Aaj Tak- a Hindi news, channel says.
We didn’t buy any TV set from that shop, however, the Magic Bullet theory, that mass media has a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audiences got confirmed. We left the TV and bought the theory instead. The same theory that I would rubbish in my journalism classes.
The world wide perception of ‘Terrorism’ is almost the same. Ask a kid or a toddler who has just finished its cradle ride about who’s a Terrorist? The response won’t be any different. Bullet theory comes into play, and kids make good copycats. Such is the impact of media. People generally imitate and consider true everything media comes out with. Human nature as they say it.
Talk of terrorism and the majority of people around the world tend to think about unshaven faces and turbaned burly men, shouldering AK-47. Names like, Osama-Bin-Laden, Ayman-al-Zawahri, start flashing in the mind. Almost 90% of the audience, says Noam Chomsky, blindly agree on the media material and hence are somewhat akin to the ‘bewildered herd’ which is content with grazing only without actually knowing the shepherd who holds the beating stick to steer the herd anywhere he wishes.
‘Terrorism’ by definition means violent force applied for political purposes. It is somewhat becoming a defining word of this century. Early 1990’s witnessed the death of cold war and with this an upsurge of the idea of free will and liberation expressing itself in the form of freedom movements across the globe. However, years later, the same liberation movements eclipsed and faced new challenges. Simply put, they carried a risk of being put under the rubrics of terrorism. And the same continues till date.
A discussion struck with a supporter of democracy, who strongly opposed any sort of violent activities and wanted Pakistan discontinue pushing terrorism across her borders. I sought the examples of terrorism. They came in a bundle. ETA attacks in Spain, Chechnya, Palestine, LTTE, and Taliban. And Kashmir, of course. American independence struggle against Great Britain? Indian Freedom movement, French revolution? I wanted to add to the count but there was complete silence on the other side.
Anti-colonial and anti- racist struggles, according to Michael Schubert, are legally equivalent to war. And by the same canon, Schubert argues, guerrillas or militants are equal to soldiers in such conflicts.
“Most of what is now called terrorism is, in fact, civil war. Such wars are inevitable when disputes within the nation cannot be solved through negotiation, elections or some other peaceful means..." writes Gregory Clark.
Digging up the historical roots of the word ‘terrorism’, it can be traced to the Greek historian and thinker, Xenophone (431-350 B.C), who spoke of fighting against enemy population and for this reason ‘terrorism’ was first envisaged as something legitimately committed against the people by the state or a similar authority.
However, at present, the situation is reverse. States who keep on unleashing their might on the enemy and native population are allowed to keep the tag of ‘true democracies’. And those, who fight against these states, are branded as “Terrorists”.
The term ‘terrorism’ lost its bite when U.S fired barrage of devastating bombs on Panama, Nicaragua, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Vietnam, Somalia, Algeria, Iraq and Afghanistan- apart from the sundry CIA led assassination attempts carried on several adversaries and the ‘bunker regimes’ and ‘ad hoc armies’ it orchestrated and supported. The term disappeared immediately when South Africa, a U.S ally in the African continent, killed as many as 1.5 million innocent Namibians. Ethiopian ethnic cleansing and brutality against Eritrea and Somalia was conveniently termed as a “crackdown on rebels”. The meaning of the word terrorism needed to be reunderstood when U.S and Israeli planes pounded Beirut, Damascus and Baghdad.
Surprisingly, the expression ‘Terrorism’ comes into play only when the oppressed people strike at their oppressors. Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas are the examples. Iraq was certified as a “monster” ready to absorb the whole of Middle East. And now it’s the turn of Iran. Sitting somewhere in Tehran, Ahmadenejaad might push the world into third Great War!
Remember Osama Bin Laden, who once used to be the sweetheart of U.S and its allies. Before the disintegration of U.S.S.R, Osama spearheaded the just cause of Afghan Liberation, and was counted among the true friends and reliable Mujahideens. Time changed and the same person is being relentlessly chased by U.S hounds in Afghanistan and the bounty on his head has been already elevated to U.S $40 million.
September 11was by all means a shocking event, but what of the official U.S-British reaction to it. The announcement by Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of British Defence Staff, that U.S and Britain would continue to pound Afghanistan “until they get their leadership changed”. Remember Taliban, who did ask for evidences for 9/11, but the U.S authority dismissed the request. The U.S at the same time also flatly refused to even consider offers of extradition of Mr. Bin Laden to any Muslim country.
Branding those who challenge the authority as terrorists is not a new phenomenon. It is a matter of routine for states to brand outlaws and dissidents as terrorists, even when some of the dissidents didn’t commit any acts of violence. The Nazi Third Reich called its dissenters terrorists. Mussolini branded his native opponents as terrorists. To the British, the Indian freedom movement was terrorism. And to the apartheid regime in South Africa, those who fought for the equality of all human beings were terrorists.
One more thing to be deliberated upon is the spurt in the bloody attacks and the subsequent blame game. Britain has bombed itself in the past and blamed IRA for it, while the U.S planned to attack itself in 1962 with operation Northwoods. Israel has its Lavon affair. The Fuhrer burnt the Reichstag govt. building and blamed it on terrorists. Nero burnt Rome and essentially did the same; blamed terrorists. And if Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 and sundry conspiracy theorists are to be believed, U.S staged sept.11 attacks itself and shifted the blame where it had to be shifted.
Mighty states like U.S define terrorism as it suits them. They forward it to their media and media propagates it. ‘Throwing bombs is bad and dropping bombs is good’, is fully demonstrated. All this has brought the world to a point of massive crisis.

Unearthing 90's

2007-12-09T13:34:00.000+05:30

Unearthing 90's

Hi, this is me. People know me by the name Mohammad Umar alias Umi. It's an Arabic name and accordingly, it stands for being "audacious" and "pugilist". The one, who dares twisted times, braces odd circumstances and sidetracks impending ills. My papa believes in me. He says I will continue to respect the meaning of my name. Mom believes in my mettle. She says that I will touch the top rung of every ladder I aim to climb. My teacher (not the conventional one), Muzamil, a renowned journalist of the valley, saw a Trojan horse in me years back. Not the one which you and me know as a bug that breaks into gizmos and scornfully challenges the techies. But the one, who can bring into fore an affirmative change, wherever hooks up.

Laden in my eyes the wishes of these people, I started my expedition to the lands unheard of and never traveled. With the knack and chic approach that was my proud possessions, I left my vale, on which I still swear upon. I bade good bye to my domicile where I was brought up. I still remember the patio I played carom on with my bro, the pomegranate tree whose unripe fruits I would steal on every summer evening, the roof top that was a perfect place to fly kites, and the kitchen garden whose fresh green cucumbers were the starters of my day. And I miss the sunny Sundays too, when I would hunt dragon flies and drones (helicopter- in the children lingo). Feeding rice to hungry birds at the call of sunup, getting hens and their little chicks back into their coop and the papa’s most looked-after ally- the black Phillips Radio set- the gizmo that aired BBC Urdu news, keeping all of us updated everyday with the world events. I abandoned the lanes and streets that I walked and jogged in to. The play ground, that was put up very next to my home, where I roughed up every bowler, earned me the opener’s position and the title of “Steve Waugh” among the herd of little cricketers, who like me, had dreamt of playing for Kashmir one day. That playground was later added to the area of the adjacent grave yard, as the number of dying innocents and militants shot up. Everyday six to eleven bodies draped in white clothes would come for burial. And as the erstwhile grave yard ran short of space and earth, it immediately needed a stretch. The plan was worked out in a week by the mohalla committee and with no resistance from we little kids, almost the whole ground, except few feet for the road, was merged with the martyr’s grave yard. Now we lost our play ground. But that didn’t dampen our mania towards cricket.

Apart from cricket, I with my childhood friends loved to discuss and plan plethora of next day’s doings. Flying kites, fishing, break into the mulberry nursery, going for swimming, and in winters it was igniting bonfire somewhere on the edge of snowy roads. This was the routine. And when in school, off days were spent on these hangouts. But then violence was something inherent in the Kashmir history and we too were the generation feeling the same music, which our fore fathers had faced. Kashmir was always on the tables. If the politicians from both warring states failed umpteen times to solve Kashmir imbroglio, we kids would crack myriads of options in our group argument to protect our motherland that only in a couple of years was to turn into a podium of carnage…...

The Cordons:.......

Bhoot:...........

How I escaped death angel:.................

….will continue after some days................

STOP IT NOW-WE HAD ENOUGH OF IT

2007-11-07T15:34:00.000+05:30

Bush Responds to WMD Report

"Based on all the information we have to date, I believe we were right to take action, and America is safer today with Saddam Hussein in prison. He retained the knowledge, the materials, the means and the intent to produce weapons of mass destruction, and he could have passed that knowledge on to our terrorist enemies."-------October 7, 2004
( The Lies)

"And one thing we want during this war on terror is for people to feel like their life's moving on, that they're able to make a living and send their kids to college and put more money on the table." --George W. Bush, interview on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Jan. 16, 2007
(Goes the bushism)

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
( And the decision went wrong)

Damien cave, new york times reporter in Iraq this Wednesday reported about the killing of six American soldiers in three separate attacks on Monday, taking the number of deaths this year to 852. And the toll makes 2007 the deadliest year of the war for United States troops.-----November 6, 2007
( The Repercussions)

Isn’t it astute to say colonialism and lies are synonymous to US. And when it comes to “war on terror” American media and their “embedded scribes” circulated tons of white lies and volumes of half truths at the behest of their geo-political chess masters. US and UK cried “wolf” and the wolves were Saddam’s WMD’s and Osama- who is still to be netted. The wolf didn’t come at all. But US and the kin warmongers created mountains of lies out of hole. The result- over 41 suicide bombings in Iraq monthly and 110 deaths daily- official records(may vary), the surge in Afghan civilian as well as US causalities, and back home, the expected arrival of American soldiers draped in US flags. Enough!! It’s better to pull back than to perish. Really its high time for US to call off this so called “humanitarian intervention”- Let Iraq’s fate be decided by Iraqis and Afghanistan ruled by natives not by foreigners. Let Bush not double the carnage and let America end sinister games in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let it not be a second swampy Vietnam for Americans. Otherwise the wolf (not the imaginary one ) will be there and no kin country would rally to your calls.

Unearthing 90's

2007-09-27T12:41:00.000+05:30

Hi, this is me. People know me by the name Mohammad Umar alias Umi. It's an Arabic name and accordingly, it stands for being "audacious" and "pugilist". The one, who dares twisted times, braces odd circumstances and sidetracks impending ills. My papa believes in me. He says I will continue to respect the meaning of my name. Mom believes in my mettle. She says that I will touch the top rung of every ladder I aim to climb. My teacher (not the conventional one), Muzamil, a renowned journalist of the valley, saw a Trojan horse in me years back. Not the one which you and me know as a bug that breaks into gizmos and scornfully challenges the techies. But the one, who can bring into fore an affirmative change, wherever hooks up.

Laden in my eyes the wishes of these people, I started my expedition to the lands unheard of and never traveled. With the knack and chic approach that was my proud possessions, I left my vale, on which I still swear upon. I bade good bye to my domicile where I was brought up. I still remember the patio I played carom on with my bro, the pomegranate tree whose unripe fruits I would steal on every summer evening, the roof top that was a perfect place to fly kites, and the kitchen garden whose fresh green cucumbers were the starters of my day. And I miss the sunny Sundays too, when I would hunt dragon flies and drones (helicopter- in the children lingo). Feeding rice to hungry birds at the call of sunup, getting hens and their little chicks back into their coop and the papa’s most looked-after ally- the black Phillips Radio set- the gizmo that aired BBC Urdu news, keeping all of us updated everyday with the world events. I abandoned the lanes and streets that I walked and jogged in to. The play ground, that was put up very next to my home, where I roughed up every bowler, earned me the opener’s position and the title of “Steve Waugh” among the herd of little cricketers, who like me, had dreamt of playing for Kashmir one day. That playground was later added to the area of the adjacent grave yard, as the number of dying innocents and militants shot up. Everyday six to eleven bodies draped in white clothes would come for burial. And as the erstwhile grave yard ran short of space and earth, it immediately needed a stretch. The plan was worked out in a week by the mohalla committee and with no resistance from we little kids, almost the whole ground, except few feet for the road, was merged with the martyr’s grave yard. Now we lost our play ground. But that didn’t dampen our mania towards cricket.

Apart from cricket, I with my childhood friends loved to discuss and plan plethora of next day’s doings. Flying kites, fishing, break into the mulberry nursery, going for swimming, and in winters it was igniting bonfire somewhere on the edge of snowy roads. This was the routine. And when in school, off days were spent on these hangouts. But then violence was something inherent in the Kashmir history and we too were the generation feeling the same music, which our fore fathers had faced. Kashmir was always on the tables. If the politicians from both warring states failed umpteen times to solve Kashmir imbroglio, we kids would crack myriads of options in our group argument to protect our motherland, that only in a couple of years was to turn into a podium of carnage…...

The Cordons:.......

Bhoot:...........

How I escaped death angel:.................

...........................................................will continue after some days.........................................................................

2007-07-24T11:13:00.000+05:30

Why does it happen with me too?

Why does it happen with me too?

I cannot drink water

It is mingled with the blood of young men who have died up in the mountains.

I cannot look at the sky;

It is no longer blue; but painted red.

I cannot listen to the roar of the gushing stream

It reminds me of a wailing mother next to the bullet-ridden body of her only son.

I cannot listen to the thunder of the clouds

It reminds me of a bomb blast.

I feel the green of my garden has faded

Perhaps it too mourns.

I feel the sparrow and cuckoo are silent

Perhaps they too are sad.

(Anonymous)

Sensitive Issues:

2007-07-05T10:58:00.000+05:30

On Covering Sensitive Issues:

Today’s wars are won using media power and disputes are settled on media platform. This line may be thorny for some people (befuddled herd) to toss down, but the past events that are defining the present world will support this proclamation.

When we talk about covering sensitive issues, from communal riots, demolition of sacred places, religious hatred, human right abuses up to bed room privacy, media is supposed to settle down issues rather than fan them. Why an ordinary person is compelled to partially blame media as one of the players, is just because of the events across the globes, which are dictating and affecting common man’s life.

Have we ever seen a bomb blast ripping through a Hindu temple and within seconds condemnation aired by a Muslim Scholar? No, it never happens. Instead, our newsmen approach to a Hindu priest or a politician of same religion. And then things go berserk.

Imagine how it will be like, when a Hindu priest condemns after a Masjid is desecrated by unknown elements, and assures full support to the opposite camp.

Let’s come out of communal violence and see how Iraq war got coverage. US and UK media created a public opinion that Iraq possessed WMD’s and Saddam was labeled as monster, ready to wolf down the whole world particularly US and allies. However the latter revelations rubbished these statements that were earlier established by top media outlets. And the result, war for oil, perpetrated by US and supported by its media.

While dealing with these things media should settle down and pacify issues. It should pass on the information which will help in resolving the problem rather than adding fuel to the issue. This is rather the first lesson taught in the journalism classes, and do remember that societal responsibility does need a top consideration.

2007-07-02T12:21:00.000+05:30

Compromise, thy name is life.

I am not a naysayer, and to my eyes, compromise is something which is synonymous to life. With every passing moment, we come across with new things and we keep on expanding the fringes of our knowledge turf. In future, this knowledge helps us to tackle with things in a better way, but only those things that we are familiar with or in the past had encountered. Unknown events extract a lot out of us. And the result- “Compromise”.

We never know what is going to happen next and what we have to do as a compromise. Compromise may snatch things which are very much dear to us. But again it can offer us with things which we would be proud to possess. We may blame time which compels us to compromise (give and take). Various and sundry do believe compromise as a “no good friend”, but at times we are left with no other alternative, but to duck before the situation.

From Adam to present day Homo Sapiens, I have seen people compromising on something which they always cherished. I have seen people forfeiting less and gaining something enormous. I have seen people smilingly bracing and braving this much talked about “not-needed” part of life.

If they handled it with full dexterity, why not me? After all I am also the son of Adam.

2007-04-27T19:54:00.000+05:30

WHY DOUBLE STANDARDS

The world grieves over the loss of 30 human lives in the recent shootout in USA. And I was quite happy to see the positive reactions of Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair, and the Queen of Great Britain on this subject. It is nice that the trio offered sympathy for the loss of each life. But the moment I read their responses in sundry newspapers, I suddenly realized that the same people have not dropped a single line towards the victims of their so called “humanitarian intervention" in Iraq. Don't they realize that God- The Creator made all people equal? Any single loss of life is wrong whether it is through individual terrorism or in a state sponsored terrorism in Iraq or elsewhere. Both species of terrorism cause deaths and deserve the same condolences that these world leaders offered to the victims of US. Infact everybody should demand the Queen, Bush, & Blair to offer daily condolences for the innocent lives of women, and children killed by their armed forces in Iraq.

2007-04-17T15:42:00.000+05:30

MORE SMILES PER HOUR

Couple of days back, I learnt the supremacy and mesmerizing power of a smile. A motorcyclist hit me from the back and I was knocked on the road. Slightly was aching my right leg but it was alright. However I was fuming, so was the rider, I presumed. I fastened my eyes towards him, but he smiled at me. I had no choice but to return his smile back. We parted by shaking hands and patting each other on shoulders, thereby stimulating to the astonishments of the bystanders. And what I summarized was that a smile is a powerful asset and weapon; one can break ice with it.   The appealing thing is that everyone smiles in the same language. Everyone identically makes a happy or friendly expression in which the corners of one’s mouth curve up. And the smile has a capability of enunciating different things in different dealings. There is a naive and shy smile of the bride-to-be; a smile of acknowledgment; a smile of compliment, a kind of smile when one is being praised and a totally different one when one is being flattered. There is a sarcastic smile, a simulated smile, and a smile of disbelief. A smile can even confront and throw a challenge at you. There are two types of nervous smiles; one, when one is caught by his wife or children returning home drunk and the other when one makes a mistake in public. This leaves one with no way out except to display a nervous smile, which says it all. A consoling smile to someone who is unwell or ailing receives the warmth gratefully, a complementing smile for someone who has achieved something. At times, one is forced to smile at a joke without understanding it, in order to respect the emotions and eagerness of the voluble narrator. Once in a while a perpetual smiling face can be a masquerade of an evil designer. Or a man smiling to himself may be doing an intra personal communication- or he may be possibly mentally challenged.   When two people of the opposite gender trade smile at parties, it is open to multiple versions: They are in love, they are flirting; they are jointly smiling at someone who is acting silly, they are envious of someone wearing fashionable attire and expensive jewellery, or mocking someone who is boasting and showing-off. Sometimes a smile confuses an approaching frown. However, an optimistic and genuine smile can do marvels. A smile is a curve that gets everything in a straight line. All mystifications, animosity, misunderstanding can be overcome just by a single and sincere smile. Various and sundry believe that a man without a smiling face must not open his shop- hence a compulsory ingredient never to be eschewed. And why not, after all a single smile would cost one only 14 face muscles while a frown would amount to 45.   Smile can expand the circumference of one’s friend circle, and I have made friends while walking on this very radius. Through my years of travel and studies, I have made friends across the country; while waiting for a delayed bus, walking through shopping malls, sitting in the saloon, in the class, in the restaurant, in the refectory, which leads the way to conversation. And it all lasts up with an exchange of visiting cards. How handy and easy. Isn’t it.

The author can be reached at baba_umar@rediffmail.com

2007-04-06T19:20:00.000+05:30

Flowers:The Indian Perspective

Scholars when studying the usage of flowers in the subcontinent tend to focus mainly on the Indian marriages and engagement ceremonies. However, apart from this, Indians have always respected it as something directly related to their religion. There are some legends attached with the flowers. It is said that previously people having their own crops and flower gardens would daily make trips to their fields just to see the flower beds and smell the aroma permeated in the air. They would take different flowers for different gods and goddesses and by visiting them they would seek blessings in the form of fragrance. Well, apart from the religious and medicinal purposes, Indians have been using flowers for multitude purposes like welcoming home the triumphant king ( now for the victorious politician), sprinkling flower petals on the bodies of martyrs of battle fields and of course that does encompass marriages and engagement ceremonies. Flowers have always been extensively used as a part indeed an important element in the Hindu marriages.

And as the nuptials session in India begin, people of all ages go whirl and celebrate this event with full fervor. Indian weddings are not a sort of rigid affairs but lively, vibrant relatives’ get-togethers, which are unfinished without certain things - the pundit’s prayers, the larger than life buffet for the guests, and of course, the beautiful flowers that embellish the marriage halls, garnish the house and off course prettify the groom’s vehicle used in the ceremony. Apart from this, Indian marriages are almost incomplete without the flowers. The horse on which groom mounts is decorated with flowers of different varieties. Nowadays, mostly decorated cars are used for this purpose. The exquisite garlands which are used in marriages are composed of different varieties of flowers and there is a Hindu ritual (jaimala, exchange of garlands) where the groom and bride both have a similar garland of fresh flowers which the duo all together put around the counterpart’s neck, signifying mutual understanding, honor, importance and companionship for the whole life to come. It can be viewed as an equivalent of ring exchange by Christians. This Hindu ritual is the final stage of marriage. The flowers used for the garland could be synchronized with the color theme of couple’s dressing. The garlands are typically made up of white jasmine, marigold, and if possible lilies.

To keep evils at bay, again the flower petals are scattered by the groom’s father or brother on the married couple. The groom has a turban on the front side of which the veil of flowers hangs down in front of his face to guard him from evil spirits.

And finally when the groom reaches his home, the waiting crowd welcomes the newly wed couple with the showers of flowers petals. And that marks the beginning of new life and a new plan.

Flowers are sacred, employed in almost all types of ceremonies and thought to bring luck. And as India is country of multiple religions, traditions and rituals, all of these demand the usage of flowers.

Flowers in India

Agriculture together with gardening has been a traditional and popular activity in India from earliest times. And growing flowers apart from other doings continues to be a practice in India.

When we talk about sundry varieties of flowers, few are the natives of India, like orchids, rhododendrons, gloriosa lily, foxtail lily, primula blue poppy, lotus, water lily, clematis (a climber), musk rose, begonia, balsam, globe amaranth, and the tulips of the Himalayas. Undoubtedly they are cultivated across the globe; however, they are indigenous to Indian soil.

Well, let’s come out of crops and see what Indian flowers are doing in the global bazaar. India has already substituted Holland and is the prime exporter of roses to South Korea and Japan, and is one of the largest suppliers of flowers to Germany and The Netherlands (who re-exports as well).

India started the worldwide business just at the onset of the year 1991. And this acknowledges the immense power of India, a country that has figures to prove how influential it can be in the worldwide floral marketplace.

India is in the rising stages of floriculture. And keeping both the domestic and international demands in sight, Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are envisaging a mark of one billion dollar floriculture export by the end of 2010. Apart from this measures are being taken to encourage the supple range of flowers, as India has the largest requirement within the country itself having 300 million middle class people who love flowers residing in over 75 million family units. India is fomenting flower commerce in the country which someday may surpass the export demand.

India is well-known for the making of ‘essence’ (itr) which is the floricultural byproduct. The industry of perfumery is having the benefits of fragrance of Indian floriculture. The exceptional fragrances are damask rose, jasmine, and geranium. Indian researchers are developing floriculture products with matchless fragrance which are becoming a value added products for sale in the worldwide bazaar. Also, the product may be such that after its presentation value is over the residual elements can be used for converting as a perfume. And this is providing value accumulation to the floriculture waste, fashioning Indian product more viable in the global marketplace.

One more unique quality of Indian floriculture is, in places like Tamil Nadu, Kerala Hills and Himalayas, wherein certain flowers bloom once in twelve years. For example, the Neelakurinchi flowers have last year dotted the complete hill side, turning the hills reddish blue in. Likewise occurrence took place in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu in April 2006. In some regions of Himalayas also certain flowers bloom once in few years. Researchers are now investigating the genetic assets of these flowers and exploring whether this kind of occurrence of blossoming can be advanced using the seeds from these plants in other climate and regions. This may put these regions among other tourist destination list during the blossoming time. Every year, we see the Saffron flower blossoming in Kashmir valley which is an annual phenomenon. And that area (Pampore) may be in the coming years adjudged as a tourist attraction.

VISIT ME AT: u4you_m4me@yahoo.com

2007-04-06T18:57:00.000+05:30

Flowers

Could you for a short while imagine our lives without flowers!! Just envisage a moment when you have been tied a nuptial knot with the girl you always loved and there are no flowers around at the occasion. Man, we are obsessed with these colorful floras. We cannot evade such a soothing agents nature has provided us. Flowers–from cradle to coffin magnetize us, infact flowers are the part and parcel our day to day life. Be it someone’s birthday, ring ceremony, marriage, death, your propose to a new girl, wishing your ailing friend a fast health, success and what not, flowers compliment and supplement our purpose.

Flowers portray the beauty and purity in this world. But all flowers seldom convey the same meaning. Different flowers have different connotations and denotations, depends on the occasion you present flowers and your mood. Even different colors in the same family of flowers have different value- very good examples of that are Roses.

A white rose symbolizes peace and amity, a yellow flower presented to someone signifies association and comradeship, and of course a red rose is a token of love and fondness. And when it comes to ceremonies like marriages and engagements flowers have a great deal of importance and impact. There have been many instances wherein engagements and marriages were postponed just because of a simple reason-the unavailability of the flowers.

From the decorations of marriage halls to the accessories all set, flowers are everywhere involved in the celebrations and a very dear to everyone’s eyes. A wide range of flowers will usher in color and that color adds to the festivity.

Apart from that, people like to sow flower shrubbery in their gardens not only for the fragrance and enhancement of home turf, but to catch the attention of birds for mutual benefit. A gardener gazes at the projectile of birds, who act as a predator for insects that deteriorate soil and plants both. In return, the birds bulge their belly and the gardener catches an incessant entertainment. Ah! Nice modus operandi and knack.

One of the characteristics of flowers is their perfume or fragrance which attracts not only human minds but insects and other airborne objects resulting in the flower pollination. A heady scent in flowers paves way for pollination. The fragrance mesmerizes people to take a deep inhale and sigh, it also allure insects to blossoms secreted by leaves and other plants. There are some flowers that release their smell only at night times and pull in only night flying pollinators. The fragrance oozes out from indispensable oils called attars that gets vaporized and suffuse the air with its aroma.

What's more than conveying messages and radiating scent, flowers are being used in the medicine from time immemorial. There are also many legends associated with flowers and a popular one which our grandmas always talk about is an ailing princess who could only resort back to health if she is made to smell the fragrance of a particular sort of flower that grows somewhere in Kinshasa Forests. And it’s the valiant prince of other state who despite all odds brings that flower from the center of a ruthless jungle for the princess. The princess nurses back to health and later both get married. Humm!! How brave the prince.

Coming back to the present, flowers we can say always make people and things improved, more contented, and extra cooperative. A lone flower is capable of saying thousands of words. One can mend the broken relationships with a single flower. Flowers presented can wipe off the tears; it’s a token of love, a symbol of peace and a coin of eternal linkage.

They are Poets’ imagination, hopeless Romeo’s tools to get his beloved back, photographers much cherished subject and much more for many.

Flowers for medicinal uses

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful.

Flowers are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.
Luther Burbank

As propounded by Luther Burbank, Flowers indisputably hold these properties. And when we talk about the medicinal properties of flowers, we can move back moment to moments where our ancestors used flowers and other shrubs as a substitute for pills and analgesics, and till day it continues to be a practice and a big industry too.

The moment we consider flowers as a treatment against ailments, it evokes the memories of the time when we were kids and our granny would tell us a fable about an ailing princess of India. The princess could retrieve health only if she is made to chew the petals of a rare flower, which grows somewhere deep in the Sri Lankan forests. Granny used to end the tale by introducing a daring and gutsy character. The prince of another country. Braving all upheavals, the valiant prince brings the flower from the core of the ruthless jungle for the princess. And the needful gets done. The princess nurses back to health and later they both get married. Happy ending!!!

Let’s come out of myths to the actual world.

Some species of Rose hips, especially the Rugosa Rose and Dog Rose, when dried, are rich in vitamin C than citrus fruits. The period of World War II saw the limited imports of citrus fruits into the Great Britain. What followed was the harvesting of tons of rose hips from the woods to make rose hip syrups for children as a rich substitute for Vitamin C.

Rose hips have anti-inflammatory property. Recently a study has shown these flowers being useful in healing knee and hip osteoarthritis. Dog Rose in powdered form, according to the scientists in Denmark, when consumed by patients for three or months relieved the joint pain and stiffness. Moreover it is used to treat influenza, urinary tract disorders, diarrhea, and in herbal teas.

Similarly sap drawn out from the poppy flowers has been for hundreds of years used to relive pain and joint ache by the natives of Afghanistan – Turkey belt.

Likewise, flowers like roses, mustard flower, wild rose and daffodils are used to treat depression. Their color and fragrance affect the mood and frame of mind. It is believed that viewing and smelling these flowers reduces the stress and helps lessen the depressive illness.

Flower essences (itr) are also used in variety of ways. Essences are used to mist one’s own aura, that inturn adds one’s confidence and boost one’s appearance. Flower essences are used in various skin creams and ointments that help in stopping the worsening condition of skin and also helps reduce muscle pain and body exhaustion. Essences are used to cure chronic and long-standing problems and are also used to repair the electrical circuitry of body and other acute problems. Macrocarpa, Explorer's gentian, Columbine, Green cross gentian, Tall yellow top are some of the flowers whose essence is used to cure the above mentioned health complications.

Flowers are something which are natural and safe when used as a medicine. There is no word called ‘side effects’ while dealing with flowers. They not only embellish gardens, marriage halls, birthday ceilings, and other party floors, but they heal, they cure and they make well out of an ‘under the weather’ body.

Mail me: u4you_m4me@yahoo.com

2006-07-31T23:01:00.000+05:30

BECAUSE OUR BLOOD IS WHITE:

Date: July 26,
Venue: Rome
Occasion: International Conference seeking immediate ceasefire by Hezbollah and Israel……
In his long speech, Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon questions the world leaders: “Is the value of human life less in Lebanon than that of citizens elsewhere in the world? Are we children of lesser God? Is an Israeli teardrop worth more than a million drops of Lebanese blood?”----

Yes Mr. Prime Minister—you are absolutely right.
Because time and again, it has been made clear by United States that it stands by Israel and approve of its horrendous foreign policy in the mid east. Its double standards are quite visible, inevitable too. They are ready to give you 13 million bucks for reconstruction and all that, but they also need blood on quid pro quo basis. Applauds are aired for your government for condemning Hezbollah snatch of Israeli soldiers. At the same time sonic booms from US made precision missiles are wrecking havoc on your soil…Cut the Lebanese melon is the latest modus operandi employed by Israel and US.

International Conference in Rome has ended in a fiasco. Divided are the world views. Indeed more time for Israel to play Demolition derby. To US-Israel, Lebanon ground gave rise to the germination of newest dart board, so the new target and the fresh victims. In the Lebanon, streets are painted with reddish blood of innocent human souls. Annihilated are roads and bridges to keep off any sort of aid. Somewhere its maimed bodies, somewhere its scattered human flesh, somewhere carpenters running short of wood to make coffins. Digging mass graves is the routine of survivors. Why so….? Simple Mr. Premier. US and Israel takes Muslims as the “untermenchen” -subhuman (Hitler’s term for Slavs and Jews). Muslim blood is white, it mismatches with theirs, and so the jungle law is a sine qua non and should be continuous process, for the world belongs to powerful only. Its only parasites having full rights to exist and survive. Being minnow is unethical and unacceptable. So the rot should get out of the planet. The fall of Babylon should follow the fall of Beirut. Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo are the things of past. Masturbating fairy tales are they. So the devil duo (US and Israel) would carve out the new ones from Lebanon. Blast the Lebanese cities. Plunder them of their souls. This is their Priority. This is the Prerequisite. Condel will keep on talking high of Civilian causalities, but the green signal for Israel will be on…

But what is itching is the Arab world’s silent attitude. It’s really bolt out of blue to see their impotency again. Their irresistible deep slumber is consistent. Lebanon is silent and flabbergasted with their actions. Somehow the support of words is hovering for Lebanon survivors unabated, hollow vows get disseminated regularly at length from the Arab neighbours. For them money is better than the hands that help, so they will keep the largesse flowing for reconstruction work as long as the last Lebanese blood does not dry up. But they have nothing to pay for the lost lives. They will keep on the rhetoric.

Keep it up dumb oil rich Arabs. Good and traditional selection you have opined again. Hats off to you. You really deserve kudos for serving your Muslim brethren in a perfect manner…Not only Arabs, the whole globe will witness Lebanon’s isolation from the outside world and the helpless people braving the carpet bombing wit no corner to escape, the highways and lanes littered with charred bodies of burnt children by the barrages of missiles, crumbled building and oil refineries engulfed with fire. But Mr. Siniora, Who cares? Nobody. And who dares? No…….nobody on earth. You are alone in this war.

Author can be reached at u4you_m4me@yahoo.com

THE KASHMIR QUAKE: A DISSERTATION

2006-06-27T20:49:00.000+05:30

PRESENTATION

My research topic is “Communication Patterns in a Crisis" and this research pertains to the study of all paradigms related to the communication ways adopted by the victims of Oct 8 quake that struck parts of divided Kashmir last year. As we know that the disaster reporting is fastly emerging as a specialized course of Journalism, I have tried to carry out a comprehensive analysis regarding the communication process and its importance while negotiating crisis or disasters to gain a better understanding for better disaster reporting in Future.

Since the year 2005 stretched into the major quake in the already war torn region, thereby testing the capabilities of aid agencies and the will of survivors, my study attempted to find out the communication patterns of victims at personal, interpersonal, family, community and all possible levels. Further i have tried to trace out the ventures and communication endeavors of victims who were at the depths of despair, but negotiated their trauma with hope and optimism.

As far as the methodology part is concerned, I have used Case Study method because the topic itself demanded such approach. Since my research was to find out the survivors who negotiated the crisis using communication as a basic tool to mitigate their woes, the focus was put only on the qualitative part only. Using family as a unit, I tried to locate out the individual, joint efforts, patterns of interaction, importance of communication ways, and surviving strategies of victims and that was possible only by the

Case Study method of research.

The procedure of my case study was tough but painstaking, because the unit itself was scattered and dispersed. To follow a single family needed multiple visits to their native places and their fatalities in various city hospitals. I personally visited some fifteen times to Uri and Kupwara to visit survivors, plus I frequented the injured in various city hospitals, during my research period. Not only were the victims approached, but also the NGO's, doctors, military officers and the administration were consulted in order to make the study comprehensive and authentic one. Although the gigantic size of earthquake and the destruction it followed did not make it possible to focus on the whole and all the paradigms of all areas suffered, the focus was shifted to the only two areas viz; Uri and Kupwara, in order to make the study compact and in-depth. That's why I have given the detailed account of families belonging to those areas only in my research project.

The case studies revealed that residents of the Uri, who were most affected by the earthquake, at the first instance weren't ready to take the shudders as an earthquake as most of them were asleep after having their Sehri (It was the month of Ramadhan and Muslims generally after waking up early in the morning and take a sleep later). But once the shudders were intense and they came to know about the quake, they thought it as the end of world as most of them put it as "the day of judgment". It was also revealed that most of the victims of the quake were children who either couldn't understand what is happening or were too small to run or jump out of their homes. Every body had the concern of his own life. During the case studies, it was revealed that though army helped in some areas to rescue and evacuate the injured persons, it didn't pay heed to the pleas of the affected villagers in some other areas, where army too had suffered some casualties. One of the important revelations was the flaw in the government mechanism to provide relief to the victims. Same was true for the Non-Governmental Organisations. There were some families whose all members were injured and in certain cases all the family members of the injured had to shift to Srinagar hospitals to look after their near and dear ones. As such, these people were ignored during the relief work as there was no body in their village to take relief. This haunted these villagers in the hospital and one of their biggest worry was when they will recover from injury where would they go.

The life after quake of the victims showed their resilience and how they took this mega disaster in their stride. Though the trauma was hard to get erased from their minds, but the people taking it as nature's fury continued on with their life and vigorously concentrated on making their new abodes of tin and wood.

It was also revealed that the setting-up of the Lok Adalats by the government was a welcome step that helped the people to take care of their problems. The fact that these Lok Adalats were set-up after some time was also helpful for the injured people as they could take their problems to these fast track courts.

During my research, What I found was the paramount necessity to maintain a coordinated and rapid response capacity to cope with the enormous humanitarian needs arising from such disasters. And such needs do encompass communication needs. Days after the worst earthquake to hit the region in over 100 years, apart from unimaginable loss and suffering, there were countless stories of government failure and higher political reasons behind the lack of immediate relief of this colossal quake. Besides, there were certain other factors which amounted to the messy and chaotic situations-thereby evolving some unusual and new kinds of communication facets. The quake occurred at the time when each and every member of a family was busy in his/her work. Most of the children were in schools or about to leave their home. The male members were also out of their homes. And that was one of the reasons which left the families divided and scattered for months to come. And hence, the cessation of any sort of communication between the divided families started. Most of the victims were airlifted by the army to the various city hospitals, but having no idea about the whereabouts of their other family members, also resulted in the disintegration of families, for days and weeks.

In hospitals, the attendants' along with their patients never visited their villages, until the patients resorted back to health. And the only communication mode with their families was possible only if anyone from their village paid a visit to them. The messenger from that particular area used to inform the hospital bound victims about their other family members, about their cattle, homes, distribution of relief and other happenings in their village. There was no direct interaction between the separated families. And Reunion was the distant dream for almost all victims.

On the other hand, the quake turned passive and calm victims into hysterical protestors. And this time it was also an occasion for female affected to break all the barriers of shyness. Kashmiri females are often measured as 'camera-shy'. However the trauma was so massive, that most of the girls and women folk in these beautiful hamlets used to come out before the camera, to convey their wretchedness and the government's callous attitude towards their woes. As joining panchayats, visiting army cantonments or approaching relief providing agencies, and attending Lok Adalats was supposed to be the job of male members of the village. But there were many cases where the death of male members pushed up women to enunciate. And there were also cases, where the loss of a male members in a family, acted as a barrier in this communication process leading to a respiteless family and inflicting to their isolation and alienation. I witnessed many times, that if any scribe/ journalist or any person visited the affected at their make shift tents or hospitals, he was considered as a liaison between the relief providing authorities and them. Their (victims) approach towards any stranger visiting them was treated as an opportunity of getting some relief and a tonic to get their sufferings diminished. The affected used to take contact numbers of those who visited them, even the victims under case study used to reckon me as an implement and a communiqué of helpline, because I was able to contact and speak to doctors treating them. Also, I was in constant touch for two months with the administrators as well as the army officials, which guided this full communication pattern into multiple connections and hyperlinks.

A best example of this was the case of a tetanus patient Nishada Begum, who resorted back to health, after the joint efforts me, one of the doctor and an NGO to purchase vaccines from Calcutta (West Bengal) for her. Even there was a case of a victim namely Habibullah Mir of Nambla (LoC) Uri, who had spent eight winter nights with his family without any tent and blanket. I made a little effort by speaking to the stationed army officers there, which later provided the family with the tents and clothing. "We do not have a roof to sleep under and they (Ministers) are enjoying the world's best amenities in their palaces at this most difficult time". These sentiments were repeatedly echoed by many of the suffering victims of this tragedy. Lack of confidence in the authorities was having a disheartening affect on people, so the model of communication in terms of getting relief and medical aid was almost linked and conjoined.

By means of this study I have attempted to cast a light on the issues surrounding the communication ways during disaster. And how an effective communication helps one to diminish his/her problems and how communication helps us while handling or negotiating the crisis.

By: Mohammad Umar Baba.

The research papers were submitted in the
The University Of Kashmir (Media Education and Research Center)

2006-06-14T11:55:00.000+05:30

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

All the praises and thanks to Allah the lord of Universe, who bestowed upon me good health, courage and persistence to complete this project. It is not possible to thank all those who helped me in this project but it will be an injustice if I won’t mention Dr Sabeha Mufti, Senior Lecturer, MERC, whose guidance and encouragement enthused me academically in my project. Thanks are due to all the teaching and non teaching staff of MERC particularly the library staff of MERC. I also gratefully acknowledge the contribution made by my friends at MERC particularly Suhail Ahmad, Ishfaq Ahmed, Rouf Kota, and Nazia Akhter in bringing out this research project in this form. Further I am very much indebted to one of my comrades who unknowingly helped me in accomplishing this project. Mohammad Umar Baba (Mass communication and journalism)

Declaration

I declare that the investigation reported on this research study was carried out by me during the months October -December 2005 under the help and supervision of Dr. Sabeha Mufti, Senior Lecturer, Media Education and Research Centre in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir.

Mohammad Umar Baba
Mass Communication and Journalism (Final Yr)

Contents

CHAPTERS PAGE NO’s

· Introduction 6-8

·Methodology 9-10

·Preface of the Kashmir quake 11-15

·History of affected Villages 16-18

·Case studies 19-39

·Communication patterns 40-42

· Electronic media coverage 43-44

·A visit to Aman Sethu (Kaman Post) 45-46

· Bibliography 47

2006-06-14T11:53:00.000+05:30

INTRODUCTION

Human civilization on earth dates back thousands of years. Civilizations and societies have been born, developed, flourished, and disappeared. Some like the Egyptian, Indus Valley, and Greek civilizations have left behind marked and visible evidences of their glory .These exist in the form of artifacts, culture,traditions, architecture, in their contemporary versions in their respective geographic areas and culture. History, archeology, anthropology and other fields of knowledge shed light on all the aspects of life of yore.

Cultures have evolved over centuries and have been affected by the tide of time. Life has never been and can never be static. Geographic phenomena like avalanches, volcanoes, droughts, earthquakes, floods, etc have severely impacted life and culture down the ages .These phenomena affect the economy, life, social set-ups and many other aspects resulting in famines, mass migration and even colossal damage to property and human life.

In addition to these, there are numerous other phenomena like wars, pandemics and epidemics, revolutions and rebellions which have changed the face of history and social landscape in different places on earth and at different points of time.

With technological and scientific advancement, the more recent phenomena like globalization, communication revolution and the information revolution have taken place. This has made a significant change in overall development of all aspects of human life. The world has changed into a world wide web (WWW) of instantaneous communication. Technology has maneuvered time and space so much that the world has reduced to a “global village”.

In the backdrop of all these factors and the present era, whenever a calamity strikes or some major event occurs, the very dynamics of contemporary life has changed the very perspective of our handling of a situation. The whole world is knit in the World Wide Web by the information and communication revolution, so much that the very management of a crisis in present day is very different from how the situation would have been handled just a decade back.

Within moments news of any occurrence is flashed all over the world by the local, regional, national and international media. So much so, that sometimes people residing in a given area, come to know of the happenings under their very nose only through the media. Such is the immediacy and multiplicity of the convergence of sources and media in contemporary life.
Disasters can devastate any one of us at any given moment. Whether man-made or nature's fury, there are conditions, surrounding us, which will inevitably sculpt our future. The past year has been a miserable one for millions of victims of disasters. The year dawned with the Indian Ocean tsunami, saw a hurricane season unrivaled in living memory striking the American shores and included South Asia’s devastating earthquake. Through it all, other tragic crises persisted in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Like never before, the 2005 year stretched and tested the capabilities of aid agencies and the will of survivors.
The year 2005, before its end, brought agony to South Asia when the earth, in the Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir, shook. The devastating quake killed more than 80,000 people and turning hundreds of villages on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) into the neighborhoods of rubble.

WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE

Any sudden disturbance within the earth manifested at the surface by the shaking of ground. This shaking, which accounts for the destructiveness of an earthquake, is caused by the passage of elastic waves through the Earth's rocks. These seismic waves are produced when some form of stored energy, such as elastic strain, chemical energy, or gravitational energy, is released suddenly.

Few natural phenomena can wreak as much havoc as earthquakes. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property. While earthquakes have inspired dread and superstitious awe since ancient times, little was understood about them until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur.

THE EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKE

Earthquakes have varied effects, including changes in geologic features, damage to man-made structures, and impact on human and animal life.
Geomorphologic changes are often caused by an earthquake: e.g., movements—either vertical or horizontal—along geological fault traces; the raising, lowering, and tilting of the ground surface with related effects on the flow of groundwater; liquefaction of sandy ground; landslides; and mudflows. The investigation of topographical changes is aided by geodetic measurements, which are made systematically in a number of countries seriously affected by earthquakes.

Earthquakes can do significant damage to buildings, bridges, pipelines, railways, embankments, and other man-made structures. The type and extent of damage inflicted are related to the strength of the ground motions and to the behavior of the foundation soils. In the most intensely damaged region, called the miezoseismal area, the effects of a severe earthquake are usually complicated and depend on the topography and the nature of the surface materials; they are often severer on soft alluvium and unconsolidated sediments than on hard rock. At distances of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the source, the main damage is caused by surface waves. In mines there is frequently little damage below depths of a few hundred meters even though the surface immediately above is considerably affected. Further effects of interest are the occurrence of earthquake sounds and lights. The sounds are generally low-pitched and have been likened to the noise of an underground train passing through a station. The occurrence of such sounds implies the existence of significant short periods in the P waves in the ground (a wave period is the length of time between the arrivals of successive crests in a wave train). Occasionally luminous flashes, streamers, and balls are seen in the night sky during earthquakes. These lights have been attributed to electric induction in the air along the earthquake source.

AFTERSHOCKS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DANGEROUS THEY ARE?

Usually a major or even moderate earthquake of shallow focus is followed by many lesser earthquakes close to the original source region. This is to be expected because the fault rupture producing a major earthquake does not relieve all of the accumulated strain energy at once. Furthermore, this dislocation is liable to cause an increase in the stress and strain at a number of places in the vicinity of the focal region, bringing crustal rocks at certain points close to the stress at which fracture occurs. In some cases the frequency of aftershocks may be for a time as high as 1,000 or more a day. In general, the number of aftershocks per day decreases with increasing time. The aftershock frequency is roughly inversely proportional to the time since the occurrence of the largest earthquake of the series.

EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION AND METHODS OF REDUCING EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS:

Considerable work has been done in seismology to explain the characteristics of the recorded ground motions in earthquakes. Such knowledge is needed to predict ground motions in future earthquakes so that earthquake-resistant structures can be designed. Although earthquakes cause death and destruction through such secondary effects as landslides, tsunamis, fires, and fault rupture, the greatest losses—both in lives and property—result from the collapse of man-made surface and subsurface structures during the violent shaking of the ground. Accordingly, the most effective way to mitigate the destructiveness of earthquakes from an engineering standpoint is to design and construct structures capable of withstanding strong ground motions.

Keeping all these factors in mind, this study has attempted to study how a major catastrophe like the Oct 8 earthquake has been negotiated by the victims of the quake in order to mitigate their woes. Also the researcher tries to highlight interaction of affected with themselves, with each other, with different NGO’s and with the government authorities. The study also zeroed-in on the communication patterns used by the victims at the individual level, parental level, family level, community level and at the village or panchayat level. Further the research encompasses the efforts made by the affected to access the help lines available to recur out of the whole trauma.

And this research is a humble endeavor to try to locate these ‘unsung heroes’ who despite all odds and difficulties managed at common man’s level to overcome the perils either posed by the disastrous quake or by those reprobates, who always tried to take a political mileage out of their miseries.

This research tries to examine and trace out the ventures and communication endeavours of these ‘unsung heroes’ who were at the depths of despair, but negotiated the trauma, disaster in their lives with hope and optimism at the personal, family , village and community level.

2006-06-14T11:52:00.000+05:30

METHODOLOGY

Since the study is an attempt to locate the survivors – ‘unsung heroes’ - of October 8 quake, how they negotiated it and how they communicated their problems and perspectives to people, NGO’s and the authorities, the researcher has decided to stress on the qualitative part only.

The study takes an in-depth look on the people of Uri and Kupwara, who bore the maximum brunt of the cataclysm that befell on them in the form of October 8 earthquake. It would at the same time try to focus on the agony, anguish, anticipation, eagerness, pain, determinacy, valour, vim and vigor of those affected, who were struggling to survive for the basic needs. The researcher tries to unearth those moments when the souls of these remotest hamlets were crying for divine intervention and simultaneously praying for human help to get their miseries mitigated.

Although the gigantic size of quake and the destruction it followed did not make it possible to focus on the whole and all the paradigms of the area-but for the purpose of study this researcher itself from October 9 was extensively involved in relief and rehabilitation operations with various media agencies and in the course of this process, this researcher had an on hand experience of the situation in Uri, Tangdhar and Kupwara which were the worst hit regions of the Indian part of Kashmir.

It is out of the question to perfectly quantify anything, given the nature of disaster as it takes the multiple lifelines to build a home and a family unit. So this researcher looked at the whole issue qualitatively focusing on 12 families, out of which seven were selected for final analysis-using family as a unit and case study as the method of research to study the individual/ joint negotiations, patterns of interactions, importance of communication ways, accessing of any assistance and problem solving and surviving strategies used by the affected. Case studies were intensively carried upon the families as the researcher was able to stay at length in the villages with the families and people, spending ample time with the quake affected people in their makeshift tents irrespective of the torrential rains and snow invading these villages regularly. Apart from this, the injured of these affected areas were also visited in various hospitals during the research period. Even these cases were helped manually and monetarily by the researcher to put up a tangible rapport with them so as to explore everything broadly and expansively. To meet the requirements, the inputs from doctors at various hospitals and the army men from the affected areas were also consulted, in order to make the project a comprehensive and authentic one.

CASE STUDY:
Case study is a method of exploring and analyzing the life of a social unit, be that a family, a person or an institution or a community. In this method various aspects of this unit are deeply and thoroughly studied, taking into account its past, present and future.

According to Durkheim1, “Case history or study is a synthesis interpretation in information about a person and his relationship of his environment collected by means of many techniques”.

Again Durkheim in the same book describes case study as “a technique by which an individual factor whether it be an institution or just an episode in the life of an individual or a group is analyzed in its relationship of any other in the group”.

Pitirim A Sorokin defines case study as “the most reliable technique of attaining natural history of the units selected, which help in exact hypothesis along with the data”.

UNIVERSE OF THE STUDY

Though the earthquake hit and devastated the major part of Kashmir valley and Poonch district of Jammu region, the worst-hit areas included the frontier regions of Uri and Tangdhar as they were close to Muzaffarabad – the epicenter of the deadly quake. As such the researcher has focused only on the people of these two regions to make the study compact and in-depth.