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Kashmir Pen THURSDAY 14 June 2018
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Issue No: 24
Price:5/- Pages:16
Satisar, the Valley of Demons-II
The socio-economic essence of
Eid-ul-Fitr (The day of Eid-ul-Fitr truly symbolises piety, patience, fortitude and godliness. Socially, Eid-ul-Fitr reminds us to share the festivities with the poor, the underprivileged, the downtrodden, orphans, neglected and the cast off besides embracing people from all walks of life)
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JKDFP asks India-Pak to follow US-N Korea summit
Srinagar, Jun 13 (KNS): Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has asked India and Pakistan to follow the Singapore summit between the US and North Korea and resume talks to ensure peaceful region and resolution of all issues. The party said that the Singapore summit should set precedence for both the bickering neighbours to follow. "If the United States and North Korea can return from the brink of a nuclear flashpoint, there is no reason why India and Pakistan cannot do the same," JKDFP Secretary General Moulana Mohammad Abdullah Tari said in a statement to KNS. He said that India-Pakistan talks have assumed importance because Kashmir dispute is very badly affecting their relations so both New Delhi and Islamabad should begin dialogue on Kashmir as soon as possible and include its true representatives
Teachers to hold 24 hrs sit-in at SK Park if issues are not resolved upto June 18: Qayoom Wani
into the process at a proper time. Dialogue between Indian and Pakistan over Kashmir should resume at earliest so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people, Moulana Tari said. "The US and North Korea talks should be a model for India and Pakistan. If they can return from their previous hostile positions of attacking each other, India and Pakistan can also resume composite dialogue," Tari said. Moulana Tari said that building confidence among the people of the region is possible only when New Delhi and Islamabad will come closer and pledge to work for the betterment of the people. As for as the confidence building of the people of Jammu Kashmir is concerned, it can be done through a number of measures and it can be started by releasing all political prisoners. (KNS)
Srinagar, Jun 13 (KNS): Leaders of Teachers Joint Action Committee staged a peaceful sit in protest near civil Secretariat Srinagar under the leadership of President EJAC, Chairman JKTF, Chairman Teachers joint action committee Abdul Qayoom Wani. All the leaders assembled near Khalisa High School wearing black masks as a mark of protest. The leaders of TJAC that includes Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum, Jammu and Kashmir, RRET Forum, Jammu and Kashmir SSA Teachers Association and Tehreek-e-Rehbar Taleem Teachers Forum participated in the protest. According to a statement issued to KNS, while talking to the media persons, Wani said that government is unnecessarily harassing teachers and masters working under SSA and RMSA by debarring them from 7th pay commission and repeated delay in salaries for months together. Wani urged upon the government to link the SSA salaries with state sector and release the salaries of these teachers as per 7th pay commission. He said that these teachers have been enjoying all other perks in the department from time to time as others state employees are enjoying. He said that debarring SSA teachers and masters from 7th pay commission is a brazen injustice. President EJAC said it is matter of thousands of families that are at the verge of starvation
in this Holly month of Ramzan and on the eve of eid. He said that SSA Teachers and masters are in mental trauma and are worst victims of the situation. Chairman JKTF urged upon the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Finance Minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, Education Minister Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali and worthy Chief Secretary B B Vyas for their personal and immediate intervention for the resolving of this human issue so that thousands of teachers may have a sigh of relief. Wani said that if the government fails to resolve the genuine issue of the teachers and masters working under SSA and RMSA, thousands of teachers under the banner of Teachers Joint Action Committee will hold 24 hours sit in protest at Sher-e-Kashmir park Srinagar on 18th of June. When the leaders were marching towards civil Secretariat the heavy deployment of police stopped them near civil Secretariat and arrested Ab. Qayoom Wani and other state leaders that include Gazi Ab. Aziz, Ganesh Khajuria, Vinod Sharma, Mohd Akbar Khan, Mohd Rafiq Rather, Shah Fayaz, Javid Iqbal, Saleem Sager, Pir Nisar, Mohd. Afzal Bhat, Khadim Raza, Riyaz-ur-Rehman, Ashiq Rasool, Showkat Ali Beigh, Shabir Ahamd, Zeshaan Parvaz, Bhat Javid, Alli Bhotto, Mohd Akbar Dar, Malik Javid and others. (KNS)
Maximum BSF casualties along J-K IB this year
Jun 13 2018 : Eleven BSF troops have been killed in cross-border firing incidents along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir till date in 2018, the highest casualty figure for the border force in a year in the last five years, a latest data revealed. Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an Assistant Commandant-rank officer, were killed in a similar incident in the Ramgarh sector of Jammu today alone. As per the data accessed by PTI, over 320 unprovoked firing incidents have taken place this year till date, leading to the killing of 11 BSF personnel and injuring 37 others. In comparison to this, a total of 111 unprovoked cross-border firing instances took place last year along this front (Jammu IB) while the figures were 204 incidents (in 2016), 350 (in 2015) and 127 during 2014. Two BSF personnel were killed and seven injured due to sniping and mortar shelling last year while three BSF personnel were killed and 10 injured in such incidents in 2016. Similarly, a BSF jawan was killed and five were injured in 2015 and two of its men were killed while 14 were injured in 2014. Today, Assistant Commandant Jitendra Singh (34), Sub-inspector Rajneesh Kumar (32), Constable Hansraj Gurjar (28) and
Assistant SI Ram Niwas (52) were killed when unprovoked firing, using both precision weapons and mortars, was launched from the Asraf post of the Pakistan Rangers. Officials said while ASI Ram Niwas, manning the 'morcha' (observation post), was hit first from the cross-fire, the rest three were killed in the subsequent mortar firing, as they were trying to evacuate the ASI. "Amidst ongoing fire during evacuation a mortar shell fired from Pakistan side exploded and injured the evacuation party," a BSF spokesperson said. While Singh hailed from Jaipur in Rajasthan, Rajneesh Kumar was from Etah in Uttar Pradesh, Ram Niwas hailed from Sikar and Hansarj Gurjar from Alwar in Rajasthan. The BSF said the unprovoked firing in this area started around 9:40 pm yesterday and continued till the wee hours today and the paramilitary kept on the retaliation. "Despite ceasefire agreements, Pakistan has resorted to blatant violations and continues with unprovoked cross border fire also on Jammu IB. "After DGMO level talks on May 29 and sector commander level meeting of BSF and Pak Rangers on June 4 and telephonic talk on June 12, it was agreed to maintain
peace and tranquillity on the Jammu IB," a BSF spokesperson said. On June 3 similarly, two BSF personnel were killed and 10 persons, mostly civilians, injured in heavy shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers along the IB in Pragwal, Kanachak and Khour sectors. The latest casualties take the overall number of those killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir this year to 50, including 24 security personnel.
The BSF had launched three special assault operations -- Rustam (2016), Arjun (2017) and Bheem (2018)-- as part of the government mandated 'befitting reply' policy for retaliation of the such firing incidents. The latest spell of the cross-border firing began when Pakistan Rangers and their other units started shelling areas along the IB from May 15. (PTI)
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ndia is no more a bete noire in Pakistan. Elite in Islamabad and Karachi no more count it as an enemy country instead they look upon it not only as a role model for democracy and development but also as neighbor to be 'trusted'. Now 'India votary club' in the neighboring country is not just confined to journalists like Najam Sethi and activists like Asma Jahangir and Beena Sarwar only but if opinion pages in Pakistan English language newspaper more particularly those published in Islamabad and Karachi and talk shows on various private television channels are mirrors the number has multiplied. Moreover, their voices are louder than those that have been accusing India of playing `mischief along southern border of the country with Afghanistan or speaking against putting Kashmir on the backburner. How many of these journalists and anchors are genuinely looking upon India as a friend and calling for forging of ties. And how many have been doing it at the bidding of some big business houses who have been eager for establishing commercial relations with India and have worked for granting of MFN status to it, are posers that engage attention. Some top Pakistan columnists, journalist and anchors were recently in the dock for receiving huge bribes from some businesspersons for furthering agenda of the PPP led government. List of twenty top media men who have been regular recipients of favors from a top executive closely connected with Pakistan President Asaf Ali Zardari were carried by newspapers and posted on social media networks. Some of these top media men have built huge properties not only in Pakistan but also in international cities like New York. Leaking recording of an offair conversation between a businessman and Meher Bokhari and Mubasher Lucman two anchors of Lahore based Duniya TV channel during an interview has not only substantiated the reports but also put question marks on the integrity of some big names sitting on a higher moral pedestal. Journalists and activists with foggy integrity apart, there has been some progress in people-to-people contacts. Top Indian doctors have been holding free medical camps in Pakistan cities. Many patients with cardiac and liver ailments are receiving treatment in New Delhi hospitals. In Pakistan's social fabric, Bollywood stars and actors have got woven more intricately than in Indian society. The increased exchange of business delegation has given boost to minor business like import or export of onions and other merchandise. The two countries however are yet to enter into a big symbiotic economic partnership. Is it a smokescreen or genuine forward movement? Some recent developments in the relations between the two countries have cast doubts on the genuineness of the media orchestrated 'forward
movement.' In her bid to win favor with India Pakistan Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani in a television, interview towards end of March this year stated that 'Pakistan were equally responsible as India for building animosity and hostility'. This was for the first that a Pakistan Foreign Minister made such an admission. A former Pakistan diplomat in an article described her remarks as "reflection of diplomatic naivety and historical inexactitude.' She had 'categorically denied of putting Kashmir on backburner and asserted of having changed the 'road that leads to resolution of Kashmir dispute.' Stating that the two countries were in a 'negative territory so far trust deficit was concerned; it had been brought to zero level,' she subtly admitted that Kashmir was 'intractable'. She had indicated that Pakistan was interested in 'solving the solvable issues like Sir Creak and Siachen then moving to serious issues. Pakistan leaders including opposition leadership Nawaz Shad had proposed unilateral withdrawal of troops from Siachen. In Mid June Defence Secretaries of the two countries met for two days without making any headway. The deadlock was a foregone conclusion after Defence Minister Antony had made it amply clear that India wants Pakistan to authenticate the 110 KM Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) which passes through the Saltoro Ridge and Siachen Glacier both on the maps and on the ground. So far, there has been no progress on Sir Creak and other issue that Pakistan Foreign Minister had called as solvable, instead it seems that the gains made in terms of various CBMs since 2004 are being done away with. In the embittered relations of the countries, restoration of travel and trade between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir with all its bottlenecks and constraints were considered as a diplomatic marvel. A weak earlier after exchange of fire at a couple of places in the Poonch Sector both trade, travel was suspended in Rawlakot-Poonch sector and impediments in smooth conduct of travel and trade across the Srinagar-Muzafarabad were created. These impediments had provoked statements and commentaries in Srinagar newspapers. Number of initiatives were announced in the July 27, 2011, India and Pakistan Foreign Ministers meeting for making these CBMs more effective and meaningful. These CBMs had withstood the vagaries of 26/11, 2008 happenings that almost had brought Indo-Pak relations to a naught. Compared to Mumbai terrorist attack that had seen over hundred sixty people dead the exchange of fire across the line is not of much consequence, it is genuine question why trade and travel across LoC has been suspended indefinitely. These developments have taken place ahead of July 5, Foreign Secretary meeting in New Delhi. The question haunting the public mind is that if there is more than what meets the eye in the suspension of trade across the line—if the developments during the month do not suggest initiating yet another phase of uncertainty in the region ahead of 2014, US drawdown from Afghanistan. Z.G.Muhammad is a noted writer and columnist.
Journalists and activists with foggy integrity apart, there has been some progress in people-to-people contacts. Top Indian doctors have been holding free medical camps in Pakistan cities. Many patients with cardiac and liver ailments are receiving treatment in New Delhi hospitals. In Pakistan's social fabric, Bollywood stars and actors have got woven more intricately than in Indian society. The increased exchange of business delegation has given boost to minor business like import or export of onions and other merchandise. The two countries however are yet to enter into a big symbiotic economic partnership. Is it a smokescreen or genuine forward movement? Some recent developments in the relations between the two countries have cast doubts on the genuineness of the media orchestrated 'forward movement.' In her bid to win favor with India Pakistan Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani in a television, interview towards end of March this year stated that 'Pakistan were equally responsible as India for building animosity and hostility'. This was for the first that a Pakistan Foreign Minister made such an admission.
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Rights' Violation ; A Grave Concern
PM J.L Nehru held" Kashmir is not the property of India or pakistan, it belongs to the people of Kashmir.When Kashmir acceded to the state of India , we made it clear to leaders of kashmiri people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their Plebiscite.If they tell us to walk out , I will have no hesitation in quitting Kashmir.....We have taken dispute to UN and given our word of honour for peaceful solution. As a great nation, we cannot go back on it. we have left the question of final solution to people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision".
ammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute sharing concerns of three Asian giants China , Pakistan and India. This territorial dispute is most reflected in Indian occupied Kashmir. The instrument of accession and the events followed thereafter eroded the initial agreement of Plebcite. Although UNSC resolved the dislute in accordance with UN supervised Plebiscite but the non seriousness of Indian establishment in Delhi has subverted whole story to another extreme end. The initial war in 1947 paved way to separation of POK from Indian control and the capturing of Aksai Chin reduced the territory under Indian hands to mere 45% of required area. What lies at the core of matter is the Breach of trust and promise at the hands of indian establishment. P M Nehru offered Plebiscite internally in Lal Choke and externally on UNSC platform which are yet materialise. The armed struggle wage in later 90's is the manifestation of this arrogance by subsequent central governments to not accord due respect to UNSC's back to back resolutions. This struggle intensified in 90's decade and took thousands of innocent civilians. After the instrument of accession Central Gov ernment used all covert means to ensure India orientated state government formation. Arrest of Shiekh Abdullah and subsequent events led to breach of country's true democratic credentials.Thereafter Sangh Parivar engaged itself in demand for scrapping Article 370 on which whole relationship exists. These events uncovered the real intentions of India and shattered the myth of Constitutional resolution. Since then armed struggle was started. Initially the focus was on organisational and institutional structure. Thereafter 1991 Human rights violations are catch all episode of our forefathers. They trace the horrific events and shudders the conscience of youth. Army engaged itself in serious crimes and killed and maimed hundreds of innocent civilians. Thenceforth Kunanposhpora black night reached extreme pinnacle and eroded the sacred repute of our mothers and sisters. It exploded the myth of law and order. Shopian episode went a step further to uncover brutal designs of security forces. Kashmir cause is renowned dispute and the struggle for resolution in howsoever way it may is natural. It's a weird fact that Dispute is supposed to remain unresolved but the supporters of its cause are designated as terrorists and anti nationals.How can Indian nationalism flourish when kashmiri nationalism is endangered. Thenceforth the gargantuan issue is passing through intermittent active and passive phases. The active phases are replete with stories of stone pelting ,protests,bycott etc. It's the same period witnessing widespread death and destruction including women and children apart from economic loss to people of kashmir. The story is replete with back to back 2008, 2010 and 2016 uprisings with hundreds of civilian casualties. Whenever there's any untoward action by either state or centre govt the cumulated dissent explodes through uprisings . What's seen through such phases is a story of gross violation of human rights rather Human beings are treated with Human without beings. Torture , ransacking , vandalism , shell firing and PAVA shells are some measures taken promptly to simmer the agitation. The new and innovative technique of Pellet shelling despite widespread criticism has went a step further in aftermath of 2016 uprising. Over and above the hundred casualty score in 2016 , pellet injuries turned the wonderful world black for hundreds of aspiring young people in kashmir. Which statement of union govt can defend the blindness of young lady in 20's? Is this Democracy? Are human beings really treated as humans? Isn't pellet gun an animal hunting weapon? The repeated incidents of nip and tuck episodes is a mockery of largest democracy. A massive number of people have been put behind bars on one pretext or other. They have been put under severe torture from years inside jails with free and fair trial which is main provision
of fundamental rights. Herein the iron rod and draconian provisions of AFSPA are applied to fish in troubled waters. Despite repeated recommendation for repealing of said act ,the government of the day seems unwilling to do away with act. This Act itself contradicts the faith on human rights and their enforceable nature. The Act which treats every citizen as dubious and restricts their dignity in essence with article 21 of indian Constitution is nothing but slap on face of contemporary civilization. On one hand the dispute in eternity is fought with through various approaches, indian armed forces not only plays with lives but involves itself in shameful acts at sometimes . The kunanposhpora is bleak spot on record of discipline and integrity of armed forces. Decades have went on without completion of enquiry. Is CBI putting enquiry on back burner willingly? What's the reason for incomplete investigation of grave and inhuman act? The rape and ransacking of far flung villages is regarded as meagre episode. Thereafter Shopian incident of Asiya and Nilofer are yet fresh in the memories of Kashmiris who are down in the dumps for the safety of moral and repute of sisters and mothers? Are Kashmiris safe in army colony? What lies at the core of these episodes that shadows them to be investigated in free , fair and stipulated period of time. Either the values of women are regarded inferior or the Kashmiris are regarded piece of enjoyment. In its present context youth is being tortured in grave manner. They are taken into custody at night raids and put behind bars with any reason. The parents are caught unawares about the serious allegations attached to names of their arrested wards.Does government desire to introduce Cunningham Circular in kashmir valley now. The frequent agitational periods have brought education to halt. Schools are deserted evolving as places for homegrown cricket grounds. Is article 21A not applicable to j and K ? Is kashmir not worthy to be brought in ambit of 21A? The frustration and fear created in the minds of youth bursts out in violent manifestations. There's a need to assess ground level for rethinking on J and k state or the wind may fail to drew boat to other side of river. It's unanimously accepted along length and breadth of civil society and human rights activists that human rights are violated in kashmir in broad day light. Either during the turmoil periods or during relatively peaceable periods , the Kashmiris don't feel safe in the territory inherited from yore with golden period of Zainul Abideen( A R ). There's a once and for all a remedy for kashmir. The dispute need to be resolved in tune to international norms with active involvement of Pakistan and Kashmiris. As was hold by PM J L Nehru " Kashmir is not the property of India or pakistan, it belongs to the people of kashmir.when kashmir acceded to the state of india , we made it clear to leaders of kashmir people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their Plebiscite.i f they tell us to walk out , I will have no hesitation in quitting kashmir..........We have taken dispute to UN and given our word of honour for peaceful solution. As a great nation, we cannot go back on it. we have left the question of final solution to people of kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision". So the solution has been provided by J L Nehru before emergence of very dispute. The UNSC reiterated its back to back support for UN supervised Plebiscite. There can't be and will not be better approach than UN to decide the cobra headed territorial dispute between nuclear powered states. Is the Democratic style at present ready to solve the dispute? Is any leader willing to follow footprints of Nehru? There's an urgent need to take steps on war footing for early resolution of territorial dispute. As is said " Absence of peace guarantees war but converse is not always true". The restive valley demands healing touch policy in letter and spirit , certainly curfews are outdated in 21st century. Let's hope to get bolt from blue. Fingers crossed. Writer Shakoor mushtaq can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
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The land-locked Kashmir!
istorically, Kashmir has always been known as a land-locked country in the high Himalayan Mountains. In the earliest Chinese records Kashmir is described as, "a country enveloped on all sides like a precious jewel by the snowy mountains, with a valley in the south which leads up to it and serves as a gate of the Kingdom". Famous Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang describes Kashmir which he calls Kiashi-mi-lo as a country surrounded on all sides by very high mountains which have very narrow and contracted passes for entry. According to him these natural bulwarks have protected the country from its neighbours who have never succeeded in subduing it. The Greek chronicles also mention Kashmir as Kaspeira, a country surrounded by high mountains whose inhabitants are great foot-walkers! In fact, this isolation of Kashmir in the high mountains allowed it to remain unmolested for a long time. In ancient Kashmir there used to be an official called the "Dawara Pati", the guardian of the passes whose job was to keep an eye on all passes which were guarded by garrisons of soldiers. The conquest of Kashmir by Mughals, even though through treachery, ended Kashmir's isolation. However, even with the passing of the country from Mughals to Afghans, to Sikhs and finally to Dogras, the physical isolation continued. The only access was through the Jhelum Valley road along the River Jhelum. After, the events of 1947, even though Kashmir got disconnected from its Central Asian neighbours in the North, yet access became easier towards South. Finally, with the advent of civil aviation, Kashmir is no longer a land locked and isolated "country"! The valley of Kashmir has become a global tourist destination and millions of tourists have been coming here from all over the globe. Unfortunately, in spite of year round global access to the Kashmir valley, there are still some parts which remind one of the ancient land-locked Kashmir. These places get totally land-locked in winter, in some cases almost for six months or so. These include Gurez and Tilel Valleys; Karnah; Wadwan Valley of Kishtwar. The other areas in the State which remain land-locked in winter are Ladakh where totally land-locked is the remote valley of Zanskar. In
The conquest of Kashmir by Mughals, even though through treachery, ended Kashmir's isolation. However, even with the passing of the country from Mughals to Afghans, to Sikhs and finally to Dogras, the physical isolation continued. The only access was through the Jhelum Valley road along the River Jhelum. After, the events of 1947, even though Kashmir got disconnected from its Central Asian neighbours in the North, yet access became easier towards South. Finally, with the advent of civil aviation, Kashmir is no longer a land locked and isolated "country"! The valley of Kashmir has become a global tourist destination and millions of tourists have been coming here from all over the globe. Unfortunately, in spite of year round global access to the Kashmir valley, there are still some parts which remind one of the ancient landlocked Kashmir. These places get totally land-locked in winter, in some cases almost for six months or so. These include Gurez and Tilel Valleys; Karnah; Wadwan Valley of Kishtwar. The other areas in the State which remain land-locked in winter are Ladakh where totally land-locked is the remote valley of Zanskar. In this modern age it is unthinkable of people getting totally isolated for months on end. They have no access either by road or by air. The people in these areas face not only a physical trauma but also a psychological one. Unfortunately, most of the rulers in recent times have totally neglected this aspect of winter inaccessibility of these remote areas.
this modern age it is unthinkable of people getting totally isolated for months on end. They have no access either by road or by air. The people in these areas face not only a physical trauma but also a psychological one. Unfortunately, most of the rulers in recent times have totally neglected this aspect of winter inaccessibility of these remote areas. After a wait of decades, the government has finally started work on the Zoji La tunnel to ensure year round access to Ladakh by road. This is a welcome step and one hopes the work would be completed on a fast track. It would have been ideal if notice of inaccessibility of other areas had also been taken. The long term accessibility of these areas would also require construction of tunnels below the passes which get closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. These include the Sadhna Pass, the Razdani Pass, the Simthan Pass, the Margan Pass and so on. These passes would need much shorter tunnels which may be cheaper and easier to construct. Let us hope the government keeps the requirements of these people living in remote areas in view and formulates a plan to make these accessible in winter also. Pending construction of tunnels, the government could explore connecting these remote areas by short haul turbo-prop aircraft. These aircraft do not need long and concrete runways and can land on small strips and in some cases even in plain fields. Air Asia and the Indigo Airlines do have these small turbo-prop aircraft and are operating services to some areas. The government needs to explore the possibility of inviting these airlines to survey the areas and start such short haul air services. Even these services could be subsidised to allow reasonable pricing of these flights. At the moment, some of these areas in the state are serviced by MI-17 helicopters of IAF for which the government makes payments to the Ministry of Defence. Similar, treatment needs to be given to the Zanskar area also which too remains totally cut off during winter. Here again sometime IAF courier services are operated. The worst part is the assistance to sick people during winter. Sometimes the concerned Deputy Commissioners do requisition helicopters from the Air Force. However, providing of a regular short haul air service can ameliorate the suffering of these people till these are made accessible on a round the year basis. The author is an I.A.S. (Retired) & Former Director General Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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KASHMIR PEN EDITORIAL THE SPIRIT OF EID AL-FITR In the spirit of Eid ul-Fitr, Allah and His greatness are acknowledged, His blessings for humanity are acknowledged and thanked. The faithful make a promise to Him that everyone will live together in peace. There is no prescribed ritual for Eid ul-Fitr except for the two units of namaz or prayer. Gifts of sweets distributed on the day of Eid represent the true spirit of this Islamic festival.The Prophet of Islam once said that an exchange of gifts promotes love in society. So, sweets are not simply sweets: they also have a spiritual meaning. Sweets represent not only the spirit of Eid, but also the true spirit of Islam. Prayer on the day of Eid is offered in congregation. All Muslims, including women and children, gather together in congregational prayer in order to promote harmony and brotherhood, not only among Muslims but others also. Eid comes just after the final day of fasting. The month of fasting and the day of Eid ul-Fitr both represent two very important features in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad said that the month of fasting was a month of patience. That is, it is a month of self-restraint, a month of self-discipline, a month of self-control, a month of promoting duty-consciousness. Eid ul-Fitr represents the reward of Allah, which will be granted by God to those who observe one month's fasting. In other words, fasting represents dutiful worldly life and Eid ul-Fitr represents the reward that will be given in return by Allah to man. According to tradition, the day of Eid is the day of divine reward. When believers observe their duty in the month of Ramzan in the true spirit of the season, Allah declares: "O angels, be witness that I have decided to bestow upon them paradise in the world hereafter." Precisely, the month of fasting represents the responsibilities of the believers in this world and Eid ul-Fitr represents the reward given to them in the world hereafter. Precisely
Let's hope that this auspicious occasion would be the harbinger of peace, progress, prosperity and happiness and would strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity, which are the hallmarks of J&K's glorious pluralistic traditions.
Fresh thinking is needed to cut the Gordian knot in Kashmir
"The best way to solve any problem is to remove its cause." Dr. Martin Luther King DR. GHULAM NABI FAI The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) in Kashmir has shown willingness to talk provided the Government of India clarifies the parameters of talks. In an interview with The Indian Express, (June 5, 2018) Dineshwar Sharma, the Chief Interlocutor said, "When I talk to the younger generation there (Kashmir), often they confront me with so many questions and even talk about Azaadi… Any rational discussion will be possible when we are able to first address the sentiment of the people…" In this interview, Mr. Sharma has made it clear that the sentiments of the people of Kashmir are for Azaadi. I believe that fresh thinking is needed to cut the Gordian knot in Kashmir, which has been flailed at for more than 70 years bilaterally between India and Pakistan without result. All parties concerned – the Governments of India & Pakistan and the leadership of the people of Kashmir -- should recognize the necessity of adjusting or re-thinking the modalities of implementing any plan to suit present-day circumstances. But what is not acceptable is any erosion far less a negation, of the principle of the will and sentiments of the people of Kashmir. We know that all international conflicts ultimately were resolved on the negotiating table. If that is true then the world powers should become deeply engaged in order to make sure that the peace process between India and Pakistan once initiated does not get derailed. They can play a bridge building to bring parties together so that the animosity is done away with and the dawn of dialogue and engagement is sustained. They need to make sure that the policy of conflict resolution adopted by both New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kashmir dispute is consistent, coherent, transparent and dependable. We are mindful of the urgings by the United Nations that India and Pakistan keep talking to each other. It would be perverse on the part of anyone to oppose that course of action. But to expect a breakthrough in talks is to ask for miracles. It would be irresponsible on our part to encourage the hope that if the Governments of India and Pakistan are willing to depart from the stand of principle, the compromise will be endorsed by the people of Kashmir. During the long years of domestic and international political chess by India, Pakistan and the United Nations, it must be stressed, the people of Kashmir themselves have been denied even the role of a pawn. Their voices have neither been summoned nor heard; yet they have suffered the most in daily and harrowing human rights violations. It's interesting how problematic it is for India & Pakistan to agree that Kashmiris themselves have a stake in any talks about their future. In what kind of democratic process would this not be of prime consideration? The moral, legal and historical foundations for such a principle have been frequently raised not only by Kashmiris but by the world community as well, which are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as in the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
India and Pakistan have had more than 150 official rounds of talks in the last seven decades to discuss conflicts and differences between them. The by-product of every round of talk was an agreement to meet again to talk. In consequence, the peace process between parties has always remained an illusion. Talks have always proved barren because both India and Pakistan have never defined the parameters of talks. The talks were never meant to be time bound with specific benchmarks that would define and characterize progress. History testifies that the dispute will not, and cannot, be solved bilaterally by the two disputants. Both India and Pakistan have to agree to include the leadership of Kashmiri political resistance to explore the lasting solution of the dispute. We are fully aware that the settlement of the Kashmir dispute cannot be achieved in one move. Like all qualified observers, we visualize successive steps or intermediate solutions in the process. It is one thing, however, to think of a settlement over a relatively extended period of time. It is atrociously different to postpone the beginning of the process on that account. The plan of action that would ensure for all components of the State as it existed on August 15, 1947 equal representation and equal freedom to decide whether to continue the status quo or to opt for a new dispensation is not difficult to work out. It can be done by a joint committee composed of the rightly qualified people from India and Pakistan who would consult Kashmiri representatives and also, as necessary, experts from the United Nations. What is desperately needed is an affirmation by Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan of the necessity of taking new measures to effect the settlement of the dispute within a reasonable time frame. To that end, India and Pakistan must together prepare a plan for the demilitarization of the State with safeguards for security worked out together. Peace in the region would benefit not only those who are directly impacted by this conflict – Kashmiris - but India as well. Sounder minds must prevail. More rational methods of dealing with differences must be sought. Repeating the same mistakes while expecting different results has long ago been found to be the path of failure. Seventy years should demonstrate a need for a change in policy, a policy that accepts the need for coming together in a process that accepts the right of all people to determine their own destiny. The people of Kashmir, like most people, are by their nature peaceful. History testifies to that fact. They do not seek war, and do not want to see their children die in a bloody conflict. They seek and would welcome a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the crisis for the sake of peace and stability in the region of South Asia.
Dr. Fai is the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
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hawaja Abdul Samad Pandith known as Hatim Tai of Kashmir, was once the Richest Kashmiri. The Sopore town of North Kashmir is known by the epithet 'Chota London' since ages now. It is said to represent the three R's : 1. Rub (Mud/Silt/Soil) 2. Raeda (Horse Carts) 3. Ropai (Money) Rub represents the rawness and simplicity of the place. Horse carts, locally called 'Raeda' were once upon a time a decent mode of transportation in towns and people owning horse carts would be considered financially well equipped. 'Ropai' represents money which the people of Sopore are said to have in abundance! But the most heartwarming moniker given to these people is that they are called 'Zinda Dilane Sopore' which translates to 'People with a beating heart' What better alias could describe the liveliness of this place and its people! The soil of Sopore has given birth to many legends and if we were to add another 'R' to the three 'R's, it would stand for 'rebel'. You can hear the name of one such legend in sync with the sound of the heartbeats of the people of Sopore even today! The name of 'Khwaja Abdul Samad Pandith' Khwaja was the honorary title conferred to this man in the early 80's. It's an Arabic title used across Middle East and Asia to people who've lived an extraordinary life and set examples for generations to come! It translates as 'Master', 'Lord' or in archaic sense 'gentleman'. Among other names given to Abdul Samad Pandith are also 'The Hatim Tai of Kashmir' and 'The King of Sopore'. Samad was named so because Hatim Tai was a famous Arab poet whose stories of ex-
Khwaja Abdul Samad Pandith Known as Hatim Tai
of Kashmir, This Man was once the Richest Kashmiri
treme generosity have made him an icon among Arabs up until today, as is evident in the proverbial phrase 'more generous than Hatim!'. Samad Pandith was given the honor of being called 'The Hatim Tai of Kashmir' because he was extremely generous and would outdo anyone in charity and good deeds! He took the responsibility of getting scores of poor girls married throughout the valley and would never disclose that he was the one financing all their marriage expenditures. Many such stories came to the daylight only after his demise because he wouldn't allow such kind of publicity for himself. The Pandith family led in business but the main reason for their popularity was the good deeds of this humanitarian! This is Samad Pandith's house It's more than a 100 years old One of the popular tales of this legend is that, in the 19th century, a terrible plane crash took place in the Anantnag district of Kashmir. All passengers died and they included one of the Khwaja's sons. The plane had crashed in a very remote area, the access to which was next to impossible. It was winter and Kashmir had witnessed a very heavy snowfall. The government had given up on the rescue operation of the victims and of claiming the dead bodies. It is then that the government sought the Khwaja's help to cut through the snow jammed mountains, to build a road and reach the site of the plane crash! Such was this man's financial status and power, yet he was so humble and at disposal of every poor and needy! Abdul Samad Pandith was not just a philanthropist, he was a visionary. Originally a forest landlord and the richest man of his times, he set up many firsts in the valley. He set up the first movie theatre of Kashmir which was named 'Samad Talkies' after him. Amongst other first industrial units that he put up were joinery mills, jam jelly factory, dairy farms and many other business subdivisions! People remember him even today and even though he passed away, his generations are known and celebrated by his name! What a legacy to leave behind! AlHaqu Murun righty dedicated this Urdu couplet to Khwaja Abdul Samad Pandith: 'Kisi ki muskurahato pe ho jaan nisaar! Kisi ka dard ho sakhe toh le udhaar! 'Jeena issi ka naam hai' GYAWUN
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Kashmir Through Ages –V(a) 13 July,1931 –Martyr Day
( A counter narrative of an article " Truth about the martyrs of Kashmir's July 13 carnage " by Sushil Pandit )
his is in response to article "Truth about the martyrs of Kashmir's July 13 carnage" by Sushil Pandit published by "Daily O" on 14-07-2015.According to Mr.Pandit "The state's non-Muslim population suffers the humiliation of 'commemorating' their own tormentors as heroes every year on this day" (https://www.dailyo.in/politics/july13-jammu-and-kashmir-kashmiri-pandits-martyrs-day/story/1/4963.html via @dailyo_). In other words Sushil Pandita is suggesting that ,those Kashmiri Muslims who are being celebrated as heroes were actually tormentors ,well a proud Hindustani Muslim from Kashmir like me take strong exception to this allegation . I find it my obligation to refute this allegation which traces its root to the sustained 29 year old sustained propaganda .We kashmiris like our other Indian countrymen dalits are not victims of secular Indian (like Mahatma Gandhi , Tagore, Ambedkar,Bhagat Singh ,Periyar , Yachury,Devigoda, K.Chandershekhar , Dr. Karan Singh etc.), who stand by justice, rather we are victim of corporate fidayeen media led by Supremacist miniscule cult which has institutionalized the propaganda against Kashmiri muslims. In order to critically analyse the historically distorted and islamophobe narrative of Sushil Pandita ,I will put forth the late and immediate causes of this event .Subsequently we will understand why the day became to be observed "Youm-e Shuhada-e-Kashmir –Matyrs day" in Kashmir and off-course people like Sushil Pandita will get an idea about three issues a) Who were tormentors? b) Who were collaborators and beneficiaries of these tormentors? c) Who were victims? Although the history of resistance by Kashmiris against foreign occupation dates back to 16th century when Mughal barbarian occupied our Kashmir but according to some Indian historian this event gave morale support and became precipitating factor for Kashmiris to evolve as nation and fight subjugation politically. On July 13, 1931 thousands of Kashmiris had flocked to Central Jail, Srinagar to witness the trial of Abdul Qadeer Khan. As the time for obligatory prayer approached one Kashmiri stood up to deliver adhan ( a call for muslim prayers ). The Dogra Governor Raizada Tartilok Chand ordered his soldiers to open fire on him. When he was killed another Kashmiri stood up to continue the Adhan from the verse where the Adhan had been broken. He too was killed. A total of 22 Kashmiris were killed trying to complete delivering the Adhan. BACKGROUND: It is very necessary to know the context of the then prevailing situation then only we can understand the event .Let me put forth late and immediate causes which led to the this carnage by foreign dogra rulers and I am sure after going through the causes not only Mr. Sushil
Pandita but whole world will come to know who were tormenters , their beneficiaries and how Kashmiri Muslims were oppressed under Dogra rule and were subjected to slave labour, heavy taxes and state terror. Before going to immediate and late causes of events it may be worthwhile to quote the observations of a contemporary historian about Dogra Rule , 1) Pandit politician-historian Prem Nath Bazaz on this Hindu Dharm- Raj, which he has frankly expressed in his celebrated work Inside Kashmir based on his personal knowledge of the times in his book ,P. N. Bazaz, Inside Kashmir, p. 250 , "Speaking generally and from the bourgeois point of view, the Dogra rule has been a Hindu Raj. Muslims have not been treated fairly by which I mean as fairly as the Hindus. Firstly, because contrary to all professions of treating all classes equally, it must be candidly admitted that Muslims were dealt with harshly in certain respects only because they were Muslims." 2) Pandits dominating every department: "The Hindu officials were not only oppressing the Muslim majority of Kashmir, but in order to perpetuate their monopoly over the State offices, they devised every position" (See Glancy Commission Report vide Dastawaizat, pp. 141-42.) 3)Power of pandits : Sir Walter Lawrence writes: .... [Sic]….. Kashmiri Pandits had a power and authority, and Muslims..... were forced to work to keep the idle Brahmans in comfort. (Lawrence ,Sir Walter Roper,The india we served ,londom1928, ,pp.126-127 ; Also see Educational Policy and the Mission School: Case studies from Brahmin empire edited by Brain HOLMES.) 4)NO jobs for muslims : According to Also see Educational Policy and the Mission School: Case studies from Brahmin empire edited by Brain HOLMES , State government jobs were barred to the Muslim they lacked powerful incentive from government .The cumulative effect of these factors was that for a long time the school of Kashmir were almost entirely monopolized by the Pandit minority. 5) Pandits subversion of Shali – subsidies grant to Muslim : Thus the Kashmiri Pandits gained ample economic stability , political power and social status which, subsequently , so enhanced their influence that they could easily subvert any attempt aimed at reducing their subsidies and concessions or granting the same rights to
Muslims. According to Political department 123 l 1921, Jammu state Achieves : "The Kashmiri pandits are bent on turning this situation to their advantage to the utter exclusion of their fellow needy brethren, the Kashmiri muslim .The new scheme for the shali distribution can only work if the workers are free of sectarian prejudice .Pandit enumerators exclude the names of Musalmaan who deserve the Rasad (ration),enumerating only their fellow pandits chakdaars ,money lenders, and high state officials who don't need it" 6) Right to food for Pandit only not for muslim : According to Walter Lawrence , The Valley of Kashmir , Gulshan Publishers , Srinagar ,p .272 "The Pandits had a right to be well fed whether there[was] famine or not at two chilki rupees a Kharwaar" but the same time Muslim cultivators had no right ," ..[sic ]...The cultivator [was] considered to have rights neither to his land nor to his crops" 7) Walter Lawrence, who had very intimate knowledge of the official class of Kashmir, by virtue of being the Land Settlement Commissioner of the valley providing him also a unique opportunity to travel every nook and comer of Kashmir and to meet general masses, makes following observations of the Kashmiri Pandits in his book , Valley o f Kashmir, p. 282 "They (Pandits) are very true to one another, and owing to their unity and to the fact that they have monopolised all State offices, their power has been enormous... In character, disposition and ability they are, as private individuals, infinitely superior to the Mussalmans of Kashmir, but... they have proved as officials, rapacious, short-sighted and cruel." "The Pandits are loyal to one another, and the village Patwari knows that when awkward questions are asked he has friends at the Tehsil, at the headquarters of the Wazir-i-Wazarat, and in the Daftar-i-Diwani. It was a powerful ring of iron, inside which the village tax payer lay fascinated. In recent times there were few Pandits who were not in receipt of pay from the State, and the number of offices was legion. But though this generosity in the matter of official establishments was an enormous boon to the Pandit class, it was a curse and misfortune to the Mussalmans of Kashmir; for Pandit does not value a post for its pay, but rather for its perquisites, and every post in the valley was quickly made a source of perquisites (Valley o f Kashmir, p. 401. While substantiating Lawrence, E. F. Knight
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writes, "Low salaried as these officials were, they enjoyed a luxurious life on the income they earned by all fraud means. It was not therefore, surprising to see a Tehsildar with a small pay of thirty rupees a month spending three hundred to five hundred rupees a month..." See Knight, Where Three Empires Meet, p.29. 8) Rasum by Pandit officials:- According to Pandit historian , officials not only satisfied themselves with the salaries from revenue department but resorted to illegal exaction from poor Muslim peasants, Apart from the opportunities offered by the prevailing revenue system, the officials made illegal exactions known as rasum. It consisted of requisitions for village produce and was a form of purveyance on behalf of officials. Under this system officials would obtain wood, grass, milk poultry, grain, blankets, and an occasional pony, cows and sheep free of cost .( Lawrence, Valley of Kashmir, pp. 414-415; See also Census o f India, Kashmir Part -1931, p. 40; Bazaz, The History o f Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir, p.144: M. Y. Saraf, Op. Cit, p. 279.) It is not only the revenue officials who have caused havoc among the hapless Muslim masses, but each member of the officialdom was acting as an incubus to suck the life blood of the masses. Let me quote Prem Nath Bazaz, P. N. Bazaz, The History of Struggle for Freedom on Kashmir, p. 144. "Almost the whole brunt of official corruption had been borne by the Muslim masses. The Police, the Revenue Department, the Forest officials and even the employees of the Co-operative Societies, had their palms oiled by exaction of the usual rasum nobody felt any sympathy with this distressing picture of poverty. The channels of human kindness and mercy had run dry. To loot the peasants was no sin; society did not disapprove of it." 9)Forced labour for Muslim only : According to Tyndale Biscoe and Walter Lawrence in their books, Valley o f Kashmir, pp. 412-413, Tyndale Biscoe, Kashmirin Sunlight and Shade, p. 236. ,Pandits officials of revenue department used to force Muslim for forced labour ,"How the officials abused their powers, it is worth to quote Lawrence in the context of black mailing of beggar ( forced labour ) by them". It may not be beside the point to mention here, that the whole burden of begar fell exclusively upon the common Muslim peasantry as the Hindus, Syeds. Thakurs, Rajputs and Sikhs were exempted from it (Glancy Commission Report vide Dastawaizat, p. 142) 10) Mutabir, feeding relatives of Pandit Revenue official: The Muslim peasantry had not only to feed the revenue officials, worst; they had to provide for the needs of their relatives and friends, known as mutabir. Some officials like Tehsildars had always their mutabirs with them in the Tehsil (Lawrence, Valley of Kashmir, p. 420; E. F. Knight, Where Three Empires Meet, p. 29.) The Muslims of Kashmir somehow gathered courage to complain against the Pandit revenue officers, in their memorandum of 1931 to the Maharaja Hari Singh pleaded that 'all unauthorized exactions should be stopped. And in response to this general complaint of Kashmir Muslims Glancy Commission (1931-32) also recommended that 'wherever a government official would be found involved in corruption, he should be severely punished. Moreover, the chowkidars and patwaris should be appointed from localities, they have been operating, so that it would help in stemming out corruption'(Glancy Commission Report vide, Dastawaizat, p. 141.) . 11)Torture of muslim by Pandit revenue officers:- The officials were not only corrupt, but in order to please their masters, they also resorted to extreme kinds of inhuman torturous methods to exact as much as they could from the famish peasantry. To quote E. F. Knight, Knight, Where Three Empires Meet, p.29, "At the time of collecting the land revenue, the use of nettle scourge in summer and of plunging recurrent tax payer into cold water in winter was popular methods of torture carried out against the peasants. Through these corrupt practices and oppressive methods of the revenue department, the Muslim cultivators
suffered unspeakable injustice and oppression." 12) Pandits officials creating difficulties for job seeking muslim :- "Following in the footsteps of the Punjabis and Dogras, the Pandits by hook or crook made it difficult for the Muslims to get even subordinate Jobs"(Bazaz,The History of Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir, pp. 147-148.) 13) Monopolization of Pandit Jagirdar:- According to Census o f India, 1931, pp. 73-74,the most critical feature of landlordism of our period was that the dominating majority of landlords belonged to Hindu Community who constituted only 20% of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir State and not more than 10% of Kashmir Valley. 14) According to " JKA, File No. 7 o f 1890; Census of 1891, pp. 5-7, JKA, File No. 117 of 1896, A. R. Of Mian Jagir by H. L. Revett; A. R. of Mian Jagirs; Lawrence, Op. Cit;pp. 238-39, "we have some statistical information about the land held as jagir by 30 jagirdars in 1890-91, out of the total 326 villages valuing rupees 2,85,358 as revenue, held as jagir by these 30 jagirdars,258 villages valuing rupees 22,341 were held by Hindu jagirdars whose number was 17, whereas the remainder 13 Muslim jagirdars held 86 villages whose annual value was only rupee 1." 15) Deprivation of Muslim Jagirdhar:- According to Inqilab, Lahore, November 29, 1931, p. 2. , "Right from the coronation of Maharaja Hari Singh upto November 29, 1931 ,about 20 Kashmiri Muslims were deprived of their jagirs which valued from 5,000 to 10,000 each". 16)No Proprietary right for Kashmiri muslim only :- According to Glancy Commission Report vide Dastaw'aizat, p. 121.it was only the Kashmiri peasant whose proprietary rights in land were confiscated. The new law did not apply to Jammu peasant. He continued to enjoy the proprietary rights in land obviously because the majority of the peasantry of Jammu belonged to Hindu community. For the pervasive recommendations made by A. Wingate that the peasants should be given proprietary rights and Walter Lawrence's that they should be given only occupancy rights, See Wingate, Report, p. 61; Lawrence, Valley of Kashmir, pp. 432-433.It may also be important to mention here, that this was also one of the main issues of Muslim Conference till they succeeded in achieving it in 1933. There were no proprietary rights for Muslim. Glancy Commission Report vide Dastawaizat, pp. 122-124. The confiscation of proprietary rights also took the hearts of the 7 peasantry out of cultivation besides, the confiscation of proprietary rights in land was used as a weapon by the State to legitimize its policy of rack renting. 17) Pandit Capitalists Raj Kak Dhar :- The Daghshawl department which regulated the shawltrade was exclusively manned by Kashmiri Pandits ( led by Pandit Raj Kak) . Whereas the Muslim shawl-weaver lived in a very chronic poverty, so much so, that he could hardly manage two square meals, the Hindu official associated with the collection of taxes from the shawl-weavers were living a pompous life. The following casual references given by Lawrence bring out clearly the marked contrast between the Pandit official and the Muslim shawl-weaver(Lawrence, Valley o f Kashmir, p. 35.) Raj Kak Dhar used to pay peanut salaries to Muslim shawl peasants ,but if they refuse to work for his handlooms ,they allegedly used cut their thumbs so that they will be handicapped to work for kharkhandars to save themselves from tyrannies of their karkhandars (employers of handlooms) , let me quote Pandit P N K Bamzai,pp..673, "The weavers might or might not work but he had to pay (taxes).not wonder , 22 shawl weavers are said to have cut off their thumbs in order to be disabled to persue the profession of shawl weaving'' . Although in 1865 , shawl worth 25,4000 British pounds were exported from 1100 handlooms but the salary of muslim shawl weaver was just 6 annas per day and even he used to tax 2 annas out of that as well , my article on Pandit Raj Kak is worth reading in this regard ,International Labour Day & Revisiting Massacre of ''First
Labour Union of the world'' http://www.kashmirpen.com/international-labour-day-revisiting-massacre-of-first-labour-union-of-the-world/ The houses (in Srinagar) vary in size from the large and rapacious burnt-brick palaces of the Pandit aristocrat and his 500 retainers, warmed in the winter by hammams, to the doll house of three stories and their rooms of wood and sun-dried bricks, where the poor shawl-weaver lives his squalid cramped life and shivers in the frosty weather. The deplorable condition of shawl-bafs has also been highlighted by Madusuden Ganju,pp.220. The standard of living of the workers engaged in the woolen industry as a whole is very low. Their food is poor, clothing tattered, and the houses in the most dilapidated condition. They cannot afford to drink milk and eat mutton say even once a week. Their staple food in Kashmir province is rice which they eat with an ordinary kind of cooked vegetable leaves, called hakh. Some of them cannot afford even that much. SILK FACTORY:- According to Young husband, Kashmir, p. 213. "Silk industry was probably the only industry which maintained its flourishing condition throughout the period. It was a government undertaking which provided livelihood to thousands of people. The Srinagar silk factory alone employed 5,000 workers ,Census of India, 1931. . All these workers, it is to be noted, were Muslims and almost all the officials of the silk industry belonged to non-Muslim community. In 1924, the labours were paid daily wage of 4 annas per head which was obviously too inadequate, especially in view of the rising cost of living and the huge profit it earned. The corruption was so rampant, that even a part of the wages were shamelessly pocketed by the Kashmiri Pandit officials ,M.Y. Saraf, p.333. 18)Corrupt Pandit officials in Revenue departments. Even during the Afghans, who have been portrayed as fanatics by later Hindu writers, the Kashmiri Pandits monopolised the Revenue Department, the main wing of the State administration ,Parimu. History o f Muslim Rule in Kashmir, pp. 380-381. 19) Discouragement of muslim education by Pandit teachers :The Muslims were not only suffering for want of adequate number of educational institutions for even elementary instruction, but more so they were discouraged by the Hindu teachers, who like other branches of the administration had monopolized the department of education too (Riots Enquiry Committee Report, p. 65; Malik Fazel Hussain, pp. 113-114; Bazaz, Inside Kashmir, p. 205.) Glancy Commission, while inquiring about the poor representation of Muslims in S. P. College of Srinagar,was told that the Hindu teachers discouraged the Muslims from taking science subjects.( Glancy Commission Report, vide Dastawaizat, p. 100.) For political reasons, the Government also for a long time did not show any interest in disseminating modern education among the Muslims as to quote P.M. Bazaz: 247 The awareness that they (Dogras) were Hindus and the over- whelming majority of the Kashmiris professed Islam, constantly made them apprehensive. They disliked the idea of making their subjects politically conscious and thought that imparting of education was only an effective way of awakening the people to their political and human rights.( Prem Nath Bazaz., Daughters of Vitasta, p. 215.) According to Tyndale Biscoe, Kashmir in sunlight,pp.265, "At first near all 250 boys receiving instruction from CMS school were Kashmiri Pandits. They were sons or grandsons of the officials who bullied and squeezed the Mohammedan peasants for years past, and their large houses in the city, with all the wealth, were a standing witness to their looting power, for the salary they received from state was quite insignificant." To be continued............ Dr. Eshraf Zainulabideen can be reached at email@example.com
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The socio-economic essence of Eid-ul-Fitr
(The day of Eid-ul-Fitr truly symbolises piety, patience, fortitude and godliness. Socially, Eidul-Fitr reminds us to share the festivities with the poor, the underprivileged, the downtrodden, orphans, neglected and the cast off besides embracing people from all walks of life)
he festival brings glory and the highest return from Allah for all the beloved Muslims. Its social teaching and significance is very meaningful. It solidifies and strengthens social harmony, humanity and values in society by extending and exchanging mutual co-operation, collaboration, simplicity, sympathy and brotherhood among the people. So, in this day all people, irrespective of poor and rich come under an umbrella of equal enjoyment. It is a big day when all Muslims throughout the world celebrate it with pomp and grandeur. Purity of our soul comes through Eid and it removes and washes away narrowness and jealousy of mind. The pleasure of the Eid is so arranged that the hungry and the have-nots can join and share despite their all wants and sorrows. In Islam there is a provision of giving "Zakat" by which discrimination, disparity and injustice will be minimised. Eid-ul-Fitr, indeed, is no ordinary festival. It is a festival with a difference. It has a definite purpose, a norm to convey, a lesson to teach. None of us can afford to celebrate this extraordinary occasion through extravagance and prodigality, through unbridled fun and frolic, through gaudy and expensive dresses, through spectacular functions and feasts. There can indeed be no Eid-ul-Fitr of any festival in Islam if we forget the unity of mankind under one banner, the universal brotherhood of man, with no distinction between the black and the white, the rich and the poor, wise and ignorant, king and slave. There can be no Eid if we cannot forget the artificial differences between the haves and the have-nots. What is more, there can be
no Eid if we fail to feed the hungry destitute, if we fail to cater to the needs of the poverty-stricken multitude. There can really be no Eid if earnest attempts are not made to feed each and every hungry mouth, to clothe each and every hapless nude, to bring succour to the needy, to ensure that the poor and helpless relatives and neighbours and friends are not left unwept, unhonoured and unsung. In Eid congregation all people forgetting and forgiving their past ill activities, they submit their humble prayer before God for peace and unity. As a result we see a very heavenly atmosphere in Eid congregation and it becomes a big meeting place with each other. Let us take and treat this festival as a media of our sense and social bondage. In this Eid our sole demand would be to go with the deep essence of Eid-ul-Fitr. Let us promise that we spread the teaching of humanity to all mankind for God's mercy. The significance of Eid-ul-Fitr lies in rejoicing and feasting in the commemoration of Allah. After the holy month of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr is the perfect occasion to thank the great Allah for helping the devotees in culminating the scared month of fasting with utmost sincerity and integrity. Devotees who fast during Ramadan are blessed by Allah the Great, and Allah washes off their past sins. The essence of Eid-ul-Fitr lies in a number of facets. Herein are a few of them. EID, A THANKSGIVING DAY: Of course Eid is the best moment for the Muslims to thank Allah and offer gratitude for showering his blessings and helping them to fulfill their spiritual obligations during the month of Ramadan.
EID, THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Eid definitely is the day to commemorate the magnificence Allah and his kind favors. EID, THE DAY OF VICTORY: Eid is the celebration of the success in ending the Ramadan with truthfulness and genuineness. The follower who victoriously attains his holy rights receives the Eid with a triumphant spirit. EID, THE DAY OF HARVEST: Allah rewards abundance to those who follow Allah's path of sincerity, truthfulness, justice, equality, love, worship, peace and harmony. EID, THE DAY OF FORGIVENESS: Eid is the best opportunity to show ones resilience and firmness against the evils. On Eid the worshippers whole-heartedly pray for forgiveness for their past sins and strength in faith. And Allah surely rewards those who pray with earnestness and honesty. EID, THE DAY OF PEACE: Eid spreads the message of peace in the world and more importantly within ones one self. With the establishment of peace within ones heart, following Allah's law and leading a disciplinary life the true followers is graced by the Allah. Thus, Eid-ul-Fitr holds immense importance in the life of the Muslims. It's the way to reach the Great Allah and seek his divine blessings and rewards Precisely, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr truly symbolises piety, patience, fortitude and godliness. Socially, Eid-ul-Fitr reminds us to share the festivities with the poor, the underprivileged, the downtrodden, orphans, neglected and the cast off besides embracing people from all walks of life.
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The Valley of Demons-II
ulla Tahir Gani Kashmirisat in the open window of his house, which overlooked the Mar waterway. The exquisitely latticed wooden windows were wide open and a pair of pigeons sat perched on their top, basking in the morning sun. It was a usualy bright autumn morning. Outside, Mar was beginning to come to life. Boats carrying merchandize of all sorts were arriving at the opposite ghat. The buyers would soon flock to the ghat and the normal hustle and bustle would commence. Within an hour's time, the boat bazaar would be at its best. These boats brought fruit, cloth, earthenware, copper ware, sliver and even gold jewellery and ornaments. Gani sat there in his little window watching the ghat. It somehow pleased him—this traffic on the waterway with boats of all shapes and sizes. The bigger ones carrying rice, timber, fodder, or the charcoal from far off villages and the smaller ones, the doonga, with the boatman's entire family on it, and the shikaras—the multi-coloured, delicate boats moving about like butterflies on the crystal clear water of Mar. Gani had an important appointment for lunch. He had been invited by one of his admirers, none other than the Mughal Governor of Kashmir himself. Should he or should he not go. Gani considered. He led the life of a recluse and shunned the wealthy and mighty. He lived in his own world of poetry and was a happy, contented man. He had not married, had neither longings nor belongings and it did not matter who came to see him. For him, nothing mattered. He spent most of his time in seclusion, detesting any intrusion into his privacy. He had not many visitors to his house. Only some obstinate pupils who would not let go of him. But right now, he pondered over one thing only; should he go for that lunch? He looked out; the bazaar had picked up. The men with the merchandize on boats were shouting at the top of their voices, advertising their ware, calling out to the buyers; the buyers too had started pouring in from all the adjoining mohallas. Traffic on Mar was at its peak. Gani had no ear for the noise. He wanted to get up and close the window, but looking at the pigeons, he decided against leaving his post as his movement would surely disturb them. He waited. He looked out again. Beau-
tifully decorated shikaras followed by a dozen doongas. He heard the notes of music flowing to his window from one of the doongas. Yes, he could make out—a party was on inside it. The ghat now reverbated with a milling crowd—men, women and children; the hawkers, the women selling vegetables and fish, the boats selling fodder for the cows, tobacco for the hookah and fabrics for clothes. In this hustle and bustle, two boys appeared from a bylane. One of them carried a grenade, which he aimed at the passing security vehicle but the vehicle sped away. The grenade landed on the road and there was a big explosion. People ran helter skelter, hawkers' calls gave way to cries and shrieks and alarmed voices. Soon, everything at that spot seemed dead. Only a few injured men and women lay on the ground. The crowd had vanished! The pigeons perched on Gani's window had flown away. He stood up, stretched out his hands and shut his window. hey had long and heated discussions on every subject. Kashyap had always been curious, inquisitive and restless, whereas his
companion, Arjun, was serene, composed and calm. Kashyap did not take anything at its face value, not even the exalted word of their guru. He always questioned. The ultimate aim being: to perceive the reality—Om. But he always failed to comprehend the ultimate reality. Shakti? Shanti? Vibhinta? Power? Peace? Diversity? What was it really like? Arjun, on the other hand, accepted every word of his guru as the ultimate revelation. For him Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva were realities. Roles were assigned to each. Brahma was the ultimate fountainhead of existence, Vishnu sustained it, and Shiva caused all the upheavals. Kashyap was never satisfied with this sort of dispensation. He thought of other possibilities.Why three? Why not one? He always objected to set theories, challenging them. His guru was always patient, ignoring his outbursts of suspicion and doubt. One day, after a really heated debate in the pathshala, Arjun remained behind even after all the pupils had taken leave of their master. He reverentially fell at the guru's feet and said, "Master! forgive him for he does not know what he says."
The guru lifted him up by his shoulders and with a luminous smile said, "Arjun, I am proud of Kashyap. He is the last hope of the Gurukul." And now the last hope of the Gurukul was leaving the Gurukul in search of an unknown world. A world hitherto concealed from the human eye. A chaste, pure and virgin land. It had all begun with a discourse by the guru. He had talked of accounts he had studied in ancient texts that there lay a country to the north of the plains, surrounded on all sides by lofty snow clad mountains and all lush green, dense forests, shimmering waters, vales and dales. The Guru had depicted it as Swarg (heaven) on earth. Beauty personified. The Lord having assembled everything beautiful, and then concealing it from the human eye. Kashyap at first thought that it was a myth. How could such a country remain hidden from the greedy human eye? But the more he questioned the guru, the more he was convinced that it was true. Such a land did exist! Beauty! That was it! Kashyap began thinking of a new concept. Couldn't the ultimate reality be beauty with all other attributes flowing from it? Sundarta, yes, Sundarta Bhagwan hai. Satyam Shivam Sundaram! The more he thought, the more convincing the concept appeared and more appealing too. Shanti, the peace, flows from beauty. Shakti, the power, attends on beauty with folded hands and Vibhinta, the diversity, is but a shade of beauty. Arjun and the trinity are misconceptions. Yes. Satyam Shivam Sundaram. As this new thought took hold of Kashyap, a new resolve began to grow inside him. He would go to Sundar Desh and see the lord in all His glory. That would be his moksha—to become a part, even if a miniscule one, of Sundarta, a shimmer, a wave of sweet breeze, a drop of dew, a petal of a flower or a particle of fragrant clay. His friends, especially Arjun, tried to dissuade him. His Guru warned him of the impossibility of his mission, the existence of Jaladbhava, the demon king, who with millions of demons guarded the country from intruders. The long unending battle between Shiva and Jaladbhava and the stalemate that continued, but Kashyap listened to none when he listened to himself. He set out on his journey. An excerpt from Ayaz Rasool Nazki's book SATISAR, THE VALLEY OF DEMONS published by Vitasta Publishing and the book is available on www.vitastapublishing.com
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Kashmir unrest:
Education sector badly affected
ain contributories to the lessening of attainment of quantity of education include destruction of infrastructure, fear of sending children to schools, incorporation of youth into armed groups, negative economic shocks to households and forced displacement. The education sector has been badly hit in Kashmir Valley since from the inception of unrest in Kashmir mainly from the year 2106, causing "irreversible loss" to students, the Economic Survey Report has said. "Due to the closure of schools, the academic session got badly hit to the extent that it caused irreversible loss of study and tuitions to the students. The exams conducted by J&K Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE) for 10th and 12th standard students covered only 50 per cent of the total syllabus. "However, an option has been given to the students to appear in March (for 100 per cent syllabus coverage) also," according to the Economic Survey Report, 2016, tabled in the Assembly today. It is said 31 school buildings were gutted — 17 fully and 14 partially — during the five-month-long unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter, whereas 15 school buildings were saved by employees of education department and local community from being burnt. In 2016, schooling could be conducted only for a period of four months in Kashmir valley. The 10th class and 12th class exams held in November covered only 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the total curriculum, adding that students of classes 1st to 9th had to be given mass promotion. The exposure to violence and armed conflict reduces the quantity of education attained by children of conflict areas. Main contributories to the lessening of attainment of quantity of education include destruction of infrastructure, fear of sending children to schools, incorporation of youth into armed groups, negative economic shocks to households and forced displacement. The loss of 50 per cent content of the syllabus will surely have to be covered by the student community itself so that they are able to compete in ensuing entrance exams held at the national level.Around 95 per cent students have appeared in the 12th board exam and 99 per cent students have appeared in the 10th exam in the Valley and decision was taken by the government for relaxing Term-2 examination from classes 1st to 8th.The total strength of the enrolled students in 10th and 12th classes in the Valley schools is of the order of 56,277 and 31,964, respectively, during academic session 2016. In higher education institutes, where the session started in March, class work could be
conducted up to July 8 only and from July 9, the colleges have also been closed, resulting in loss of study of 130 days and more. This has resulted in the delay in the coverage of 1st semester syllabus and also is resulting in the delayed conduct of 1st semester exams, adding that hartals h a v e also badly affected coverage of oth- er semester studies. Similarly, in the universities in the Valley, the class work at Master level remained badly affected. The class work in medical colleges and NIT was also affected badly, resulting in stress to students and their parents. In the academic session 2016-17, 84,811 students are enrolled in all government degree colleges in Kashmir as against the strength of 72,000 in 2015-16. The loss of studies of 130 days and more is "irreparable" and will have to be compensated through conduct of evening classes and additional classes on holidays to make the students have the knowledge in order to enable them to compete with student community at the country level.The level of expenditure during the first two quarters of 2015-16 was of the order of Rs 26.79 crore, while expenditure during the first two quarters of financial year 2016-17 is of the order of Rs 48.43 crore.It further said that Rs 8.98 crore has been utilised on development of infrastructure of University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Islamic University, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. The prevailing turmoil and strikes in Kashmir Valley have obvious implications on the implementation of technical education programmes. The impact of strikes has been deep and profound on the educational atmosphere in the Valley.Technical education institutions/students in the valley were not able to complete their academic/practical work fully within the prescribed period. Skill-based courses require no disruption in the process in order to guarantee easy transmission of skills. The normal skill imparting process as well as new skill development initiatives got hampered due to strikes, resulting in truncation of initiatives.This may consequently affect the formation of generation's next workforce. The infrastructure development is a key to progress and economic development of every sector.A good number of working days have been lost due to the prevailing strike resulting in non-creation of adequate infrastructural facilities in various institutions and slow execution of new projects/works in the valley. For proficiency and efficiency, the up-gradation of available facilities and equipment used in the teaching and learning in the technical/craft institutes, is a must. But, due to incessant strike, action in this regard got hindered. Closure of financial institutions also led to recording of low financial progress under various programmes during the period. Education is that weapon which challenges and defeats each and every war – A G DAR The author can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
In the academic session 2016-17, 84,811 stu- dents are enrolled in all government degree colleges in Kashmir as against the strength of 72,000 in 2015-16. The loss of studies of 130 days and more is "irreparable" and will have to be compensated through conduct of evening classes and additional classes on holidays to make the students have the knowledge in order to enable them to compete with student community at the country level.The level of expenditure during the first two quarters of 2015-16 was of the order of Rs 26.79 crore, while expenditure during the first two quarters of financial year 2016-17 is of the order of Rs 48.43 crore.It further said that Rs 8.98 crore has been utilised on development of infrastructure of University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Islamic University, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. The prevailing turmoil and strikes in Kashmir Valley have obvious implications on the implementation of technical education programmes. The impact of strikes has been deep and profound on the educational atmosphere in the Valley.Technical education institutions/students in the valley were not able to complete their academic/practical work fully within the prescribed period.Skill-based courses require no disruption in the process in order to guarantee easy transmission of skills.
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When Applicant Faces Stress from Interview Board
There is no need to pose stress occurring irrelevant queries which disturb the Mental balance of person
here are generally two sectors in economy Viz public and private. Apart from difference in the controlling authority these sectors vary in their functional aspect to a varied level. While as private sector maintains a good but specialist cadre of employees the public sector faces crisis in the right selection. As far as private sector is concerned, cadres are selected through a special drive where excellence matters a lot. Usually applications are attached with all the necessary documents including experience and special skill. There hardly occurs any corruption in the lower rung employees' selection due to strict standards of employment committee of private establishment. The excellence matters and the attitude of candidates towards a given job is enquired while one faces the interview board. A candidate is quizzed on the prospect, aim, strategy, skill, and experience for a particular position. Like in case of IT companies a well dressed candidate with good outlook will always be enquired about IT related matters. And the result is continuous increase in purchasing powers and the revenue of company. To a slightly perverted manner, public sector candidate is selected in a nip and tuck pattern but with some unintentional errors and illegal incursions in recruitment process. For all the posts ranging from peon to secretary at state level or at central level a rigorous three to two stage process of examination is conducted. Written exam is followed on by personality test what is termed in common language as Interview? In the contemporary style of Board attitude this stage is evolving as cumbersome for most of the talented youth. The recruitment board after completion of initial formalities announces syllabus for written test. Thereafter a committee sets the paper in accordance with this prescribed syllabus. At times out of syllabus questions are posted but the overall assessment has been satisfactory. Now the error of official key at times is encountered most often. Since all these can be sorted out through face to face clarification like revised key after report of candidates to rectify any error. Hence the stage isn't critical for committed applicants who toil hard for the passage. When the quota is eked out from whooping applicants they are rule bound to appear before an interview panel. This stage is evolving cumbersome for some if not majority of talented candidates. This stage is vulnerable to corruption from administrative and political angle. Herein political leaders try to bargain for future votes and to get the cadres of same political lineage selected. While on the other hand the Interview as a stage is violative in selection norm due to some reasons. Literally interview means face to face meet for assessment of candidate for a job. The assessment in today's board isn't in sync with knowledge of applicants. Herein the mentioning of without syllabus stage is must. Interview board isn't bound by any syllabus periphery in the room. They are usually seen roaming from one area to other. Like a candidate is posed a puzzle to solve North Korea dispute which seems a herculean task for great diplomats as well. 2ndly the interview panel isn't bound by
the nature of post. Like a candidate to be selected for agriculture department is quizzed about Computers. A recruit for Police is supposed to answer the agricultural queries. These questions harm the normal connection of position and holder. A police applicant is better to be enquired about laws , constitution, defence equipments,defence strategy , role of science in defence,spying and intelligence etc. Apart from these situations an applicant is supposed to face the high knowledgeable personalities. Although it's not in violation of norms or It is not related to candidates failure but the unintentional failure of panel members to down their level impacts the genuine candidates performance. Like horticulture aspirant is asked the scientific name of unknown fruit if the member possess Botany background. Once the history background member sits in the panel candidates are facing an acute sense of Depression in their mind because their background hardly matters. All this in place the new strategy of panel to ask candidate some untoward and irrelevant queries impacts the bright future. The fairy past tales and the conventional face off is over. Nowadays an applicant after entry is ambushed with local tale queries. Like the interviewer in writers case asked about Heemal Nagrai story only because mothers name read Heemal for member. Is this attitude permissible? Doesn't this impact the overall performance of candidate? To ask for choice of shirt colour , suit colour , shoes and much more like entertainment favourites is in clear violation to recruitment norms. No doubt panel holds the discretion to assess the candidates ability but what ability can be assessed through query of why red colour shirt ! Why train travel why not bus or aeroplane? Although these things are normal for reply but the rhythm of applicant gets disturbed on hearing such exceptional queries. Once an interview panel posed writer a query " Who's your favourite mode in india? Twitter replied Arundhati Roy for which the member countered I am asking for Model ,model means actress ! Does model mean actress? These nip and tuck questions disturb the normal balance of in person candidate making it difficult for him to answer even known questions in reply. There a lot of knowledgeable personalities in our societies roaming hither and thither even after qualifying mains written of JKPSC and UPSC not to talk of JKSSB. Is interview a stage to assess? Are interviewers real assessment managers? Isn't
syllabus a mandatory norm for interview like written exam? Conclusion of this discussion leads one to state that " Before board acts see where did they stand" . A commissioner secretary as panel member for a lecturer has to act as academician not an administrative person. A history background member has to contain the push of his knowledge within limits while posing questions for agriculture department or engineering department post. It's only when these errors are fixed that a good and worthy talent can be routed to public sector. A flourishing private sector isn't due to any other standard pillar of capital , entrepreneur and land but due to toil and energy of talented army of cadres selected through unbiased manner strictly as per nature of job. Central government has taken a good decision to scrap this notorious stage for majority of posts but the onus lies on those who sit in the panel to act as per real situation rather than ideal nature of world. A man who is going to draw a meagre salary of 10000 isn't expected to evolve as Superman . Everything in present context an interview panel should do is to provide a good and smiling environment for candidate to prove himself. There's no need to pose stress occurring irrelevant queries which disturb the Mental balance of person. Only after providing the applicant a favourable atmosphere inside four corners of room can a candidate slowly and steadily express who really is he. It's unworthy to create such a horrific and tense situation where a candidate awaits exit from room rather than caring for selection. Only after revolving round syllabus, background of candidate,nature of job ,country related basics can genuine candidates get fair trial to crack this stage. Otherwise some research scholars at times are eroded of their future due to erratic behaviour of numerous such panel members and eventual dropping in final selection. Let's hope the intellectuals in charge of such functions make their fruitful use for candidate as well as for department. Shahid Majeed Mir hails from Misribehak Machil Kupwara and can be reached at mirshahid363@ gmail.com
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moking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco. Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of death. Most of the regular smokers initiate smoking habit in their adolescent period of life (a period between 13-19 years of life). Worldwide, recent studies have shown that total no of deaths due to smoking in world is more than 5 million. Smoking shortens the lifespan by at least 7-8 years. Smoking is done by variety of methods like Beedi, cigars, cigrarette, hookah etc All these forms/ methods of tobacco smoking are hazardous to health. The adolescent age is a critical period in the formation of the smoking habit. Most smokers start smoking during their adolescence or early adult years. The earlier they start to smoke, the more likely they are to become regular smokers. The various reasons/causes for starting smoking are as follows: * Stress reduction/relaxation. * To kill boredom/as a form of entertainment. * Low self efficacy (individual's judgment of their capability to perform a specific task) & lack of Conscientiousness. * Peer pressure, Friends & colleagues encourage non smokers to smoke. * Media advertisements, Challenges & Fashion, Smoking styles in movies tempt adolescents to smoke. * Easy availability of tobacco products. * Smoking by parents, siblings also encourage adolescents to smoke. Psychologists have developed personality profile for typical smoker. Extraversion is the trait that is most associated with smoking. Smokers tend to be sociable, risk taking & excitement seeking individuals. They smoke to improve their personality as smoking in early stages provides them pleasurable sensations The total no of chemical substances in tobacco is more than 4000.Tobacco smoke contains more than 70 carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances. Nicotine, Tar, carbon monoxide are the chemicals present in cigarette. Nicotine is the content in cigarette that causes addiction to smoking. The sign which indicates addiction to cigarette is the need to smoke every day, having a cigarette soon after arising from sleep, Unsuccessful attempts at quitting. PHYSIOLOGICAL HAZARDS OF SMOKING: Cardiovascular Effects: Nicotine, carbon monoxide present in tobacco smoke lowers oxygen levels in blood cells, increases blood cholesterol levels, damages vessel walls, forms clots in blood. This impairs transport of oxygen throughout body, increases the risks of heart attacks & strokes. Smoking & Cancers: According to the American Lung Association, smoking is directly responsible for about 90% of the deaths due to lung cancer. So, the common type of cancer caused by smoking is lung cancer. However Smoking is the biggest risk factor for other cancers as well which include bladder cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer etc. EFFECTS ON MALE FERTILITY: Long term smoking in men results in infertility & erectile dysfunction by decreasing the amount of blood flowing into the penis. Smoking impairs sperm motility, reduces sperm lifespan, and may cause genetic changes that can affect a man's offspring. EFFECTS ON THE UNBORN CHILD : Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for Low birth weight, Birth defects (women who smoke during pregnancy have lower levels of foliate, a B vitamin that is important for preventing birth defects),Cleft
lip (a split lip that has not closed during the fetus' development). SMOKING AND THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT : Smoking increases acid production in the stomach. It also reduces blood flow and the production of compounds that protect the stomach lining. This combination of effects increases the risk for certain gastrointestinal condition like inflammatory Bowel Disease. There are many cost-effective tobacco control measures that can be used in different settings and have a significant impact on tobacco consumption. The most cost-effective strategies are population wide public policies, like bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; tobacco tax and price increases; forbidding smoking in all public and workplaces; and requiring large, clear and visible graphic health messages on tobacco packaging. All of these measures are outlined in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Ministry of health and family welfare enacted anti smoking act in 2003 which includes prohibition of smoking in public places, banning advertisement of cigarettes on mass media. World No Tobacco day is celebrated on 31st May. Smoking initiation in teen agers can be prevented by: * Smoking can be prevented by health education. * Parents can set a positive example for their children by not smoking themselves, and keeping their homes smoke-free. * Schools can provide tobacco prevention programs, health educations to educate students about the dangers of smoking. * Healthier ways of dealing with stressful situations: * Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with "good enough." * Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger & resentments. Make time for fun and relaxation * Healthy ways to relax: Go for a walk, Spend time in meditation, Call a good friend.. * Maintain a Healthy diet: Eat plenty of fresh fruits
& vegetables, Drink plenty of water, Drink coffee/ tea in moderation. These drinks may help boost alertness. * Nicotine replacement therapy: involves the use of products that provide low doses of nicotine, without the contaminants found in smoke. The goal of therapy is to relieve cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Nicotine patches deliver nicotine through the skin. This is called transdermal nicotine delivery. It is effective at reducing withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine gum (Nicolette has helped many people quit. Some people prefer gum to the patch because they can control the nicotine dosage, and chewing satisfies the oral urge associated with smoking. * Electronic cigarettes (E-Cigarette): Electronic cigarettes are cigarette-, cigar-, or pipe-shaped devices that deliver nicotine or other substances in the form of a vapour. Electronic cigarettes are marketed as quit-smoking aids because they are designed to give the feeling of smoking without actually lighting up. * Exercise : Studies continue to show that smokers who exercise can greatly increase their ability to quit smoking. it includes Run,Walk,Jump up and down, Stretch and Do push-ups "Smoking is injurious to health'' that is something written on all cigarette packs to warn the customers of deleterious consequences. Tobacco smoking in adolescents is reaching pandemic levels. The world Bank has reported that nearly 82,000-99,000 children & adolescents all over the world begin smoking every day. Giving up the habit of smoking is one of the most crucial things that an individual can probably do. In order to quit smoking individuals should prepare themselves for the move. It is imperative that one should get support for their endeavor to quit smoking .One should learn new skills and behaviors in order to give up smoking for good. People who quit smoking have reduced risks of suffering a heart attack ,stroke or cancer. Quitting smoking ensures a longer and better life.
Mir Uzma can be reached at miruzma589@gmail. com
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r Tasaduk Hussain Itoo, 28 years old, is a native of Poshkreri Village from South Kashmir's Anantnag District. He belongs to a nuclear family with his father, mother and two siblings. He is the elder one in the family. Hailing from a Middle Class family, his father Mohd Yousuf Itoo is a businessman and mother, a housewife. Poshkreri Village is famous for Apple orchards and gives a serene beauty to nature. It forms a part of famous tourist resort, the Apple Valley through which tourists usually pave their way towards Pahalgam. Born from a family with humble background, Dr Tasaduk started his initial schooling in a local school in his village at the age of 5. Then he moved to Iqra English Medium High School Srigufwara Anantnag, where he passed his 8th Standard. For his further studies, he then moved to town and passed his 12th class from Public Senior Secondary School Bijbehara Anantnag. After this Dr Tasaduk got admission in Government Degree College Boys Anantnag, from where he completed his Bachelor of Science(B. Sc) degree with medical subjects in 2010. It was his dream since childhood to become a doctor. In 2011, Dr Tasaduk appeared in Jammu and Kashmir Common Entrance Test(JKCET) conducted by JK Board of Professional Entrance Examination(JKBOPEE) and became the first student from his village to crack MBBS entrance. He is currently working as a Resident medical doctor in Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital Jammu. Besides being a doctor by proffession, Dr Tasaduk wears many hats. He also works as a Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Activist, Columnist, Teacher and Educator at Unacademy, India's largest online education platform. Dr Tasaduk has been doing great service to the society as a Social Activist. He is also a cordial member of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement and has been working to ensure accountability and transparency through the application of RTI Act. He has attended many workshops on RTI and bagged certificates of appreciation. Besides this Dr. Tasaduk is also a prominent columnist. His write ups regularly come up in leading newspapers of J & K like Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Daily Excelsior, Kashmir Monitor, Kashmir Images, Kashmir Horizon, Kashmir Pen including others. Being a prolific writer, Dr Tasaduk writes on various issues of public concern including social issues, education issues, medical issues, environmental issues, political issues and others.Till now he has around hundred articles published and his writings are being acknowledged and responded im-
STORYTRENDER firstname.lastname@example.com
Dr Tasaduk Hussain Itoo , a young
Kashmir doctor who has made a name in the world through his multi-talented approach and multiple success achievements
mensely around the globe. He is being invited to and has attended many conferences at state level. Since childhood Dr. Tasaduk has been a great Public Spea-
kor. He used to deliver guest lectures where invited. Besides this, he used to participate in various seminars and functions and has won many amazing prizes. Dr. Tasaduk also works
as an Educator on India's top most learning platform, so called Unacademy. Unacademy is ranking among the world's top most online learning platforms. Recently he was selected as one of the Top Educators 2017 on the platform and bagged Top Educator 2017 Award. He has thousands of learners and students around the globe on the platform and his courses are viewed with huge popularity. His courses have been listed among top ten courses great courses on Unacademy along with the courses of Dr Kiran Bedi, Honourable Governor of Puducherry and Dr Roman Saini, Ex-IAS officer, Co-founder and Chief educator of Unacademy. Being a motivational speaker, Dr. Tasaduk provides Motivational counseling to youth both in gatherings and at individual level. He is inspired by the poetry and Philosophy of Dr Allama Iqbal and is usually providing Motivational talks in the light of Allama Iqbal's manual of success . He believes that Allama Iqbal was a revolutionary poet and his poetry is an iconic inspiration to youth to lead in their careers and life. Dr. Tasaduk is a good anchoring journalist as well. Being sensitive towards drug addiction issues that is more common in youth in current times, he has been writing constantly on such issues.He believes in practical ways of addressing these issues. Recently he interviewed a Hollywood Actor namely Chris Levine about Steroid Abuse. Chris Levine has been a victim of Steroid Abuse in his late teens/early twenties and after 10 years he came up with a movie titled "Anabolic Life" highlighting his battle with body image issue and thrusting into a world of steroids and self destruction. The interview gets amazing response at world level. Whole Anabolic Life team appreciated it and shared it to create awareness regarding Steroid Abuse at global level. One of the story from Hollywood Industry reads "Our lead Actor Chris Levine who also wrote the original screenplay ,was interviewed by a well- known doctor in India about Steroids, his struggle with them and how it turned into the movie Anabolic Life" Dr.Tasaduk also likes reading books, writing, cooking, eating delicious foods and playing games mostly cricket. He likes doing commentary in English and has been a commentrator in tournaments being organized at local level with huge audience. Dr Tasaduk is an iconic inspiration to youth. He believes that there is no dearth of talent in Kashmir and it is need of the hour to explore the same. He believes that firm determination,hard work, passion, enthusiasm and competence and confidence are the keys to success in any field.
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FIFA World Cup 2018, Novy Kapadia column: European, South American teams set to dominate; Asian countries will struggle This may be the last World Cup to feature 32 teams. Initially FIFA intended to expand the tournament to 48 teams from the 2026 World Cup finals. But now FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his think tank are toying with the idea of making the switch to 48 teams for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be held in the winter months. If it happens it will mean eight countries will qualify from Asia, thereby marginally increasing India's chances of making it to the greatest show on earth. Several fancied teams including four-time champions Italy failed to qualify for Russia 2018, thereby depriving the tournament of some glamour. The biggest shock was that Italy missed out on a World Cup for the first time since 1958, losing to Sweden in their play-off. The Italians are renowned for their resolute defence. Football lovers will miss seeing the brilliant defenders Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci and their remarkable defensive organisation by which they snare and frustrate opposing forwards. The 40-year-old legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was also denied a final swansong. The highly rated Netherlands, thrice World Cup runners up (1974, 78 and 2010) also failed to qualify. The Dutch have significantly failed to qualify for the last two major tournaments, having also missed out on Euro 2016. The Liverpool defender Virgil van Dyk, one of the best in the world on current form and the
mercurial Arjen Robben will be sorely missed. Chile, ranked 9th in the world, with superstars Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez in their team, missed out on a play-off (CONMEBOL region) on goal difference to Peru. From the CONCACAF region, the USA failed to qualify, for the first time since 1986. They finished below Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras and could not even secure a play-off berth. Renowned African nations – Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana – all of whom were in Brazil 2014 got eliminated in the qualifiers this time. The current English Premier League champions Manchester City has the maximum of 16 players in the World Cup, followed by Real Madrid with 15 and Barcelona with 14 players. However the Catalan giants have the unique record of being the only team with a player representative in each group. They are as follows: Group A: Luis Suárez (Uruguay), Group B: Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, and Jordi Alba (Spain), Group C: Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembélé (France), Group D: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Ivan Rakitić (Croatia) Group E: Phillipe Coutinho and Paulinho (Brazil), Group F: Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany), Group G: Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium) and Group H: Yerry Mina (Colombia). There are 11 players from Italian giants Juventus and they are from ten different countries.
African teams have competed at the World Cup including Russia 2018, on 44 occasions. Only three African teams have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010). All these three have come from sub-Saharan Africa. But in Russia, there will be more teams from the north than elsewhere on the continent, including a first appearance in 28 years for Egypt and a return after 20 years for Morocco. A number of North African countries have players who learned their trade at academies in Europe. However Morocco at this World Cup has the most foreign born players- seventeen of their 23-man squad were born outside the country. Including Russia 2018, Asian and Ocenaia teams have competed at the World Cup on 41 occasions. The best performance by an Asian team was in 2002 when South Korea reached the semi finals, losing to mighty Germany by a solitary goal. South Korea's performance in 2002 was really memorable as they beat Poland 2-0 and Portugal 1-0 in the group matches, upset Italy 2-1 in the round of sixteen and overcame Spain via the penalty shoot out 5-3 in the quarter finals. South Korea is the only Asian or African country to have beaten four European countries on the trot in a single World Cup.
2018 World Cup: France vs Portugal, a repeat of the Euro 2016 final; Brazil vs. Belgium; Germany vs England, a repeat of the 1966 World cup final; and Spain vs. Argentina. The most stupendous clash should be between Argentina and a resurgent Spain at Sochi on 7 July. It is Lionel Messi's last chance to win a World Cup (he will be 34 in 2022) and he would need his strikers Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain and winger Angel di Maria to be in top form if he is to achieve that dream. Cristiano Ronaldo will also hope that Portugal can again frustrate France at Nizny Novgord on 6 July, just as they did in the Euro 2016 final in Paris. Strange as it may seem but the World Cup does not have the highest prize money. FIFA will distribute $791 million ($215 million more than in Germany) but it is way below the English Premier League which gave $2.9 billion in prize money this season. The winners of the 2018 World Cup will get $38 million and the runner up $28 million. Even teams that lose in the group stage will get $8 million each.
If matches go according to form, there should be some mouth-watering clashes in the quarter-final of the
FIFA will however generate $4.83 billion from sale of TV rights to sale of merchandise and sponsors. For the first time there will be four Chinese brands as sponsors. They are Vivo, Mengnlu, Yadea and Wanda.

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