Braid Chopping :Dignity Attacked

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News Kashmir Desk

Scores of braid chopping incidents across the length and the breadth of the Kashmir valley have send shock waves in entire valley and installed fear in the masses especially women .

 

In the past seven weeks, more than 200 “braid chopping” incidents have been reported in Kashmir , according to reports .All this has once again brought the issues of women safety concerns into limelight .

Pertinently, the monster of domestic violence had already been paining our women. It is worth mentioning here that  Domestic violence (also domestic abuse, spousal abuse, intimate partner violence, battering or family violence) is a pattern of behavior which involves violence or other abuse by one person in a domestic context against another, such as in marriage. Globally, a wife or female partner is more commonly the victim of acts of domestic violence.

In recent past, even the Urban Police Stations have registered hundreds of cases of domestic violence showing the grim nature of the issue. Sometime back the Data compiled by the Jammu & Kashmir Police Crime Branch reveals that in the past two years, it has registered over 4,000 cases of crimes against women.

Not Enough protests and Sit-ins have been witnessed with reference to burning issue of Domestic violence but the trend seems changing as against the menace of braid chopping several protests, anger and rage has been witnessed.

 

 

In a heartening development,  District administration Anantnag has constituted a Committee to investigate the braid chopping incidents reported in the district.  The district administration has sought cooperation of the general public to nab culprits and maintaining peace.

 

Meanwhile, the district administration thanked Village and Auqaf committees for being proactive in their approach and maintaining vigil. The administration appealed people not to pay heed to rumors and cooperate with the Committee so that a thorough investigation is carried out into these incidents.   In this regard, People have been urged to cooperate with district administration and for any assistance contact on 18001807054/ 01932222337/ 9419047052/ 9419367252.

Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander, Gender Justice Activist stated – “ The issue of braid chopping has once again brought to fore front how crimes against women are taking different forms, painfully enough the concerned authorities are having no clue about the evil forces behind these acts whileas people have complete distrust towards authorities. All these bleak realities have further worsened the situation with reference to serious issue of women safety in our part of the world .”

Nevertheless, braid chopping has instilled a wave of fear and uncertainty in Kashmir with respect to women safety.

 

 

I caught a braid chopper!

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By Javeed Ali

javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com

I was browsing through my Facebook profile on my laptop. Its timeline from a long time has been displaying videos, images and contents of alleged braid chopping incidents in Kashmir. It has been over one month these views keep flaunting in front of you once you login to any social media app. The chapter started on September 04, 2017 and like a wild fire it has spread all over the Kashmir valley. Every now and then we see alleged braid choppers being held and beaten to pulp. But so far nothing concrete has come out who is behind this stratagem.

As my mind was revolving around the braid chopping incidents, I heard the noise of footsteps through our lane. It was over 12 midnight and when I peeped out of the window, I saw a middle aged man attired in Phiran (Kashmiri gown). It was an unusual thing as we reside in the area where movement of traffic and people gets curtailed before 10 in the evening. His appearance was shabby and he was looking weirdly around the surrounding. As my mind was already engrossed in the unabated braid chopping incidents in Kashmir, I straightaway suspected him as braid chopper. Without wasting any time, I gestured to him, “Tohe kya chu yepaeer karaan? (What are you doing here?)”.  Before he could utter anything, one of my neighbour who had already got on to the terrace of his house screamed, Braid chopper! Braid chopper! Within a flash, the whole horde of neighbourhood was on the ground. They caught hold of him and started enquiring about his uncommon presence in our territory. He was terrified and scared. Everyone was asking him queries and they started beating him before he could utter anything. He was punched, kicked, smashed, smacked, thumped, knocked, slammed and even abused. The ruthless and merciless beating caused him grievous injuries. He was bleeding profusely and broke down with tears trickling down his face. His clothes were searched but to our utter surprise there were only few pieces of cigarettes and no tool, blade or scissors were found.

My all attempts to protect him from beating and listen to his version failed completely as he was badly overpowered by the huge group of people of our vicinity. In the meantime, police vehicles arrived and they asked to hand him over to them. The people declined to hand him over to police and started chanting slogans suspecting him as Army worker. They pelted stones on police vehicles but police burst tear smoke shells and took him forcibly in their vehicle. After that everyone started making bizarre stories surrounding the incident as is common in Kashmir.

The next day, respectable and trustworthy elders of our area went to the police station to enquire about the fate of the alleged braid chopper. They were shocked to know that the person whom we had beaten barbarously is a mentally retarded patient of our nearby locality. He was now admitted in a hospital. His family members were present there with the medical documents which confirmed that he is suffering from stress and depression since last 20 years. They were crying bitterly along with the mentally challenged person whom we had suspected as braid chopper. Doctors attending him claimed that he will take time to recuperate from the bad injuries inflicted on him by our brutal beating.

This is one instance where we have beaten an innocent person just because we are facing the case of mass hysteria as propounded by the psychologists. An unruly mob roughed up foreign tourists when they had lost their way which had sent out an undesirable example to the world contrary to the fact that we are known as best in the hospitality with the guests. In Shallabugh area of Ganderbal, a group of 3 non-local tourists and guests of a local scribe were severely beaten and thrashed by locals as they mistook them as braid choppers. Their vehicle was also damaged and later on they were rescued by police. In another incident, two men were inhumanely hammered in Wakoora area of same district when they were collecting donations for a Yateem (orphan) trust.

In one of the disheartening incident, a 70-year old person was stoned to death in Anantnag on the suspicion of braid chopper. At some places rag pickers, Bihari labourers, transgender, lovers and drug addicts were also badly beaten just because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Attack on the modesty of women is unbearable and same cannot be allowed to happen in our society. Braid chopping is an ugly scene which has made inroads in Kashmir after it previously occurred in different parts of the world and across the India as well. So it has to be looked from the broader perspectives rather than through the contours of the prevailing conflict in Kashmir.  After braid choppers hit Delhi in July, the police commissioned experts from the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences to study the phenomenon. The same institute had researched complaints about a monkey-like creature attacking people in the national Capital in 2001 and concluded that the entire episode was a case of mass hysteria. It means when a fear or threat real or imagined spreads to a large number of people through rumours or narratives so much so that many of them start reporting similar symptoms. A former head of the department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reportedly told one of the news agency, “From all available evidence it seems that the women are cutting their own hair, either consciously or in an altered sensorium, likely to seek attention”. One more psychiatrist added that braid chopping could be the result of depression or stress ailments of women folk. Only time will tell us what is the exact cause and intent of this braid chopping scenario till then we should avoid believing in conspiracy theories.

We should not pay heed to rumours as there are many mischief and rumour mongers who always play pranks for their amusement and fun. Social media is helping these pranksters.  It creates fear psychosis which badly impacts the behaviour of human souls which in turn makes him or her the victim of mass hysteria. There may be genuine incidents of braid chopping but we should not blame it on any group or party without having any authenticity. We should not use the violent ways to protest against what is still a mystery. A 5-year old boy Sibti Hyder of Gangoo was injured at Pahoo, Pulwama when he was hit by a stone on his head. What was his fault? Was he involved in braid chopping? Why are we becoming the nation of vigilantes?

Last year rumour mongers got almost whole Kashmir populace on the streets on the rumour that polio drops caused deaths. Moreover, we should never forget the killing of Asrar Dar of Maisuma in 2009 who was killed by his friends on the love tangle and then his killers had protested violently for three days in Maisuma area and had blamed police for the killing. It was only after the investigation done by police which had revealed that the friends who were protesting against his death were his real killers. Furthermore, in the same year one of the relative of JKLF chairperson Mohammad Yasin Malik who was an auto rickshaw driver was strangulated to death by the robbers. At that time too, the blame was put on police for his death. Later on, investigations carried out in his death unraveled his killers as the robbers who had robbed him in his auto and strangulated him to death.

So we should ponder that giving unnecessary attention to rumour mongers is severely damaging our business and day to day life. There are so many business hawkers who are fearful to go to any region these days fearing they might be suspected as braid choppers. Even relatives and friends don’t visit to their respective relatives or friends. Few days ago a youth was beaten ruthlessly in Kakapora area in Pulwama when he was visiting to his aunt on his motorcycle. Where are we heading. The world will laugh at us if they will come to know about our ridiculous acts. The media fraternity needs to play an important role. They should not circulate anything without verifying the authenticity of incident. Moreover, we should not believe in rumours like holy scripts as there are many elements who are propagating rumours to serve their own motives.  Let’s all confront this menace without targeting the innocent beings and most importantly we should prevent the spread of rumours which has badly impacting the life in Kashmir.

Whenever I am called for service to humanity I am always ready to go to any extent: Jeevanjyot Singh, Khalsa Aid

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Jeevanjyot Singh, a prominent Khalsa Aid volunteer from Jammu & Kashmir recently became the poster boy of Khalsa Aid in its noble efforts to aid Rohingya Muslim refugees of Burma at Bangladesh Burma border .

Jeevanjyot’s picture went viral on social media while helping the Rohingya Muslims.

In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, Jeevanjyot Singh Talks to Rameez Makhdoomi

 

 

How bad is current situation on Burma Bangladesh border?

Situation is so catastrophic; nearly 1 million people have reached Bangladesh Southern border. Situation is worsening day by day due to fluctuating weather.

What is your focus on ?

Our main focus is on providing majorly food to everyone as it is now the basic necessity and also water. We are providing hot prepared meals to almost 25k people every day.

What motivates Khalsa aid to work in such risky situations ?

Our Guru Granth sahib has always taught us SARBAT DA BHLA it means Betterment of whole mankind and we are doing that in various parts of this world wherever it’s a disaster, any war zone any sort of complications.

Is Bangladesh Government cooperating ?

Yes Bangladesh  government  is  fully cooperating.

 

What will be your appeal to donors ?

 

Our appeal to donors is just donate for humanity ,Religion never divides and in every holy book it is specified that we are humans first .

How much is local people & refugees cooperating  in easing Crisis ?

People are accepting us with open arms we have heard refugees  saying that everyone is helping with money, clothes and other basic things  and refuges state  the way you cook food for us is just amazing.

What are future projects of Khalsa aid?

Khalsa aid is running different projects in whole of the INDIA and projects are abrupt as I said we work in disasters and war zones. We are running Two schools in Punjab where kids of Rickshaw pullers, labourers etc study free of cost and the strength is 900, we have skill development centers in Punjab, an adopted hospital in Jammu, we are sponsoring many medical cases throughout the country and it keeps on adding every month.

A bit about yourself  ?

As a Khalsa aid volunteer my basics are very much clear, whenever I am called for  service to humanity  I am always ready to go to any extent. We are specially trained for these sort of projects and managing crowds.

Chaotic Kashmir

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News Kashmir Exclusive

Chaos, Panic has spread throughout in Kashmir in wake of braid chopping attacks being reported from length and breadth of the Kashmir Valley.

Scores of women in Kashmir have reported being attacked by masked assailants in the last two months. The women claimed the attackers sprayed chemicals on their faces and left them unconscious. Upon waking up, they found their hair had been chopped off.

Meanwhile, a PIL has also been filed by some lawyers in this regard .

 

Talking to our  correspondent , Advocate Masrat Kawsar  (who filed PIL) stated -”  Braid Chopping has assumed menacing form .We have in our PIL brought attention of honorable High court into the serious matter of braid Chopping and calling upon the Police to ensure nabbing the culprits and making the women folk feel secure .With intervention from Court we are hopeful that the process of acting swiftly in these ugly incidents of braid chopping will gain momentum. We are hopeful that it would be Soon listed for hearing.”

Uneasiness, hooligan approach at some instances has also crept in.

Narrating the ordeal of a mentally challenged person who was roughed up taken as braid chopper Javeed Ali, columnist wrote  “ A person was roughed up near our house. My all attempts to protect him from beating and listening to his version failed completely as he was badly overpowered by the huge group of people of our vicinity. In the meantime, police vehicles arrived and they asked to hand him over to them. The people declined to hand him over to police and started chanting slogans suspecting him as Army worker. They pelted stones on police vehicles but police burst tear smoke shells and took him forcibly in their vehicle. After that everyone started making bizarre stories surrounding the incident as is common in Kashmir.

The next day, respectable and trustworthy elders of our area went to the police station to enquire about the fate of the alleged braid chopper. They were shocked to know that the person whom they had beaten barbarously is a mentally retarded patient of our nearby locality. He was now admitted in a hospital. His family members were present there with the medical documents which confirmed that he is suffering from stress and depression since last 20 years. They were crying bitterly along with the mentally challenged person whom we had suspected as braid chopper.”

Without doubt the alleged braid-choppers have frightened locals across the valley of Kashmir and life has literally come to grinding halt , with growing suspicion and innocents also been targeted becoming the sad realities .

 

Inflation Paining Kashmir

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The phenomenon of ever rising inflation is very unfavorably  impacting the life of general masses in the Valley of Kashmir. The monster of inflation is impacting significant spheres of life in the valley of Kashmir. As a matter of fact, Inflation means paying more for goods than what you were paying earlier. Off late, not only indispensable goods have seen a price hike, non-essential items have also seen this hike. In other words inflation is making a hole in the pocket of common man in the valley.

The worse part of it is that rising food prices have far outstripped the growth rate and overall income rise of masses. Tomateos,Potatoes, onions, eggs and many types of pulses are costing  twice as costly as they were about a few  years ago.

 

This hyper inflation in Kashmir has hit the common man the most. Kashmir’s logistical handicap has another reverse effect – its exports lose their competitiveness due to the relatively high transportation costs. To cope with inflation,we know that  Middle income group have cut back consumption where possible, buy cheaper products given alternatives, postpone the purchase of little indulgences and cut out discretionary spend altogether. With food eating  up more of their incomes their saving is likely to vanish altogether,

The devil of inflation has hit other parts of country as well. To curb the ills of inflation we need a collective roadmap to end the same

Braid Chopping : Unending Mystery

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Farzana Mumtaz/ Rameez Makhdoomi

The series of continuous braid chopping incidents in different areas of the Kashmir valley have given rise to panic and fear. According to Wikipedia, Mysterious hair chopping incidents and rumours of Indian females have erupted in India and Nepal from late June 2017 onwards when  a news channel reported on June 23 that a female from Bikaner, Rajasthan was chopped her hair by a suspect witch when she was sleeping in night, but only one such incident was reported in the entire state at that time. After the incident, many villagers were keeping a strong eye on the woman’s house but later no evidence of a witch or any other supernatural creature was found. As this incident went viral to almost every part of India, especially in the northern states like Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, Uttarakhandand Uttar Pradesh.

The Kashmir Valley reported its first braid chopping in September, about a month after Jammu had reported several similar incidents. In all, according to the police, 35 cases of braid chopping have been reported from Kashmir so far and 192 from Jammu division.

Different reasons are being attributed to it and aptly described by the sane voices . Doctor Yasir Wani on Social Networking Website Facebook wrote :

“Braid chopping :

1) Some doctors opine it is hysterical conversion reaction which is a functional disorder more common in adolescent girls than boys and adults.

2) Some people blame the agencies

3) Some people blame the local criminals who are taking advantage of the confusion and chaos.

4) others are of the opinion that braid choppers are a reality as an organisation with a purpose to cause fear psychosis among already anxious kashmiris.

I think all above opinions are partly right. The reality might lie in the mix of all the above opinions..!!

P:S : Rumours on the social media add fuel to the fire..!!”

In addition to the fear psychosis, the politics has also heated on the issue of braid Chopping in Kashmir and with it public anger is also growing. On October 2, Riyaz Naikoo, field operational commander of the militant group Hizbul Mujahedeen, released an audio statement saying the chopping of women’s braids was aimed at “weakening” the separatist movement.

On its part the Jammu and Kashmir Police  stated recently that it doubled the bounty to Rs 6 lakhs for providing any information about the mysterious braid chopping incidents that has gripped the Valley.

 

“Incidents of mysterious braid cutting occurred in south and central Kashmir. Police announced reward upto Rs 6 lakh for info on people behind incidents,” said SP Vaid, DIG Police,  Kashmir.

“ We hope the evil forces behind the ugly incidents of braid chopping would soon be identified and arrested so that the fear created by them is defeated .Currently these braid chopping incidents have given rise to panic and unease, stated Sameena, a house wife.

Undoubtedly, braid chopping has given rise to atmosphere of chaos and fear in Kashmir.

 

 

 

 

KARBALA THE GREATEST MESAAGE OF UNITY AMONG UMMAH.

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Syed Karar Hashmi

 

 

Message of Karbala is to strive or struggle for the cause of Islam, justice and righteousness. It can be waged by various means such as speeches, writings, wealth, enlightening fellow humans by oratory and discourses or writing books and articles . So also funding of welfare projects like schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and so on.

 

 

To  think always about  one’s defense is the proof of being alive and alert. Suppose we are dealing with a powerful enemy who intends to violate our rights  or to attack the territory of our lands, and suppose that we are at the moment too weak to defend ourselves and any effort on our part would entail a serious loss and no positive result could be gained now or in the future. In such a case it is obvious that we are unable to resist such a strong foe but, at the same time, we are obliged to strengthen our forces rather than losing our spirit and remaining inactive.

 

THE KARBALA SHOWS US TO STRIVE AGAINST ALL IMPERIAL POWERS IRRESPECTIVE OF NUMERICAL STRENGTH TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

 

 

 

Imam Husayn had shown by his acts as well as his various discourses during the seven days of Muharram at Karbala, that this conflict was much more universal in nature, and that he knew that he was going to live forever through his martyrdom.

 

 

 

Yazeed died as uselessly as he lived; only three years after the battle of Karbala took place. While trying to race a baboon, he fell from his horse and broke his neck. As history has recorded, those who were apparent victors at Karbala have disappeared without trace.

 

 

 

While the plain of Karbala was transformed from a deserted piece of barren land into a bustling town, of which, the central monument is Imam Husayn’s glorious tomb. Millions of people visit the tomb in reverence, all the year round, day and night. Imam Husayn’s martyrdom is observed with solemn deference all over the world, every year during the first ten days of the month of Muharram, by his followers. Public gatherings are held, speeches are made in which the story of Karbala is retold in touching tones and prayers are made to the effect that may the almighty Allah grant the same courage and strength to his followers in their hour of trial as he did to Imam Husayn. At the end of these gatherings, the audience stand up and pay homage to Husayn and his companions in the following formal terms:

 

I WISH I WAS WITH YOU ( AT KARBALA ) AND WOULD THEREFORE, HAVE ATTAINED THE SAME EXALTED STATION ( AS YOU DID).

 

 

 

Although, the observance of commemoration of Imam Husayn in Muharram has only recently started in the Western countries, they are a part of the Muslim culture in India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and other eastern countries.

 

 

 

New centers have been established in Canada, the USA, and in many European countries where these practices of Muharram are done with all the elaborate details.

The main element of these commemorative practices is the message of Imam Husayn, which is also the message of the Prophet of Islam, which is Islam in its purest form.

 

 

 

Karbala is a gift to humanity. It teaches the parents how to love and cherish their children – however, when the time of sacrifice, the parent comes is in the forefront to sacrifice his/her child for the right cause.It teaches men and women how a husband should behave with her wife, and vise-versa. Even when the family is threatened for life, property, and honour, how sensible people keep their heads and act according to Allah’s and nature’s laws. It teaches the faithful that your beliefs and your convictions are the most important thing in the world.It teaches the faithful to find the right Imam and follow him.It teaches the faithful that helplessness and lack of power in this world do not mean a thing as long as one has chosen the right path and he/she is convinced that he/she is on the side of the truth.

 

 

 

 

When tents were burning in Karbala, Lady Zainab, Imam Husayn’s sister approached her 24 year old nephew, Imam Ali Zain Al-Abideen and asked him: “Nephew, you are our Imam now, what is your command about us, shall we all get burnt to death or save our lives and go out of the tents without our Hijab?”

 

 

IMAM ALI ZAIN AL-ABIDEEN REPLIED: “AUNT, SAVING YOUR LIFE IS OBLIGATORY, GO OUT AND SAVE YOURSELVES AND THE CHILDREN.”

 

 

 

The head coverings had already been looted from the heads of the ladies by the enemy soldiers. However, Lady Zainab is the grand-daughter of the Prophet of Islam; she is the daughter of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima. She did not need anyone else to tell her what the religious law was. She had grown up with Islam. By this one act, Lady Zainab showed to the world the importance of the Imam of the time. At the same time, Imam Ali Zain Al-Abideen’s reply showed that Islamic law is what it is, but common sense always prevails.

The Karbala shows us to strive against all imperial powers irrespective of Numerical strength taken into consideration.

 

THE HOLY QURAN ADVISES, “MAKE READY THEN AGAINST THEM WHAT FORCE YOU CAN, AND STRONG SQUADRONS WHEREBY YOU MAY STRIKE TERROR INTO THE ENEMY OF GOD AND YOUR ENEMY.” (08:60)

 

 

 

 

The writer is a Social and RTI Activist from Central Kashmir Ganderbal District , studying at Jamia Al Mustafa (s.a.w) International University Qom Iran.

 

Karbala, the persuasion to good and dissuasion to evil

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By Javeed Ali

javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com

The tragedy of Karbala that occurred fifty years after the death of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is a unique event of Islamic history—many dimensional and multi leveled. Just when the Muslim empire had reached almost its peak of glory, Imam Hussain (A.S.) the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) challenged not only the legitimacy of Yazid, the ruler of the Muslim empire but even the validity of that imperialist tyranny which was masquerading as Islamic State. And Hussain sealed his protest with his blood and the blood of the small number of his companions who fell fighting, under heaviest odds, against hordes of state mercenaries. He willingly suffered all those tyranny and persecution. The battle of Karbala was a clash not between personalities but between two principles; love of truth against lust for power; passion for justice against perversity of tyranny.

The movement of Imam Hussain (A.S.) was for the establishment of the truth and justice.

Imam Hussain (A.S.) said, “Indeed, I have risen up solely to seek the reform of the Ummah of my grandfather (PBUH). I want to command what is good and stop what is wrong”.

This sentence highlights the basic position of ‘enjoining the good and forbidding the evil’. Imam Hussain (A.S.) through this sentence expresses the pivotal role of ‘enjoining good and forbidding evil’ and conveys it as the final target of his uprising. The essence of enjoining good and forbidding evil is existing in all the religions of Abrahamic lineage and it has been an obligation for all the prophets and messengers, Imams and believers. It is not merely a matter of jurisprudential obligation, but in fact a standard and philosophy for sending divinely prophets; all this is because the material world is the place where vice and virtue, truth and falsehood, good and bad, darkness and light, excellence and lowliness get intermingled. Sometimes all this is intermixed in such a way that it becomes difficult to get them identified. , then follow, and act upon it. The divine religions are providing us an understanding about enjoining and forbidding, and in fact, (it provides understanding about) good and bad, truth and falsehood, darkness and light, excellence and lowliness, command us to perform the good, avoid bad and thus bestow us divine guidance towards the right path. For the importance of enjoining good and forbidding wrong, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) says, “One who enjoins good and forbids wrong is vicegerent of Allah, Book of Allah and the Messenger of Allah on the earth”.

Accordingly, the basic of enjoining good and forbidding evil is not particular to Imam Hussain (A.S.). Instead, it is an obligation for all prophets and messengers, pious people and believers. Since during the time of the Doyen of Martyrs Imam Hussain (A.S.), the good and evil were severely intermingled and the evil had attained currency in all the affairs. Goodness had been consigned to the oblivion and this was causing forgetfulness and negligence towards religion of Islam, the prophetic traditions. Therefore, Imam Hussain (A.S.) saw the possibility of revival and revitalization of traditions of Prophet of Allah (PBUH) and the religion of Islam and its defense in staging protest against the prevailing situation and in enjoining the good and forbidding evil. For this reason, he stated that by way of enjoining good and forbidding wrong he is going to rectify the Islamic society.

“Indeed, I have not risen to do mischief, neither as an adventurer, nor to cause corruption and tyranny. I have risen up solely to seek the reform of the Ummah of my grandfather (PBUH). I want to command what is good and stop what is wrong, and (in this) I follow the conduct of my grandfather and my father, Ali Ibn Ab Talib (A.S.).

While analyzing the event of Karbala and Ashura, different kinds of outcomes and results as well as lessons can be deduced. Among these teachings we can have the lessons of sacrifice, religiosity, valour, equality and equity, uprising for God, love and affection.

In every way the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.) is the Great Sacrifice for the humankind. The greatness of the sacrifice is judged by the gravity of the situation or the uniqueness of the circumstances in which it occurs and the extent to which it serves the purpose of Allah, that is, how far it carries the message in the forthcoming generations and its popularity with them. The sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and Prophet Ismail (A.S.) was only a trial and the reason why Allah willed it was to prove the great perseverance, strength of character and magnanimity of the Apostleships of Ibrahim (A.S.) and Ismail (A.S.) . Having fulfilled the command of Allah they proved to have the incredible virtues of piety to be the forefathers of the ones destined to offer the ‘GREAT SACRIFICE’. Besides, Allah wanted to ransom the sacrifice of Prophet Ismail (A.S.) and predict the imminent ‘GREAT SACRIFICE’.

When the day of Ashura dawned the situation was very critical for the religion of Islam. Imam Hussain (A.S.) stood as the successor and the representative of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)-the Seal of all Prophets, while Yazid was asking him to swear allegiance of the pure Apostleships of all the 1,24,000 Prophets who had strived for the religion of Allah, to submit to him and his evil ways.

Imam Hussain (A.S.) was the testamentary trustee and the inheritor of the virtues of all the Prophets; while Yazid wanted to annihilate Islam by pressurizing such a personality like Imam Hussain (A.S.) to swear allegiance to an evil man like himself. It was the question of the life and death of the faith, Islam; while the efforts and strivings of all the Prophets depended on Imam Hussain (A.S.).

Thus in his valiant, undaunted stance Imam Hussain (A.S.) fearlessly gave away his brothers, sons, friends and companions and then his own life, but saved the religion of Islam and the strivings, hardships, work, labours and exertions of all the Prophets, thus reviving and rekindling the extinguishing embers of Islam and qualifying as ‘THE GREAT SACRIFICE’.

The Holy Quran says: “And the camels of sacrifice We have made for you among the Signs of Allah, for you in them is good, so mention the name of Allah on them….” (Al-Hajj:36)

In the above verse Allah says that the camels which are to be sacrificed in His name as an obligatory rite of Hajj are among His Signs to mankind, and for this reason they should be given due regard and respect. Relative to this fact, and more intense in its pinnacle of virtue and holiness is the regard to the Prophetic and Apostolic people who being the Signs of Allah sacrificed their all in the way of the Beneficent Lord to support and endorse His cause. Similar is the case of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his faithful companions who sacrificed themselves in such a manner on the hot sands of Karbala to save Islam that their example has no parallel in the history of the world. Therefore, by the justice of the Book of Allah, they have every right and reason to be eulogized, remembered and their strivings respected and commemorated.

Imam Hussain (A.S.) is the benefactor of Humanity. The favours of Imam Hussain (A.S.) are not just limited to Muslims, Shias or Sunnis; in fact His (A.S.) favours are on the entire humanity. This is because if Imam Hussain (A.S.) would not have given these sacrifices, then there would have been no religion, no faith, no Islam. Hence there would have been neither Sunni nor Shia, everyone would have been non-religious, and there would be no such thing as religion left because the accursed beings of that era were not just planning to eradicate the Shia or Sunni values, they wanted to eradicate human values. If today we see a human (means a human with humanity) somewhere then that is the outcome of this great sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S.). It is all because of the sacrifices of the companions of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and Bani Hashim.

The important lesson that we need to imbibe from the event of Karbala was propagated by Syeda Zainab (S.A.), the granddaughter of Prophet Mohamamd (PBUH) and was beautifully summed up by revolutionary thinker Dr Ali Shariati.  The role of Syeda Zainab (S.A.) in the aftermath of Karbala is equally important, and that’s why Dr Ali Shariati calls Zainab ‘the saviour of humanity’. “Those who died committed a Hussaini act. Those who remain must perform a Zainabi act. Otherwise, they are Yazids,” says Shariati. One has to choose either blood or the message, to be a martyr like Hussain or messenger like Zainab.  Every revolution has two visages: blood and the message. Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his companions undertook the first mission, that of blood. The second mission is to carry the message of blood to the future generations, to be the eloquent tongue of this flowing blood. Commemorating Azadari (mourning) is to spread and propagate the message of Imam Hussain (A.S.) as was done by Syeda Zainab (S.A.).  Imam Khomeini (R.A.) has said: These tears terrify the enemies of Islam; because to cry for the oppressed is to speak up against the oppressor.

 

 

Bright Billa

Posted on by Editor

Nasir Khuehami

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Bilal Dar, an 18-year-old ragpicker who earned his living by picking up waste from the Wular Lake in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.

 

In Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi congratulated the SMC Srinagar for their initiative for picking him as Brand Ambassador. PM Appreciated Bilal and said he Could serve as an inspiration for others.

Meanwhile Bilal said that I am very much happy that PM Modi Appreciated me and Praising my Work.

 

Bilals also known as Billa Journey From Ragpicker to Brand Ambassador:is mind blowing –

 

Up until recently, 15-year-old Bilal Ahmad Dar earned his living by collecting scraps and cleaning up toxic debris and dead animal carcasses from the famous Wular lake in Bandipora district of northern Kashmir.

 

However, in a remarkable twist of fortune, the teen was appointed as brand ambassador by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) who believed that Bilal could serve as an inspiration for others because even though he came from a disenfranchised background that did not stop him from caring for his environment.

 

“Bilal is an energetic boy and  inspiration for everyone. From a tender age, he earned a living by cleaning the Wular Lake by removing garbage, used bottles and shoes from it. But money wasn’t the only driving force behind his work, he genuinely cares for the environment. We are proud of overall efforts in this regard ,” said SMC Commissioner Shafqat Khan while talking to News Kashmir.

 

“Wular has been poisoned due to all the trash that floats around in it and tourists who visit this majestic lake felt dejected so I decided to help clean some of the filth from it,” Bilal said.

 

Bilal took up cleaning of Wular lake from 2012 and earned around Rs. 6000 monthly even though he says, that initially he received no help from the society of the administration in this noble endeavor but is very thankful of  Shafqat Khan SMC Commissioner efforts .

 

“I collected plastic and polythene trash from the lake and sold them. Off course it fetched me some money. But it also helped in cleaning up Wular. Water is life, it has to be clean.,” says the teen who had to forsake his dreams of pursuing an education because his family couldn’t afford the expenses.

 

“We couldn’t afford at one time Rs. 900,” said Bilal’s sister. Bilal who hails from Laharwarpora village in Bandipora, like so many others struggled for a livelihood in this conflict-ridden paradise and collected plastic trash from the lake which he then sold for Rs. 200 on an average day.

 

Wular has been poisoned due to all the trash that floats around in it and tourists who visit this majestic lake felt dejected so Bilal  decided to help clean some of the filth from it. He deeply cared for the lake and was saddened by all the trash floating in it.

“There are dead animals floating in Wular. Our environment has degraded, there is every chance you will get sick if you drank water from the lake,” Bilal says.

“If I picked 100 plastic bottles it helps keep the water clean. I did earn some money but the Wular gets cleaned in the process.,”. Bilal says with a look of satisfaction, adding that he collects over 14,000 kilos of trash each year from the lake.

 

Bilal while recollecting hard days says while often collecting  trash from the lake from dusk till dawn, but on some days, he failed to sell it. “Somedays I didn’t earn and I had to bear it,”. Bilal’s father Mohammad Ramzan Dar, who also worked as a ragpicker died of cancer in 2003 when he was a studying in Class 6th , forcing the teen to abandon studies and earn a livelihood to support his mother and 14-year-old sister.

“He became breadwinner for us, since his (father’s) death. Bilal never lets me do any hard-work. He abandoned school so that we wouldn’t have to suffer,” Bilal’s mother Mughli Begum (60) said with tearful eyes.

 

Bilal’s “Wular-cleanup mission” finally caught the eye of authorities and the SMC appointed him as their brand ambassador.

Bilal’s remarkable story caught people’s attention after he was featured in a critically-acclaimed short documentary ‘Saving the Savior – Story of Kid and Wular Lake,” by a Kashmir-based filmmaker maker Jalal-u-Din Baba.

“Credit goes to Bilal in the way he inspired people to care and show concern about their environment. He’s a remarkable human being,” Baba said.

Baba added – “He doesn’t wish to live like dead weight on mother nature like most people do by trashing their environment. He has amazing compassion for nature,”.

Bilal’s story also proves the efficiency of SMC While proving how a Government Department  if it acts positively can change our society.

Pellet Pain

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Desk

 

Amnesty International’s report “Losing Sight in Kashmir: The Impact of Pellet-Firing Shotguns”- designed with photographs of blinded pellet victims was released few days back  . Pertinently, the report  presented the cases of 88 people whose eyesight has been damaged by pellets between 2014 and 2017.

The widespread use of the weapon was witnessed across length and breadth of Kashmir during the agitation in the Valley last year killed several people and blinded  scores  after violence broke out during protests sparked by the death of a Hizbul Mujahiddin militant, Burhan Wani.

Amnesty International report maintained that there is no proper way to use pellet-firing shotguns. It is irresponsible of the authorities to continue the use of the shotguns despite being aware of the damage they do.

After a spate of ghastly injuries last year the havoc caused by pellet gun in Kashmir  earned the title “epidemic of dead eyes”, Amnesty and other rights groups called for a complete ban on the use of the shotguns. As a matter of fact  single cartridge fired releases at least 500 high-speed metal pellets. These lodge in any available body part and are difficult to remove.

 

It is worth pointing out that In its report, Amnesty said it interviewed people aged from nine to 65.

“In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that change in Kashmir will not come from guns or abuses – na goli, na gali. If the government truly means this, they must end the use of pellet-firing shotguns, which have caused immense suffering in Kashmir,” Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India, said in a statement.

The report named 88 people, who were injured by pellets fired by security forces to quell protests in the Valley between 2014 and 2017. Of them, 31 suffered injuries to both the eyes, with two of them losing their vision completely, the report said. Speaking on the occasion, the executive director of Amnesty International India, Aakar Patel, demanded that the central and state governments ensure “the weapons are used in line with international human rights standards”.

“Pellet guns are only used in Jammu and Kashmir and not anywhere else in India. We have raised the issue with the government and it has assured us that they will be used only in extreme situations. We were told that the government understands that the damage caused by pellets is disproportionate,” he said.

Ajaz War , PRESIDENT JKYJA Stated – “ The report of Amnesty International is an eye-opener on the havoc caused by the pellets especially the loss of vision .It is high time that in the larger interest of humanity and peace the Government bans the pellet gun forever .”

 

Undoubtedly, Amnesty International report and voices of sanity clear call for blanket ban on this cruel weapon known as pellet gun.