News Kashmir Magazine

2016 International Women’s Day Special
By Rameez Makhdoomi
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Women of Kashmir are no less competent and intelligent than women of other parts of the world.
The theme for 2016 is Pledge for Parity, as progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places.
We unplug the three dynamic women of Kashmir, who have shined in diverse fields and take message from them on the eve of this all important observation.
Mehmeet Sayeed
Mehmeet Sayeed, an eminent artist and singer of Kashmir who recently has performed in noted global musical concerts on Kashmiri music and delivered enthralling performances and her message on eve of World women’s day 2016 is –
“Women have always played an important role in carrying forward the cradle of civilization towards the positive and right direction. Every woman needs to understand that there is absolutely no justification for injustice, inequality and discrimination against them. As women are becoming more relevant in the social and economical fabric of this changing world, they need to learn to speak up whenever they see the world being unfair to them.
Most woman face challenges at every step of her life, as a daughter, sister, wife and mother. Those challenges exist to make us stronger not weaker. As a female artist, I also faced numerous challenges to the extent that I stopped working on my passion. It was during that period of darkness and irrelevance that I recognized the need to get back on my feet and continue chasing my passion of singing. I restarted myself and alhamdulillah, I’m living my dream and working on passion. So, don’t let anyone or anything stop you from doing what you are good at.”
Kusum Kaul
Kusum Kaul, a proud Kashmiri is a communication and Media professional of par excellence and has a rich academic background and is a philanthropist as well .
Kusum Kaul is also Director – Transsphere Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Proprietor – Zest Worldwide Communication, Managing Trustee – Utkarsh Healthcare Foundation .She has this message for women on eve of World women’s day 2016 –

“Women have an equal and important role to play in the civilization development. Indira Gandhi has always been my role model. A strong woman of steel, who steered India out of poverty into a modern India. I was always fascinated by Nehru who chartered his daughter’s mental makeup from jail and faraway places through his letters. I have been brought up with my father’s words. “Gandhiji had four sons and Nehru had one daughter, nobody knows Gandhiji’s sons but everyone knows this daughter.” I have been brought up with this state of mind, she was so frail and delicate in looks but had a brain and determination as strong as steel. Women need to be determined and confident enough to achieve anything is my message. We should all also be more tolerant and humane towards one another and never shun the core of humanity.”
Neelam Singh
Neelam Singh, vivacious and talented actress of Kashmir is known for her acting skills and superb caliber and in field since 17 years . Her first serial was “Tavnich Duniya” in the year 1999.She is currently shinning and performing eminent roles in serials of prestigious TV Channels like Sony Tv,Colours, Life OK, Epic etc. Her message on world women day is .She She has this message for women on eve of World women’s day 2016 –

“Kashmiri women through their diverse roles have shown to world the mettle of their intellect. If I look into my life The childhood days went on normally. After death of my father, my mother really took all the great care of me. Till eight class I studied at Guru Nanak School Baramulla and then shifted to Srinagar for further studies. When I reached 9th standard I started to get offers in TV Serials which I initially refused but after great persuasion I gave it a try and was successful in auditions. I wanted to be a doctor and joining the world of acting came by chance and getting acting offers at early age tempted same. Yes, today I love my work and it became my passion now. Women should never suffocate their dreams but give them platform to shine .We can achieve anything if we remain focused on our work and women should develop tough mettle to survive and thrive. ‘”

News Kashmir Exclusive

February is behaving like June in Kashmir Climatic Pattern Vise and it seems environmental Degradation and global warming aftermath  has started to cast its shadows on picturesque  Kashmir Valley.

According to climatic officials, Kashmir witnessed the hottest day in February in 76 years as the mercury rose to 20.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on 23rd February more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year.

Many are concerned that when in February we used to witness  snow but on contrary we  are seeing the  sprouting of plants and blooming of some flower varieties — signs of spring in Kashmir — have started at least one month ahead of the natural process due to the early favorable temperature.

As a matter of fact, all  these abnormal changes in Climate patterns has become a source of concern for environmentalists who see it as an effect of climate change. Many expert voices state that part of Climate Change and Global Warming, the two 21st century issues are already posing grave threat to the human civilization in terms of abnormal climate patterns. Kashmir which has already been declared environmentally fragile zone and can be most delicate area to these threats given its predominant reliance on agriculture, natural resources and forestry. The grave scenario with reference of climate has hit us hard at a time when in Kashmir the overall paradigms are already not looking good.

Sheikh Sameer, A researcher states -“A mechanism suggested for tackling climate change and warming has been the idea of using “Carbon Sinks” to soak up carbon dioxide. To aid in this, reforestation, or planting of new forests, have been suggested. This is a popular strategy for the logging industry and nations with large forests interests. While there may be some potential in this solution, it cannot be effective on its own. This is because it legitimizes continued destruction of old-growth and pristine forests which are rich ecosystems and have an established biodiversity base (albeit shrinking now) that naturally maintain the environment (at no cost!). Creating new forest areas would require the creation of entire ecosystems. It is also criticized for being a quick fix that does not tackle the root causes effectively and does not lead to, or promote actual emissions reduction.

In Kashmir we are being impacted by these global factors and also local factors like we destroying our forest wealth and water bodies has worsened the climatic and environmental position of ours. We need to wake up from the slumber and protect our natural resources especially environment than only we can effectively tackle these problems.”

Experts have maintained that large scale havoc caused to water-bodies and wetlands on one hand and to glaciers and forests on the otherside is compounding the environmental problems and giving rise to abnormal climatic patterns in Kashmir. With the threat of another floods looming large in Kashmir valley this season the biggest question, that is talk of town is that how Valley of Kashmir was  literally converted last year into a flood zone with even normal rains that too in month of March which is a no-flood month.  . Pertinently, the answer does not seem simple as the overall environmental scenario is quiet awful as Valley of Kashmir has  lost several precious environmental resources. Over the past few decades, Kashmir  lost a majority of wetlands and lakes. The phenomenon of deforestation has increased. Illegal encroachments have worsened the matters.

When one used to witness snowflakes and harsh cold in Chilai Kalan in Kashmir that has now got replaced by bright sunshine and all these are seen adverse impacts of global warming and environmental degradation on the Valley of Kashmir.

News Kashmir Exclusive

The  prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University students protest against  the 2013 hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru has turned into a big row and  generated outrage after it was publicised in the mainstream media. The students, allegedly seen shouting slogans supporting Afzal Guru and Kashmiri separatism triggered the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s student wing, who wrote to the Vice Chancellor that such marches should not be held on campus.

This prompted fierce protests from students and teachers in the university. JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on Friday on charges of sedition. The university also barred eight students — whom they didn’t name — from academic activities pending an inquiry into the events.

The violence on journalists and students by some lawyers has give rise to another controversy .

Voices are expressing their angst over the issue. Bilal Bhat, a Delhi based kashmiri journalist and activist. He is the chairman of JK youth civil society. While talking to News Kashmir he states -“To disrupt the the democratic atmosphere of JNU which is known for freedom of speech and expression . in last three years there was a significant rise of involvement  of kashmiri students who by and large feel alienated in their own country.JNU gave them a soothing shoulder to raise their voice . Many kashmiri students were seen active in terms of running the campus union raising various issues concerning the country. Agencies became apprehensive and hatched a conspiracy to malign the union .”

Reflecting on the issue eminent journalist of India Seema Mustafa wrote -“Have you ever bothered to ask why a particular kind of love for the motherland, professed for instance, by the lawyers as they beat up students and journalists at the Patiala court, is always expressed through vitriol and violence? And why suddenly India is no bigger than Pakistan in her democracy and her vibrancy, and how suddenly debate and dissent—even by young students—becomes a threat to the nation.”

On the otherhand, while leading  AIP’s solidarity march with JNU students MLA Langate Engineer Rashid stated that India has lost moral ground to abuse Pakistan.  Er Rasheed said that people of J&K are thankful to all those saner voices especially the youth who are raising voice in favor of Kashmiris at JNU, Calcutta and other places. Er Rasheed stated, “Congress and BJP are trying to score the political points with regard to this uprising in the educated class of India but need to understand that the uprising is not for Congress or against BJP but the Indian youth has started feeling pain of Kashmiris. The sedition charges on Mr. S.A.R Geelani are unacceptable and illogical and just an attempt to please a very small section of rightest forces and a section of biased media.” Er Rasheed added that GoI has not been able to curb the voice of Kashmiris despite using all shameless measures and sooner or later it will have to resolve Kashmir. He said, “The protests being carried out in prestigious universities are being attended by students and scholars of all most of all states without caring for caste, creed and religion. As such New Delhi has lost the argument of blaming Pakistan in interfering into internal affairs of India. Er Rasheed said that despite the fact that national media has always been biased and harsh towards Kashmiris, every Kashmiri deems it his duty to condemn the assault by ultra-nationalist lawyers on senior journalists in Delhi and added that world community should know if these so called protectors of law, can mishandle and abuse those who have similar views as of them about Kashmir, what would they do with those who differ with them in their ideology and views.

Undoubtedly, JNU for the moment is generating heated politics over the issue.

News Kashmir Exclusive
People in the pain and conflict hit state of Jammu and Kashmir are waiting desperately for elected government to takeover so as to end the governor rule in the state. Overwhelming majority of masses believe that their problems could receive a due attention only when there is elected setup in place.
Worryingly enough, the already politically sensitive and countless problem hit state of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed many long sells of governor rule which has weakened the democratic paradigm and dashed hopes . Masses have felt the hard brunt of these long spells of governor rule as developmental picture has been hurt.
Gulzar Ahmad,a commoner states -“We have been waiting for the government now since many weeks. These often long spells of Governor rule does not augur good for us as we want solution of our grave problems and only elected government has an effective answer to our grievances.
A mechanism should be decided so that we do not have to wait for long intervals of time for the elected setup. We already know that we are far behind in the developmental spectrum and often spells of Governor rule have not proved much effective .We are hopeful that soon the government would be formed in our state and our miseries and sufferings would be thus receive heed.”
Experts have clearly pointed that often governor rule weakens democratic setup and already fragile mainstream of state. The recent moves by Pakistan to make Gilgit Baltistan (part of erstwhile J&K) it’s 5th state is an eye opener in this regard. While Kashmiri pro freedom groups openly challenged it and wrote rebellious letters to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharief, no mainstream party could speak about it because it is believed that they have lost that moral high ground to speak for the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir that existed before the tribal invasion of October 1947 and the subsequent landing of the Indian Army in Kashmir.
Faizan Bhat, Eminent columnist states – “It is an open secret that Kashmir is facing worst problems on every front since decades. The issue of poor governance has been one major issue. Whenever the Governor rule is imposed the crisis related to governance further sinks. People depend upon elected representative for their genuine problems. We have seen lot of mess being created on account of long spells of Governor Rule. The concerned parties should brainstorm and form an effective government that focuses on governance and does not harp on raising communal temperatures. Masses on ground are facing thousand problems for which an effective government should soon come into action.”
The J&K has remained to be ruled like this Governor rule from March 1977, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2008, and for 51 days in the present coalition from 9 January 2015 and again this time.

Be it from the perspective of providing effective governance to masses so as to solve their burning issues or to strengthening the democratic fabric the people are eagerly awaiting for Mehbooba Mufti to make a move and form a strong government that can lead the state to some sought of hope. With even the flood hit masses yet to be rehabilitated the wait is ever so desperate .