66 A Striking Down Invokes Elation

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News Kashmir Exclusive

 

In a landmark development, Section  66A of the Information Technology Act is unconstitutional in its entirety, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday stroking   down a “draconian” provision that had led to the arrests of many people for posting content deemed to be “allegedly objectionable” on the Internet.

“It is clear that Section 66A arbitrarily, excessively and disproportionately invades the right of free speech and upsets the balance between such right and the reasonable restrictions that may be imposed on such right,” said a Bench of Justices J. Chelameswar and Rohinton F. Nariman. The definition of offences under the provision was “open-ended and undefined”, it said.

While on otherside, the Bench also turned down a plea to strike down sections 69A and 79 of the Act, which deal with the procedure and safeguards for blocking certain websites and exemption from liability of intermediaries in certain cases, respectively. In the said judgment, the court said the liberty of thought and expression was a cardinal value of paramount significance under the Constitution.

 

 

It is worth mentioning here that in number  of the cases slapped against persons for posting offensive views on social network sites, the police had invariably invoked Sections 153 and 505 of the IPC along with Section 66A of I-T Act, which is a bailable offence.

Valleyites especially netizens are happy over abolishing of Section 66 A as they feel it grants them more freedom and more liberty to express their dissent.

Faizaan Bhat, an enthusiastic Netizen stated – “We have seen what happened in previous agitations  in Kashmir how many youth were arrested just by posting against Government. Supreme court  of India  took a great decision of scrapping it as this section was against right to freedom of speech n democrac, but we need to be civilized and sane on online mediums and write  rationally and  logically. This landmark decision also proves that India can never be turned into another China and freedom o speech here has lot of value ”

As a matter of fact, The petitioners in this historical case included Shreya Singhal, Common Cause, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Dilip Kumar Tulsidas, the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, Mouthshut.Com, Tasleema Nasrin, Manoj Oswal, the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Anoop M.K

 

While talking exclusively to News Kashmir Magazine, Yasir Altaf Zargar, a Security Analyst stated – “This draconian act invaded internet freedom. It arbitrarily, excessively and disproportionately invades the right of free speech. This act was misused by bureaucrats and politicians to suppress their enemies in a legal way. In the past few years, the provision has been invoked to make several arrests. On behalf of the victims, several petitions were moved in the Supreme Court, and these were heard at length by the court.

As we all know India is diverse nation, though freedom of free speech is in its main fundamental principles. Every person has his own right to express his views verbally or non- verbally. A person has right of free speech, and can comment his views regarding any person on internet or by using any electronic mean. Although there are many acts which can led block of those websites which post abusive content or any offensive comment. Arresting people on giving their personal views or comments will increase heartedness among masses towards government and may lead to civil war against government.”

 

 

 

Many experts state that we should not still be over joyous as it is the invoking of additional IPC sections which had allowed the police to arrest the persons for offensive posts.

Pertinently, Section 153 and 153A provides for registration of a case against a person who gives a statement either in writing or orally that incites communal riots or provokes communal tension and enmity between communities. IT is punishable with imprisonment from 6 months to one year with fine. Section 505 punishes persons who spread rumor through their statement to cause public disorder with an imprisonment up to 3 years.

Pertinently, Section 66A was not part of the original I-T Act enacted during NDA government in 2000. The UPA government had amended the Act in 2009 and brought Section 66A into force October 27, 2009. At that time Veerappa Moily was the law minister and A Raja was the minister for information technology. Kapil Sibal succeeded Raja as I-T minister.

On the other hand , Sunil Abraham, the executive director of the Center for Internet & Society, which is based in Bangalore, called the decision “amazing.”
“It is in continuation of a great tradition in India: that of apex courts consistently, over the years, protecting the citizens of India from violations of human rights,” he said.

India is considered by some to be one of the world’s most freewheeling democracies, and the decision to strike down 66 A has been welcomed by one and all.

Time for India to resolve Kashmir: Kuldip Nayar

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Veteran Indian journalist, author and peace activist, Kuldip Nayar, in an interview to New Kashmir Editor,Farzana Mumtaz, talks how India had changed since its independence, the rise of Hindutva in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janta Party coalition government in Jammu Kashmir and how chief ministers have been installed in the State at the behest of New Delhi. Excerpts

 

You are one of the victims of the partition.

Yes, my family had to migrate from Sialkot at the time of partition. I came to the present day India through Lahore by road. On leaving home, we thought it was a communal thing which would stay for sometime but didn’t have an idea that the migration will change everyone’s lives in the subcontinent. When I came to this side of the border, I was penniless.

 

How did you end up becoming a journalist?

Before partition, I had done completed my Law degree. I knew Urdu and Persian languages. I came to know that a newspaper was looking for a Hindu who knew Urdu and I landed in a newspaper Anjaam and ended up becoming a journalist instead of a lawyer.

 

Do you miss Sialkot?

Everybody misses home. When I migrated, I tried my best to at least visit my ancestral home at least once. I applied for travel documents but was refused time and again. This was until Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to power in Pakistan. When I interviewed him in Pakistan, I requested him for the travel documents. Pakistani Army’s cantonment in Sialkot did not allow any outsiders to visit the place. My documents got cleared the very next day and I visited Sialkot after 25 years.

 

You interviewed Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. The news of Pakistan being a nuclear power leaked through you?

Entire world had its eyes focused on Pakistani nuclear bomb in 1980s. My friend from Pakistan, Mushahid Hussain, was with me. He had arranged that interview for me. When we sat with A Q Khan, I tried my best to know it from the horse’s mouth but all my efforts failed. Then, I provoked him saying that one of the scientists had told him that Pakistan neither had the material nor men to make a bomb. He reacted punching his hand hard on the table saying it thrice ‘We have it… we have it… we have it…’ I replied saying you have not tested it yet. He retorted saying it did not need an over ground test and tests could be done in laboratories too. The interview created ripples all around the world.

 

With all the backing of the Hindu rightwing parties, can Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister who can resolve Kashmir issue?

It is an appropriate time for India to get Kashmir issue resolved. If New Delhi cannot resolve this issue now, then we will have to long. Every Hindu party is with BJP and it is the right time to get Kashmir issue resolved. On the contrary, Congress cannot do anything on Kashmir. They do not have the blessings of these Hindu parties. For any Kashmir resolution, the endorsement of these Hindutva parties is a must. For resolving Kashmir issue, Modi is in a far better position than any Indian Prime Minister has ever been.

 

How was the Kashmir policy of the first Prime Minister of free India?

Jawaharlal Nehru was a Kashmiri and felt for Kashmir. Had Pakistan not sent their irregulars to Kashmir, Kashmir’s fate would have been entirely different. The raid provided an opportunity for India to get into Kashmir. Had raiders not invaded Kashmir, it would have become part of Pakistan. Kashmir was a natural part of Pakistan. Even Sardar Patel said to Jinnah that you take Kashmir and let Hyderabad secede.

 

How good was the relationship of the Prime Minister of Jammu Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah with the Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru?

Sheikh was against the Maharaja and led a movement against Maharaja. Nehru supported everyone who had been against their rulers in the princely states. Sheikh was secular and a democrat and had a grip on his people.

 

For most of the time since the independence of India, it has been ruled by the Congress. How have they handled Kashmir?

After the partition, Congress under Nehru’s leadership was keen to get Kashmir issue resolved. But with the coming up of Jan Sangh, a force with all Hindutva backing, it became difficult for Congress to do anything or move forward on Kashmir.

 

And how did Nehru’s daughter deal with Kashmir?

Indira’s Kashmir policy was shaped through Sheikh Abdullah, who helped her when she was in wilderness. Later, she took him for granted.

 

How do you see the incumbent government in Jammu Kashmir? Will it last?

I think this government will complete its full term. Both the parties want to be in power. The only problem in this coalition is that there is a permanent divide between Kashmir and Jammu. The 2014 polls proved that there is a divide between Kashmiri Muslims and Jammu Hindus. This is very dangerous for the secular fabric of India.

 

Is Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to be blamed for entering into this unholy alliance?

It’s a power game. When he entered into an alliance, he said he didn’t want to alienate Jammu by going for an alliance with any other party that would not have representation from Jammu.

 

Why has India failed to integrate Kashmiris in the mainstream? Why has it failed to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris?

Modi will try to do everything to win Kashmiri to his side. He can go to any extent to win Kashmiris because he has to show and sell to Indian public that he has achieved something in Kashmir. If not integrate at least he can say to Indian public that he has pacified Kashmiris.

 

Have the successive governments in Jammu Kashmir choked the alternative political space?

The political space was always choked in Kashmir. Apart from 1977 elections, New Delhi used to handpick the chief minister for this State.

 

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik says that he gave up armed movement at your insistence after you promised him that New Delhi would resolve f Kashmir issue if they adopted peaceful means. Is that correct?

In 1993, the IB men told me that Yasin Malik had expressed his desire of meeting me when he was being treated at a hospital in Delhi after his arrest. I agreed to the proposition and went to meet Malik at the hospital. There he told me why we didn’t take note of the Amnesty International’s report on human rights violations. I responded saying, ‘If you can trust white men, why not us?’ To this Malik responded saying he had all the trust in me.

 

After you convinced him to lay down arms, 600 JKLF men who had given up arms were killed by Army and paramilitary forces. Isn’t the blood of those 600 men on your hands?

I don’t have their blood on my hands. New Delhi and Indian security forces do. I regret New Delhi did not abide by the ceasefire and am sorry to Yasin Malik for that.

 

Many solutions have been floated for resolving Kashmir. What in your view can be the best possible solution?

I think both parts of Kashmir should merge and have a common mechanism for everything from politics to economy. Pakistan should take care of defense and foreign affairs of its part of Kashmir and India of this part. Both parts of Kashmir should come have a common mechanism for government for everything else. There should be better people-to-people contact.

Dr Mohammad Ghitreef (Shahbaz Nadwi) Interview

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Dr Mohammad Ghitreef (Shahbaz Nadwi), a versatile Islamic scholar, Madrasa alumnus, editor, author and director of Foundation for Islamic Studies in a conversation with Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander on his early life, madrasa studentship, Islam, Ijtihad, terrorism and need for reforms in Madrasas

Tell us something about your early life?

I was born in 1972 at a village of Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Having committed the Quran to heart, I started Arabic learning at Jamiatur Rashad Azam Garh, then one year taught by my father Allama Shabbeer Ahmad Azhar Meeruthi who had invented his own unique method of teaching Arabic sciences, that was very short as well as a sharp one. I earned my Alim certificate equal to 10+2 from a Delhi based seminary Jamia Islamia Sanabil, run by Abul Kalam Azad Islamic Awakening Center. Then I did my Fazeelat degree from Jamiatul Falah of Azamgarh in 1993 but I am regretted to say, that there wasn’t scholarly atmosphere at Jamiatul Falah, instead they relied only on Maulana Farahi’s writings and on the literature of Jamaat e Islami. To a great extent I was not influenced by my teachers of these seminaries, that is why I am basically a self made person yet my father’s unparalleled erudition had a lasting impact on me. In the beginning I started my readings, along with the books of curriculum into writings of  Mawlana Abul Ala Mawdudi, the founder of Jamaat e Islami (JeI) and extended it to the historical novels of Naseem Hijazi, Sadiq Sardhnwi, Inayatullha Eltamish and others and then shifted to serious reading of Muslim thinkers and scholars, ranging from the traditional Ulama especially Ulama of Deoband school of thought, to modern day jurists like Mohd Abu Zuhra, Yosuf Alqarzawi, revivalists like Syed Qutub, Mohammad Qutub, Muslim writers and scholars like Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Allama Iqbal, Shibli Numani, Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, Waheeduddin Khan, Najatullah Siddiqi, Dr Mohammad Hamidullah, Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi, my late father Allama Shabbeer Ahmad Azhar Meeruthi, Rashid Shaz to name a few.  After that I started to read most of the important figures of Islamic history such as Alghzali and Ibn Tammiyah and others. I tried to learn a bit of English when I was studying in Jamia Islamia Sanabil Delhi and increased my English knowledge when I was in Jamiatul Falah. Meanwhile the demolition of Babri Masjid on 6 December, 1992, led to communal riots and destruction of numerous shrines and mosques in Ayodhya by the Hindu mobs. Hence I volunteered for relief work in Ayodhya.

Later on I was part of the Student Islamic Welfare Society (SIWS), a movement based in Lucknow, working for the intellectual development of students of Arabic madrasas. For field survey and research once I was sent on a tour to visit the great Islamic seminaries and madarsas in different parts of India to study the Arabic Madrasas closely and witness their functioning. I could witness that South Indian Madrasas were very good and doing well, they were quite in contrast to the North Indian madrasas. SIWS was going to establish a unique center of Islamic thought, which was named as مركزاعداد الدعاة basically to train Madrasa students introducing them to new world and its challenges. At this center based on survey, vast readings and study, we prepared a questionnaire and report and sent it to hundreds of madrasas and many prominent and leading scholars for their observations and reactions. But out of hundreds only two scholars gave their feed back. Alas! this center could not be materialized. Though the said rejoinder depicted the apathy of madrasas people and how they were in slumber regarding the happenings around them. They couldn’t be influenced because they have caged themselves behind the four walls of madrasas and were happy in their cozy cocoons. Frankly speaking their plight is pathetic. Growing disillusioned with this state of affairs, I continued my higher studies and earned specialization in Arabic language and literature from Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow in 1996. In 1999 I did my Masters in Arabic from Lucknow University and after that I earned my PhD in 2006 from Jamia Millia Islamia .

Being a product of Madrasa education, when did you decide to enroll for the ‘mainstream secular’ education?

It was the result of my self study. I never confined myself with the study of course books only, but read whatever stuff I could lay my hands on. This type of study opened new vistas and horizons before me; hence I was not content with madrasa education only.

What were the influences that prompted you to write?

My father Allama Shabir Azhar Meerathi was the biggest influence and inspiration for me as a writer. He was himself a great scholar, writer and exegesist of Quran. Also I was influenced by the writings of other men of letters and scholars. At a tender age of fourteen I began to write and in my early phase of writing I wrote in Urdu on a lot of issues. So far I have penned down 6 books, translated half a dozen from different languages particularly Arabic into Urdu and I have been editor of monthly journal Afkaar e Milli for eight years, besides being associated with Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) and Islamic Fiqah Academy( India) in various capacities. Now I write profusely on contemporary Islam, Muslim world, and on various academic as well as current political and social issues facing the third world, especially Muslim world. Focusing in particular, on unity among Muslims, political Islam, Islamic militancy, Palestinian problem, Muslim non Muslim relations, inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue, coexistence among civilizations, reforms in madras system education etc. I contribute regularly in Urdu dailies, weeklies, periodicals on above said and several other socio-political issues. And nowadays I am writing in English also.

And so far I have Visited several countries including the US, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan and Nepal and participated in national and international seminars and symposia and presented many papers.

You are also the Founder Director of Foundation for Islamic Studies. What was the need for establishing it and what are its objectives?

During my brief lifetime till now I observed, experienced and witnessed many things, related to Muslim organizations and their cadres. I found the blind following (Taqlid) and its grave consequences, there is hero worship everywhere. If some people think out of box or have different views they are immediately sidelined within the organization and the group. This has happened even with Jamaat e Islami (JeI), wherein with the demise of Mawlana Mawdudi the thinking process has stopped, though reading and writing still continues. Maulana Mawdudi was against the blind following or Taqlid but now within JeI Mawdudi has assumed the status of a  hero who is being blindly followed. My father had a vast and deep knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, hence he wasn’t easily influenced by the new scholars. He wrote the exegesis of Quran that was at various points in variance to many exegesis’s of past and present. This and many other things written by him,  found no publication house  ready to publish them. Hence I felt the need of publishing the books and writings of him after his death, and in the year 2003 I established The Foundation for Islamic Studies, with the primary aim of publishing what my father has left behind.

Another aim of establishing the institute was to write about the new issues and challenges baffling Muslims as well as the whole humanity that need to be seriously addressed and debated.

So how do you raise funds for publishing books?

Ours is a little publishing house, with my own funds I publish the books and most of the books are being received well, hence I raise the funds for other publications, but still our marketing strategy isn’t good. There are several titles with us, prepared to be sent to press but due to shortage of funds they remain yet to be published.

As you stated earlier how your father was sidelined by the Ulama, so what do you think are the reasons as to why the Ulama are afraid of new thinking or what in Islamic parlance is known as Ijtihaad. Why are they afraid of opening the doors of Ijtihad?

The apathy of the ulama is that they are Hero Worshippers. They believe in Akabir Parasti, as if it is a tenet of Islam! Since last many centuries they have self imposed this censorship on themselves.

Still what are their fears of being afraid of Ijtihad?

This fear is due to the changed times. There is a lot of difference between old and new times. In olden days Ulama were being followed by the common people, but now it is mobocracy. The mob wants the Ulama to follow them, and the Ulama too don’t have the leadership capacity and qualities to channelize the mob energy into something fruitful, hence they are facing a dilemma. Now the Ulama want to say what people want them to say! They have lost their indigenous status. If any emotional issue arises the Muslim Ulama will give it legitimacy. The fear of Hindutva and being a vulnerable minority also reinforces their decision of not indulging in Ijtihad.

To add as a matter of fact most of the Ulama aren’t aware of their times and trends, because they don’t take interest in new issues and challenges, as they have no interest in reading. Among Muslim Ulama there aren’t many who take a delight in reading and writing.

Why are the Muslim Ulama not reading?

It has many reasons. The biggest reason being the curriculum of Madrasas known as the Dars e Nizamiyyah. It was formulated a few centuries ago and since then the times have changed, that oblige it must be changed too. But after Deoband adopted it, they haven’t changed it till now, and others are also following their trend. This curriculum is an obstruction towards approaching Quran and Sunnah directly. Hence the ulama can’t engage with the issues and find solutions to them in Quran and Sunnah.

Also the pedagogical practices in madrasas and colleges differ. In colleges there is freedom of debate, questioning the teacher and expressing oneself, and in madrasas it is vice versa. Hence the spirit of creativity and query is killed, with the result that much depends on rote learning and cramming of curricula books. This type of teaching inculcates no love of books and real knowledge among students, hence on completion they have no desire to engage with various issues and challenges baffling Muslims. They are misfits for offering any solution to the contemporary problems.

So do you suggest change is needed in madrasas?

Absolutely. We are lagging centuries behind and we need to fill this gap. New curriculum needs to be introduced along with new pedagogical practices, though in some madrasas now they ushering in a good change in this respect.

About the change in curriculum, most Ulama are apprehensive and say that they can’t teach English and Social Sciences in madrasas as it will hamper the study of Islam and dilute the faith of madrasa students?

With the spread of British colonialism, their missionaries began to come to India, and the Ulama were genuinely fearful about their nefarious designs. When the Aligarh Movement started this fear was looming around, though this time the fear was based on assumption only. Today the interpretation of Islam throughout the world is done mostly by those people who haven’t studied or being trained in madrasas. So this fear of dilution of faith of madrasa students is baseless, otherwise the modern interpreters of Islam would all have turned astray.

But what about the apprehension of Quran and Hadith being curtailed in madrasa curriculum due to the introduction of other secular subjects?

Keep only the obligatory and necessary books and remove others like Logic, detailed complicated grammar and Greek Philosophy. Useless things need to be taken out of the curricula. Instead, social sciences need to be taught then you need not to curtail the Quran and Hadith portion of the curriculum.

Why don’t the madrasas introduce English as a primary language, as Urdu isn’t an elite language anymore?

The madrasa people, with some exceptions, don’t have any skills in other languages except in Urdu. Professionalism isn’t found there. They don’t have any vision, hence are ignorant about the importance of English. To your astonishment, our Ulama have no common sense to the extent that not only in India and Pakistan, but in US and UK  too they built madarsas wherein they  teach in Urdu. Also the minority psyche of considering Urdu a sacred thing is one of the reasons for their apathy towards English to reinforce it. Still this is an example of hypocrisy of Ulama in sending their own children to English medium not to madrasas, it also depicts their dichotomy. They are well aware of the fact that English is related to economy and worldly gain, hence choose it for their children while keeping the madrasa students ignorant of the same, and expect them to be vanguards of Urdu language.

What is your take on the State and Central Madrasa Boards?

In Bihar, West Bengal and certain other southern states it has been introduced and madrasas are being controlled by the same. It is feared that the government will take over, disturb the curriculum and the product will be wrong. To me it is just an over reaction by the Ulama, because they consider madrasas to be full proof castles where winds of change must never blow. But I think regarding the Muslim mind we have to change only certain things and change them gradually, so that the students can find place in universities. The State Madrasa Board shouldn’t completely comprise of government officials but Ulama must also be its members.

Being a product of madrasa yourself. Do you think Indian Madrasas are involved in terrorism?

There are many allegations, but no madrasas are involved in terrorism in India. The Pakistani madrasas are different. The one flaw with madrasas is that audit and accountability are missing in them, except Deoband and Nadwatul Ulama and some other big madrasas. Audit and Transparency must be there. A huge amount of petro- dollars in the name of madrasas has been siphoned off by various people related to madrasas. Few have been arrested too. To overcome this grave flaw there should be regular audit and administration of madrasas mustn’t be hereditary but should run on the Prophetic Practice of Shura (mutual consultation).

 

 

Dr Ghitreef Shahbaz Nadwi can be reached at mohammad.ghitreef@gmail.com.

Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir and can be reached at sikandarmushtaq@gmail.com

 

 

My stories share real life experiences: Terry a O’Neal

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Best Selling Southern United States Author, Terry a O’Neal, whose poetry has been published in numerous magazines, journals and newspapers is an eminent literary persona of America . Her previous publications include three volumes of poetry, Motion Sickness, The Poet Speaks in Black and Good Morning  Glory; two children’s books, Every Little Soul and My Jazz Shoes; and the Best Seller and award winning family fiction novel Sweet Lavender.

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In 2006, she was included in a book entitled “Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature,” named alongside some of her  most admired writers, such as Maya Angelo and Nikki Giovanni.

In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir Magazine, Terry a O’Neal talks to Rameez Makhdoomi .

Tell us a bit about you Childhood  Days ?

I was exposed to arts, literature and culture at a very young age by my mother. She was the person who taught me how to read, write, cook, sew and brought out the creative side of me. When I was six-years-old. I met one of the greatest voices in African-American literature: Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou was having a book signing at the African Gallery where my mother worked. I remember being introduced to this phenomenal woman. I recall walking up to her and she shook my hand like I was an adult. Even though I was only 6, and far too young to appreciate the encounter, I remember as though it was yesterday and it has contributed greatly to the writer I am today.. I have enjoyed writing and poetry (or lyrics) since I was very young. In my adolescent years, I remember writing songs that my sisters and I would sing. In high school, I took as many English courses as I could. Math was not my forte. Although, I had this love for writing, I never desired to be a professional writer. It was merely a hobby. Being an author was never a thought in my mind. Being a writer was not a realistic career goal in my mind at the time. So, after graduating high school in 1991, I enrolled into California State University Sacramento and majored in Criminal Justice.

How was your Academic Life like?

As I previously mentioned, my mother taught me how to read and write before I entered public school. She was very active in my education and in my life. I am the middle child of four, 2 sisters and 1 brother. My mother was from the state of Louisiana and my father was from the state of Texas. At the age of 18, my mother moved to California where she met my father and shortly after, they were married. In the 70’s, the town of Stockton, California where I was born and raised was a small country town that reminded one of the South. My mother was very protective of her three daughters and kept a very close watch over us. We didn’t attend the neighborhood schools. We were bused across town to a school that was known for the arts and higher academic standards. I graduated from Franklin High School in Stockton, CA in 1991, and then went on to attend CSUS, as I previously mentioned. I was married at the age of 18 and I also had my first child at 18. After attending the University for two years, I decided to work a full-time job and attend a community college in the evenings. A few years later, while enrolled in an English course in the evenings, I was inspired to write my first book of poetry. I was about 23-years-old at the time. In 1991, I released my first book entitled Motion Sickness. Then, in 1992, I released my second book The Poet Speaks in Black; and the books just kept coming. Even though I was working and accomplishing my goal as a writer, my education was still very important to me. I continued taking one course at the community college here and there. Finally, after years of taking courses, I finally buckled down and got it done. I graduated with my BA in Communications from Kaplan University in 2010; and I graduated with my Masters in Education in 2012. Currently, I am a PhD student at Walden University majoring in Social Psychology.

What motivated you to write  your Best Seller  Book Sweet Lavender ?

Sweet Lavender tells a story of a young girl growing up in a small southern town in 1964. She was a daddy’s girl until one day her world was turned upside down after her father brings home a newborn child that was conceived from this adulterous relationship; and five months later, he vanishes–abandoning his family, leaving his wife Angela to raise their daughter and his newborn son. It’s a coming-of-age family saga that tells the story from the daughter’s perspective of growing up without her father during a time of racial tension in the South USA . This novel was adapted into a screenplay for film in 2007, and is finally being made into a film. The film is entitled Along the Dirt Road, and it is currently in pre-production. Poetry has always been my first love, but I have always enjoyed novels and story writing. I wanted my first novel to reveal my passion for the South (Louisiana in particular) where my parents were from and where my roots lie. My mother raised us up in the southern culture and lifestyle, so I had this unexplainable passion for the south. I also had a love for father daughter stories which was probably sparked by my longing to be a daddy’s girl. Although my father was in the home, he was oftentimes absent because of the long hours he worked. As a child, I despised him for it because I felt as though I had no father. So, in many ways, I can relate to the main character in the story of growing up without her father.

Is Sweet Lavender somehow story of your life?

Many people ask me is this a true story and is it about my life. I tell them no because it is not a true story, nor is it based on my life. When writing my novel Sweet Lavender, I was also inspired by the works of my favorite author Langston Hughes. I admire and adore his works, and his novel “Not Without Laughter” was also an inspiration behind my novel.

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Who is your role model ?

First and foremost, I would have to say that my mother is most definitely my role model. Had it not been for her, I wouldn’t be the great woman I am today. She instilled in me morals, respect, ethics and values; along with arts, literature, culture and an appreciation for family. She has supported me throughout my entire life. She is all that I am. She is the embodiment of grace and strength. I am also largely inspired by writer’s of the Harlem Renaissance Era. Langston Hughes is my favorite writer and poet of all time. Additionally, I admire the works of Carolyn M. Rodgers and Maya Angelou. Their writing and their life stories move me to be great and to continue living out my dream though the adversity

What are your most preferred writing Topics ?

My first love has always been and will always be poetry because it allows me to speak directly, indirectly, creatively, artistically, lyrically and tell profound stories in short or long stanzas, any way I like. There is a freedom in poetry writing that I can’t find anywhere else. Additionally, I enjoy writing fiction stories that stem back to the late 19th to the mid 20th century life. I enjoy history. I am a firm believer that one hasn’t a clue where they are headed on their journey if they don’t know where they’ve been. Even though I write fiction, my stories share real life experiences.

I was teaching black history to youth in the schools through a program I developed called The Black History Bee.

What are the current projects you are working on?

Currently, I am actively working on my upcoming film Along the Dirt Road based on the novel Sweet Lavender. I am the co-Executive Producer and Screenwriter. The film is currently in pre-production and is scheduled to begin production in late March 2014. Auditions for the film were  held in January 2014. I also have an upcoming book of poetry entitled The Sparrows Plight: Woes of a 21st Century Black Poet which I’m hoping to release by the end of the year. Additionally, I have another novel I’m not actively working on but I have been writing for the last four years entitled Cotton Day, a southern fiction story. I took a short hiatus from my PhD program to work on the film. It is my objective to teach higher education. In October of 2012, I was hired as an online Adjunct Assistant Instructor .

Which genre of poetry appeals you most ?

I enjoy poetry with an inspirational message. Poetry that all walks of life can relate to. Much of my poetry has a spiritual and/or religious message, as I am a Christian and a God-fearing woman. I enjoy reading poetry of another person’s struggle and triumph. It is motivational to me.

How do you view the Performance  of Obama as USA President ?

Well, I will am not very much into politics because it’s so cut throat. All that I will say is that the shut down in during current presidency has affected many Americans from varied perspectives – employment, benefits, budget, housing, small businesses, etc. The economy has been on a downfall for many years, even though it has shown improvement over the past 4 years. However, I believe in our president. I trust that he will do the best he can to make things better for America overall.

What is your message  for  Humanity ?

 

We live in a world today that lacks loving-kindness and compassion for our fellow man and woman. As Gandhi so eloquently stated, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” We need to strive to be better, to be the image of selflessness. Love and give to those in need–expecting nothing in return. Give out of sincerity and from the depths of our hearts. Have compassion for every man, woman and child, no matter what ethnicity or background they come from. Love is blind. Love is unconditional. Love has the power to heal and redeem, and that is what Humanity to should strive for.

Your eyes can be somebody’s dream: Rutavi Mehta

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Rutavi Mehta is  a young and talented women explorer and traveler from Maharashtra India. She  is among the globally reputed travelers of India .Rutavi Mehta is a busy traveler always exploring new places and cultures. Rutavi Mehta is the founder of prestigious PhotoKatha (where if you break Photo means picture, and Katha is Hindi word, where it means “stories”). Pertinently, Idea came to her mind when she visited first time to the world famous festival location in the desert named as “Kutch Festival, Gujarat”.

In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Magazine  , Rutavi Mehta talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.

 

 

 

1 Tell us a bit about your childhood days?

 

My childhood days was more spent playing outside like every other kid . Cycling, played hide and seek were my favourites. Being a Gujarati folk dancer , winner of many famous TV serial shows like Boogies Woogie, National Gujarati Folk Dancer Female Awards, dancing is something I grew up with. Learned many dancer forms as well like jive, sala, fox trot,etc but then Indian culture took sabbatical and then studies was give importance by folks.

 

2 How was academic life like?

 

Stood 1st in Maharashtra Board in 10th , been a good student throughout school, active about sports like basketball, Captain of my school was something I managed as well.  Under graduation from Arts was from Mumbai Second Best College- Jai Hind College, where culture and arts were imbibed in  each students. Then  Bachelors in International Hotel Management from Institute of Technology & Management affiliated with  Queen Margaret University , Scotland, UK where I stood second in the final year , being the only student to be trained in India’s Best Luxury Hotel –Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

 

3Where you always passionate about travelling?

 

I was always passionate about travelling, during school days and college days and would just go roaming  around school alone sometime , or bunk college and go with friends to discover new places in Mumbai. Largely my passion about travelling touched new horizons  when I did my first international trip to Italy , Switzerland, etc at age of 23 where for  30 days I realized I have missed so many great things in my life.

 

4 Tell us a bit about photokatha?

 

Photokatha – where if you break Photo means picture , and Katha  is Hindi word , where it means “stories” came to my mind when  I went first time to the great festival location in the desert names as “Kutch Festival, Gujarat”. I was invited by Gujarat Tourism to experience Kutch Festival, create photographs and send it across to them. During this visit, along with my team , we thought of many innovative ways how to convey these emotions, cultures, stories of places via  photos we took to world. These paradigms  became cornerstone of  how “Photokatha “ name was initiated. Even with great brain storming with my team , the logo was again a mix of Hindi and English characters to keep the Indian culture intact.

 

With my great travelling experience to Europe, Srilanka, Qatar, I decided to quit corporate life and take sabbatical break to start Photokatha full-fledged with no support from market and no investment as well. Photokatha now creates great value for money personalised packages where I have shared my experience of stays and travel, backpakers, luxury trips depending on the review done by Photokatha team. Along with travel, sine the world is digitally active , Photokatha also runs social media campaign across India and international for companies like National Geographic , Standard Chartered, AXN, Castrol, Garnier, Turtle on the beach ,etc sector wise as well we manage their online campaigns and India, world trending activity as well.

 

 

5 What have been your favorite travel expeditions?

 

My favorite  expedition is never one. As each place has its own beauty , where Ladakh is scenic and pure, then Rajasthan is full of colors and culture, while Qatar is mix of city and culture as traditions. However, given a choice I would love travel often to the scenic beauty of Ladakh, and dream destination for me  is Antartica .

 

6 How was your  experience with Kerala tourism g?

 

Wanted to have great understanding of Kerala culture, so thought lets try approaching Tourism to work with them. As matter of fact, they loved my presentation and gave me new portfolio to handle where we invited  25 International Travel bloggers to kerala and took  them two weeks in branded bus to explore Kerala through the system of voting and judging Panel called Kerala Blog Express.

7 Who is your rolemodel?

 

Role model is anybody who like exploring the world. So all the great travel enthusiasts from National Geographic, CondeNast traveller are my role model.

 

  Your message to travel and adventure enthusiasts?

 

Simple tagline “ Travel and Share Stories” . Your eyes can be somebody’s dream.

Water Water everywhere not a drop to drink

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News Kashmir Exclusive

 

Drinking Water problems are aggravating in Kashmir with every passing day. Bearing the  fact in mind that only ~1% of the world’s fresh water is accessible for direct human uses  in entire world the sane voices  thus calls for judicious  use of water in Kashmir and throughout world .This is the water found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and those underground sources that are shallow enough to be tapped at an affordable cost.

Once rich in drinking and fresh water sources Kashmir is  now facing multiple problems on this front. Rural areas, areas of Srinagar City and far-flung areas in Kashmir since past few months especially after floods last year are facing acute shortage of drinking water. According to officials there are 1800  Water Supply Schemes WSSs in the Kashmir valley for providing drinking water to consumers. However, during the September last year devastating flood, 1,300 schemes were affected, majority of them badly and after few months  due to rain  250 schemes were affected due to mud and landslides.

Pertinently, areas like Batmaloo,Iddgah, Rawalpora have been facing worse problems with reference to drinking water.  In central Kashmir, even as construction of number  of  water supply schemes were inaugurated  in the Chadoora division years ago, the delay in their completion and subsequent commissioning has worsened the scarcity of drinking water in the area compelling people to head to filthy streams and water bodies.

Failure of water supply schemes, devastation  of fresh water sources like lakes, rivers , streams are said to be some off the main reason behind water woes of Kashmir. Summers are here and the urban centres in Kashmir  are already complaining about water shortage not to mention many villages which lack safe drinking water.

 

To mitigate the drinking water problems faced by people  experts call on tapping  Groundwater as it  is a very imperative source of water for the people worldwide.Hence the  expert voices  urge upon the concerned stakeholders to tap groundwater resources to save kashmir from water crisis. According to the statistics, listed on the website of the Central ground water board, J&K has 2.70 BCM(Billion Cubic Meters). And the net Annual Ground Water Availability is 2.43 BCM. So  many state that need of the hour is Government and other stake holders to tap this vital groundwater potential. The largest use for groundwater is to irrigate crops . It is important for all of us to learn to protect our groundwater because of its importance as a source of water for drinking and irrigation.

 

 

 

 

Manzoor Ahmad , a student said, “ Recently we earned via Public Health Engineering (PHE) officials that two we known Water Supply Schemes (WSS)—Rangil and Alisteang—in the central Kashmir’s Ganderbal got affected due to breach and mudslides triggered by heavy downpour and this badly affected the drinking water supply. We need to have effective mechanism to safeguard our drinking water schemes and solve drinking water   problems .Water is life. At a time when the whole world is witnessing water crisis its adverse impacts are now visible in this part of the world as well .We  thus need to tap  Groundwater as it  is used for drinking  by more than 50 percent of the people in the globe, including almost everyone who lives in rural areas. Only this amount is regularly renewed by rain and snowfall, and is therefore available on a sustainable basis. We need to save our fresh water sources like lakes, streams, ponds from destruction.”

General consensus on ground is that a swift, visionary road map can only minimize  the water woes of Kashmir and save the scenario from getting worse .

 

The peace and tranquility of the beautiful Kashmir valley is Lost: Kusum Kaul

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Kusum Kaul a proud Kashmiri is a communication and Media professional of par excellence and has a rich academic background . M.A in Mass communication and Journalism from Kashmir University, Srinagar.   B.Sc. in Zoology from Degree College for women, Anantnag, Kashmir University.    L.L.B. from Sir L. A. Shah Law College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat University.

Kusum Kaul is Director – Transsphere Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Proprietor – Zest Worldwide Communication, Managing Trustee – Utkarsh Healthcare Foundation India. In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir, Kusum Kaul talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.

 

 

 

 

Tell us a bit about your early days ?

Born in Anantnag, Kashmir to Mrs. Rupa Devi Kaul (Bijbehara) and Mr. Rais Brij Krishna Kaul (Anantnag) in severe winter of January. My childhood days were spent in a carefree atmosphere like a tom boy with my cousin brothers, where school was not a burden, homework used to be fun (would do the homework of my cousins too as they were in the same class)

I have cleaned, colored and drawn lines on Mashak (wooden slate), would do my maths and lessons on that. Life was fun as a child, swimming daily with fish under chinars in the fresh serene waters of Nagbal (freshwater springs of Anantnag).  I would race with other boys and girls along with the fish under water, trying to catch the long green fish. The heavy canopy of chinars would make the water look dark and also scary sometimes. Jumping from a cliff of the temple, diving into the water would be a daily exercise and fun. Going to Eidgah with others girls on every Eid was a regular feature of childhood as there was no Hindu/Muslim rituals restriction from my family’s sides (conception of Eid being a Muslim festival), till we shifted to Baramulla. Life took a drastic change from a joint family of thirty people to a single family of four, from a Kashmiri medium to English medium school. The transition wasn’t smooth but I settled down in some years in St. Joseph H.S. School, where I was groomed to what I am today. The discipline, modern life, sports, debates and my father’s modern outlook to life made me what I am today: sincere, dedicated, strong, living in the present and disciplined. Academically I was a first class student, trying to understand things rather than trying to score marks, I never learnt how to get marks ,rather I was a sportsperson not interested in getting marks, but was in watching movies.

How was experience of watching Television first time?

 

The doordarshan 6 p.m. film was a Sunday entertainment treat especially in winters when everything was indoors. I saw a television for the first time on the window of a school on the roadside, I was standing in the crowd of people with other children and watched in amazement, pictures moving, till my father’s uncle bought a television at their home, so going on Sundays to watch a film at their house was a ritual, till my uncle got one at our home.

Who is your role model?

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.

What is your take on debacle of Kashmiri civilization?

 

Kashmir valley was devastated and denigrated by violence .  A phrase in Kashmiri “Panen kokr nayee bad ase, Baysendi grre kyaze trave thool.”

This is what happened, our own people worked in the hands of  foreign  puppeteers. They had nothing to lose, but Kashmir lost everything: its culture, civilization, and social fabric…everything got lost. Thousands of Kashmirs were killed, be it Hindus or Muslims, everybody suffered in their own way, some for the wrong acts of others.

The peace and tranquility of the beautiful Kashmir  valley is lost and has given way to fear and uncertainty in life. All suffered, it’ll take centuries to bridge the gap between Kashmiri pundits and Muslims.

What is your take on Kashmiri Pandits return?

Hindus should return to the valley but they aren’t ready. 25 years of suffering have made them feel insecure and unsafe of their return.

How do you feel on mental and personal levels?

What I feel on a mental and personal level “There is not enough pull from the valley and not enough push from the pundits side, we need to work on this push and pull factor, first for mental and then physical factor. Suffering has been immense on mental and physical state, which won’t go away for generations. The physical and mental trauma experienced is quite difficult to overcome. To bridge the gap, giant steps from both the communities need to be taken”.

What can be the way ahead?

With A big heart, a vision that is hundred years ahead, leaders from both the communities need to work together; the British policy of divide and rule has to be done away with.

Tell us a bit about Professional experience?

 

My Professional experience has been quiet diverse and rich . I have worked

  1. With Central Production Centre, Delhi Doordarshan, New Delhi.
  2. With Education Media Research Centre, Gujarat University for educational programs.
  3. As a visiting faculty in Communication and Skill development to different educational institutes like Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University Patan, United Business College Ahmedabad, Gujarat Vidhyapith Ahmedabad.
  4. As a visiting faculty in Communication and Skill development to K. S. institute of Management Education and Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Gujarat University.
  5. As a Master Trainer, Resource Person, Visiting Faculty and as a Coordinator for different Youth developmental programmes in communication and skill development across the state of Gujarat with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Government of India.

Notable awards you have received ?

I have received many prominent awards:

  1. STATE YOUTH AWARD from  OF GUJARAT, DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS YOUTH AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT-2006.
  2. SAKHI SHAKTI AWARD as a Women Achiever -2007.
  3. Friends of Gujarat Award, New Jersey, U.S.A – 2010

Forget Them Not

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News Kashmir Exclusive

Eid-al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr, Eid ul-Fitr, Id-Ul-Fitr, Eid) which is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. This festival  marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend collective prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (charity ) during Eid al-Fitr. Throughout Muslim world this festival is marked by great celebrations.

As we are marking the festival of Eid-al-Fitr the buzz word is that remembering orphans should be the primary concern for all of us especially in Kashmir wherein past two decades turmoil and violence has created large number  of orphans.

A few years back, according to a  survey conducted by the sociology department of Kashmir University along with Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Foundation Kashmir  an approximate number of 2.14 lakh orphans and 32,000 widows are there in Kashmir due to the two decades of turmoil which aptly shows the gravity of the problem.

Voices of Conscience are calling on masses to remember the orphans on the eve of Eid -al- Fitr .

 

Ajaz Ahmad War, a Journalist states – “ Eid is a time of happiness in which everybody has a reason to smile, celebrate  and sharing the joy with family, relatives and friends. However, orphaned children feel the pain of not having parents whenever any religious festivity such as Eid is around. We need to remember our orphans on Eid by helping them. It is important to mention Child labour in Jammu and Kashmir has augmented rapidly in recent years as the number of orphans has increased on account of conflict and violence. In spite of anti-child labour laws two lacs 40 thousand children are working as labourers in Jammu & Kashmir. Many children have been orphaned in the conflict which resulted in the tremendous  increase of Child labour in the valley. Let us all pledge to remember orphan children of our state on the auspicious occasions of the Eid by helping them in every manner .”

 

Pertinently, unofficial estimates, there’re about 300,000 child labourers in the state with 70% of the teenagers belonging to the Valley and most of them orphaned in the conflict.

Masses and expert voices also state that in view of the disappointing role played by Ngos the onus is on more common people of Kashmir to render a helping hand to orphans as number Ngos rose up in the name of rendering helping hand to thousands of orphan Children of the Kashmir but the work performed by them is unimpressive.

On the otherhand, not paying Zakat or donations by many affluent people in our part of the world has aggravated the problems of orphans. In this regard, Eminent Islamic scholar, Prof Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi recently urged Muslims of Kashmir to pay their Zakat to fulfill the needs of sustenance, education, healthcare and rehabilitation of orphans and widows.

Rafiabadi was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Plight of Orphans and Widows- Our Responsibilities’ organized as part of mass awareness campaign by J&K Yateem Foundation at degree college Shopian.

The scholar called for taking concrete measures to rehabilitate thousands of orphans, widows and destitute through well structured rehabilitation mechanism. He said through education the orphan children could be empowered while creating livelihood and employment opportunities for them to become self sufficient.

 

Syed Tajamul Imran, a student states –  “Despite scores of NGOs coming up in past twenty years in name of helping orphans in Kashmir  but on ground  zero orphans are suffering. Many of them are almost left on their own, becoming bread earners of a family at a very minor age and thus they suffer . While the response of the civil society in Jammu and Kashmir is dismal it is thus our prime responsibility as humans with humane heart to remember our orphans on eve of Eid and render them helping hand . Providing orphans and vulnerable children with a primary and secondary education, nutrition and medical care should be priority . On larger level,  With more than 140 million orphans around the world, the need is great .”

On Eid, Spare a thought for Orphans of Kashmir is the dominant thought in the festive environment of Kashmir.

We need to uphold the right to democratic expression and freedom of speech: Shehla Rashid Shora

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Shehla Rashid Shora, a prominent free speech activist and a eminent researcher on the subjects of Internet Democracy, who   battles for oppressed sections especially the ‘Acid attack victims’ via her activism talks to Rameez Makhdoomi in an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir Magazine, mostly focusing on the latest development in the backdrop of   stroking down of section 66 A by the Supreme court of India.

 

Rameez Makhdoomi : How do you view the stroking down of section 66 A by Supreme court of India?

Shehla Rashid Shora : This verdict is a great victory for all of us. We have repeatedly highlighted the abuse of Section 66A. After Shreya Singhal’s petition, about 10 other petitions were filed in the Supreme Court of India which were heard together. Various lawyers, notably Karuna Nundy and Apar Gupta, deserve special mention for arguing this case effectively.

Rameez Makhdoomi : As a free speech activist, how does abolishing this section impact our internet freedom? With large number of arrests also carried under Section 153 and 153A , do you think it is not time to go overboard?

Shehla Rashid Shora : While the abuse of law through Section 66A has obviously ceased, other hate speech provisions are consistently used to book minorities and marginalised sections.

We rarely see someone like Sadhvi Niranan Jyoti getting booked for calling minorities “Haraamzade”, but various laws, including Sections 295, 153 and 505 are often abused to target weaker sections.

Rameez Makhdoomi :Critics say with weak laws who can control wrongdoings in cyber world, your take on this?

Shehla Rashid Shora : The key thing really is not weak or strong law, but (a) consistency of application of law, (b) rule-of-law and (c) access to legal justice. The poor can hardly afford good lawyers, so the law often favors the rich or the stronger communities. Law should not be used with vengeance, but with an intention to reform the society. The judiciary has an important role here. But the judges often deliver problematic judgments, due to their own social biases. Judgments such as these are rare. Fali Nariman, one of the judges on the two-judge bench that struck down 66A, has an excellent understanding of social issues. Judges have a duty to uphold constitutional principles.

Rameez Makhdoomi : Who should be allowed to regulate online platforms like Facebook, twitter ?

Shehla Rashid Shora : Crimes committed in India are subject to the jurisdiction of the Indian judiciary. No one should have any misgivings about this. The problem arises when overbroad laws or surveillance measures turn everyone into a criminal, regardless of whether they have committed a crime or not.

Rameez Makhdoomi : Religious blasphemies on online forums often lead to unrest , what can be mechanism to tackle same?

Shehla Rashid Shora: Online media content alone can’t trigger riots- it is always part of a bigger pre-election conspiracy and careful planning. I’m not ready to accept that riots are spontaneous- they are orchestrated and allowed to spread. It is true that in some cases such as Muzaffarnagar riots, fake videos were circulated to whip up communal frenzy. But this was not the only thing. It was preceded by a Mahapanchayat in which Sangeet Som and others from VHP openly instigated violence. That social media can alone trigger a riot is not a sustainable argument. The thing is that the police chose to ignore the violence that was building up in Muzaffarnagar. –

Rameez Makhdoomi : What makes you fight passionately for burning issues on online world?
Shehla Rashid Shora : I can’t tolerate injustice, majoritrianism, hypocrisy and extremism. I fail to understand how people can have tolerance for these. These principles guide not only what I say online but also what I do in my real life.

 

Rameez Makhdoomi : What is your take on overall paradigms of freedom of speech in India?

Shehla Rashid Shora : We need to uphold the right to democratic expression and freedom of speech. Mere censorship does not eliminate adverse societal tendencies.

Rameez Makhdoomi : Do you think we need further reforms in laws and regulations with reference to laws on freedom of speech?

Shehla Rashid Shora : Yes, the Indian government has assumed massive surveillance powers and this is a dangerous trend. This is the bigger fight ahead.

We will make Education System accountable: Priya Sethi

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Minister of state for Information, Education & Culture J & K and senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party Priya Sethi is a vibrant political face of Jammu & Kashmiri. A science background professional Priya Sethi is a name to reckon with among women politicians of Jammu & Kashmir.

In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir Magazine, Priya Sethi talks to Farzana Mumtaz & Rameez Makhdoomi.

As a prominent women leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, Minister and Former President BJP Mahila Morcha we would like to know from you that what is BJP doing to address growing atrocities and crimes being committed against women?

It is our priority as a party that era of safety is ushered for women all over the country. We are looking that there is grievance center with reference to women in every district of our state.  We are working and aiming to have at least one  female official deputed in every police station so that violence affected women without hassles registers her complaint  .We are also in this regard trying to increase the strength of women specific police stations in the state.

What is the BJP as party trying to empower women in J&K?

Women empowerment is our key concern and in Jammu & Kashmir   our party with 33 percent reservation for women in party fold is trying level best to empower them in every sphere of life  and make women take the charge from grassroots to top level. Women have proven their ability to manage and lead family as well as nation . Women empowerment is our priority area . We want to take along in our  vision of development  each and every women of Jammu & Kashmir  and initiate welfare oriented programmes for them.

 

Since you hold Culture portfolio, we would like to know how would you try to end discrimination against our native languages and give enrichment to our neglected rich cultural heritage?

It is a burning reality that we have neglected rich linguistic treasure of our state .On the otherhand in our state affluent manuscripts, historical monuments, and heritage symbols of our prosperous culture have also since long time  been ignored and faced apathy. Despite living in the era of Information Technology, it took us more than 10 years to repair Tagore hall and we have not modernized our cultural centres too. I have felt there  is a strong need  for framing a vibrant cultural policy that has a holistic policy matter in it to preserve the rich cultural heritage of all three regions of state viz. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. We  recently  held active interactions with writers, poets and other literary and cultural personalities as their expert analysis means a lot in enriching and preserving our diverse and rich cultural heritage .

Why have the Government run schools failed to produce impressive results in our state. Your take as MOS Education?

Actually, the previous governments while framing the educational policy paradigms have ignored the “Child” and have never been child specific. We have got the buildings constructed but ignored the enrolment part. We have had lopsided infrastructural development. At some government Schools shockingly enough we have ten teachers for five students and at some instance two schools in one building. Government School teachers have lot of potential, efficiency and want to perform but lack of proper policy and implementation mechanism has hurt our public education system. Chemistry teacher teaching Math subject and vice versa has summed up the chaos of our Public education system. There has been no accountability, monitoring  and we are embarking to ensure accountability and monitoring from top to bottom. Redesigning the education policy and keeping child the core focus of it will definitely yield positive results as far a government schools are concerned and end all chaos.

 

What would be done to discipline Private Schools as many believe they are functioning like dictatorial  empires?

We will take all steps to make private schools accountable. The basic thrust in this regard would be to make our Government schools efficient models of education by enthusing an aura of effective work culture in these institutions. Our focus is to restore the lost faith of masses in Government schools and by doing so we will automatically be in better position to manage and make accountable the private schools. We will make entire education system accountable.

Floods wrecked lot of havoc in Kashmir and damaged Educational infrastructure. What is being done to revamp same?

As you would be aware that Government is facing lot of shortage of funding and there are liabilities worth more than Rs 9000 crore and when we took over the government the SSA Salaries were not paid since  9 months. Once the funding becomes available we will on priority basis mend the damaged infrastructure.

We have also seen students alleging that Heads  of Government Schools have demanded money for them for repairing school Infrastructure?

There is no demand, but yes, we have kept it optional keeping in mind that in this day and age when a student pays 5 to 6 thousand rupees as fee in Private school and on a similar parlance if a student from Government school out of his own will and love wants to contribute something for betterment of his or her school he or she can. All this was optional not compulsory. We are also roping in Civil society groups so that they also lend efforts to improve the infrastructure of the Government Schools as it has to be a collective effort.

What has been done to reform the defective transfer policy wherein on some instance even female teachers have to travel hundreds of kilometers daily?

We have already framed new transfer policy and it has been posted on internet too. Its provision includes not to post female teacher more than 20 kilometers from her original destination. We are also going to post in same zone in case both husband and wife are teachers. In scenarios were  teachers are posted in remote areas and tough terrains like Leh and Kargil they will be posted only for one year there. We have to bear in mind that all teachers cannot be posted at centrally located places as we do not want far flung areas to suffer.

Minister of State (MOS) post has in previous Government not been made much effective from point of view of  having required power to act, what is BJP trying to revitalize same?

Both at Central and State level MOS has been made much proactive and even here in our state the MOS are working now in tandem and hand to hand  with the Cabinet Ministers .I have absolute coordination with all three cabinet ministers with reference to departments I am holding.

 

Your take on making common man more aware about Government schemes and strengthening of Information Department with reference to this paradigm?

The more Government functionaries remain vocal and proactive  more the flow of knowledge of Public Welfare schemes will reach to masses on ground. Widening the network of Information centres in all districts and in far flung areas of Jammu & Kashmir  is our priority. Taking the aid of local Doordarshan and Radio Kendras to disseminate information of Government programmes and schemes is also our top concern.