Shashi Tharoor:A game changer for the future politics of INC

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ShashiTharoor:A game changer for the future politics of INC. 

Owais Ahmad Shah

PG Student at University of Kashmir. 

In the tough & tumultuous political climate of today’s India, it has become rather indispensable that a strong, viable & vibrant opposition party emerges that can play a principal role by constructive criticism & healthy debate to help the ruling party to facilitate the strengthening of democracy,pluralism & free speech.India as a plural country has always been a standard-bearer of inclusivity, tolerance & acceptance. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “To other countries I may go as a tourist,but to India I come as a pilgrim”.Such was the reflection of rich diversity of India across the globe.The past few years have been rife with the turmoil & unending political storm.The rising incidents of hate & bigotry has brought  India to a pretty pass.There has been a lot of international outrage & India is being debated for such incidents. The question of strong opposition that can constructively help India to revive it’s democratic strengths is much needed. Unfortunately, the democratic process has been only left for spewing venom at each other & debate has been reduced to political commotion that has no positive outcome.The mammoth support generated by BJP is undoubtedly their outreach to the people across the nook & corner of India. They have somewhere left their mark on the public mind leading to their thumping victory in two consecutive elections.The principal opposition party, Indian National Congress has undergone a metamorphosis. They have stepped down to the lowest rung on the ladder.The party has not only been open to criticism for it’s bad performances but also for it’s internal modus operandi. It’s leadership has been under scathing criticism & dynasty politics is being targeted. The party has also witnessed it’s veteran leader’s resigning & joining other parties or establishing their own parties & Gh Nabi Azad can be seen in the recent  political developments.

The question of change for better has become an urgency now.There has to be a strong opposition party that maintains it’s check on the activities done by the ruling party.This opposition party needs a strong leadership that will take not only the party but the country to new heights & reclaim the glory of India’s past. In the recent political developments, the Indian National Congress after serious deliberation has finally taken a decision to conduct it’s party presidential elections & it has caught the attention all through India’s political sphere. There has been at the inception Ashok Gehlot, the CM of Rajasthan contesting elections which has now come to an end & Congress veteran leader, Malikarjun Kharge has nominated himself for the elections but the principal actor in this election is ShashiTharoor. He has been hotly debated for his intellectual strengths, mammoth global experience & erudition. Also, he has been subjected to the debate of “Elitism”. The support that ShashiTharoor has generated all across India is massive because people see in him an agent of change who can reinvigorate INC as a strong opposition party & can play a vital role in India’s democracy & plurality.The support that ShashiTharoor generates behind is for a reason & it’s because he has been a strong advocate of India’s plurality & secularism & can help through his statesmanlike gravitas to open doors of great success for Indias political health which has been adversely affected through past years. As some people rightly say that he is the oxygen that INC needs as it is on the ventilator.

It is keenly observed that how the election would be helpful to ShashiTharoor if he is elected as Congress President.His opponent doesn’t seem to get enough support behind & some have started projecting him as backed by the Gandhi family but what’s fascinating is the Tharoor for presidential elections & it has generated speed with every passing day.This has been a long public demand that ShashiTharoor should be pushed forward for taking the charge of the party to resuscitate it from the depths of disarray.Its not yet a foregone conclusion that ShashiTharoor will emerge as winner but the pendulum is swinging more on his side & he is supported not only by a good number of his party colleagues but a large number of people who are not associated with the party. The elections would not only decide who wins but it will also decide the future of the party & this is at a time when the next Lok Sabha election is in proximity. This is an election that would  not only help INC to awaken form it’s political slumber but will also help public debate to re emerge & democracy to breathe a fresh air. It would not only be a humongous success if ShashiTharoor wins but also a massive challenge for the ruling party to deal with him. 

THE OPENING OF A MULTIPLEX IN KASHMIR : A LANDMARK TOWARDS NORMALCY

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THE OPENING OF A MULTIPLEX IN KASHMIR : A LANDMARK TOWARDS NORMALCY

Dr. Adil Malik

Art and its appreciation – is a gift that humans embrace in various forms. Cinema has always been a way of expressing oneself for many people – a way of rekindling, making memories and revisiting them, having good times and so on. The picturesque valley of Kashmir has opened its first multiplex for public with regular shows from 30th September 2022 marking a historic moment for the enthusiastic film lovers of Kashmir.

The first multiplex in India was started in New Delhi in 1997, however  the valley of Kashmir had been deprived of not only multiplexes for almost 25 years ,but even cinema halls for the last 3 decades. Late 80s and early 90s saw Kashmir captivated by militancy, shutting down all cinema halls, also some of them were even set on fire and eventually calling a ban on theaters. Films were considered “haram” or unislamic by the fundamentalists in the region. There were efforts in 1999 by the government Led by Farooq Abdullah to reopen the cinema halls, but went in vain as a violent attack took place in the course of the first show leading to 1 casualty and 12 people getting wounded. Many years later, when a ban on cinema halls was lifted by Saudi Arabia, there was an attempt to reopen theaters in the valley by BJP and PDP collation government. However, again this move of the government was criticized by some ill in the region.

The youth of Kashmir has not enjoyed the privilege of watching cinema. Since, the only way the people could enjoy movies was with pen drives, DVDs and internet, on small screen, the younger generation has never experienced how it feels to watch movies on big screen with popcorns and snacks during the interval. The pleasure and satisfaction of watching a movie in a cinema hall cannot be substituted by other alternative means. Since the youngsters in the valley have been the biggest sufferers because of the uncertainties and atrocities they have gone through in their lives, cinema would not only provide them relaxation but also reduce their stress levels. It was an irony that “the paradise on earth”, which had been the hot favouritelocation to shoot movies, was itself not able to showcase those movies. People had to travel 300km all the way to Jammu in order to watch a movie in the theatre. It is unbelievable that an entire generation in the region has grown up without ever watching their most liked stars on big screen. Along with providing entertainment, multiplexes would also become a source to organize employment and business opportunities for the local people. It is also expected to add on to the revival of Kashmir’s sluggish economy. The younger lot would be able to relish the same entertainment provided by cinema, which their peers in other parts of the country adore.

With the inauguration of 2 multiplexes in the Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir and inauguration of more in near future Lieutenant Governor of J&k , Mr. Manoj Sinha is very hopeful for a new positive change to take place in the region. It is a very nostalgic and emotional moment for the owner of the multiplex, Mr. Dhar, since his family has shared a special bond with the theatre world, as it owned “Broadway”, one of the oldest cinema halls in Kashmir. This first ever multiplex of the valley has been designed by INOX and will comprise of 3 auditoriums which will flaunt the most advanced Dolby sound systems. It will have a capacity to accommodate 520 people and will also be equipped with provision of recliner seats in addition to other comfortable seating facilities. In addition to the modern touch given to the multiplex by INOX, papier-mache designs, wooden chips and Kashmiri khatamband ceiling given by the local artisans has made it a unique design among all existing cinema halls in the country.

With things getting back in place and normalcy returning, the new generation is hopeful to see a mesmerizing Kashmir which they have read and heard about. The filmmakers across the world are again getting encouraged to choose Kashmir as a preferred location to shoot their movies ever since the Kashmir World Film Festival started in 2015. The open-air floating theatre at Dal lake, which started in 2021 has also opend the world of theatre for the valley. And 2022 saw J&K  governmentorganizing the first-ever national film festival in Srinagar in the month of June. Since, there has been an extraordinary relationship between Kashmir and movies for decades, this move to start with multiplex in the union territory would surely strengthen the bond further. Because Cinema and theatre are also means to inspire social and cultural reflection in addition to providing entertainment, its rekindling implies that a new wind of change has started blowing in valley, which will finally help in restoration of what Kashmir already possessed for decades but had lost due to militancy and terrorism.

Author;

Dr Adil Rasool Malik ; Author besides being a Doctor and is very active in positive perception management of various political and social issues. Author can be reached at drmalikadil@gmail.com  & twitter @drmalikadil

Over-Thinking needs some discipline

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              OVER-THINKING NEEDS SOME DISCIPLINE

Dr Suhaib Ashraf Bhat

Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life. This is something that the world’s most successful people realize – and the only difference between them and everyone else is that they are able to harness the power of thoughts to help them achieve. They’ve learned how to stop overthinking and start taking action.

The good news is that you weren’t born an over-thinker. Overthinking is the result of one fact of human existence: we all have patterns to our behaviour. These patterns, good and bad, develop over time based on life experiences. And just as patterns are learned, they can also be unlearned.

Overthinking is simply what its name suggests – thinking too much. Overthinking is going over the same thought again and again, analysing the simplest of situations or events until all sense of proportion has gone. The overthinking brain cannot translate these thoughts into actions or positive outcomes, so therefore creates feelings of stress and anxiety.

Surely we all overthink to some extent? As parents, sons or daughters, employees or business people, worrying about things is linked to caring about our loved ones, and about doing a good job.

However, people who really struggle with overthinking tend to be “ruminators”, going over events that have already happened. Plain old worrying tends to be about the future: can I meet this deadline? Can I find a nice residential flat for my mum? Often, our worries help us move forwards as we are working out how to mitigate them; however overthinking tends to be passive rather than active, dwelling on past events and building up disproportionately negative future results.

Take this scenario. You accidentally call your new boss by the wrong name. What do you think and feel when you realise this later?

The average worrier will feel mildly embarrassed, plan to apologise with some self-deprecating comment the next day, then forget about it and make dinner. The over-thinker will replay this error over and over, while rewriting different outcomes. By four in the morning, he or she will be mentally creating scenarios of being passed over for future promotions, or even chosen for redundancy. The incident has triggered big questions in the overthinking mind, which blow the whole event way out of proportion. 

There was a question from a married couple, we think about every little thing and we worry a great deal. This is affecting our worship too; all the time we think about the worries and problems that we are going through. Is there any solution to this?

YES, FOR EVERY PROBLEM THERE IS ALWAYS A SOLUTION.

1 –Thinking about the matters of our daily lives, and our private and public affairs is something that is essential and important, it is necessary in order for us to deal with these matters and benefit from them in the appropriate manner. The Qur’aan – which is the word of Allah swt – urges us to think, in more than one verse, for example: 

“…and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose…” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:191] 

“And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty.

And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:20-21] 

“Will you not then take thought?” [al-An’aam 6:50] 

“Have you then no understanding?”[al-Baqarah 2:76]

And there are other verses which encourage us to think about our affairs and indeed about the life and creation around us. 

So thinking in and of itself is not a problem, rather it is required, important and essential, and it is enjoined by our religion and encouraged by our Qur’aan. 

2 – This “thinking” may become a psychological or social problem if it prevents a person from playing his natural role that is expected of him in life. 

Such as thinking that things are more serious than they really are, or thinking too much about matters where thinking about them will not change anything at all, rather that only causes distress and becomes an obstacle prevents one from taking any initiative, and make him hesitant and confused, and unable to take any decision. 

Thinking may become a problem in if it makes a person go beyond his intellectual limits in thinking about matters of the unseen and things that he can never comprehend, which may open many doors for the accursed Shaytaan to influence him. 

3 – With regard to thinking a great deal about everything and worrying about every problem, this is to some extent a natural thing, so long as it does not prevent you from living your lives in a natural manner. What I mean here is, is this thinking helping you to come up with solutions to these problems that you are facing? Do these situations deserve all the time that you are spending on thinking about them? If the answer is yes, then there is no problem! But if the answer is no, then you yourself are admitting that they do not warrant that, and then you are halfway to solving the problem, which is to identify the problem and take a decision concerning it. Because when we know what the problem is, it is easy for us to find the right way of dealing with it. 

4 – Overcoming these problems needs some discipline and some time. You can make the decision to start and you are able, with the help and support of Allah swt, to do that. You have to trust yourselves in this regard! 

5 – Concerns and problems fall into three categories or levels: 

1. Concerns and problems that have a direct impact upon your married and social lives in a serious manner that may lead to breakdown in relationships. These must be given their due measure of objective thought and you should try to reach an agreement and settle the matter. They should not be ignored for so long that it becomes too difficult to deal with them.

2. The second level is concerns or problems in which the positive and negative aspects are equal and in which you are involved. In these cases you should pray istikhaarah to Allah swt, and it is o.k. to consult others concerning them and to weigh up alternatives, then decide what you think is the solution, without going to extremes in worrying about it.

3. The third level is concerns and worries that do not concern you at all, because they have to do with other people. It is better not to get involved in them and waste your time with them, because they simply do not concern you and your opinion does not matter.

6 – The concerns and matters of our daily lives inevitably fall into one of three categories: 

1. Matters which are in the past and are over and done with. We should not worry about these too much, except to the extent from which we can learn from our mistakes and experiences when dealing with things in the future. The past cannot come back and there is no need to worry about things that are over and done with.

2. Matters which lay ahead in the future. It is more appropriate not to think about these a great deal before they happen, because the future is part of the unseen, and all that we have to do in this case is to examine the choices we have in this matter if it comes to pass. When the time comes, we have to put our trust in Allah swt and take a decision.

3. Matters of day-to-day life. This is where we attempt to weigh up all the available alternatives, and it is o.k. to consult others with regard to these things and to exchange ideas without going to extremes or worrying too much. In the end, things will turn out as we hope, by Allah swt’s leave, so long as we pursue the means of praying istikhaarah and consulting others, and good lies in that which is chosen by Allah swt.

Like many traits of anxiety and depression, overthinking actually comes from one of our primitive preservation instincts. The primitive mind will always see things from the worst possible perspective. This is because the brain is being hyper-vigilant, trying to keep us alive – there’s no sense in being optimistic about those sabre-toothed tigers I’ve mentioned above!

On its own, overthinking isn’t recognized as a mental disorder. However, overthinking symptoms often indicate that another mental disorder is present, such as depression or anxiety. Even then it can become a “which came first?” scenario: Is overthinking a symptom of anxiety, or does anxiety cause overthinking? The important thing to know is that even if overthinking isn’t a mental disorder, it can have negative effects on your life and needs to be addressed. 

Conclusion: LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

The writer can be reached at   suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

india’s foreign policy: the beginning of new era

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India’s foreign policy: the beginning of new era

Mir Sabeen Gulrez 

Soon after its independence in 1947, Indian foreign policy makers had to deal with an ideologically divided world. Western (liberal-capitalist) and Eastern (communist) blocs were led by the United States of America (USA) and former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) respectively. Instead of joining any of the two blocs, India along with many of the then newly independent colonies established the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, which became a voice of the developing countries at multilateral forums. The Cold War (1947-1991) based World Order crumbled with the disintegration of the former USSR in 1991. The end of the Cold War made many countries, including India, to re-think their foreign policy and adjust their economic structures. In the immediate post-Cold War years, India took political steps to improve its relationship with the USA, Western European countries, and China. In 1991, India also adopted a new economic policy based on liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.

In the 30 years after India made a major shift in its foreign and economic policy much has changed in global politics. To secure its interests in a changed world India has deliberately, or out of compulsion, made certain adjustments in foreign policy. However, some of the basic tenets of India’s foreign policy remain unchanged, though modified from time to time to achieve the country’s interests.

Personality wise, the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was considered a chief architect of Indian foreign policy in early years of India’s independence, and Nehruvian policies endure. However, successive prime ministers, including those who led coalition governments, have played their part in shaping Indian foreign policy. Highlighting the role of a leader and political leadership, and changes in the Indian foreign policy after Narendra Modi was elected into power in 2014, some scholars started talking about a ‘Modi Doctrine’, and how Modi’s foreign policy is ‘different’.

Ganguly observes that, although Modi has made certain departures from the past, he has not ‘fundamentally altered the orientation of India’s foreign policy’.

As in the past, one of the major concerns and challenges to Indian foreign policy in present times is: how to deal with China? Political tensions between the USA and China, and growing Chinese assertiveness in South Asia have a major impact on India. The Modi years have witnessed serious political and military tensions between India and China. In 2017 Indian and Chinese soldiers were engaged in a military stand-off for 73 days at Doklam in Bhutan. More seriously, in 2020 Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in Galwan valley in Ladakh when 20 Indian and, as acknowledged by China in 2021, four Chinese personnel lost their lives .

Since then several rounds of talks between Indian and Chinese commanders, and officials have taken place; yet the tension at the border has not subsided. Interestingly, in this period trade between the countries has exponentially increased. In the first nine months of 2021 India’s trade with China touched US $90 billion which is an increase of 49% over the previous year. This trade is, however, balanced in favour of China.

Primarily to deal with the Chinese challenge, India is strongly promoting a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) which also includes Japan, the USA, and Australia. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi termed QUAD a ‘huge security risk’ which has the potential to ‘stir confrontation among different groups … to maintain the dominance and hegemonic system of the US’ .

This section of the special issue analyses various aspects of India’s foreign policy in the past 75 years. In no particular order, it has an article by Amit Ranjan which looks at how the anti-colonial ideology of Nehru shaped India’s foreign policy in the formative years. Those policies guided the successive prime ministers of India. Despite paradigmatic shift in the Indian foreign policy in 1990s, Nehruvian principles have not been entirely given up. Even the most ‘non-Nehruvian’ Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has not been succeeded to steer Indian foreign policy away from shadows of Nehruvian and Nehruvianism.

Another article by Smruti S Pattanaik, recognises that India’s neighbourhood constitutes the core of the country’s foreign policy. It is entwined with the security and stability of India’s periphery which is home to diverse ethnic groups with familial ties and socio-cultural affinities that often criss-cross physical borders. A part of such connections was ruptured by the 1947 partition of the subcontinent. The majoritarian conception of nation-building in the post-colonial states detested shared socio-cultural commonality and emphasised an ‘exclusivity’ of their national identity which only sharpened that rupture. This attitude degenerated into a mindset characterised by mistrust and suspicion preventing co-operation that could have optimised the economic potential of the region. India’s over-emphasis on its security linkages with its neighbours made it extra-vigilant to the domestic politics and foreign policy objectives of its South Asian neighbours. Neighbours felt that such vigilance impeded on their sovereign foreign policy choices and constrained them in shaping their internal politics. As a result neighbours resented India. India’s neighbourhood policy, however, has undergone several shifts – it is slowly moving away from an overtly security-centric approach towards forging development partnerships with its neighbours as a means to ensure security.

Aseema Sinha’s article builds upon a vast literature and rarely used India’s Ministry of External Affairs Annual Reports. Sinha argues that India’s foreign policy actions through its 75 years are not unique or novel by any means but that any assessment of them must include an analysis of changing global structures and how they affect domestic imperatives. Analytically, an ‘inside-outside’ perspective, usually deployed in studies of India with a focus on India’s ideas and actions, must be combined with an ‘outside-in’ analysis. Such an outside-in analysis places India in the context of global structures across four phases of foreign policies [1947–1989; 1999–2000; 2000–2016, 2016–2021]. Global aspects must be analysed by paying attention to interactions between global economic and security structures, ‘multiplex’ features and ‘weaponised interdependence’ that make statecraft urgent and relevant.

Jivanta Schottli’s contribution looks at the idea of the ‘Indian Ocean Zone of Peace’ (IOZOP) that emerged during the 1950s and 60s, formalised in 1972 with the creation of a United Nations Ad Hoc Committee. India’s maritime strategy during the Cold War towards the major powers was refracted through the discourse and institutions of non-alignment such as IOZOP. In recent times, the emergence of the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ as a strategic construct that is shaping India’s maritime outlook marks a radical change in terms of power projection and political engagement. The article considers both the vectors and agents of change in India’s maritime strategy over time.

Another valuable contribution comes from Rajan Kumar. It talks about India’s multilateralism which, as the article finds, has undergone three distinct phases. A high-decibel universalism based on morality and idealism marked the first phase (1947–1961). India was favourably disposed to the UN during this period. A gradual shift in India’s strategy occurred in the second phase (1961–1991) with attempts at ‘regime shifting’ or what may be referred to as ‘parallel-institutionalisation’. The Non-Alignment Movement (1961) and G-77 (1964) were constituted during this period. The third phase of India’s multilateralism began after the end of the Cold War in 1991. NAM’s relevance became suspect with the cessation of bipolar politics. India embraced all sorts of organisations during this period. In the last two decades, it has joined four notable organisations, viz., the G20, the QUAD, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation or Shanghai Pact. India refers to it as a policy of multi-alignment. India’s intense interactions at the systemic level are in stark contrast to its low engagement at the regional level. It is yet to develop a robust multilateral framework in South Asia.

Paharis Reservation, cover story 10 October 2022

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Paharis Reservation 

News Kashmir Analysis 

Reservation has been a serious and sensitive issue in the Independent India, meant for upliftment of backward and marginalized  communities. 

During the recent historic visit to  the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, by  Home Minister Amit Shah he historically  announced Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari community on Tuesday (4 October).

The announcement was made in his address at a public rally in Rajouri. He said that Justice GD Sharma Commission has recommended reservation for Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals and after completion of the administrative process, these communities will get reservation benefits.

However, scores of students belonging to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities protested when the move to grant ST status to Paharis in Jammu was being speculated.

In 

March 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir government had constituted a three-member commission headed by Justice Sharma to look at the issues relating to socially and educationally backward classes, scheduled tribes and scheduled castes.

The other two members of the Commission were Indian Police Service officer Muneer Khan and retired Indian Foreign Service officer Rupa Lal.

However Gujjar Bakerwals community was not happy.

The community has been protesting against the move for the last several months. It fears that the sizeable Pahari-speaking population, if granted the ST status, will eat up their share in government employment and higher education.

As a matter of fact, 

The two communities were already benefitting from 10 per cent reservation in jobs for STs in J&K. They feared dilution of their quota on inclusion of Paharis and said ST status should not be granted on the basis of linguistics.

It is worth mentioning here that The plan was unveiled by Home Minister Amit Shah, who said in Jammu in 2021: “Elected members of the Pahari community can now become a minister and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, which was impossible earlier because of dynastic politics.”

“Prime Minister Modi is now going to solve the issues of the Pahari community. Soon BJP will grant ST status to Paharis which is their genuine demand,” BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir Chief, Ravinder Raina said in a meeting with Paharis, later. “The Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis are three sons of the same mother.”

Paharis constitute nearly 10 percent of population of Jammu and Kashmir.

The hope is that Gujjar and Bakerwal,Paharis and all the marginalized communities would get a due share and be part of peaceful and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.  The reservation status should mean empowerment of all these communities.

Union Home Amit Shah historic JK Visit

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 Union Home Minister Amit Shah historic JK  visit 

Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah undertook a marathon visit of Jammu and Kashmir on 4, 5 October 2022. 

The Union Home Minister asked security forces and the police to pro-actively conduct coordinated counter-terrorism operations, to fulfill the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and peaceful Jammu & Kashmir.

Shri Amit Shah appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and administration of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for keeping the streets free from violence and significantly restoring Rule of Law

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed on 5 October, 2022 mega public rally at Baramulla District in North Kashmir and ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan and asserted that the Narendra Modi government will wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and make it the most peaceful place in the country.

Addressing the rally , Mr Shah asked whether terrorism has ever benefited anyone as it has claimed 42,000 lives in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1990s.

He also blamed the families of the Abdullahs (National Conference), Muftis (PDP) and Nehru-Gandhi (Congress) for the alleged underdevelopment of Jammu and Kashmir as they ruled the erstwhile state most of the time since independence.

He also paused his speech when Azaan was recited from mosque.

Earlier on 4 October addressing rally in Rajouri Pir Panjal ,Union Home Minister Amit Shah today declared at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir that the Pahari community will soon get reservation in education and jobs as Scheduled Tribe (ST) — a pre-election promise aimed at widening the BJP’s support base. If implemented, this quota will be the first instance of a linguistic group earning reservation in India. 

Overall the visit of Union Home Minister saw many developments in Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister Amit Shah also visited historic Chhati Padshahi Gurudwara in Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Amit Shah along with LG Manoj Sinha attended the prayer there.

I ABHOR EVERY DISCRIMINATION: TEHMEENA RIZVI, INTERVIEW 29 AUGUST 2022 ISSUE

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I abhor every discrimination: Tehmeena Rizvi

She lives by the lines of Amrita Pritam, “Jaha Bhi Azaad Rooh ki Jhalak Pade, Samajna Woh Mera Ghar Hai” 

Tehmeena Rizvi is a name to reckon with when it comes to the field of public policy and women & child rights. She is a Policy Researcher,  Public speaker and advocates for gender justice, inclusion, Women leadership and development.

She talks in an exclusive interview with News Kashmir. 

A bit about your early days ?

I was born and brought up in small town of Magam in Budgam District ,located near  world famous tourist spot  Gulmarg. My family and extended family are all in business, and even those who were highly educated got into business. I was always labelled as “Baaghi a Rebel” from my childhood and a tagline I live upto. And it’s very obvious that women who don’t participate in patriarchy are called names and rebel is one of them.  I belonged to what our society calls Upper Caste Syed Family but never believed in Caste system, or any gender discrimination.  I abhorred every inhuman tendency and looked at every human from the prism of humanity and never differentiated between black and white, rich and poor,  upper or lower as I don’t believe in any grading. I was forced to believe in these segregations of different forms but I couldn’t do that. The way my childhood shaped my personality, I think  my father played a very major role in that- he was very keen to provide me with  different types of surroundings and was very interested in my studies and my overall development. He made sure that I read newspapers everyday to keep myself updated, he got me scooty immediately after my 11th class, and none of the girls around had a scooty and it came as a shock for some people. He was advised by his acquaintances that he is doing too much for me and should keep in mind that I am a girl, but he never bothered about that. He raised me like a boy, though I have my reservations about this concept. You can raise a strong headed girl, she doesn’t need to be raised like a boy but the society hardly recognises this segregation. I am the first woman from my family who pursued higher studies and that too in social sciences despite coming from a conventional business family. Also, left Kashmir for studies, Have lived on my own from a very young age and I will continue with this journey because i believe that “we should never stop learning”

A bit about your academics?

 I am a Business graduate from Gandhi Memorial College, a volatile college full of diverse backgrounds. Business was my primary interest because of  my upbringing in the same environment. Later, I realised that I am more zealous towards knowing society, human behaviours (How we are as an individual and in a group), so I changed my subject from business to social sciences. I took keen interest in social work especially women and child issues in the final year of graduation, mainly because of the discrimination i was seeing around and i wanted to fight against it.  

I prepared for Civil service exams but due to some issues with the JKPSC, exams were postponed, so I went to Delhi and started preparing for IAS ,but after two failed attempts, I gave up. Failure was not an issue for me but wasting my time was, i was very hyperactive when it comes to studies or work. So I applied for masters and continued my journey of learning. Meanwhile, I joined Policy Perspectives Foundation as a Policy Researcher. 

Your recent achievements?

I have been the speaker at the United Nations 43rd and 50th session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva), my primary focus was women’s rights in conflict. 

In Delhi I worked from a very young age of 21 in Public policy. In between these 6-7 years years I have worked on various issues with different departments, which includes research on implementation of POCSO Act in Delhi NCR with Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights. I also kept learning and utilised my time in pandemic as well. I have also completed my course on “Inter religious Dialogue to strengthen peace” from KAICIID ( The king abdullah bin aziz international centre for interreligious and intercultural dialogue) and another course in “Religious engagement in Peacebuilding” from USIP (United states institute of peace)

Your work as a volunteer and in the media ?

While I was working in Delhi, my work as an activist got recognised for the Ivolunteer awards. I was also working with a Media company, ICN media group as Bureau Chief J&K, and was awarded the youngest bureau chief award there as well.

Your views on Public policy?

Well Public policy for me is very important in the current world dynamics, to solve real world problems. But, working in public policy is not an easy task, it requires continuous studying like a student and looking at a problem from different angles. It’s a very democratic process and is much required, basically Policies made on behalf of the “Public”.  This field helps you understand societal issues at a much deeper level and come up with concrete policies and vision to tackle the same. In India, there is a dire need of inculcating more women in public policy. I consider myself lucky enough to be working in an organisation where most of our policy researchers are women. I believe that I am in this profession because of being very observant and inquisitive in nature. I had a lot of questions regarding the systems and practices present in the society, so instead of counting the problems, I decided to find the solutions. Though i can’t completely say that i have found everything but i am on my way there.

You were the women ambassador for globally famed MeToo from Kashmir. How did that happen?

When I was working in Kashmir, it really took me by surprise that no one came forward for this campaign because girls are afraid of society and their judgements. So I decided to stand against all odds and fight for it. I made a lot of reports for this and handed over those to CEEO India official who then helped me to submit the same to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. I used to meet girls (who had faced harassment, violence etc) very cautiously, keeping in mind their safety and was really not bothered about my image etc because I was so hell bent to bring in a change.

Your message ?

I think my message will be for young Kashmiri Girls and other women as well that we should stop caring about what society thinks about us, it’s a never ending circle and deeply engulfing. People will talk behind your back even if you were doing everything right. Youngsters who want to go for research and public policy should keep themselves engaged in studies on a daily basis and try to understand the various problems the world currently faces. Overall, i believe that we need to respect diversity and have tolerance for differences. Above all be a human full of empathy, compassion and a will to work for the society, without any  bias or discrimination.

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Loot of green gold in Kashmir with impunity

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Loot of green gold in Kashmir with impunity

Mir Sabeen Gulrez 

Kashmir is rich in natural forests and although the Forest Department continues its operations against jungle smugglers, the people living near the forests are engaged in illegal felling of trees. Extensive forest cover is found in all the four districts of South Kashmir and the forests are much safer than in North and Central Kashmir. The forest department claims it has largely curbed forest smuggling and is continuing operations against forest smugglers. However, people living near forests have been found to be more harmful to the green gold mines than forest smugglers. the Willow Range in Kokranag,  found that people living near the forests cut down trees in broad daylight, which clearly shows the negligence of the authorities.  As a result, ancient and precious trees fall down after a while. Sources said that these people cut the trunks of the trees from all sides and burn them due to which these trees, worth lakhs of rupees, become weak and hollow inside and fall on their own, which these people later use for themselves. As a result, lush and hundreds of years old trees are slowly disappearing.Experts say that pine and other types of trees take one hundred to one hundred and fifty years to grow fully.”If we do not protect these trees, the day is not far when our future generations will curse us because we have failed to protect these beautiful, lush and precious forests,” they said.Civil society groups have called on the forest department officials to take action against forest smugglers as well as those involved in such deforestation.

   “We saw devastation and mass scale deforestation going on at Kupwara Anantnag, Budgam, this made me and my friends sad. Leaving the place with a heavy heart, we went to the Deputy Commissioner’s office with a plea and appealed to him to launch a campaign in the area, however, nothing was done so far.”

According to figures, the Jammu and Kashmir government has recovered over 37,000 cubic feet of timber from timber smugglers in different parts of the Kashmir region. The officials admit that there have been many occasions where the forest smuggling mafia got “free hand” to carry out mass-scale deforestation. However; they claimed that plantation drives launched by the Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology and erecting of fencing and boundary walling has helped in rampant felling of trees by timber mafia—this they said would otherwise affect the larger ecology balance and take a toll on the green gold of the Kashmir region.

According to officials, the forest department seized over 37,9437.19 cubic feet of timber and registered around 626 cases of timber smuggling during 2019-2020 and onwards. The forest officials say that nearly 78 horses have been seized from April 2021 onwards.

The Divisional Forest Officer, Tangmarg,  while reacting to such claims said that the fallen trees are old dry stumps refreshed by women folk during collection of Firewood. “Recently, 5 PSAs have been issued against timber smugglers of the area.”

Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir has 21,387 sq km of forest area. Nearly 47.80% of Jammu and Kashmir’s geographical area is covered by forests. The officials say that economically, the forests in Jammu and Kashmir generate over 2 million man-days of employment and have a monetary value equivalent to Rs 1.93 lakh crore.

‘Start of STRATEGY’

The key constituents of forest damages have been thoroughly examined and accordingly prevention and remedial measures have been taken viz. The people living in forest fringe villages indulge in wood cutting due to underlying socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of accessibility and lack of employment opportunities.

The Forest department has first allowed road constructions in inaccessible forest villages through PMGSY scheme under Forest Conservation Act which has facilitated access to these forest fringe village people to go to towns for seeking job opportunities. The Forest department has also involved local people in plantation and timber extraction works which has provided them employment at their own place. He says that the forest department has also developed Trekking routes and Eco-parks in vulnerable and smuggling prone areas which has created plenty of opportunities for them to earn their livelihood. On the other hand, the chronic and habitual timber smugglers have been booked under Public Safety Act to create perceptual deterrence.

He further shared that the Forest department has placed the right people for the right job and has effectively involved Forest Protection Force and Police in carrying out the scientific investigations in forest crime cases. These investigations have led to disclosure of nexus existing between various agencies in facilitating illicit timber trade and it has eventually led to arrest of big fishes including officials wherever they have been involved.

“The Forest department has seized many vehicles used in timber transportation which have been confiscated in favour of the government. The forest department has seized and canceled many licenses of saw mill owners who have been found involved in illicit timber trade,” he informed, adding that the remedial measures adopted by forest dept include no. of special plantation projects undertaken in previously degraded and deforested forest areas such as in Tosamaidan, Shopian, Rafiabad and Kandi.

“Millions of plants have been planted by the Forest Department especially under CAMPA scheme over the last few years in these areas which are showing very positive results. The previously degraded swathes are now turning green.” He says that there is a large public support to the Forest department in forest conservancy and efforts of forest department have received tremendous support from civil society, media which have given real boost to forest frontline staff extraordinarily working in the field.

One year of Taliban : Woman’s agency still a myth

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  One year of Taliban:

Woman’s agency still a myth   

 By Tehmeena Rizvi 

The decommissioning of American forces from Afghanistan left quite a gruesome and horrifying image in all of our minds. We all saw the doomsday-like visuals of afghani’s falling out of american military carriers like sand off a boulder. It was a frightening concept of a fear mongering, highly patriarchal and un-democratic organisation running the show in a country.

Taliban takeover has made catastrophic situations for women on multiple fronts. More than one year after their takeover Afghanistan of today is becoming a hellhole for its women. From changing the system of women’s access to education to limiting their mobility, they have become an embodiment of every woman’s nightmare. In a place like Afghanistan where war and misery have been going on for decades, special attention was required and efforts were required in order to reestablish normalcy and education amongst the women. However, the current situation has only made things worse for them and even a slight hope of improvement has been tarnished by the present regime. The psychological and social wellbeing of the women has gone so low, that it would take several years of intensive care and counselling to return to the daily round. According to a U.N. Women report: “In practice, restrictions on women’s freedom of movement often go beyond what is prescribed in decrees,” due to the intimidation attached to taliban. After the Taliban takeover, women employees working in the government departments were forced to stay at home. Approximately three million girls are currently banned from getting secondary education in Afghanistan, according to UNICEF. 

Just recently, innumerable number of girls have protested in Afghanistan’s Paktia province after Taliban authorities shut their schools just days after classes resumed, and the protest harboured global limelight. At a higher level, The academic week has been split so that male and female students can be taught separately, for three days each.

Academics and education experts opine that  this segregation, and the shortage of female lecturers, has reduced the quality of education, particularly for women. Some subjects have even been discontinued for female students, according to some scholars and students. Human rights campaigners and groups  have accused the Taliban of trying to erase women from all walks of public life. In June, several thousand Taliban clerics and tribal leaders gathered to discuss issues of national importance. But Taliban leaders did not allow women to participate, which drew worldwide outrage.

International bodies like the United Nations are openly spilling the beans on the painful scenario of Afghanistan women under Taliban rule. Recently a renowned UN rights expert said women’s freedoms had significantly deteriorated since the Taliban returned.

“There’s no country in the world where women and girls have so rapidly been deprived of their fundamental human rights purely because of gender,” Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur to UNHRC on the human rights situation in Afghanistan 

Even the women participating in the economic activities in Afghanistan are dwindling after the Taliban takeover. A whopping  77 percent of women’s CSOs have had no projects in 2022 due to a lack of funding, while some heads of organisations and civil society members have left the country. Since the Taliban takeover, foreign donors have drastically cut aid to Afghanistan, where there is a major economic and humanitarian crisis. The gruelling poverty under Taliban rule has made women of Afghanistan its first victim.

Child marriage is not thoroughly tracked in Afghanistan, with gaps in concrete, holistic data about the number of children affected, UNICEF has reported children being sold as young as 20 days old for future marriage, with girls disproportionately affected. Now, amid spiralling poverty and the difficulty of finding sustainable jobs – only five percent of Afghan families have enough to eat daily, and inflation for essential household goods is at 40 percent (PDF) – even more families are struggling. THIS Makes most of girl child vulnerable for Child marriage.

Even before the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan was ranked among the five poorest countries in the world, with almost half the population suffering from chronic food insecurity.

A year after the Taliban took control, aid agencies say nearly all Afghans now live in poverty.

Amid all this, women of Afghanistan are grappling with horrible choices.  A good number of Afghan women are now selling their babies. Poverty in Afghanistan has risen to a point where scores of women line up in front of bakeries in capital Kabul daily to beg for bread and keep their children alive. Women after selling their daughters are forced even to sell kidneys to feed their families. The fact of the matter is that 48 percent of the population in Afghanistan consists of women and thus Taliban need to dawn upon the reality fast  that the country cannot progress without the active participation of its women in building society, especially one which is war torn.

The all important menstrual hygiene has palmetted to a new low in the past one year, with a very small percentage of women having access to basic menstrual hygiene. Afghan girls lack access to menstrual products and education not just at home, but in school as well. Nearly half of women and girls are left in the dark when it comes to menstruation in the first place since education in such areas is virtually non-existent. One hopes Taliban who call themselves the harbinger of so-called morality would look into this aspect ,the hopes of which are bleak .

The whole World needs to brainstorm on how to help the women of Afghanistan recover from trauma & tragedy and get them the basic human rights that they have been deprived of for so many years now. The media, having covered it immensely in the beginning but slowly fading, should get it back into the light of discussions. In its entirety, humanity should empathise with the plight of the Afghan people & especially the women, extending all the aid possible.

Tehmeena Rizvi The author is a Public Policy Professional from J&K, Currently working in New Delhi. Her areas of 

Global Day of Non violence, editorial 3 October 2022 issue.

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Global Day of Non violence 

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.

Few years back the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Words of Gandhi ji Stand tall.

 “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”.

This year’s theme is “End racism. Build peace.” Racism robs people of their rights and dignity. It inflames inequalities and mistrust. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s message of this year includes, “Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”