News Kashmir Magazine

Extramarital affairs leading to  more divorce in Kashmir valley 

Mir Sabeen Gulrez
Nearly 50 cases of domestic violence  being reported  in every month in Srinagar:Officials 
“Our lord, grant us from among our spouses and offspring comfort in our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.” (Ayat No. 74, Verse 25 of the Quran) 
According to officials, nearly 50 cases of domestic violence are registered in the District Court of Srinagar each month, some of which are old and the majority of which are new while the scenario is getting worse instead of improving, the case of extramarital affairs, which is alarming these days, and  is unfortunately  becoming a trend in future generations and major cause of increasing divorce rate .
Marriage is a pious relationship between a man and his woman and is endorsed by the Holy Scripture as well as by the great teachings of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). But nowadays, marraige is becoming a burden because of some misunderstandings, domestic violence, and most importantly, because of extra-martial affairs, which are very common these days. 
Having an affair after a marriage is becoming a new trend as people find themselves very comfortable with the opposite sex rather than their wives. They begin to chat or gossip with a friend, willingly or unwillingly, and fall into the trap of an affair without disclosing to the other their secret of already being married. 
Having an affair these days is not bad, but when you are already married and share the bond with the next person who is your wife, it becomes the first gap in their relationship. This becomes the first issue to be raised as a man or woman loses interest in their partners as they start spending their precious time with their friends or partners, which should be given to their family. They always remain on their cell phones instead of giving time to their husbands or wives. This leads to heated arguments, which lead to domestic violence most of the time.  
Divorce under Muslim law is classified into several categories, including husband (Talaaq-ul-Sunnat, Talaaq-ul-Biddat, IIa, Zihar), wife (Talaaq-ul-Biddat, IIa, Zihar), and father (Talaaq-ul-Biddat, IIa, Zihar).Divorce by wife (Talaaq-E-Tafaweez), divorce by mutual consent (khula, mubarat), and divorce by judicial decree under the Muslim Dissolution of Marriage Act, 1939 (lian, fask).
As per Section 13 B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Section 28 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the couple should be living separately for at least one year before divorce proceedings can begin. However, Section 10A of the Divorce Act of 1869 requires the couple to be separated for at least two years.
For couples, healthy mirages are good for their mental and physical health. For children, growing up in a happy home protects them from mental, physical, educational, and social problems. Marriages, which don’t last, can have numerous reasons for their call off.  
In a chat with News Kashmir, Advocate Sana Khan, a J&K High Court lawyer, stated that when handling these cases there  first priority is that the perpetrator be punished. But it is very unfortunate that these cases take  time.She observes “Everyone in the room has something valuable to contribute; we deserve a spot at that Physical Or Metamorphical Table.It is Axiomatic, that there is no smoke without fire. The same is applicable to divorce.The most common “Final Straw”, reasons of divorce are:1.Domestic Violence2. Infedility between Partners .3. Lack Of Intimacy.4. Arrogance/Egoistic Nature.5. Third Party Factor6.Medical Reason and Dowry somehow responsible as well.
These cases should be handled on priority as the person, either male or female, is suffering. When the person who is a victim comes with these kinds of cases, they always complain of only one thing: “I haven’t narrated all the things to anyone.” This becomes the first issue, as when you keep mum, the other person takes advantage of that and thinks that we aren’t answerable to anyone.
 Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is defined by Section 498 of the Indian Penal Code as violence or some form of abuse, including mental, physical, and sexual abuse, in a domestic setting such as marriage or cohabitation. a common occurrence throughout the world, but in India it is prevalent here as the issues of dowry, male dominance, and living in joint family setups are the norm here. Section 498A deals with “matrimonial cruelty” perpetrated on a woman. Matrimonial Cruelty in India has now been made a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence.” She further added that a woman or man should take legal advice first before falling into these kinds of traps.
There is a case where a man (name withheld) who was a divorcee married a woman who was also a divorcee and who had a 12 year old daughter at the time she (her mother) got married. 
The person accepted her and her daughter accepted willingly and now when she turned 22, he (the father) is saying that he won’t keep that girl in his house because she is not his daughter. Besides, the girl has done so much for that house. Even while working with some meagre wages, she purchased everything from household things to carpets out of her own salary. But, alas, no court or judgement can save her today. 
So there should also be something for adoption in Muslim law. 
Meanwhile, While talking with Advocate Barkat Kaur Rattan and Advocate Barjis firdous, working independently for the J & K High Court in Srinagar,  told news Kashmir, that, “In Islam, Muslim women have been given various rights, but nowadays, men have changed it according to their ease and usually under Sec 12 of the Domestic Violence Act, while the case is pending, only a man can remarry only while taking permission from the first wife itself, but here we see  to whom justice has not been done, which also concludes domestic violence in the shape of emotional and physiological abuse. And secondly, whenever a woman who is a victim of domestic violence is to be suggested to go for a Domestic Violence Act case first, not only for maintenance, as she can ask for maintenance in the Domestic Violence Act case itself as a prayer. Moreover, there is one issue whenever a party in a Domestic Violence Act comes into compromise. The men usually keep one condition, that is, if the wife remarries, she has to give the child to the father, but if the husband remarries, no condition is applied. That is totally wrong.
 Why do women only suffer? They make such kinds of conditions to make women’s lives hell so that she suffers more and the man himself enjoys his normal life”. She further added that one more thing in Muslim law is that there is no scope for adoption.
There is another case where a lady (name withheld) who was married in the year 2018 has a child with her who is almost one year and six months old.
 The issue is that the person (name withheld from her husband) who was working outside and after marriage started delay tactics for work, the lady herself started working while the man was always giving excuses for work in one way or the other. She thought once Ishehad a child, he would start working, but this was her illusion instead of work. 
When the weird guy started having an affair with other ladies, once, when she confronted him, he started doing mental torture to her. Her sister-in-law, who is married from the beginning, has created havoc in her brother’s wife’s life. Never leaves a moment to taunt her. The lady, who is a victim, wished to be free of this toxic relationship but is unable to do so due to societal constraints.In between, their child is suffering as he needs his father and mother’s care too as they both wanted to get rid of this relationship. And instead of women, who should get moral support from relatives, they are struggling because of society’s fears.

Counseling session held in Boys High Secondary school GG Mohalla Srinagar 

In an important academic development, A Counselling Session was held at Boys Higher Secondary School GG Mohalla in collaboration with UNICEF sponsored NGO KWIDE (Kashmir Women for Inclusive Development and Equality) for Adolescents  through a series of activities related to mental health, decision making and Cognitive walkthroughs for testing concepts and terminologies .Students of age group 15 to 17 have actively participated and responded to experts in a healthy and highly motivated ambience that helped them to ease out from the stressful situations arising out of covid pandemic.. 

Theatre a Dying Art in Kashmir 
Mir Sabeen Gulrez

Srinagar: “Theatre is a voyage into the archives of the human imagination.”– Natasha Tsakos
Artists from valley have given their life for theatre. In 1990’s when there was political turmoil , people used to stay back indoors to save their lives while they(artists) used to serve in theatres , without caring about  their lives. It’s not only that they should care about their lives it’s about they were very passionate about their art. They used to love their work most importantly they used to respect their people not even caring about their caste , creed ,color or religion . Everyone was used to serve under one roof. Artists in Kashmir have seen everything from rise to fall. But it was only artist who remained consistent whatever the condition was .But with passage of time the  artists during pandemic went through a dark phase, not only artist but everyone. Still they continued and emerged as winners.During 1990’s people used to watch DD Kashmir, Doordarshan with their families with fevor as they used to love to watch but with the advancement of social media influence people used to neglect these things intentionally or unintentionally. One time was  when people used to love the characters and used to be like them now the scenario has changed even our kids don’t know the life their parents have lived while watching the characters like Ahadraaz, Johny etc etc.What is a theatre?Collaborative form of performing art where usually actors and actresses perform live shows, to present the experience of a real or imagined  event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage . With combination of gestures , speech songs, music and dance the performers may communicate this    experience to the audience. The elements used for art such as   Painted scenery and stagecraft such as lighting are used to enchance the physicality ,presence and immediacy of the artists.Who is an artist?An actor who uses the stage for performance based on a real or fictional story in front of a live audience in one take is known as Theatre Artist. Theatre artist is different from TV or movie actors as they do not get second chance to perform. They use songs, musicals, poems, drama, dance, speech to exhibit their art. As theatre artist never uses in their plays a cut which is usually seen in movies.Origin of theatre in ancient:The origins of theatre in ancient Greece, according to Aristotle (384–322 BCE), the first theoretician of theatre, are to be found in the festivals that honoured Dionysus. The performances were given in semi-circular auditoria cut into hillsides, capable of seating 10,000–20,000 people. The stage consisted of a dancing floor (orchestra), dressing room and scene-building area (skene). Since the words were the most important part, good acoustics and clear delivery were paramount. The actors (always men) wore masks appropriate to the characters they represented, and each might play several parts.(Source Internet).Origin of Indian Theatre.Indian theatre dates back around 5000 years. The earliest form of Indian theatre was Sanskrit theatre that emerged sometime around the 2nd century BC. It then flourished between the 1st and 11th centuries. Soon after, due to the Islamic conquests, theatre was banned and forbidden. Later, village theatre was encouraged across the subcontinent in an attempt to reassert indigenous values and ideas, developing in a large number of regional languages from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Modern Indian theatre developed during the period of British rule. Indian theatre has three specific periods: the classical period, the traditional period, and the modern period.In early forms, theatre performances were often narrative and included recitation, singing, and dancing. The earliest contribution to the Indian theatre came from Bharata Muni, who wrote the 36 books of the Natyashastra. (Source Internet).
Origin of Kashmiri Theatre:The roots of Kashmiri  and Indian folk and modern theatre are rooted in three thousand years before the birth of the Christ. Linking with the Mohanjodaro and Harappa civilization, since the periods of Ved and Purans and during Sanskrit and Prakrit era, the elements of music , dance and theatre were there in the form of oral traditions of communication through Bards (Male Singers) and Ministrals (Male Singers).The folk theatre movement in Kashmir is usually said that the findings  the Terrokota art and mentioned in the Neelmat Puran and Kalhan’s Rajtrangani the folk theatre in Kashmir started growing gradually and Abhinav Gupta, Madridutta, Bhat Tola, Shamimdra, Somdev,Ragavbhat contributed for the folk theatre movement  and cultural tradition in Kashmir. Its believed  that during the Dogra rule under the dynamic rule of Dogra King Maharaja Hari Singh, Kashmiri literature, culture and folk got open sky to breath freely and establish its existence among the masses. While speaking about the folk theatre and modern theatre of 20th  century, he declared the period of 1966 to 1977 as the Golden period in the history of Kashmiri folk and modern theatre and in this period painters, writers, artists, singers also appreciated the folk and modern theatre in Kashmir. He also applauded the role of Mohan Lal Aima, Dina Nath Nadim, Pran Lal Kishore and also placed on record the contribution of Radio Kashmir, Srinagar and J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Srinagar.While talking to News Kashmir Dr Mirza Farooq Anwaar Chief Editor (Pahari) . Office Incharge Div.Office Kashmir JKAACL said that,” when kashmir had a political turmoil in 1990’s,Yes everything got shattered ,not only theatre but also other artists also suffered a huge loss .Cultural Academy always tried to help these artists from their end . As we after two three years of shut down managed to have festivals but even in far flung areas we also continued the activities.There is gap and we(academy) are trying to fulfill that gap. We are giving them chance for new set ups in form of festivals.

While talking to News Kashmir Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan , renowned  and award winning actor,director,broadcaster ,theatre,practitioner told that,”its very difficult to survive whether he/she has earned in lakhs or in crores, no matter but the present income of everybody rich or poor big or small is in very difficult situation including me. No doubt my financial status must be better from many people but the survival in these things radio, television, stage had a big effect in Kashmir, only passion remained. Simply it’s an addiction, it’s an hobby, and there is a passion in what we are doing. If the intellect is used, the work will not be done; no one will do this work. If this hardwork, then I will use this understanding in some other work or business definitely I will earn more in this date. But what satisfies me internally is the way when I see my theatre is getting coverage by leading newspapers, channels and even social media is playing vital roles in this. Right now I am managing seven days theatre festival in which twenty three (23) groups are participating in these twenty three groups five(5) groups are from Jammu, ten(10) groups are from Kashmir and rest of the groups are from colleges ,schools of Kashmir, so its managed, coordinated by me single handed. I never switch off my cell phone even I at times put it on silent mode but never off it.Because once this number is switched off everything is gonna be shut like anything. If I start dealing in land property  by same passion I will become a multi millionaire in just one year.But the passion is so much that I have spend my life on this and this passion doesn’t go away.Man is lost in it and this passion doesn’t go away. While I was doing a job I left it even my junior retired as director . Even I saw many people working . working only for money their passion is just to earn money that’s it. They (people) multiply their business while as what multiplies in me is my pages in the bio data. Today briefly my bio data is of seventeen (17) pages. In last four years if I see the coverage’s in the newspaper they are more than five hundred(500). This thing I took as my profit and this is my earning. I don’t earn in money, yes I can proudly say you can Google my name and see what my achievements are done for this theatre. Do I stand somewhere? That’s my property that’s my profit. We hardly sleep because of our passion.Whenever I finishe my program my first thought is that whether this Press Release have been reached to the concerned authorities or not. Even being a liable person I usually call them whether they have received my mail or not? I usually take conformations regarding my mails whether they have  received or not?Even I have my vehicle, my house, even some of our artists don’t have these kind of facilities but what is same inside their passion about their work.My journey started in 1974 , I was just thirteen (13)years old, I started working in Doordarshan as a child artist. But I was studying. Even after schooling, went to college, then university. Even my parents especially my mother didn’t allow me to do all these things unless I complete my studies , till my mother actually wanted me to finish it of. I completed my post graduation after that she said to me ,”now you can do anything, now your have completed your education ,you can do whatever you want”. Then I started theatre , till that moment I even haven’t done thaetre.Even I worked in Radio also in the year 1975,76.In 1981 I entered fully in theatre. After that no one from my home asked me anything regarding this. I started my career with just one dialogue it was a hindi play ,”Nadi piyasi thi “play, I don’t remember the writer and the dialogue was ,”Bahu Jee Is Bar Phir Bhad Aye Ghei,Aur Hosakta hai Dhubnai Walae Mai Mera Beta Hi Kyun Na Hoo….Hahahahah”. For this dialogue I was so excited that I am gonna perform on stage . Gosh, I cant explain my feeling of joy at that time . After that I did many lead roles but at that satisfaction was there. Upto 1989 theatre was going ok here in Kashmir . last festival I did was 1987 in which in three plays I work as a leading artist . After that festivals were not celebrated here because of the turmoils and all that.Then I again started in 2005 when Doordarshan did festival.Some two three years back I was working as a consultant head north zone cultural academy centre that had a branch somehow at Srinagar  so we used to assign some programs to groups of Bandhpathir  and groups of Folk music , in a year we used to do these kind of programs twice or thrice now this time my number is saved with those persons till date they used to call me , when I asked them yes please go ahead they said we wanted to know hope you are doing good . And I know how much I get hurt because of that as I know what message they wanted to give me. I know I cant help them  as they are expecting something from me. Once they got program from my side and they knew this thing that he (mushtaq sahib) is gonna give us work . I am not any authority but I always wanted to try for them. Government has helped but not upto the mark because the demands are not fulfilled you know how much they get paid per day Rs 800/= and the booking come maximum twice or thrice a month .Labour earns better. Same is the condition with contemporary theatre.
While talking to News Kashmir Kashmir’s famous artist Nazir Josh aka Ahadraaz said that,:
In 1970 I started from my early school life Higher secondary school Budgam. I started from school life in the year 1970 Higher secondary school budgamThere I used to perform short dramas. Prem Nath Premi was teacher and he was poet and performed short  dramas and I worked with him. Then I completed my higher secondary school. At that time, in 1972 in budgam National theatre bugam came into being. I used to do serious roles, I was a serious  actor then I kept going on. I completed my BA. Why comedian? How was your journey from nazir josh to ahedraz? Personally I am very shy, but coming to the dramas my body language, expression, dialogue delivery was altogether different. There was a comedian those days, he dictated me terms but he used to take fees, that was very I high, that  was not possible for me to pay. Then my director told me to try Alibaqal. I tried in 2,3 shows and it was famous among people and people were happy. I was appreciated by director about my dialogue delivery and as a good character. From there I started as a  comedian. When did you gave your audition for TV? In November 1972 . There was festival at that time it was on valley level cultural academy. Today it is district level. In1973 there was a festival in Tagore hall Srinagar’s there was TV and theater in 73.it was a mesmerizing festival. Many popular shows were performed in Tagore hall at that time like, RANGMUNSH, KALAKINDER, NAVRAN, KAMESHVAR KENDER, VASANT THEATRE etc etc  . These Indian dramas were also played. We also played and I wrote the script myself and in that year 1973 I also became a writer. My first script was TEMI GAURI GAYI, which is actually a proverb,That time in that very festival makhanlal. Saraf, etc also participated. Padamshri Sinths drama “Nav Nosh” also was played. Three 3 dramas got best award. They were shuturmurgh, our drama “tem gaurigayi”, and “rang munch”, “Nav Nosh”. After receiving award I was encouraged and I moved forward in my field. I was not performing leading roles till then. But my character was both serious and numerous.. Then Farooq nazki was producer doordarshan at that time. He was send to Germany for further training for 1 year and  6 months . Then after coming back he searched for script and he came to my home in budgam and told me to write the  script  as he knew my potential.. I took 5,6 days and wrote concept BALAY TAUTMA  tautma is a character and balay was act of speaking in a very different way.. We shot the serial and it was a  blockbuster and went viral. That time in this serial I was registered as leading role. Slow motion in this was for first time. In 85 I gave this concept.. He encouraged me to write more. Then I wrote HAZAR DASTAN. After 3,4,5 episodes, it went so viral that it overtook all the leading serials of that time including pakistans top drama andherayujalay. All used to watch hazardastan popularly known by people as ahedraaz. It was such a blockbuster that people sold land, jewellery to buy tv sets and watch aheddraaz. Today much has changed, how do you see it as changed political era as it is social media influence everywhere? I used to perform double role, tripplerole.In 89 it was continued by private producers. Then I also became  a producer in doordarshan. For One serial I used to get some 40 or 50 lakh. In a year I took up almost 3 dramas. Doordarshan benefitted all including hoteliars houseboat owners directly or indirectly.. After 2003 , Government closed funds for doordarshan then the work stopped and never restored. Today it is social media, at that time we used to hier cameramen, technology, lighting, which required lot money. As production needs money kashir channel was also shut. All actors including leading ones were idol. Except those having talent and potential. I recently started laughter therapy on social media which got over 5 lakh views. I upload the old ones also.  

While talking to News Kashmir Hassan Javeed told that, “You are talking about my life, I am starting at my career in 1990, although I have approach Television in 1989, JLNL academy has been awarded as best ACTOR by that time there was some sport programme going on named as “Khel and Khiladi” which was been anchored by Dear Roshan Khayal, where I asked them to visualise 2 sportsperson among them , initially I have started with an article for news magazine “Nawaz Ali” ,then having curiosity in TV since childhood, I went for Acting but because of having unsmoothen condition it was difficult for me to travel each day using pass since I was into cricket as well. Then after 2.5 month of struggle someone sent me pass I got a chance to act as “Deputy Nazeer” , it was an role of an a foreigner’ Servant by that time I was 17yr old, Then no growth of mustache and beard and I want too lean and I played those side roles till 1998, then Mr Mujahid , the director has given a a chase to feature me as a main character known as “Dadgah”, which was been writer by Dr Nazer. Then DADASAH has been offered to me as well which was of 400 episode, and I got established then.
But sooner I realised that, Being in lobby was important and Only the actors from lobby get further offer so sooner in 2000, I started my own production house which was named as “BAHAR Films” , And in 2002 I have emerged as director and made series even after criticism , I continued as serial direct and 450 episode, and majors serials got great hit. E.g- Dasha, Shortcut and I even gained more popularity after the commercial film- “DUS numbari”, that gave a name of “JONNY” and I have been started getting recognized as that name which was written by “shahzad SHABBIR” , After that I get a phone call from police station as I have featured one of the police role in that commercial as funny so they get offended and when I entered police station, IO was very serious but when I have praised him as AMITABH BAcchan, he laugh out lauder.
While Atal Bihari Bhajpyee was prime minister and they has allotted a channel for kashmir, which scheme was on 15k which then get shut after 15 years. Then we switched to private sector and then You tube as well for quality episodes under which we tried to only show the family scenes.
Then in 2010, after invention of mobile, thing started vanishing from TV, and article 370 was on air and we get deteriorated by 100 years. By that time we were expecting daughter, there my wife got amazed wha scene she saw after entering hospital as I have been call as “KASHMIR k Shahrukh Khan”.
Since that time I have been earning by only one medium where as government employed have been earning by 2- 3 medium and pled government for help and they did, but for once only they help all the artist with rupees 9000/- in 2020 and has never took any update. In sopour event, I have given a female artist rs 2000/- but then she replied with big sparkling eye and hopes as she thanks for that amount as it was really miserable condition.
We did a many protests against the government of India, still they were not releasing there amount and there was so much corruption, also there has been no action taken from the government.
Now a days artist are only getting mere wages of 2k to 5k rupees, also for voice over they only get 300 rupees, so I am seeing career of actor, voice artist and drama artist no where in kashmir and there is no money and profit in this sector in KASHMIR.
EVEN we want to more to small job in any private company to earn livelihood.
Message from our valleys renowned artist Nazir Josh aka Ahadraaz to youth is that,” Here, talent is awesome, rabab players, musicians,  better than old but they lack proper  script and concept. Need is to consult the writer who knows formulas, dialogues. Join workshops, and not write by themselves as such. Go through proper guidance and training. Do not make this as your profession till it becomes the proper industry here in Kashmir”.