News Kashmir Magazine

From Salaam to Lal Salaam!!!
Owais Ahmad Shah

The word for salaam is foreign and the sentiment is not native to us.In India we have no such problem and we can see that from the endless saluting of policemen they need to do in our parts.Even those on traffic duty have to flash it each time when the senior passes by.
In India and Pakistan,the salute is made for both police and army with the palm facing out.This is different from the way Americans salute,with their palm facing down and showing only the blade of hand.The American one is easy to copy and requires less practice but the Indian one is a bit smarter and requires extra smartness.
It is always too odd of corpulent,sloppy politicians to salute the flag or return their salute at military or police functions.Even Americans didn’t return salute to the Marines guarding the helicopters at white House since actor Ronald Raegan did this first.
So,what are salutes for and what they are meant to communicate?It shows telegraph respect and the exposure of hand shows that the salute is unarmed.
What does the Roman salute communicate?
It comes from the painting by 18th century artist Jacques Louis David called the Oath of Horrati.Adapted from story in Livis Histories.It was adopted by the Nazi Party under the Hitler’s rule although it is now reviled across the world.
Hitler also did the job of bending his elbow and showing his palm which was ruthlessly mimicked by the Great Charlie Chaplin.
Another salute that is no longer visible is the Black Power salute.The elbow is moved at around 80 degrees and hand balled into a fist.
The Rashtraya Swamsewak Sangh has Cultish feeling for its salute called Zogist salute.The arm is bent at the elbow which slightly goes over the chest.Where did they get it from.Veer Savarkar has made warm references of Guissepi Mazzini and Guissepi Garibaldi and Hindutva is deeply influenced by Italians.
The above mentioned salutes bring us to another salute called the Lal salaam.This was with the elevation of Sitaram Yechury to secretary Communist Party India(Marxist).Yechury held his arm above his head and the fist turned out.This gesture communicates defiance and solidarity.

Uses and Curses of cement factories
Gowher Bhat

Nearly thirteen miles from Srinagar City, there are seven Cement factories in KHREW Kashmir. The names of the factories are under JK Cement, HK Cement, Max Cement, Cemtac Cement, ICC Cement, Arco Cement and Valley Cement. The neighboring vicinities are KHREW, Batina, and Ladoo. Families who live in these localities work in the factories and benefit from the industry.

They are holding positions such as, managers, receptionists, technical support, and laborers who load and unload the bags of cement, gravel, and sand. Fourteen-hundred trucks are affiliated with these factories, and the truck owners are employees of KHREW, Batina, and Ladoo locations. They earn a substantial income, and part of the reason is that the factories are far away from the central city — almost 80% “who live nearby, work in these factories for earning their livelihood.” I interviewed many people, and mostly they said they are grateful for the jobs.

However, there is a severe drawback; they say there are problems with air pollution, the dust that these factories produce are uncontrollable. The environmental issues are causing people to suffer from chest infections, eye infections, and viral infections. They can’t seem to get away from it; it’s on their roofs, the walls, floors, in their homes. The dust gets onto their clothes and deposits on their food. Some people told me we are not against the business, but this is becoming a severe problem. In other states of India, they have the same industry, but there is environmental control, and they use updated machinery and technology to produce less dust.

Why can’t Kashmir’s cement factories invest in proper equipment and help the people and the air quality? Complaints were made to higher authorities about this, but no one paid heed to these issues. What makes it worse is that roads are in shambles, there are potholes, and broken asphalt, that causes a lot of dust and debris when the trucks ride through them. The government should help fix these roadways, being that fourteen-hundred heavy trucks are driving through them every day.

On a personal note, although I’m glad the people can support their families on the income they earn in these factory jobs. It’s was disturbing how much dust and dirt collected on my skin, clothes, and shoes., my eyes burned, and I started coughing while I visited. There is no reason for this. The cement factories are a billion-dollar Industry. They should take care of the environmental issues and invest in updated machinery to assure people stay healthy.

“””Social networking sites… Benediction or Malediction for the
society….””””

Showkat Ahmad Dar and Engineer Firdous Nazir

Social networking is fundamentally shifting the way we interact, communicate,organise ,form opinions or even shop. It
is blurring boundaries, increasing transparency and creating fluidity in everything we do. Companies at all levels today are compelled to attend the cater their influence of social networking sites.

The reality is you need to go where your target audiences are and people are more likely to participate in social media forum
than any other venue.

Customers, partners and employees,
expect to engage with you via social media-its way for you to stay connected, gather feedback, recruit and collaborate.
The invention of social media has changed our lives tremendously. With instant messaging, unlimited access, being
a cheaper method of communication.

However,by developing addictions changing the definition of privacy creating scams and spreading anti social messages,
social media can prove to be harmful to mankind on the other
side and thus social media can be either a blessing or a curse to
the world.
It all depends on how these sites like facebook, twitter are
being used social media itself can be abused,overused and
taken advantage of. However,the of social media itself is
probably greater than the power of any person, any noble, any
ruler or even any country, But,wether the incredible power is
a blessing or a curse is also a matter to the question.
Social media like Facebook ,twitter helps an individual with instant
messaging people can get in touch with their family and
friends anywhere across the globe in seconds,and all we need
is an internet connection. Its the most effective way for business to conduct marker research about the goods and
services they promote among the public. For eg opinions. Com
is specially designed website for consumers to rate, appreciate
and criticise new products and services that have recently
been launched to the public.
On the other hand, social media brought some shortcomings
along with its Advantage .

One crucial Disadvantage is
Isolation of young people . To explain it better,even if teenagers
communicate with other people, they do this via their mobile
phones or electronic computer. They lose all contact outside
the world and became addicted to the internet.their has been
an increasingly disturbing behaviour found in students and
youngsters after their exposure towards such sites.
The adolescents may talk to someone they don’t know. Internet is posed with full dangers and one of them are the people lure
within it with malevolent intentions. Infact employees in
colleges, Universities spend less time in their work and more
time in accessing their social sites.Hence it effects the work platform
too.
Social network became a new site for artificial nikkah nama.Flock of youngsters are trapped in this coup which
affects their family touch and study schedule.
Social networking can impact health. The less a person moves
the more weight that person is likely to gain, and few calories
are being burned while sitting in front of a computer.
Computer monitors have been proven to cause eye strain,
leading to poor eyesight. Little movement has been proven to
lead to muscle weakness, less muscle development and, in
some cases, bone loss. Back, neck, and joint pain have been
associated with too much computer use. Social networkers
often spend hours networking, leading to weight and health
issues. Like all things, social networking can be beneficial in
moderation. Unfortunately, moderation and networking do not
coincide in today’s society. Social networking allows for
unnecessary risks in privacy, safety, social skills, and health.
Networking, at best, offers such ease of communication that
social skills deteriorate, and at worst, is dangerous for children
and networkers unaware of the predators lurking in the social media.
Social media is a blessing for mankind because its easy to use
cost effective, one can interact with family and friends
instantly and support and promote Business . In short its a
curse as well as blessing hangs on the shoulders of its users.
one may choose to abuse the potential of facebook or to
change the world with Twitter, the difference in your actions
may be small, but the end result varies greatly and its upto you to decide social medias role in your life.

Education for our Children has Become A Gold Mine
Written by: Gowher Bhat
The quality of Kashmir’s government education system leaves much to be desired. There are over 14,000 schools in Jammu-Kashmir, whether they are private or government-run. However, the literacy rate is rising, in the public schools, and parents are removing their children and paying for private learning facilities. Even the teachers of government schools who have children do not have faith in the government school system. They, too, are putting siblings into private learning institutions. Education is the spine of any society, but the government schools in Kashmir are failing to provide the enriched curriculums to advance our students to college level.
It’s sad to see that in the past the government schools have accommodated the poor, who could not pay private tuition. The government schools are getting unacceptable test scores due to overcrowded classrooms, disruption in school days, and not enough individual attention is given to the students. A teacher working for government schools earns decent salaries, and we need to search for a better solution to improve our education system In Jammu-Kashmir.
Now parents are placing their children in coaching centers, not even private schools. These coaching center literary hand feeds the students. The popularity of these private coaching centers loot the students’ families and have made this teaching profession become a lucrative business. It is a money minting factory, and people are recommending this to their neighbors and friends.
I visited many areas where I saw the coaching centers filled to the brim with students. It cost as much as Rs.15,000 to send their child to one of these coaching centers. What’s even worse the families that are hitting hard times can not afford this, but they feel they have no choice, their children need an education.
The government has applied some guidelines, but there’s no reinforcement. I have also learned that many tuition centers are not registered and operating illegally.
On a personal note, I need to make some recommendations. Children should not be packed into classrooms like cattle. Teachers should give incentives to their students to work harder, and curriculums need guidelines and carried out. The government should come down on those illegal coaching centers with hefty fines and close them down. Becoming a teacher is a noble profession, and they have the responsibility of holding your child’s future in their hands. They need to ban together as educators to help our children instead of getting rich off of them.

Peace…The only way forward!!!
Owais Ahmad Shah

The four wheel trolley owner and an astute businessmen Mam Kak emanated anger.Is everything all right, asked my friend Raza.Glory to be God, I am fine.What would you like to have today.he replied. Our all time favorite “Hot Pakkodas”.I said.In extreme fury and rage,he shouted at his counterpart.Hell with you.I told you early in the morning to fry pakodas,but you got it in one ear and got it out of the other. Relax Mam kak,put this down to his work,a man learns from his mistakes.Another customer in a friendly mood said.No…no…no…I am here in this market for almost fifteen years but I have had never any compromise with my work.I have attracted customers only because of my hardwork.When these young people are advised anything, they only have habit of arguing.Here all have become masters.Mam Kak drawing a breath.I casted my look at a gathering. Cricket lovers clustered around the radio. A young enthusiastic cricket lover angrily asked another boy to increase the volume of radio.The commentator exuding excitement “Look at this,batsman struck the ball,up in the air and its gone all the way for six”. Just he was about to finish his sentence, young and old all jumped into the air.Everyone does have his own business. The conductors shouting names of different places in same breath. I and Raza,we had to board different buses.I sat next to an age old man,reading newspaper.I also thumbed through the headline which read” Govt desperate for dialogue. Saying no to violence can pave our way to peace”.It almost looked a distant dream. Another young boy rattling on with his beloved on his phone and a school kid shoveling popcorns down into his mouth.It almost looked a colorful bus.Variety is the spice of life.Passengers trickled into the bus and the bus filled to gills.The bus driver jumped onto his seat.About to leave,horn blowing and passengers happy.At a very slow speed but accelerated and we drove past other bus.I peeped through the window. Nearby an army camp.A huge board standing read “Jawan aur Awaam sab saath saath”. Barricades and the concertina wire fencing off the camp.The driver controlled his speed and the passengers gossiping continued. The one question that was preying on my mind” Here all have become masters”.Mam Kaks sage advice ringed on.All are running the show.I alighted out of the bus. Moved forward and reached near an old styled Panchyat.This building almost built 20 years ago received all public grievances. From lovers tiff to Old man’s impudent son.It enjoyed the business.I saw an old woman wailing outside.The only sentence she would repeat”Whom will you leave us”.Another woman consoled her.I had this urge to know about what is wrong.The woman next to her said that she has her only son married few months ago.Before marriage they lived life of dignity but after they lost all attachment.Having heard such stories often,I was no stranger to this one. The woman also added that yesterday grandfather in law and bride fought with each other. And the girl hurled a steel jug on his face,which almost resulted in his nose bleeding.Oh God!!! I almost taken aback.Now the village dignitaries have brought this case to panchayat.we were continuing our talk,a young girl accompanied by another of same age stepped out of the door,shouted “Who the hell is he”.in a fit of apoplexy,the bride looked daggers at her mother in law.I guessed she was talking about her grandfather in law.The woman in front of me whispered “Here she is”.I walked by and the panchayat continued.Almost tired of days work.I threw my clothes willynilly.All mess and my room had turned into a veritable jungle.After eating food,I nestled myself against the pillow and the buzz that I saw today dominated my mind. The only question that threw me off balance” Leadership crisis”.Everyone is master of his own world.Mam Kaks wisdom permeated through my mind and the old woman sobbing drove me over the edge.I took a nap.Late in the evening, I switched on TV.A heated debate and a volatile argument had set news studio on fire.Stonewalling continued and the people shouted,always about to hurl abuses. India and Pakistan abused each other.The one panelist saying”Pakistan Occupied Kashmir “and the other ” Indian Occupied Kashmir “.None would say we shall achieve Peace. The germ that cropped up in my mind altruistic and puritanical. Had this Channel devoted some space to poverty,drug abuse,rape etc.But it doesn’t like that.To increase TRP’s it is fond of drama.The conflict continued and the people bore brunt of it. No leadership but hawkishness overriding over every concern.The tailored suggestion of a common man and the complex argument of politician both seemed two sides of the same coin.

Oops..!following CELEBRITIES :an ERROR*
Umar Bashir

Airbrushed photographs of celebrities with perfectly preened bodies staged in exotic locations are all over social media, but such flawless images have been described as damaging for the way they pressurise young people to meet unobtainable body-image standards.
Everyone of all ages is effected by celebrities, but often teenagers are the ones who are the most impacted. Being an adolescent can be tough, and it’s reassuring to have someone to look up to and follow in their footsteps. Many teens choose celebrities as their role models. This can be a positive or negative choice, depending on the celebrity. There are many stars in the media that tend to maintain a good reputation but there are an equal amount of stars that make parents shake their heads and hope their kids don’t idolize them , but there siblings Do and follow them too ….

In Reality television or either smart phone proves to be a factor that contributes to how teenagers think they should behave. “According to a study conducted by Huston and Wright at the University of Kansas, the only thing that kids spend more time doing than sleeping is watching tv or on smart phone to see shows” (Teens and Celebrities). But every time you turn on the TV or social media , it’s hard to find a television show that isn’t about celebrities. In reality television shows, smart phone clicks were celebrities are displayed in a negative manner, often shown doing drugs, partying, fighting, and engaging in sexual activities. Teenagers who are exposed to this believe that’s the proper way to act and start taking part in those activities themselves. They also start to form false ideals. For example, “one Australian study revealed that children who watched reality programming were significantly more likely to associate wealth, popularity and beauty as factors that contribute to happiness” (Bliss).

Lots of parents try to keep their kids from watching those shows and teaching their kids the right ways to act, but “in fact, some teens are more likely to listen to the words of their favorite celebrities than their own parents , , instead of teens learning from their parents how to be kind to others or how to do the dishes, teens are learning from stars how to throw a tantrum and how to get drunk.

Celebrities have a hurtful effect on the self esteem of teenagers. Celebrities are commonly associated with beauty and “perfect” bodies, and when teenagers see that, they want to look like them. It’s not uncommon that so many female teens have developed eating disorders while trying to attain a skinny body. “In a recent study by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), as many as 10 in 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder” (Chen). The media puts permanent reminders in our minds that we have to achieve the celebrities’ beauty and bodies. Headlines are plastered all over magazines with headlines like, “Get Kim Kardashion’s Bikini Bod!” or “How To Get Jennifer Lopez’s Flawless Makeup Look!” It’s no wonder why teenagers are so desperate to be like celebrities. Those articles make teenagers insecure about their looks. For example, “According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 42 percent of first- through third-grade girls say they want to be thinner, and 81 percent of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. Even at very young ages, children get influenced by celebrities” (Chen). What teenagers don’t know when they see “perfect” stars on magazines is that those stars have been through hours of makeup, hair styling, clothes fittings, spray tans, and photoshop. Teenagers are trying to achieve a form of “beauty” that doesn’t even exist.
Celebrities are very popular and they could choose to help the world and make a difference. They have an option to choose to be a good role model for people of all ages. Unfortunately, many celebrities decide to do the exact opposite, and let themselves be displayed as fake and bad role models. Teenagers are vulnerable to their influences and can be lead down the wrong path. We can only hope that those celebrities will take a moment to stop caring about fame and think about the people they are leaving a mark on.

“”Drug addiction: is it a disease or is it based on choice:”””
Umar Bashir

A disorder of choice, Gene Heyman surveys a broad array of evidence—historical, anthropological, survey, clinical, and laboratory-based to build an argument about the role of basic choice processes in the phenomena that comprise drug addiction. He makes a compelling, multifaceted argument that conceptualizing drug addiction as a chronic disease (like schizophrenia or diabetes) is both misleading and erroneous. In developing his argument, he points out that the best survey data available indicate that most drug addicts quit their addiction, a fact inconsistent with a chronic-disease model. He illustrates how basic, normal choice processes can lead to addiction, arguing that people do not choose to be addicts, but that normal choice dynamics can lead them to that condition. He points to a variety of factors that keep most from becoming addicted, with a focus on the role of choice governed by choice-by-choice contingencies versus choice governed by the outcome of sequences of choices, a difference in an under-described activity called framing. His view is consistent with the most effective treatments currently available, and provides a basis for continued basic research on choice as well as research on treatment and prevention.

A disorder of choice Gene Heyman makes a case for drug addiction to be a result of natural processes involving voluntary (i.e., operant) behavior, specifically choice. This approach stands in stark contrast to the current received view, at least as promulgated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), that drug abuse is a disease, specifically, “Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease…similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease….” . Over the course of seven chapters Heyman makes his case by describing the history of drug abuse and addiction, societal responses to it, case histories from addicts, the epidemiology of drug addiction, “rational” and “irrational” choice, brain–behavior relationships, and approaches to treatment of drug addiction. These descriptions provide the bases for the focal points made, which are that normal, apparently rational choice processes can lead to poor long-term outcomes (e.g., addiction), and that an understanding of such processes offers a viable approach to the prevention and treatment of drug addiction. Of particular interest to readers of this journal is that the behavioral processes involved have been studied and characterized to a considerable degree by those who investigate operant choice. In addition, scattered throughout the exposition is a litany of evidence making the view that drug addiction is a disease, at least in the normal sense of that word, difficult to defend. In this review I endeavor to describe briefly and evaluate some of the key points made by Heyman about how normal choice processes play a role in drug addiction and to highlight his arguments countering the “addiction is a brain disease”.

India vs Pakistan…A must watch for Kashmiris!!!
Owais Ahmad Shah

The arch rivals are always at each other’s throat.The high-voltage atmosphere between two countries is always mawing in people but Kashmiris are at the first place.The recent imbroglio between the two existed in the month of February when a fidayeen attack carried out at Lethpora in Pulwama claimed lives of more than forty CRPF men.The brutal attack sent shockwaves across region and set the scene for an acute political disorder.The conditions went out of control and ultra-nationalists stooped to beating Kashmiris,threatening and sending in numbers back home.
With no Govt in power,the Kashmiri voice almost seemed drowned out and the unabated assaults continued.Following up the attacks,India claimed to have carried out a surgical strike on the Jaish outfit in Pakistan.Media declaiming the attack and an announcement was made in the Home ministry about killing more than 300 Jaish militants.Pakistan threw a fit at India for overstepping the mark at LOC and Gung-ho-istic approach from both the sides set in trouble but Kashmiris always at first for being at the receiving end.
What calmed both sides was a pilot,Abhinandan who was captured by Pakistan and Imran Khan’s peace gesture put the whole house in order.
The World Cup was in the pipeline and the fixture read India vs Pakistan to be played in the grand events.India pulled back at this and went to forfeiting the match but later calmed down.
What was interesting more is the Kashmiri desire for watching the match.This is not only a cricket match but a matter of pride for country and Kashmiri needle always swings between the two.
The bilateral series between the two have been played a dot years ago.The 2008 Mumbai attacks almost ruined the relationship between the two and cricket was shutdown.
So the world Cup stared and the match played.India won and it’s grip continued on Pakistan in World Cup matches.
In the subcontinent,this cricket match is seen widely but Kashmir is always at first place for the political disturbance in the region.People of Kashmir see this as a beginning for a comprehensive dialogue but the tension exacerbates and Kashmiris bear brunt of the turmoil.
The time for shrugging-off anger is imperative and the amiable relationship is must for India Pakistan to decide the issue of Kashmir.The disturbed region is not on the table but at the menu.Its high time for both sides to place the recipe on table.

“Teenage Suicide…… Today’s Grave Problem”
Showkat Ahmad Dar and Engineer Firdous Nazir
Suicide is the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally. Teenage is the transition of one’s life. It’s that time period when an individual witnesses the
physical and psychological changes and it difficult for the young innocent minds to acclimatize to these changes. Over the years teenage suicide has become of the major cause of worry for our society.
The teenage live in their own world of dream and fantasies that is completely is different from ground realities. The harsh
realities of life hit them hard. They have high expectations and aspirations in regard to their personal and professional lives, which if are not fulfilled lead to disappointment,
resentment and ultimately suicide. A lot of hormonal changes became difficult for the teenagers to handle these changes resulting in stress and Frustration in their lives.
The teenagers are under constant pressure to meet their expectations of their parents. Some parents are in a habit to compare their children with their siblings and friends, who are better than them in their different spheres. This creates a sense of inferiority complex among these children. The teenagers who are unable to handle the pressure are haunted by suicidal thoughts as they are guilt ridden and consider their life worthless.
Teenagers often cannot cope up with the increasing pressure in their educational life. Thus schools appointed counselors to take the problem. Education experts so much pressure on
them, that during board examinations some students commit suicide. Suicide in Kota also justify this pressure theory. Kota is a major hub of the country for competitive exams preparations and has a number of engineering and medical coaching institutes.
The social media and dating websites have became quite popular among teenagers. Sometimes due to peer pressure and sometime by choice they get involved in the relationships.
But that fact is that they are not mature enough to handle the pressure of relationships. Unwanted teenage pregnancies failed relationships and rejection are the major causes of depression which instigate an adolescent to commit suicide.
In order to cope with the stress they resort to means such a alcohol drugs and smoking The end result of all these means is depression the than suicide. This all needs to comfort them by providing them emotional support.
The teenagers need to be taught that failures and rejections
are a part of life. The parents and teachers needs to teach the children the basic of sex education. Teenagers need to be taught the importance of life. Children should join yoga and
meditation classes which promote the well being of an individual.

Each individual is unique and has his own weakness and strengths. It is imperative for the parents and
teachers and family to understand this fact. The innocent minds of the teenagers need to be cushioned
with the love and care of the elders. This will help the teenagers to handle the tricky situations of life successfully and emerge as stronger human beings.

Poem on Smoking
By Gowher Bhat
To buy cigarettes to abed their habit. So you can see now how addictive nicotine could be, but most people don’t think of it that way, smoking is part of their life and daily routine.
So my plea is to the lawmakers, please put an age limit on cigarettes, have the shopkeepers post signs that people under the age of 18 years of age can not purchase them and enforce the law. This may detour our future youths not to begin smoking and assure them to have a healthier future. This issue has inspired me to write a poem about smoking.

If You Smoke

If you smoke your money is drained,
making your family members pained.

If you smoke it ruins your health,
which is more precious than wealth.

If you smoke it reduces your age,
the verdict with every doctor and sage.

If you smoke you face premature death,
almost denying you of your last breath.

If you smoke your children will imitate,
who may be doomed by a similar fate.

If you smoke you are downgraded,
rebukes and warning are traded.

If you smoke you pollute the air,
by spreading toxins here and there.

By quitting smoking you will lead an enriched life,
And also bring joy to people who are near and dear to you.