Tuesday, March 19News and updates from Kashmir

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‘Battle for orchards and livelihood’: Railway expansion sparks tension in Kashmir’s Shopian

‘Battle for orchards and livelihood’: Railway expansion sparks tension in Kashmir’s Shopian

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Sibte Abdullah/ Boidurjya Singha Bashir Ahmed Bhat was working in his apple orchard when he noticed an unusual activity around his farm. The 56-year-old farmer went close to the intruders and noticed, a team of officials surveying the area. "I was informed that the government is taking our land up for a vital railway line project," said Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Reshipora area in Zainapora, nearly twenty kilometers away from the district headquarters of the south Kashmir district of Shopian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOkxkSKWQ4&t=212s Kashmir is world famous for its picturesque beauty. The apples of the regions are equally renowned. The fears of farmers like Bashir are triggered by the recent sanction of five railway lines through the valley. One of these lines, the A...
Fractured trust, shifting alliances: Kashmir’s political fabric haunted by trust deficit amid BJP’s gains

Fractured trust, shifting alliances: Kashmir’s political fabric haunted by trust deficit amid BJP’s gains

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On a chilly Sunday morning, February 13, 2022, eight out of ten security personnel stationed at the residence of Abdul Majeed Mir, former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Jammu Kashmir, received sudden orders to vacate his premises. Mir's security had been beefed up following attacks on his home in Achabal Anantnag by suspected militants in 2017 and 2018. Mir expressed bewilderment at the downgrade in his security status, questioning the rationale behind it. "I reside among my people in a bustling locality, not in a fortified enclave," he remarked, contrasting the treatment with what he perceives as leniency granted to government-affiliated figures that freely interact with the public. “On the other hand, the government’s created stooges are free to meet the public all seven ...
From advocacy to tragedy:  The courageous journey of Jalil Andrabi

From advocacy to tragedy: The courageous journey of Jalil Andrabi

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On 8th March, 1996, prominent human rights activist and Kashmiri lawyer, Jalil Andrabi was abducted from his home. On March 27, 1996, his decomposed body was discovered in the Jhelum river. Andrabi dedicated his life to advocating for civil liberties, a commitment that ultimately cost him his life in March 1996. As we reflect on his legacy, we are reminded of Herodotus' words: "Of all men's miseries, the bitterest is this, to know so much and to have control over nothing." Advocate Jalil Andrabi was intimately familiar with the realities of human rights violations in Kashmir and had meticulously documented cases by gathering information from victims' families and witnesses. Andrabi was constantly harassed for his political views by the officials of the time, but that did not ha...
From birth control to electoral battles: Rise of MUF in Kashmir’s turbulent 1980s

From birth control to electoral battles: Rise of MUF in Kashmir’s turbulent 1980s

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Khilat Abid/ Hooria Gillani/ Bayed Mubarak In his autobiography, “Khar e Gulistan,” Maulana Abbas Ansari recalls that the unity of Kashmiri Muslims in the year of 1986 was like a "powerful force that arises from the coming together of people, similar to the force observed when scattered droplets combine to form the vastness of the ocean." This analogy highlights the unity of various social and religious entities that came under a single umbrella to form the Muslim United Front (MUF). In the 70s and 80s, India adopted an aggressive birth control program. In 1977, approximately 24 percent of eligible couples in the age group of 15 to 44 years, capable of bearing children, were practising a form of birth control to escape government harassment. In Kashmir, this program had minimal im...
Khanqah-e-Moula: A spiritual phoenix that survived fires, Kashmir’s historical trials

Khanqah-e-Moula: A spiritual phoenix that survived fires, Kashmir’s historical trials

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Bhat Yasir In the picturesque valley of Kashmir, where the air is imbued with the spirit of syncretism, the Khanqah-e-Moula of Srinagar stands as an architectural and spiritual gem. Constructed in 1395 by Sultan Sikander in homage to the revered Sufi saint Mir Ali Hamdan, this sacred sanctuary weaves together threads of spirituality and history that have left an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of the Kashmir valley. Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, fondly known as Shah-i-Hamadan, found solace in Kashmir, and his stay played a pivotal role in shaping the early foundations of Islam in the valley. The Khanqah, primarily a mosque, is a living testament to the syncretic ethos of Kashmir, with its wood architecture drawing inspiration not only from Islamic styles but also from the rich...
‘Hero or Traitor?’: Zutshi’s book ‘The caged lion of Kashmir’ captures Sheikh Abdullah’s journey through the Kashmir turmoil

‘Hero or Traitor?’: Zutshi’s book ‘The caged lion of Kashmir’ captures Sheikh Abdullah’s journey through the Kashmir turmoil

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Titled "Sheikh Abdullah: The Caged Lion of Kashmir," Chitralekha Zutshi's book meticulously unravels the intricate tapestry of Kashmir's most towering and enigmatic figure. From his humble beginnings in the village of Soura, surrounded by the harsh realities of poverty and oppression under the Dogra rule, to his eventual rise as a fierce Kashmiri nationalist, Abdullah's life story unfolds against the tumultuous backdrop of Indian politics and global dynamics. Zutshi, a distinguished history professor at William & Mary with a specialization in South Asian history, intricately weaves together the threads of Abdullah's journey. Drawing from extensive research and historical analysis, the biography provides a multi-dimensional portrait of the man who dared to challenge the status ...
Identity Crisis: The ‘Unjust’ grant of Scheduled Tribe status to upper castes in Jammu Kashmir

Identity Crisis: The ‘Unjust’ grant of Scheduled Tribe status to upper castes in Jammu Kashmir

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Muzaffar Choudhary In a recent turn of events, there is growing apprehension and concern regarding the potential grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to upper castes in Jammu  Kashmir (J&K). This decision, based on linguistic considerations, not only violates the principles of social justice but also poses a significant threat to the foundational fabric of democracy. The move perpetuates existing social stigmas, derogatory remarks, and discrimination faced by tribal communities, exacerbating the longstanding inequalities they endure. The classification of Pahari from a linguistic to a tribal group has sparked controversy. The government's decision to confer Scheduled Tribe (ST) status on Gadda Brahman Padars, Koli, and Syeds Mirs, who are upper castes and don't meet the Lokur ...
‘Silent Outcasts’: The caste nobody wants to marry in Kashmir

‘Silent Outcasts’: The caste nobody wants to marry in Kashmir

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Basit Shah Shahid Wani was in love with a girl from a 'lower caste,' for several years, however, last year when he spoke to his parents about it. He was met with rejection from his mother. "Despite the emotional turmoil, that we had to undergo, my family did not agree to marry me to a woman from the Sheikh caste," said Shahid, a resident of Rainawari Srinagar. ALSO READ: Denied Love and Land- Caste Prejudice is Real and it is Unspoken of in Kashmir Referred to as 'Kram' or 'Zaat' in Kashmiri language, caste dictates a person's societal standing from birth until death, encompassing professions and influencing social aspects, including marriage. Each 'Zaat' is intricately linked to a traditional job function, and social privileges are often contingent upon the perceived 'status of the c...
Legacy of Loss: Residents of Kashmir village haunted by decades-old gunfight memories

Legacy of Loss: Residents of Kashmir village haunted by decades-old gunfight memories

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Shahid ul Islam In the heart of nature’s embrace lies Budan, a village in Kashmir's north, adorned with lush flora and vibrant fauna, encircled by bountiful apple orchards. The rhythmic hum of agricultural activities resonates through the air as every villager tends to their orchards, cultivating a livelihood in harmony with the thriving landscape. Today, Budan stands as a flourishing community, boasting over 100 houses that bear witness to the symbiotic relationship between the people and the fruitful land they call home. In the quiet village nestled within the Baramulla district of Kashmir about 80 kilometers north of Srinagar, lives were forever altered by a conflict that left scars both physical and emotional. The scars of harrowing gunfights continue to cast a shadow o...
Echoes of the past: Anantnag Kashmir’s day of defiance against Babri demolition

Echoes of the past: Anantnag Kashmir’s day of defiance against Babri demolition

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Meer Irfan "It was an ocean of people. When we reached the general bus stand, we noticed the BSF personnel with the loaded guns pointed at us. They fired in the air, and people ran for cover, most of us leaving behind our slippers and shoes," said Riyaz Ahmed, a resident of Achabal adda area of the main town Anantnag in south Kashmir. Riyaz Ahmed was a part of a procession that was taken out in Anantnag town, a day after the demolition of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992. As we delve into this harrowing chapter of history, it's crucial to understand the backdrop that fueled the emotions of the protestors. The Babri Masjid, situated in Ayodhya, India, was constructed in 1528–29 (935 AH) by Mir Baqi, a commander under the Mughal emperor Babur. This historic mosque became a fo...