WRITE-UPS

Azra Zahra One February afternoon in 2011, while navigating the bustling bazaar of Muzaffarabad, I ascended a narrow staircase and stumbled upon a set of small rooms on the second floor. Despite one door being slightly ajar with scattered wood inside, a sudden fear drove me to rush downstairs, unsure of where it might lead. I sought guidance from the shopkeepers to pinpoint the location of a newspaper man's residence. Following their directions, I returned to the same spot and eventually contacted Ibrahim Gull over the phone to confirm his dwelling. Upon receiving the confirmation, I climbed the stairs again and, as I ventured closer to the doorway, a voice beckoned me inside. The familiar tone resonated with "Mira Ji," though this time, it was Ibrahim Gul, known as "Gul Bhai....

Jammu Kashmir historically has four distinct areas; Muzaffarabad, Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. During the partition of 1947, a Line of Control (LOC) came into existence, which divided Jammu Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On the 5th of August, 2019, the Indian government divided the region falling under its domain into two federally governed territories; Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Under the rule of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the Jammu province was divided into seven wazarats, namely Jammu Khas, Jasrota, Ramnagar, Udhampur, Reasi, Nowshera, and Mansar. Notably, this administrative reorganization saw marked improvements in land revenue assessment. In contrast, the Kashmir province, also under Maharaja Ranbir Singh's governance, was divided into six wazarats (court): Shahra-i-Khas, Anantnag, ...

Zahid, a former online strategist and Google AdWords account manager, has come forward with detailed allegations of discrimination and unfair treatment during his tenure at Google India Private Limited. The incidents, revealed by Zahid to The Kashmiriyat, spanning over 18 months, shed light on a series of discriminatory practices and psychological torment that have left Zahid seeking justice and redress. "I worked for Google's AdWords ETO team in Gurugram, India. Despite being recognized as a high achiever and dedicated employee, my experience was marred by discrimination based on my identity as a Kashmiri Muslim," Zahid revealed, detailing the challenges he faced while working for the tech giant. The discrimination allegedly began with provocative discussions initiated by middle ...

Farhat Riyaz In the heart of one of the most enduring humanitarian crises of our time, the world witnesses a paradox that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of empathy. The Palestine conflict, a long-standing tale of loss, despair, and hope, unfolds with new chapters each day. Yet, within the Arab nations appear to be occupied with pursuits that are far from pressing humanitarian concerns. The perplexing question remains: Why are they seemingly more engrossed in entertainment, such as Shakira's concert, while their Palestinian friends pop neighbours are struggling to survive? Palestine's struggle has been etched in history, a testament to human resilience and the enduring spirit of a people faced with relentless adversity. The lives of Palestinians, whether in the Gaza Strip or th...

In a significant ruling, the High Court of Jammu Kashmir has quashed the Public Safety Act detention of Kashmiri journalist Sajad Gul. The court's decision, citing vague grounds and violations of constitutional rights, marks a crucial turn in the case that began with Sajad's arrest in January 2022. The court order accessed by The Kashmiriyat, issued by Justice M.A Choudary on November 09, highlighted that the grounds for Sajad Gul's detention consisted of general allegations without specific instances or incidents. The order stated that such vague grounds didn't justify curtailing Sajad's liberty, violating his rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Reference was made to Supreme Court judgments in similar cases to support this argument. The detention order fac...

Kounsar Bashir  In the serene backdrop of Kashmir, an ominous shadow has crept over the valley in the form of a surging drug crisis. Arif's close call with tragedy is but a single chapter in this unsettling narrative. Arif found himself in a remote room during his cousin's wedding celebration in the ancestral village of Dehruna. What started as an ordinary midnight party escalated into a nightmarish ordeal. Whiskey flowed freely, followed by cannabis, and ultimately heroin. But as the night's excitement peaked, Arif's joy turned to agony. His muscles cramped, and his skin crawled, drenched in sweat before he collapsed. For the next thirteen hours, he lay unconscious, friends concocting excuses to cover his absence. Arif was one of the fortunate ones to survive. Kashmir ha...

Mominabad, a neighborhood in the sprawling Batamaloo area of Kashmir, in May witnessed a brutal and shocking incident that has left the community in deep shock. Ajaz Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Mominabad, was brutally murdered, stabbed multiple times, and tragically succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The true horror of the incident emerged when the police arrested a 16-year-old boy within less than 24 hours and revealed the motive behind the attack: "anger and revenge." The authorities disclosed that the teenage assailant had developed an "interest" in the victim's teenage daughter and had arguments with Ajaz as he objected to the advances. On the evening of May 30, as Ajaz went shopping, his daughter returned from tuition to find her father lying unconscious i...

The apple industry of Kashmir, one of the largest contributors to the region's economy, is likely to be hit by the Indian Government's decision to remove additional duty from American products including walnuts, almonds, apples and chickpeas among others. The Ministry of Finance ahead of the G20 event in New Delhi announced the elimination of tariffs on a number of American products, including chickpeas, lentils (masur), apples, walnuts in shells, fresh or dried almonds, as well as shelled almonds, in a notification dated September 5. United State and India decided to resolve six WTO issues and remove retaliatory tariffs on particular US goods during Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to the US in June. The decision will result in cutting down of 10 percent taxes on chickpeas, lent...

Renaming India to Bharat will cost an estimated 14,300 crore, higher than the amount India spends every month to feed 80 crore Indians. As per media reports, the resolution of renaming India is likely to be taken up in the Special Session of Parliament which is scheduled from the 18th of September to the 21st. Notably, the move has come few weeks after the opposition alliance named itself INDIA. This comes as the official invite to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu has gone with the heading President of Bharat. The controversy started a day after the formation of coalition named India, when the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on twitter, "REPUBLIC OF BHARAT - happy and proud that our civilisation is marchi...