CULTURE

Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits continued to uphold the age-old bond of brotherhood and communal harmony by jointly performing the last rites of an 84-year-old Kashmir Pandit woman at Kahrote village of South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday. Local sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the elderly Pandit woman, Soni Raina, wife of Badrinath Raina, was suffering from diabetes and passed away today. The family did not migrate in the 1990s, and she left behind five children. The local Muslims organized and performed her last rites, mourning her death as one of their own, and arranged wood for the cremation in the village. Badrinath Raina, husband of the deceased, said, "We have a strong connection with the Muslim community here in our village. The bond of...

Rayees Shah The blanket weaving artisans of the Dard Shina community in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district are grappling with the challenge of preserving their heritage due to a lack of recognition from the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom. These artisans originally hail from the picturesque Jawdara village of Gurez, now residing in parts of Ganderbal. A resilient community of the Dard-Shina tribe, they have been meticulously crafting traditional tribal blankets, shawls, woolen caps, and socks for generations. Following their displacement due to a devastating avalanche in 2005, they found solace and a new home in Chatergul Bala village, situated in Ganderbal district, where they continue to practice their craft with unwavering determination. Ghulam Mohammad, a 70-yea...

The suspension letter issued by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Langate has come under scrutiny for its alleged casteist undertones. The letter about the suspension of a forest guard for attire resembling that of a shepherd has raised concerns among rights activists and community members. While acknowledging the importance of proper attire for forest officials, the letter's association with shepherds has been deemed unacceptable by critics. Additionally, the denigration of the traditional Pheran attire has sparked outrage, with questions raised about the implications of such remarks on Kashmiri culture and identity. Rights activist, Advocate Mir Imran, expressed strong condemnation of the letter, stating in his Facebook post, "The alleged suspension letter viral on Facebook is...

Mohammed Aslam Bhat is on a pursuit to preserve the rich legacy of Kashmir’s copper ware craftsmanship. Amidst the rapid march of modernity, Bhat remains steadfast, continuing to craft exquisite copper art and products that embody the centuries of cultural heritage and his passion towards it. Bhat’s creative process is deeply rooted in his surroundings. From cycles to chairs, he finds inspiration in everyday objects, transforming them into intricate pieces of art. He strives to ensure that his work remains distinctly Kashmiri, even when it finds its way beyond the borders of the valley. “This craft requires hard work and if done with precision, it can bring great joy and financial satisfaction. Unemployment is on the rise and this craft has a lot of scope. I appeal to the new g...

Ghulam Rasool Sofi, aged 60, stands as the final bastion of a dying craft. Born into a lineage of artisans, he has dedicated his life to this handiwork that defines Kashmir's cultural heritage. However, as machines encroach upon tradition, Sofi's artistry faces an uncertain future. Talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he explained the decline of his beloved crafts saying, “I challenge there will be no one like me in the whole of Kashmir skilled in this art.” “My work lands in many countries like Spain and America,” says Sofi, adding that the essence of his handiwork cannot be replicated by mechanized processes. Sofi's journey as an artisan has been marked by collaboration with esteemed personalities like Jamal Siraj. Together, they once reaped the rewards of th...

Shah Basit Taking a significant step towards linguistic inclusivity, Microsoft has recently expanded its Translator capabilities, adding four additional languages, including Kashmiri. With this development, the total count now reaches 20 supported Indian languages, edging closer to covering all 22 officially recognized languages in the country. This expansion notably addresses the linguistic needs of nearly 95% of India’s diverse population. Users can now access translation services across various platforms, such as the Microsoft Translator app, Edge browser, Office 365, Bing Translator, and Azure AI Translator API, which is utilized by companies like Jio Haptik and Koo. Azure AI Translator enables seamless translation between the newly introduced languages and over 135 others,...

A specialized academy is set to be established to provide language courses in Kashmiri and Dogri at Delhi University, Ambedkar University Delhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) in New Delhi, as reported by The Indian Express. This initiative is geared towards supporting the promotion and preservation of the languages and culture of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in light of the diaspora of J&K residents, mainly comprising displaced migrants now residing in New Delhi. The Delhi Development Authority has already issued directives to identify a suitable location for the establishment of a Kashmiri-Dogri Academy, according to the report. Citing an official, The Indian Express mentioned that L-G VK Saxena has chaired two meetings on the matter. The Arts, Cul...

Renowned senior theatre director and recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Mushtaq Kak, passed away at the age of 62 at his residence. Having directed over 100 plays and appeared in numerous Hindi movies, he breathed his last following a prolonged illness. His demise in Srinagar was widely condoled by locals and the artistic community of Kashmir paid tribute to his impactful legacy. Mushtaq Kak's influence spanned the realms of theatre and cinema. Recognized for his directorial prowess in acclaimed productions like “Andha Yug,” “Malika,” and “Pratibimb,” he left an indelible mark in the theatrical world. His adaptability shone through in works adapted from renowned writers such as Saadat Hasan Manto, Anton Chekhov, and Vijay Tendulkar. Moreover, his prese...

Muslims and Sikhs came together to perform the last rites of Sikh women in Tral on Saturday. Silinder Kour wife of Kartar Singh resident of Gulbagh Tral died on Saturday following which Muslims made arrangements for her last rites. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Singh’s family is the only Sikh family residing in Muslim dominated Gulbagh village and Muslims neighbours thronged to their residence as soon as the news about the death broke out. People from Sikh community from nearby Naner Tral also visited the bereaved family. They along with Muslims took the body on their back to Naner village where her last rites were performed. Singh’s neighbours not only took the body to Naner but they also ferried firewood to cremate the deceased. “Our religion teaches u...