WRITE-UPS

Today marks 23 years since the Bijbehara tragedy of December 21, 2001, when five women were killed by unidentified gunmen in two villages of Bijbehara, Anantnag district. The attacks, which occurred late at night around 10:30 PM, targeted Sikh and Kashmiri Hindu families in Pushkreeri and Hugam, leaving the minority communities shattered and fearful. In Pushkreeri, the gunmen reportedly called the male residents out of their homes to assemble at a specific location. When the women intervened to question their intentions, the gunmen opened fire, killing three young girls—Sumeet Kaur, Rosy Kaur, and Julie Kaur—on the spot. Two others were injured in the attack. Recalling the night, a resident, Paramjit Singh, said, “The gunmen wanted the male members of the community to assemble at a ...

Mir Muntazir Gull In the present era, Islamic discourse is increasingly shaped by singular, dominating narratives, fueled by an influx of capital that amplifies certain voices over others. This trend, prevalent both online and offline, often sidelines the rich plurality of opinions that have historically defined Islamic scholarship. As a result, controversies erupt, spurred by extremist narratives that go unchallenged, leaving many unaware of the nuanced, often more robust, counterarguments rooted in tradition. In this environment, where social media and Google searches become the primary sources of Islamic knowledge—often for the sake of winning online arguments—misconceptions proliferate. For instance, debates over whether non-Muslims can enter mosques are frequently reduc...

Mohammad Shafi Ayaz’s book The Tale of My Town is an intricate tapestry that brings Anantnag to life through 52 engaging chapters. The book delves into the town’s multifaceted legacy, covering families, religious landmarks, cultural icons, and much more. Anantnag, often referred to as the "Land of Springs," is a prominent town in South Kashmir, situated approximately 53 kilometers southeast of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Nestled between the majestic Himalayas, the town serves as a gateway to famous tourist destinations like Pahalgam and Kokernag. Anantnag is geographically positioned at the confluence of three vital rivers—Lidder, Arapath, and Brengi—giving it immense ecological and cultural importance. Its rich agricultural land and saffron cultivation have histo...

Syed Hammad Bukhari "This land is our soul. If they take it, they take our lives too,"says Abdul Aziz Lone, a 90-year-old resident of Dirhama, a village in Bijbehara located 19 kilometers north of Anantnag. Known for its fertile agricultural fields, Dirhama has become a flashpoint of protests against a railway project that threatens to displace families and swallow their farmland. Residents say they were neither consulted nor informed properly about the project’s impact. According to the Ministry of railways, a rail project of 77.5 Kilometres will be started from Anantnag to Pahalgam. The project runs through several areas of the district's Bijbebara belt including the village of Dirhama. Last year, during the winter session of Parliament, the Minister for Railways, Ashwani Vai...

Hammad Bukhari  August 5, 2019,  marked a significant turning point in the political landscape of Jammu Kashmir. Although the BJP-led central government celebrated the abrogation of constitutional safeguards under 370 as a step toward greater integration and economic prosperity for the region, the consequences are more complicated. In April last year, data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showed that J&K had among the highest unemployment rates in India at 23.1 percent. This is also reflected in the disproportionately large number of applications for the few government posts when these are advertised. In 2022, 97,793 candidates appeared for the examination conducted by the J&K Service Selection Board (JKSSB) for 1,200 sub-inspector posts, which was subs...

Shabir Ali It has been 218 days since the tragic capsizing of a boat in the swollen waters of the Jhelum River claimed the life of 38-year-old Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, leaving his family in anguish. Today, as the river runs almost dry and the water levels have receded, the memories of that fateful day remain frozen in time for Saja Begum, his grieving mother. Every day since April, Saja Begum has returned to the riverbank, her frail figure silhouetted against the now-placid waters. With tears streaming down her face, she pleads with the river to return her son's body. “The river has given me nothing but sorrow. Every morning, I come here hoping it will show mercy and give back my son,” she whispers, clutching a fading photo of Showkat. For Saja, the river is no longer a source ...

Shah Basit/ Meer Irfan In the Hydergund area of Shopian, Abdul Gaffar Khan gazes over his apple orchard, noting the reduced yield this season. “We desperately need a good snowfall this winter,” he says. “Without it, our orchards and livelihoods won’t survive another year like this.” This sentiment echoes across Kashmir, where farming and horticulture depend heavily on a consistent winter snowfall to rejuvenate water resources and ensure agricultural sustainability. Agriculture and horticulture are pillars of the Kashmir Valley's economy, employing 70 per cent of its population directly or indirectly. Apple farming alone contributes about ₹10,000 crores annually, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of the region’s GDP. The sector supports approximately 3.5 million people, providing...

Danishwar Hameed Kashmir is suddenly awakened to the urgent need to safeguard minors and children after a tragic road accident in the Natipora area of Srinagar, where two young boys lost their lives when their Thar vehicle collided with a tipper. In recent days, traffic police, government officials, and citizens alike have raised alarms about the increasing number of accidents, particularly those involving minors. However, this incident is far from isolated. A growing and concerning trend has emerged, marked by the glorification of road rage, off beat racing, and stunt biking. What we are witnessing is not the beginning of a crisis, but potentially its devastating culmination. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, Jammu Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a staggering 8,914 road acc...

Syed Hammad Bukhari On January 4, 1964, at 5:30 p.m. the holy relic of Hazratbal Shrine which is a strand from the bread of Prophet Muhammad was found again after being missing from 8 days which led to a social unrest in the state of Jammu Kashmir. This soon took a Political turn later causing G.M. Sadiq to be elected as Prime Minister replacing Shamsuddin. Since arrest of Sheikh Abdullah in 1953, many provisions of the autonomy of J-K had been revoked with time, however, the March 28, 1965, amendment by Sadiq was seen as last nail to the coffin. This changed the position of Jammu Kashmir from Self-determination to the level of autonomy it would receive with accession to the Union of India. However, under Sadiq’s rule, initiatives were taken for Sheikh Abdullah’s release. On ...

The Jammu Massacre, in the aftermath of partition of India and Pakistan, is one of the most gruesome episode of human history. In this long piece, we explore the incidents of the day through prominent historian M.Y. Saraf's book. Following the March 1947 rioting in Punjab Rawalpindi, Attock, Murree, Bannu, and Hazara, the first trickle of refugees arrived in Jammu in April. The daily flood peaked in late 1947, when an estimated 160,000 Hindus and Sikhs came from Pakistan’s western provinces. (January 26, 1947, The Times, London) During the partition-related unrest, the majority of  Sialkot’s non-Muslim population had fled to Jammu. Sialkot and Jammu were essentially twin cities. The Dogras were the primary people of Sialkot’s north-eastern region. They were culturally and lingu...