WRITE-UPS

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent leader of Hamas, in Tehran on July 2024 marked a dramatic and tragic turn in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Haniyeh, who had become a central figure in Hamas’s political operations and international diplomacy, was reportedly killed in a raid that Hamas attributed to Israeli forces. This event not only shocked the international community but also cast a long shadow over the fragile peace efforts and negotiations between Israel and Hamas. As the world grappled with the implications of his death, it became evident that Haniyeh's legacy would be one deeply intertwined with the turbulent and often violent history of the Middle East. Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent Palestinian political figure and a central leader of Hamas, a milit...

The name of Qadir Ganderbali, often referred to as "Ister" (iron press), had largely faded from Kashmir's political discourse for some time. However, late Kashmiri Pandit activist Sampat Prakash revived the name by frequently invoking "Ister," symbolizing the severe methods allegedly used by Ganderbali. Infamously known for his harsh and brutal tactics, Ganderbali's name alone was enough to instill fear among Kashmiris, especially the older generation. His brute measures continue to haunt his legacy. In this essay, we explore the life and career of Qadir Ganderbali to better understand his impact and significance. Qadir Ganderbali, born into the Sheikh landlord family of Ganderbal, began his career as a sergeant in the Jammu Kashmir Police during Maharaja Hari Singh's reign. Rising t...

Bhat Yasir In Kashmir, thousands of workers like Ali Mohammed Khan from downtown Srinagar have been highly worried post the installation of smart meters in their area. "Earlier, in areas with poorer people, they charged a flat rate, but it has become very tough for us to pay these heightened bills, but it looks tougher times area ahead as the department intends to install prepaid meters now," said 61-year-old Khan. Smart electricity meters is a concept borrowed from the western countries. One of the first countries to install smart meters was in Italy. Italy began rolling out smart meters in the early 2000s, with the aim of modernizing its electricity grid and improving efficiency. The Italian government mandated the installation of smart meters for all electricity consumers, incl...

On July 23, 1903, the greatest recorded flood ever hit Kashmir. By 10 o'clock, the bund protecting the Dal Lake was breached, causing the water to rise 10 feet above its high level and causing significant damage to floating gardens, houses, and other structures. Kashmir has a history of devastating floods, with the most recent occurring in 2014. Numerous large-scale floods have been recorded in the 19th and 20th centuries. A major disaster struck the valley in 1893 following heavy rainfall. According to Saligram Bhatt in his 2004 book, Kashmir Ecology and Environment: New Concerns and Strategies, the water level during the 1903 floods was three points higher than the 1893 floods. Bhatt noted, "7,000 dwellings went down in the neighbourhood of the city, including 773 on the Dal Lake."...

Sheikh Nadeem/ Danishwar Hameed Suffering losses for the last five years, the paddy and apple farmers from the Kashmir valley have expressed disappointment over the union budget released on July 23, 2024 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Farmers from the valley said that the budget has completely "ignored" the farming sector and did not address the demand for a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP), a demand that has been made by the farmers constantly for the past several years. Sitharaman announced a ₹1.52 lakh crore allocation for agriculture and allied sectors for 2024-25, detailing plans to boost research, promote sustainable farming, increase oilseed and pulse production, and integrate technology into agriculture. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman ...

In April 1865, numbered in hundreds the Shawl workers took the lead against the autocratic empire of the Dogra Kings and organized a unique rising. On the historic day of April 29th, 1865, the workers joined the struggle to obtain their demands. It was perhaps the 1st organized Demand Day in the history of the class. Institute of Public Policy Research and Development (IPPRD) . Workers from all parts of the Srinagar city marched in procession towards Zaldagar, Srinagar. They raised slogans and burnt down the effigy of Raja Kak Dhar, who was not only the Daroga of the Shawl Department but also worked as a contractor. He had taken a contract from the ruler and was personally interested to suck more blood from the shawl workers- Rao Farman Ali Malik- Kashmir :A Century Struggle(1846-19...

1846--Gulab Singh's rise to power in Kashmir marked a pivotal moment in the valley's history. The era was characterized by privatizing land and the consolidation of autocratic rule. Gulab Singh's policies transformed agrarian societies into tenants on their ancestral lands, laying the groundwork for socio-economic disparities and cultural suppression. During his successor Ranbir Singh's reign, religious tensions escalated with the prohibition of new mosque constructions in Kashmir. Ranbir Singh's policies exacerbated religious and cultural sensitivities among Kashmir's Muslim majority population~ Chitralekha Zutshi, in Kashmir: Convoluted Histories. The anti-Dogra resistance movements in Kashmir found sporadic but passionate expression. The defiance of 1924, particularly the construc...

Bayed Mubarak The streets of Anantnag are adorned with flags symbolizing the tragic event at Karbala, where Imam Hussain was martyred on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The town's spaces are occupied by youth distributing water to commuters. Pro-Hussain banners and flags are being sold, mostly around the Rishi Bazar area, which houses the Jamia mosque of the district. This love for Imam Hussain and the concept of Shia-Sunni unity in Anantnag and its suburbs dates back to the 1980s. In 1986, Kashmir was gripped by unemployment, silence, and frustration, particularly among the youth. Secret meetings were organized against various policies imposed by the then-governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Jagmohan. One prominent scholar at the forefront of uniti...

In the heart of Srinagar's bustling bazaar, an elderly man named Ghulam held court, his voice laden with the weight of decades marked by conflict. "In the days of the Dogra Maharajas," Ghulam began, "there lived Yusuf, a humble farmer whose dreams extended beyond harvests to justice for those who nurtured the land." Yusuf, known for his devotion to family and the land, struggled under oppressive Dogra rule that denied him ancestral rights, reducing him and fellow farmers to tenants. Witnessing his labor enrich others while his family suffered fueled his resolve. During a severe winter famine, Yusuf rallied farmers quietly, urging unity against injustice. Standing beneath a towering chinar tree, he declared, "We till this land with our sweat and blood, yet are denied our rights. It's ...

Dr. Neha Singh The tragic demise of Dr. Aparna Basak, a 30-year-old doctor in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, serves as a stark reminder that getting into the medical profession does not always equate to personal happiness or success. Despite the traditional reverence for the medical profession, her story raises critical questions about the true nature of fulfillment and the challenges faced by those in high-pressure careers. While the medical field is often associated with stability and prestige, recent research and real-life stories highlight a more complex reality. In this opinion piece, we try to explore why being a doctor, despite its societal status, may not guarantee happiness or economic prosperity, and how the evolving job market impacts this once-revered profession. The allur...