Slogans encapsulate the aspirations of a nation. When aired in thin air, they resonate and linger on and on to give rise to legends. These days, the most common affair in the Valley is a street protest. After last year’s pan-Kashmir uprising, people at the helm have their fingers crossed for a calm summer. But […]
Srinagar: In yet another audio message, former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Bhat aka Moosa offers his thanks for Afghanistan Al-Qaeda “who have in their Navae Afghan Jihad (Al-Qaeda magazine) concurred with our slogan: Shariah or martyrdom.” In a seven-minute audio clip released on Monday, Zakir says that his struggle will continue for the “establishment of the […]
Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai “The history of liberty is a history of resistance.” President Woodrow Wilson Nel Noddings, eminent American educationalist wrote in Peace Education: How We Come to Love and Hate War that “Gandhi, convinced of the power of Satyagraha, suggested that it be used by the Jews against the Nazis. In […]
Many of you must have seen the documentary recently aired on Al Jazeera, Kashmir: Born to Fight. Although a well-intentioned film, its title seems a little bothersome. It puts an implicating optics on Kashmir and Kashmiris. This title makes it look as though the problem is because Kashmiris are the troublemakers — they “fight” forcing […]
Generals shouldn’t get angry. That’s the general rule. And if Generals do get angry, they should try to not speak. Angry words from an angry General can do more harm than the guns under the General’s command. We saw that happening recently. When Generals say things in public, they obviously are interpreted as matters of […]
On 24 January 2017, 11 politicians in Jammu and Kashmir managed to pass a resolution in the 36-member J&K Legislative Council, urging the PDP-BJP coalition government to declare 23 September a public holiday in honour of the last king of the State, Maharaja Hari Singh, who was born on that date in 1895. Expectedly, […]
Some months ago, when the great aging sage of Absurdistan declared mass promotion for all school kids, there was instant jubilation all over. And why not. Who doesn’t want to skip the torture of exams. The great sage was immensely happy at his masterstroke. He had finally made his opponents bite dust, thought the learned […]
By Ulti Khopdee Sorry. If the title of this column rhymes with some pep-cum-wisdom episodic talk, it is sheer coincidence. No offence or parody intended. We all know aal is well in this Republic of Absurdistan. It is so well that hardly anything needs a remedy. Everything is fixed here with a neat mix of […]
Internationally recognised Kashmir-based expert on disaster mental health and behavioural scientist Prof Mushtaq A. Margoob is both worried and hopeful at the same time. The 2016 uprising and its subsequent brutal crushing by the State has not only opened old wounds, but has also taken a fresh toll on the collective mental health of the Valley. This […]
When towns and villages across Kashmir erupted in freedom protests after Burhan Wani’s killing on 8 July, international media quickly turned its focus on Kashmir. The focus somewhat shifted after the Uri attack towards relations between India and Pakistan and their war-mongering. Here is an assortment of what the major global outlets carried on various […]