Media in the besieged Valley of Kashmir is going gaga over a ‘Facebook post’ shared by the poster boy of Indian bureaucracy in Kashmir Shah Faesal. The way Kashmir press is giving it hype is both surprising as well as saddening. The Facebook post in itself isn’t something that deserves … Read more →
Kashmir: Dispatches from Behind a Siege
Yasir Altaf Zargar People were returning from their regular chores, when the news that the famous Kashmiri local rebel who had turned to militancy at the age of 15, had been killed in an encounter near Kokernag, 15 kms away from district Anantnag. People in long chains came out from … Read more →
Mehbooba Mufti invites journalists to dinner, but…
Parvaiz Bukhari On Wednesday, two days after the Jammu and Kashmir government moved to the state’s summer capital of Srinagar, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti invited select members of the press for dinner at a guest house in the sylvan Zabarwan foothills. Since she took charge in early April she has … Read more →
to stories rumoured in branches
These paintings by Rollie Mukherjee are based on the Kashmir region; its pathos, militarization, resistance and struggles. Titled “to stories rumored in branches” these paintings were included in a solo show at the Conflictorium: a museum of conflict in Ahmedabad (April-May 2016) Rollie Mukherjee is an artist and art critic based … Read more →
That Language Of The Gun
Tariq Mehmood I came to Srinagar, Kashmir, for the wedding of my friend’s daughter. After the wedding, along with a couple who had come from Malaysia, we decided to visit Pahalgam. We started our journey from the Dal lake. It was a bright warm summer’s day. The reflection of the snow … Read more →
A tribute to Atta Mohammad
Angana Chatterji Atta Mohammad (1940-2016) was a gravedigger and caretaker of the unknown, unmarked and some mass graves at Chehal Bimyar located in the Northern Kashmir district of Baramulla. For those seeking to locate persons missing and disappeared and to access local knowledge and the events of history, Atta Mohammad’s … Read more →
Love and Cheer in Tight Embrace
By Saba Mahjoor mid-day the spicy potatoes the black blanket on the floor dozing in and out of careless folly the milky sleep the mild heat blazing blue sky candy floss clouds the gentle breeze trees swaying a last secret green eyes blue veined hands a kiss on the lips a … Read more →
My silky silhouette
I What if one day I say, Love I’m tired of this pretend-perfection What if that day I unwrap My silky silhouette Unhook my gold earrings Scatter my pearl necklace Unknot my braids of reason Only to show you My scarred forehead Muddied hands Bruised knees My bright doll-house What … Read more →
An Open (Love) Letter to Kashmir from a Koshur Gobur
Dear Kashmir, It seems to be the season of open letters, so I too will hop on and instead of wasting my breath on writing open letters to people who do not deserve my attention and much less my words, I am writing you this long due (love) letter. I … Read more →
In Kashmir, ‘fearless mobs’ help militants escape
Parvaiz Bukhari. In a graveyard at his school in Indian Kashmir, principal Ghulam Ahmed Bhat stares sadly at a mound of freshly dug earth after another former pupil was killed in the region’s conflict. University student Shaista Hameed was caught in crossfire during a gun battle between soldiers and militants … Read more →
Intisaab- Kashmir kay shuhda kay naam
Mohammad Huzaifa Pandit Badan dareeda huun aaj ki ghata bain karti hui aayi hai Yeh sham ki kasini chaon, dehleez pay pukartay saaye Aur dareechon ki na-beena tatolti aankhain Khoonrez hawaao.n main, boo-e-gham ki muntazir Ki aaj qatalgahon say shayad phir teray kakulon ki mehak aayi hai. Haan wohi mehak … Read more →
Language without a Nation
Mir Hilal A year ago, when my son was 18 months old, he began to speak in chaste Kashmiri, and instantly became an oddity. He would draw a blank when people tried to charm him in Urdu spoken with a distinctly Kashmiri flavour. And when I would say he speaks … Read more →
Kar Sa Myoun Neyay Andhe [When will my troubles end] by Mahmud Gami
Mahmud Gami (1765–1855) is a famous poet from Dooru Shahabad in South Kashmir. His work “Yusuf Zulaikha” has been translated into German by Fredrich Burkhard. [Trans. Ather Zia] Kar sa myoun nai andey, maer mandeh madan waro When will my troubles end, my comely beloved Tchond-makh haneh haneh-ey – Wani-neh … Read more →
Work of Mourning
Ather Zia 29 June 2012 7 am. The newspaper guy’s voice sounded wistful; “Dasgir’s Saeb’s shrine at Khanyar is burning”. My father grimaced painfully. My mother heard the news, unusually contained for a person who offered most of her prayers there. She did not utter a word. Her steaming cup … Read more →
Tea with Chilai Kalaan
Dr. Shabir Mir For generations winter has been a season of indolence and gossip for us. As the mercury dips down not only does the water freeze but so does the time as well. There is no more work to be done in apple orchards or in paddy fields. The … Read more →
The Rebel’s Silhouette and Shahid’s treatment to translation
Dhaar Mehak | Faizaan Bhat Call me a poet Dear editor They call this my alien language I am a dealer in words That mix cultures And leave me rootless BACK-DROP Having a Kashmiri … Read more →
Concerned Faculty on the JNU crisis
In the wake of events around the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the crackdown on students, a group of female faculty in various disciplines who work in/on Kashmir remind us why the focus on the Kashmiri right to self-determination should not be negated. We are scholars of Kashmir from different … Read more →
The Leftist from Downtown
Khalid Mir In 2014 visiting home for Eid just before the floods ravaged much of Srinagar City and the vale, I found myself sipping coffee with a couple of acquaintances at the famed city restaurant ‘The Hideout’. Call me a cynic, even as the discussion hovered around how the society … Read more →
Lehra Aey Kashmir Key Jhandey Lehra
Engineer Rashid It was Saturday, 7th June 1952 when the Constituent Assembly met in the Assembly Chamber Rajgarh Palaces Srinagar at 11o clock. Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, then President Assembly (Speaker used to be called as President Assembly) began proceedings of the day by calling Hon’ble Prime Minister Shiekh Mohammad … Read more →
Munnu A Boy from Kashmir: Story telling at its most graphic
Munnu A Boy from Kashmir By Malik Sajad Fourth Estate London Book Review by Freny Manecksha The frontispiece entitled Family Portrait has a sketch of five creatures that appear to have human characteristics but why do they sport antlers and elongated faces resembling deer? Art Spiegelman, American cartoonist and strong advocate … Read more →