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Others Columns
Kashmir: How to Resist and Why?
The other day I read a very interesting and stimulating article on the Palestinian resistance movement by Linah Alsaafin. She is a recent graduate of Birzeit University in the West Bank. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Alsaafin was raised in England, the United States and Palestine. I thought a little background of the author is necessary in the overall context of the subject under discussion. Among many things which the author has articulated in her article, the one argument that strikes me the most...
Republic of Hunger
Despite the economic growth and outsourcing of foreign jobs by western companies to India, majority of the Indian population still flounder in extreme poverty and disease. Behind India’s new-found economic strength are three hundred million poor people that live on less than $1 per day. Government figures may indicate a reduction in poverty. But the truth is, with increasing global food prices, poverty is spreading everywhere like a swarm of locust. Conditions are worst in the rural areas...
Human rights abuses in Kashmir – issue of mass graves
Documentary shown on the British TV Channel 4 at 11.10pm on Tuesday 10 July 2012 was harrowing tale of human right abuses perpetrated by para military forces in Kashmir. Although a lot of what had happened has been compiled by different human rights organisations; and highlighted in Kashmir, India and at the international level, still it was distressing to see and hear what trauma my countrymen had to endure.
No one can deny that human rights have taken place in Kashmir. But reading about...
No one can deny that human rights have taken place in Kashmir. But reading about...
Mohammad-ud-din Fauq: Remembering first journalist of Kashmir
The invention of paper and printing press were landmarks in the development of human civilization. In course of time press occupied a very important place in socio-political life of people and came to be regarded as the fourth estate. In India vernacular press came up with the spread of education and by and large this press became the mouth piece of people’s grievances. Moreover, the vernacular press did not command any prestige under the challenging circumstances of 19th and early20th...
The nation demands the answer
It was Monday morning when I woke up not listening the chirping of birds but to listen the wails of women and mourning of men which they are now habituated to. Thanks to the conflict which has taken an entire generation of Kashmir as its fodder. But fortunately or unfortunately these wails and this mourning was not for yet another killing rather it was for the tragedy which the Kashmir as nation faced at the onset of the day. Yes, the classical 245 year old architectural master piece the...
Shopian Tragedy: A Cry For Sanity
“Abu, who is this man in uniform, with baton in one hand and gun in another?” enquired innocent Suzzane from his father Shakeel Ahangar while pointing to this textbook. “He is a Policeman”, replied Shakeel. “He looks so strong and dreadful! What does he do? Maintain line of students during school assembly”, added Suzzane while partly supplementing the answer. In his world baton was used in school by some teachers to discipline students, but he couldn’t understand why the...
Kashmir: Health care needs check-up
Kashmir once again is making to the news headlines. More than 350 babies have died till now and death spree continues (363 was the last number). The reason for the deaths as given by the authorities is that the “hospital does not have sufficient machinery to save children’s life.” Rattled by the incident, State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has removed Hospital Superintendent terming his as “incompetent.” He has also ordered recruitment of new employees and has asked the hospital...
IPL: A metaphor for changing India
Warts are mushrooming on the visage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at a pace more furious than that at which Twenty20 is played. Last week, you could even choose your favourite from the spread of scandals on the IPL table. A TV sting operation confirmed the existence of spot-fixing and flouting of rules governing payments to players; film star Shahrukh Khan mistook Wankhede Stadium for a Bollywood set and became embroiled in a vituperative exchange with a security guard; Australian Luke...
Lessons to be learnt from infant deaths
Children dying in Calcutta hospitals seemed a distant happening. We never hoped to be in the news for such wrong reasons. It is quite tragic that 35 children died in our lone Children’s Hospital within a fortnight. But it seems that, instead of pondering over the issue humanely, we are going full throttle towards politicising it. As usual polarisation has already occurred. On one side is the government which is at the receiving end. On the other side, politicians of different hues but...
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