Is our narrative outlandish, irrational and unfounded bordering on conspiracy theory? Are we truly paranoid people? These questions bothered me at a recent seminar broadly   organized by Kashmir University and attended by a battery of teachers of political science from within and outside the State.  The broad subject for seminar was finding solution to Kashmir problem within framework of Indian Constitution. In this column, sometime back I wrote that it is encouraging that Kashmir University of late is coming out of the academic inertia by striding across hitherto forbidden turfs – such as discussing the future of Kashmir. But largely so for, these discussions  have been conforming to the ‘dominant discourse’ and ‘official narratives’. Noam Chomsky in his essay, ‘the function of the university in a time of crises,’ has rightly … Read entire article »

By Z.G.Muhammad  The rhythm and vivacity of a nation lies embedded in its narratives.  Many posers bother me. What is a narrative? If Kashmir has its own narrative, what is that?  More particularly these questions stare into our faces whenever there is a debate over attempts made to change Kashmir narratives. Narrative as rightly said by Yehudith Auerbach a scholar on Middle East crisis, ‘is a story about events that took place in history or are taking place in the present. These are concrete stories about dramatic events in the recent history or distant past of a nation. These stories are centered on a national heroes who have legendary spiritual or physical powers, embody the ethos of the people and its national identity, and provides it with a source of national pride … Read entire article »