On Kashmir Dispute Vajpayee Puts Nehru in The Dock
PUNCHLINE Vajpayee Was Different From Nehru? Z.G. Muhammad In all literature; history, memoirs, and travelogues, Kashmir is described as a country. Notwithstanding, being ruled by Moguls, Durranis, and Sikhs through their governors for exacting taxes to the extent of famishing people, it continued to be known as a country. It retained, this title even after India and Pakistan were born as an independent dominions. For the first time, it lost this title on 27 October … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Mashal-e-khu’er – the children of lesser god but part of pageantry
Nostalgia ‘Mashal-e-khu’er The Luxury of time was the beauty of our childhood. We were not couch potatoes, but free as birds having liberty to perch on high or low branch and sing our songs like a nightingale. We had freedom of Iqbal’s hawk to fly unimpeded high in skies at our sweet will. ‘To have a happy childhood is the luckiest thing that can happen in one’s life. That way our whole generation despite being … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
On Article 35-A ……….. and the ‘Violence of Interpretations’
PUNCHLINE Article 35A And ‘Violence of Interpretations’ By Z. G. Muhammad We have a story, with a beginning, middle and end- but it is the end that is confounded by “the others,” who have their ‘meal tickets in the pursuit.’ For confusing the end, they not only collaborate with the coercive forces in strengthening the ‘hegemonic discourse’ but also indulge in what academic’ describe as the ‘violence of hermeneutics.’ The ‘others’ that is the tribe of political … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Bridegroom on A Colt: Only Rich And Influential Could Afford White Stallion
Nostalgia Bridegroom on A Colt ZGM I have an unbreakable bond with my childhood. That perhaps holds true about everyone. Often on festive, even not-that-jovial occasions, I instantaneously get connected to my childhood. ‘Childhood memories’ as someone has rightly said ‘come crashing like a wave, and one reaches to them with arms out to grab them, to catch them, hold them close,’ and I take great pleasure in sharing them with my friends; young and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
The Ward Four Boys Rendezvous With A Legendary Craftsman
Nostalgia Ward Four Boys ZGM Stories of many of the ward four boys, like other downtown Srinagar boys, are strewn across the countries, yet their loyalty is etched to the maze of narrow streets, lanes and by-lanes they grew up in and played games; hide and seek, hopscotch and tip-cat. Hitched to their roots, on a mere mention of their birth burg reminiscence cascade like high mountain brooks and pilot them down the memory lane, and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk
My Days in Bombay: Searching for Inner Peace in Tinsel City
Nostalgia Off To Haji Malang ZGM Many spiritual experiences can’t be captured in words. Offering late night prayers during sultry days on an islet with the soothing breeze blowing on all sides from the Arabian Sea had a unique spiritual elation. Perhaps, it was as good an experience as that of whirling dance when ‘the invisible world becomes apparent to the whole.’ Nevertheless, for me, it had the same inner solace that I experienced as a young … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk
Days in Bombay. Khawaja Bazar in Bombay
. Nostalgia Khoja Bazar in Bombay By ZGM Truly, the metropolis, those days for all its shades and colors, was more entrancing than a rainbow. Then, the orange swallow-tailed flag had not taken over the landscape of the city that for more than a century had seen ‘professional promises’ of many enterprising young men like greatest South-Asian Muslim leader, M. A. Jinnah bloom to full. It had been a sanctuary that did not distinguish between colors and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk