Ramzan And Our Childhood
Our Religious Schooling By Z.G. Muhammad Reminisces how so sweet they may be, have their poignancy. Many a time writing about my childhood, I feel like Shelly that I am writing, an ‘epitaph of the glory fled’. Believing, ‘the loveliest and the last, is dead’, I hear the cry inside me, ‘Rise, Memory, and write its praise- for now, the Earth has changed its face, a frown is on Heaven’s brow.’ Grand Mosque Srinagar Indeed, the earth has changed; childhood has fled. It cannot be brought back. Every year on the sighting of the Ramadan moon this harsh reality dawns on me but still, memories, make me bask in the spiritual ambience that overwhelmed our part of the city on the commencement of the holy month. I remember the Sahar Khawan during our childhood would not only just beat drums ferociously to wake up … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk, Memeiors
Of Small Joys of Childhood.
Nostalgia Ode to Surnaivoul Z.G. Muhammad Our childhood was full of rhythm and cadence. On looking back, sometimes for their cheerfulness, I feel envious about my b0yhood, childhood of children of a whole generation born in the fifties. Despite, the voices of the dissent then also asphyxiated and atmosphere of insecurity looming large, it was the beats, bells, and whistles that soared our hearts with joy. In the wee morning hours, it was jingling and tinkling of bells of goats and ewes and whistles of goatherds from the shepherd Mohalla, near my school that woke us up. Or, it was lilting tunes of Santoor and Saz-e-Kashmir, coming out of baithaks of some of the elite houses at a distance that made us toss aside our quilts. In the late evening, it was haunting melodies coming out the flute of jilted lover Gul, that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Indu Kilam: Tethered To Roots
Indu Kilam Waxes Lyrical Tethered To The Roots By Z.G. Muhammad It was perhaps the twentieth day of the lockdown. I had lost count of dates and days, sitting in my small ten by twelve feet study, like my ancestors the pit dwellers, I had no idea about the world outside. Dead landlines and lifeless cell phones had gathered dust as thick as scum on the stinking pond in the heart of the city, once a turquoise spring-fed waterbody gasping for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Story of Downtown Boy Review
Author: Zahid G Muhammad Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander Srinagar: The City of Resistance and Culture, Story of Downtown Boy Author: Zahid G Muhammad Publisher: Gulshan Books, Srinagar, Kashmir Year of Publication: 2016 Pages: 474 Price: 1295 ISBN: 9788183394383 Reviewed By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander Srinagar has the distinction of being a very vibrant city centre. In Srinagar, too Downtown a term that now raises many eyebrows as the term downtown carries a very negative connotation has been a dynamic area. But the author … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk
Defending The Indefensible
On the SMA debate between B R Singh and Ajaz-ul-Haque By Z G Muhammad On 13 and 14 April 2019, GK published a two-part article, ‘In Defence of Sheikh Abdullah’ by B.R. Singh a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Besides having served as Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah for about six years, in the bureaucratic circles, he is known for his nearness with his former boss? Timing chosen for writing three thousand four words … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Songsters of our Childhood
Nostalgia Hawkers And Their Songs ZGM Songs and songsters were part of our childhood. It was not only troubadours playing dexterously on a score of small rings on an iron rod and producing musical notes that greeted us with satirical quatrains on sullen mornings and brought laughter in our life. It was not only Abdul Ahad alias Shoda the great songster, with profusely oiled tufts of curly hair, walking like a woodpecker on a tree … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk, Memeiors
Yusuf Buch Great Son of Kashmir
By Manejeh Yaqoob “In the passing of Ambassador Yusuf Buch, Kashmir has lost a formidable indigenous voice of reason and rationale. Since his peaceful passing to a better world,I’ve heard several kind words from generations of world voices describing him as a Distinguished Diplomat, Iconic Expert, Legendary Intellectual, Moral Compass, Over-Achiever, Meritorious,Mentor, Guiding Light, Resolute, Intelligent, Wise, Scholarly, Advisor, Brilliant star, Living Encyclopedia,Son of Soil and so much more. He led a fulfilled life, a life that I know shall inspire generations to come. To have vision with the kind of clarity he had with unwavering commitment to truth and fairness, publicly for over 8 decades, with steadfastness, strength and courage despite all the challenges he was faced with, is indeed unique. There can reams of paper that would probably only summarize … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk