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Kashmircatastrophe calls for an international aid intervention
Case for International Aid The catastrophe of this magnitude calls for an international aid intervention PUNCHLINE Z.G. MUHAMMAD It is not asking for alms. During natural calamities and manmade disasters people of Jammu and Kashmir have the right to get aid from the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and other international organizations, on more than one count. The United Nations is mandated to provide relief, support and assistance when there is a disaster or a human catastrophe. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
International Aid and Kashmir Floods
Towards Rebuilding Kashmir The exemplary resolve shown by the people of Kashmir, coupled with the international aid, can set us on the path of rebuilding Z. G. MUHAMMAD Resilience has been part of our story. Lurching from crisis to crisis, we have learnt to navigate the toughest challenges. Famines, floods, earthquakes, incursions, coercions and oppression never took away our resolve to live with dignity and honour. ‘Let us not submit to oppression’ and never give up during adverse times’ have been our catch phrases now for past many centuries. And even when our adversaries wrote our dooms-day, like mythical Greek bird Phoenix we always rose from ashes- more resolved and more determined. Historically, floods and Kashmir have been made for each other. Chronicles and folklore of Kashmir is full of stories about ravages … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Talks on Kashmir Under Shimla Agreement- And Modi’s Offer
Z.G. Muhammad India and Pakistan relations are once again on rocks. It is not a new phenomenon. Sixty seven years graph of relations between the two even at a cursory look shows that there are only a few crests and rest all troughs- some very deep. From ab initio dispute over future of Jammu and Kashmir has been at the centre of relations between the two countries. On 15 August 1947, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir had denied to fall into the basket of either of the two dominions – India and Pakistan. From this date to 27 October 1947, when army from New Delhi ostensibly at the request of Maharaja Hari Singh at Srinagar airport it was an independent state. Despite the “fact and date of the Instrument of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
India-Pakistan Relation On Threshold of Breakdown?
Z.G. Muhammad I have no sunny predictions to make regarding Islamabad- New Delhi relations. Or share no optimism with my “leaders” that a right wing government atop Raisina Hill is going to ‘augur well’ for finding a lasting solution for sixty seven year old political problem that hangs fire on the region. There are many pointers that make one obtuse to any forward movement in India-Pakistan relation in near future or white doves hovering over the region. Given to the volley of controversial issues- some in dormancy for sixty years like ‘undoing of the 1927 state subject laws, Article 370, settlement of over four to five lakh West Pakistan refugees (non-state subjects) being ferociously raked up the NDA government in its new avatar- the possibility of meaningful engagement with Srinagar … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Kashmir English Novelists Make A Mark
My presentation on Shafi Ahmed’s Novel , “Beyond The Ghost Town in Hotel Grand Mumtaz Mr. Chairman friends, Ladies and gentleman At the outset, I must thank Shafi Ahmed, for giving me an opportunity for sharing my views on his second novel Shadows “Beyond the Ghost Town” Driving to this place, and thinking about the book to be released, suddenly some translated verses of my favourite Palestine poet Mahmoud Dervish and our own Agha Shahid started resonating in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
US, India, Pakistan and Kashmir – New Challanges
Srinagar and Washington By Z. G. Muhammad Will the ‘cold war mummy’ come to life in South-Asia after America leaves Afghanistan towards end of the year. This question has been haunting minds of political analysts and strategic experts in the region for quite some time. Notwithstanding, protracted dispute in Kabul over the election results and standoff increasingly threatening countries stability, the debate about US role in South Asia got a new spin after two days visit of US Secretary of State, John Kerry to New Delhi, closely followed by arrival of US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on a three day visit. In India, visit of Kerry and Hagel did not create much of enthusiasm in print media. Even “ultra-nationalist” TV channels, contrary to their habit were not euphoric about it. Largely, the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Importance of Phrasology For Political Narrtives
‘Dynamics’ of Political Phraseology Z.G. Muhammad Kashmir politics has its own dictionary. Every year new words and phrases are added to it. After every mega and mini political event or development a newer word or phrases creeps into it. Some of the phrases after remaining in currency for sometime lose their sheen, luster and relevance. Then they are relegated to the pages of history but they do remain a part of this dictionary. Some do survive longer and retain power of whipping public sentiments as and when required. Let me call this dictionary, for its distinctiveness of the words and phrases that have been added to it during past seventy six years as ‘politico-lexicon-Kashmiri. The words contained in this ‘politico-lexicon-Kashmiri have their own etymology. This etymology in fact is as good as an index … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk