Peace Watch » Archive
Hurriyat (M) Going Pakistan What For Is The Question.
Story of Paradigm Shift Z.G. Muhammad Are we a paranoid people- you and me included? Is it, fear rooted in my mind that makes me ponder over something, I would in normal course dismiss as nonevent and of consequences. Chairman APHC (M) and four other members of his executives’ council are visiting Pakistan in November. What is ‘big deal’ about it? For past many years, these leaders have been visiting Islamabad and meeting men in power. Now their visits to the country and meeting leaders’ is no news. Why should it engage my attention, is the question. There were times when Kashmir leader visiting Islamabad made big news. In 1964, when Sheikh Abdullah at the behest of Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru visited Islam it made big news on two counts: one, Sheikh was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Amdist “Quiet” Hurriyat Going Pakistan?
PUNCHLINE QUIET AND TOSSUP POLITICS Z.G. MUHAMMAD Quiet it is. Britain has recognized that by lifting its travel advisory to the state after a gap of twenty years. Germany and Japan have already declared the state as a safe haven for its citizens. In coming days and months, this recognition is perhaps coming to the state from many more European countries – in all likelihood, Washington will also follow the suit- the louder terse and simple message that has gone to the world is: Peace has returned to the state. Quiet, with both note of exclamation and interrogation suffixed to it has set into motion ‘discourses’ with difference. Hundred and odd tour operators and hoteliers have been rejoicing it. It might have impacted the state economy as well- how much I have no … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Symbolism in Iqbal
The Development of a Symbol A Study of Iqbal’s Poem, Aftab Prof. G.R. Malik Since the word symbol occurs in the title of this presentation, I would like to preface it with an extremely brief account, in general terms, about the use of symbols in poetry. Of course this is one of the weightiest ever subjects and can, by no means, be dismissed in a brief prefatory note. These remarks are, therefore, added only to introduce the present discourse. Broadly speaking symbols may be divided into three categories: a) The Collective or Cultural symbols: The collective symbols have a universal character in that they have acquired a more-or-less common signification amongst the generality of human beings: Two examples of such symbols are the sunrise and the sunset which are considered to be symbolical of birth … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Kashmir-Talk
Indian Women Support Kashmir Cause?
Will the women group take the lead? Z.G. MUHAMMAD Scepticism and disbelieving about anything coming from New Delhi has largely become our second nature. This trust deficit is not needless. It has a history. Sixty-five years long history, dating back to first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Notwithstanding, my disbelief, I see a recently held one day women convention at Kashmir University by a New Delhi based senior journalist Seema Mustafa as worth noticing. In a way, it … Read entire article »
Filed under: Perspectives
Indian Women Talk Kashmir Cause?
Trust Deficit and Beyond Will the women group take the lead? PUNCHLINE Z.G. MUHAMMAD Smaller Default Larger Scepticism and disbelieving about anything coming from New Delhi has largely become our second nature. This trust deficit is not needless. It has a history. Sixty-five years long history, dating back to first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Notwithstanding, my disbelief, I see a recently held one day women convention at Kashmir University by a New Delhi based senior journalist Seema Mustafa as worth noticing. In a way, it was making a history of sorts. Eleven top Indian women activists arrived in the most salubrious and beautiful campus of Kashmir University on Tuesday to express solidarity with the women of Kashmir. The activists representing various women organization of India included Laila Pasha, Doctor Jotyshina Chattergee, TK Raja Lakshmi, Prof. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
I am Proud! I am a Srinagar Downtown Boy
The Downtown Boy Everyone in Kashmir has a story to tell. The octogenarian has a tale to tell- he has seen towering South Asian leaders at best of their eloquence addressing hundreds of thousands in the Muslim Park and in our own Red Square. The septuagenarian has his stories to tell about the royal river procession and Russian Communist leaders in majestic boats rowed through the Jhelum. And their rehashing the ‘dominant discourse’ and giving it proletarian flavor. That born ‘at the stroke of midnight hour, when world was sleeping and India awoke to freedom’ and when South-Asian Muslims after gusty storms like weaverbirds were dexterously making a home out of straw, has his narrative to share. Moreover, the Young man bubbling with fervor and boiling with fury has his own … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Perspectives
My Presentation on Novel Torchbearer By G.N. Gowhar – In M.D. Taseer Hall, Srinagar
Review of “Torch Bearer” A Novel by G.N. Gowhar. By Zahid. G. Muhammad Venu M.D. Taseer Hall, A.S. College, Srinagar Thank you Gowhar Sahib, for giving me an opportunity to read your novel and then review the same. I do not know why? While coming to this place names of Palestine poet Mehmood Darwish, Tawifq Zayyad and Fadwa Tuqan persistently knocked my mind…it sounds ironic, why I did not remember any of the contemporary poets of my mother tongue…the language I love and relish. Perhaps, I was caught up in a web of dilemmas- should I look at the Torchbearer merely as a piece of literature and discuss it simply as a genre of literature. Is this novel charged with defiance, does it cascade with pain and agony that people of this land have been undergoing, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take