SRINAGAR: A young man from North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has gone missing in Ludhiana city of the northern Indian state of Punjab.
Firdous Ahmed Peer, a resident of the Muqam Dardpora Kralpora area of Kupwara, went missing on February 17th of this year, and his family has been unable to locate him since then.
The family, including the youth’s mother and sister, went to the Press Enclave Srinagar to draw the media’s attention to the matter. One of the relatives told the news agency KNT that Firdous had been working in a hotel in Ludhiana, where he had gone with a friend from Anantnag. The hotel authorities informed them that Firdous was untraceable since February 17th.
Another relative claimed that Ludhiana police are not taking the matter seriously. “We have repeatedly visited the Ludhiana police station, but the officers are not paying serious attention, and no effort is being made to locate our missing family member,” he said.
The protesting family has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Kupwara district administration to raise the matter with the Punjab Police. [KNT]
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Thursday said that militancy is not over in the UT but “it is surely declining rapidly” and the security forces are working hard to eliminate the remaining militants in the months ahead. He also said that there has been no law and order issue from Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir but the final call about allowing Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be taken by the Divisional Administration in the days ahead.
Talking to reporters on the side-lines of a function at Sonwari, Bandipora, DGP Singh, said that militancy has not ended in Kashmir but it was fast declining. “Police and security forces are working hard to eliminate the remaining militants wherever they are in the UT,” he said.
He said the youth who would otherwise fall prey to the false propaganda and get lured into militancy are now following their careers in competitive exams and sports. “The youth and the people have understood the false narrative that was being run from across to fuel militancy. The people of Kashmir have rejected that narrative and they are now contributing to the peace,” the DGP said.
On whether weapons and narcotics dropped by drones was still a challenge, the J&K police chief said that police have achieved a huge success in foiling the designs of enemies to air-drop cash, IEDs, weapons and narcotics through drones.
“Though the activity is less than what we have been noticing in the past but air-dropping of weapons through drones still takes place in Kuwpara, Baramulla, Rajouri and Poonch area. We have seized huge quantities of weapons, money and narcotics and such bids are continuously being foiled,” the DGP said, adding that those involved in supplying drugs to other parts of UT and even Punjab are being tracked and strict action is being taken against them.
He said that police have launched a massive campaign to root-out drug menace in J&K. “We have opened drug de-addiction centers across UT and there are demands from many parts of Kashmir. It needs technical staff and other infrastructure but we are working on expanding the drug de-addiction centers wherever it is possible,” the DGP said.
About whether Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be allowed at Eidgah Srinagar as stated by Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi, the DGP said that final decision will be taken by the Divisional Administration Kashmir.
“Srinagar has been peaceful and so are the other parts of Kashmir. There has been no law and order issue in Srinagar or elsewhere in Kashmir. Final decision about allowing Eid prayers at Eidgah will be taken by the divisional administration in the days ahead,” he said. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently launched his autobiography “Azaad”, has made explosive claims about his former party, Congress, its leadership and more. In his book, Azad provides a personal account of his political journey spanning five decades and offers insights into the evolution of India’s political landscape. The revelations in Azad’s autobiography have stirred up a storm in political circles; with many wondering about the impact they will have on Congress and Indian politics. The book is sure to cause ripples in the Congress party, which is already struggling to remain relevant in Indian politics.
The Launch of “Azaad: An Autobiography”
Ghulam Nabi Azad’s book “Azaad: An Autobiography” was launched on April 5 in New Delhi in the presence of several prominent political leaders drawn from various parties. The book offers a personal account of Azad’s political journey spanning five decades, tracing the remarkable evolution of India’s political landscape. The book launch was attended by former Union Minister Dr Karan Singh, who released the book.
In a tweet, Azad said, “With candid reflections on my life and career alongside some of India’s and the world’s most influential leaders, ‘Azaad’ captures the essence of the great Indian story. I hope my readers will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it”.
Dealing with Mufti’s Backdoor Entry
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has spoken about the behind-the-scenes events leading up to the formation of the state government in 2002. Azad claimed that he had offered the opportunity for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the government, believing that it would make the government more stable. However, he alleges that PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had other plans.
After initially agreeing to join the government, Mufti suddenly demanded to be made the Chief Minister, causing a rift between the parties. Ultimately, despite having the support of 42 MLAs, Azad was forced to return to national politics, while Mufti became the Chief Minister. Azad’s revelations have shed new light on the contentious events that unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir nearly 20 years ago.
Azad has claimed in his autobiography that late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed misused his generosity to become the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir in 2002. Azad said that he offered Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to be part of the government when he had a letter of support from 42 MLAs to become CM. In the book, Azad reveals that he trusted Mufti and did not spot his deviousness. He also mentioned that Mufti confirmed his participation in his government when he and Dr Manmohan Singh, the then leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, met him in Srinagar. Azad claims that Mufti wanted to hijack the government and become the chief minister of the state.
PDP calls Azad’s book “blatant lies” and “cock and bull story”
‘Azaad’ reveals an alleged attempt by former J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to hijack the government during the 2002 PDP-Congress government formation.
But the PDP has dismissed Azad’s claims as “blatant lies” and accused him of trying to engineer defection and split Muslim votes. Senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar also accused Azad of conspiring with the Governor, leading to unrest in 2008, and distorting facts to appease PM Modi. The PDP’s response has been critical, questioning Azad’s credibility and legacy in J&K, The Hindu Reported.
Akhtar’s sharp reaction came after reading the book excerpts produced in the newspapers, which he said looked like “to appease Modi and distort the facts about Kashmir.” He also accused Azad of taking dictation from somewhere else and said that he was performing duty in J&K, perhaps to retain his bungalow in Delhi and secure a Rajya Sabha seat.
Azad’s Revelations on Rahul Gandhi
In an interview with the media, Azad claimed that Rahul Gandhi is the primary reason why he and many others are not in the Congress today. He asserted that one has to be “spineless” to remain in the grand old party. Azad claimed that it is not in the hands of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi or even Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure his return in the party fold even if they wanted.
He asserted, “It was too late” for him to do so even if Rahul Gandhi sought his return. The veteran leader, who has since floated the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, said no one is “untouchable” in politics today and he could go with any party to form a Government as he did not rule out going with the BJP, to be a part of a Government in Jammu and Kashmir if both win once elections are held there.
Azad also noted that had Rahul Gandhi not torn the ordinance brought out by the UPA Government in 2013, he would not have been disqualified today and described the then Union Cabinet as “weak” by not going ahead despite Gandhi tearing the ordinance.
Azad’s Views on Congress Leadership
Ghulam Nabi Azad is not mincing his words when it comes to his criticism of the current Congress leadership. In a recent interview, he slammed them for “running the show on Twitter” and claimed to be “24-Carat Congress” compared to their “18 Carat”. He also lamented the party’s tendency to project incapable leaders and the prevalence of sycophancy within the party.
Azad also had some advice for party leaders facing probe agencies, suggesting they should not be forced to appear and instead cited former prime ministers who voluntarily went along with their leaders when facing inquiries. Despite his loyalty to the party, Azad questioned whether the Congress truly wants people like him, or just those who are fast on Twitter and make grandiose claims.
Azad’s Scathing Criticism of Senior Party Leaders
Ghulam Nabi Azad has also taken a swipe at senior party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid in his autobiography, “Azaad”.
Azad criticizes senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid in his autobiography “Azaad”. He accuses Ramesh of not protesting against the repeal of Article 370, while he takes issue with Khurshid’s comments calling “Rebels with Cause” traitors. Azad also bemoans the downfall of the Congress party, blaming the leadership’s inability to recognize potential leaders and the prevalence of sycophancy within the party.
SRINAGAR: In a shocking turn of events, Jammu and Kashmir has now secured the third spot on the list of highest unemployment rates in India, with an alarming 23.1 percent rate. This marks a significant jump of 6 percent from the previous month’s rate of 17.1, as per the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
The figures are a cause for concern, as they reveal a substantial increase in unemployment rates in the UT in the month of March alone. In January the unemployment rate in J&K was at 21.8
The state of Haryana tops the list with the highest rate of 26.8 percent, followed closely by Rajasthan with 26.4 percent, and Jammu and Kashmir at 23.1 percent. Sikkim, Bihar, and Jharkhand also feature in the list with high unemployment rates of 20.7 percent, 17.6 percent, and 17.5 percent, respectively. These statistics paint a bleak picture of the current state of employment in the region and call for urgent action to address this pressing issue.
The latest figures reveal that India’s unemployment rate is currently ranging between 7.5% to 8.5% in urban areas and 7.0% in rural areas. But the real shocker is Haryana, who’s taking the lead with a whopping 2.4% unemployment rate! Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand are with only 0.8% unemployment each.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently announced that over 30,000 government positions have been filled in the last three years in Jammu and Kashmir, with recruitment for an additional 20,000 positions in the administration to be advertised in the next 3-4 months. The Union Territory administration aims to increase self-employment opportunities in the region.
It is important to note that several recruitment exams conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) have been postponed following complaints of irregularities and illegalities. The government had to cancel the JKSSB recruitment exams for the posts of Junior Engineer and Sub Inspector after a court ruling.
Other states in alphabetical order have the following unemployment rates: Andhra Pradesh 7.5, Bihar 17.6, Chhattisgarh 0.8, Delhi 9.7, Goa 15.9, Gujarat 1.8, Haryana 26.8, Himachal Pradesh 11.7, Jharkhand 17.7, Karnataka 2.3, Kerala 6.7, Madhya Pradesh 3.7, Maharashtra 5.5, Meghalaya 2.6, Odisha 2.6, Puducherry 1.5, Punjab 6.9, Rajasthan 26.4, Sikkim 20.7, Tamil Nadu 3.4, Telangana 5.2, Uttar Pradesh 5.5, Uttarakhand 0.8, and West Bengal 4.8.
SRINAGAR: On April 2, Tikam Singh Negi, a 33-year-old Assistant Commandant of ITBP, died in Eastern Ladakh while on patrolling duty. Following the incident, an internal inquiry has been launched.
On Tuesday, the ITBP posted on Twitter, “ITBP salutes the braveheart AC/GD Tikam Singh Negi, 24th Battalion ITBP who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Ladakh on April 2, 2023.”
Following the incident, the senior officials of ITBP informed the family members of the deceased and handed over his body to them on Tuesday. The family resides in Rajawala of Sahaspur area in Dehradun district.
SRINAGAR: After the issue of removal of chapters on Mughal History from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books sparked controversy, the education body’s chief, Dinesh Prasad Saklani called the whole issue a lie and clarified that the chapters on Mughals were not dropped from CBSE books.
Speaking to ANI, he said that NCERT is following the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes on reducing content load in education. We are currently in a transition phase and working towards finalising the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education. Textbooks will be printed in 2024 in accordance with NEP, and we are committed to implementing its principles. No content has been dropped at this time.
Calling the ongoing debate unnecessary, Saklani explained that there was a rationalisation process carried out last year due to the pressures posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on students everywhere.
Saklani said, expert committees were tasked with examining the books from standards 6-12, and they recommended that certain chapters could be dropped without affecting the students’ knowledge and reducing unnecessary burdens. However, this year no chapters were dropped.
Mughal history is still a part of the curriculum and those who have doubts should check the books themselves, Saklani added.
SRINAGAR: Two persons were injured in a road accident in Kaisermulla area of Chadoora in central Kashmir Budgam district on Thursday.
An official said that two persons were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road near Kaiser Mulla on Sarai-Chadoora road.
He identified them as Bashir Ahmad Khan and Shakeel Ahmad Padroo, both residents of Pulwama.
He also added that the duo was immediately shifted to sub-district hospital Chadoora for treatment where from Bashir was shifted to SMHS Srinagar for further treatment. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: An unidentified body of a man was recovered in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday
Quoting an official, KNO reported that police received information from local residents that a body was lying near Sindh river behind imperial resorts Sonamarg.
He said upon receiving the information, a team from the Sonamarg police station immediately rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and have started further investigation.
SRINAGAR: More rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir since overnight while night temperature stayed below normal at all places except Pahalgam and Bhaderwah on Thursday, officials said.
Quoting an official from meteorological department, GNS reported that in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today, Srinagar received 3.4mm, Qazigund 9.9mm, Pahalgam 4.4mm, Kupwara 9.1mm, Kokernag 9.8mm, Gulmarg 10.8mm, Jammu 0.2mm, Baniha 5.4mm, Batote 2.0mm, Katra 4.0mm and Bhaderwah 1.1mm.
He said light rain with thunder at few places, mainly towards late afternoon/evening was expected during the next 24 hours.
From April 7-10, he said, mainly dry weather was expected and generally cloudy weather with light rain at isolated places towards late afternoon/evening has been forecast for April 11. Generally cloudy weather was expected from April 12-15, he said.
Regarding the temperature, the MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.3°C against 2.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C below normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 4.0°C against 3.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 3.1°C against 2.3°C on the previous night and it was 2.3°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night and it was 2.1°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 3.6°C against 1.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.9°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 14.7°C against 13.1°C on the previous night. It was 3.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 5.4°C (below normal by 2.0°C), Batote 6.5°C (below normal by 3.6°C), Katra 11.2°C (3.9°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 6.7°C (0.7°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 2.0°C and 4.0°C respectively, he added.
With the internet offering people the superhighway of information and knowledge, youth living in the pre-digital periphery are getting virtually cosmopolitan by watching their choice of global content, reports Babra Wani
Boys Over Flowers, the Korean sensation that is basically a romantic comedy involving a poor girl and four brats
In 2014, Saba’s cousin showed her a Korean drama Boys Over Flowers. She enjoyed it to the last second of the episode. Owing to no access to the internet back home, she could watch the series. She lacked a laptop and a smartphone. Time passed normally, but Saba could not forget that episode.
“Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was hooked on that drama,” Saba said, almost a decade later. “I wanted to watch every episode of it.”
When Covid19 confined people to the four walls of their homes, Saba suddenly became a time-surplus person, who now was fortunate enough to have high-speed internet and a personal laptop too.
Having nothing better to do, she logged in to her laptop and started streaming the Korean drama online.
“The content is very addictive”, said Saba as she recalled herself binge-watching the entire series, episode after episode. Currently pursuing her master’s at the University of Kashmir, Saba recalled how she used to recharge add-ons internet packs for extra data to watch dramas. Watching the series that is credited for creating the Korean Wavein Asia triggered an insatiable desire in Saba to keep exploring and watching other Korean dramas and web series. “In a period of a few months, I have completed more than a hundred Korean dramas, movies, and web series.”
Globalised Content
For decades, the only source of entertainment in Kashmir used to be the state-run Doordrashan. Generations grew up consuming the hilarious content of Nazir Joshs and Shaadi Lal Kouls. They have a fervent following in the senior generation to this date.
As the decades progressed, the Joshs and Kouls were slowly replaced by the Western star casts. Millennials began dictating the production and consumption of content. Even if the language barrier was there, subtitles provided an easy route to understanding different linguistic realms. Characters like The Professor from the popular Spanish series, The Money Heist and Player 456 from The Squid Game found global acceptance. They became symbols of globalization.
Shadi Lal Koul (L) on the sets of a TV serial. Koul, a popular Kashmiri actor, died July 2020 after fighting a serious disease for a long time.
Rakshanda Altaf, an agriculture student, is also an avid fan of Korean content. Off late, she is enchanted with Japanese and Chinese dramas.
“I actually began watching Korean dramas during Covid19 lockdown and then I shifted to Japanese and Chinese content,” she said, “I love how their dramas and the content is concise and you know maximum a series will last is for some 50 episodes, unlike Indian dramas which are spread across generations.”
For Mahek, a student at the University of Kashmir, the introduction to the world of K-dramas was through her peers. In 2017, when she was in school, she started watching Cinderella and the Four Knights – a drama with four handsome leads. She said her friends found themselves attracted to the series.
Downloading the series in her pen drive from her friend’s laptop, marked the new normality. An avid consumer of Indian soap operas, Mahek changed. The Korean content lacked a match with what she was consuming earlier. “I gave up on watching Indian serials.” For Mahek, it was the storyline, the content and the cast of the series which attracted her interest. Slowly, she started watching Chinese and Thai content as well.
The Hallyu Craze
Not only that, Mahek also began downloading Korean language learning apps to learn the language and tried making Korean friends as well. “I have downloaded tons of apps to learn more about Korean culture. I know a few words as well, like oppa, which means older brother, or Saranghae. which means I love you. Every K-drama watcher will be familiar with these words,” Mahek said. For her and many other Hallyu fans the Korean culture, language and everything related to Korea looks intriguing and exciting.
For the unversed, Hallyu is a popular China-origin term used for the Korean wave, when in the 1990s people outside Korea first learned about Korean content. Then slowly it was in 2012 when Psy’s (a Korean singer) Gangnam Style became a worldwide hit and then with the emergence of BTS, which holds the title of the world’s biggest boy band and Blackpink, an all-girls group, the Korean entertainment industry became a worldwide phenomenon.
Not Just Korean
The profile of consumers of such content ranges from teenagers to adults in their late twenties and early thirties. Hafsoah Ahmed, who is currently pursuing her doctorate degree, started off by watching the famous American series, Friends. From there, she digressed towards anime.
“It was the quality and the quantity of the content that first attracted me towards the series. The acting, the direction, the presentation, everything is A1 in the international series,” Ahmed said. “I like how the information and the content of the message of the series are put across. How it is presented and addressed.”
Hafsoah thinks she is an introvert and not so “outdoorsy” so she just spent all her time watching these international series.
Dramas like Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Gray’s Anatomy became quite popular among Kashmir youth at the beginning of the year 2020. However, it was not just in 2020 back in 2019 as well when the internet was shut down in Kashmir, people especially youth relied on foreign series and movies to keep themselves entertained.
The Ertugrul Era
In 2020, the Turkish series Ertugrul became a massive hit among Kashmiris across all age groups. It is a period drama detailing the struggle of Turkish herdsmen to have their own state against the interests of the crusaders, Mongols and Seljuks. At one point in time, this series was the sole big factor behind the mass sale of hard drives and storage devices.
A scene from Diriliz Urtugrul, the popular Turkish period drama showing the main charceters – Urtugrul, Haleema and Hayme Hatun
Soon, the Ertugrul’sKayiTribe-inspired skull caps were flooding the market. The fame of Ertugrul also resulted in an increase in the viewership of some other Turkish dramas and series. Kurulus Osman, a spin-off of the Ertugual series also saw an overwhelming response from the Kashmiri audiences. People still continue to watch the Ertugrul series. A Kayi tribe theme-based restaurant was also opened in one of the areas in Srinagar’s Shehr-e-Khas.
Perhaps the Turk entertainment sector barely knew the potential for their content in Urdu and Hindi speaking belt in South Asia. With Ertugrulcreating new milestones, now every Turkish drama has a must Urdu edition.
Pakistani Drama Fans
In Kashmir, Pakistani dramas always had a bigger audience. While the millennials comprise the majority of the audience for Korean, Chinese and other dramas, Pakistani dramas owing to the use of the Urdu language have a bigger demographic as their consumers. Pakistani dramas enjoy a lot of fondness and popularity amongst the population of Kashmir. For many people, watching family soap operas is one way of helping kids pick up Urdu speaking.
Shabnam, a woman in her mid-forties began watching Pakistani dramas and series in 2016 when her daughter got access to the internet and a mobile phone for the first time. “My daughter showed me a Pakistani movie and then we began watching a drama and then we saw another drama and then another and that is how we began consuming Pakistani series,” she said.
Earlier it used to be the state-owned TV in Islamabad to telecast the dramas. Now there are scores of channels and a lot of internet space that is consuming Pakistan content, especially the drama.
The popularity of Pakistani suits and clothing among Kashmiri women can be attributed to Pakistani shows. Several Kashmiris also pick Pakistani names of their favourite characters for their children.
The Psychology Behind
Why do Kashmiri people prefer watching foreign web or TV series over domestic serials? Wasim Kakroo, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Centre for Mental Health Services at Rambagh Srinagar said it has its own psychology.
“Foreign content can offer a sense of novelty and excitement that may be lacking in domestic serials. When young people are exposed to new and different cultures, they may feel a sense of intrigue and curiosity that motivates them to explore further. This desire for novelty and exploration is a fundamental human trait, and it can be particularly pronounced during adolescence when young people are seeking to establish their identity and place in the world,” Kakroo said
“Foreign content may provide a sense of escapism from their stresses. Since Kashmiri youth feel frustrated by the political turmoil and unemployment, they feel overwhelmed or stressed. Watching characters who live in different countries, speak different languages, and have different customs can transport viewers to a different world, allowing them to temporarily forget about their own problems.”
The OTT Factor
The rise of over-the-top (OTT) and streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Asiaflix, Viki Rakuten, and MX Player also made it completely easy for the distribution of worldwide content in Kashmir. Its popularity is an outcome of the high-speed internet. India has access to the cheapest internet prices in the world. This is a huge enabler.
An Allied Market Research report suggests the OTT industry was valued at US $ 97.43 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach US $ 332.52 billion by 2025.
The OTT platforms have a huge basket from SciFi to romantic comedies (romcom) to action to horror to period dramas. They are democratic as they cater to different needs of people and consumers regardless of gender, age, ethnicity and nationality.
The emergence of OTT has resulted in cultural exchange as audiences become more and more interested in foreign cultures. “Consuming content from across the world is not only passing time but also exposing one to different cultures and places around the world,” Hafsoah said. “The cultural exchanges and the globalization of media has also resulted in cultural homogenization and heterogenization.”
