Being a Kashmiri myself, I salute the Kashmiris who are holding massive protests and agitations in the Pakistan army occupied Kashmir against inflation, particularly huge rise in electricity bills and prices of foodstuffs.
To my mind, the agitating Kashmiris are providing leadership to not only their own state but to the whole of India and Pakistan, in two ways. Let me explain.
(1) The Kashmiris have rightly focused on a real, economic issue, i.e. price rise, and they have refused to be befooled by the government which usually tries to divert attention towards irrelevant issues.As the Roman Emperors used to say ” If you cannot give the people bread give them circuses ”. Unfortunately for the Pakistan Government, the Kashmiris will not be satisfied with having circuses any longer, but insist on having bread.
Massive unemployment and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have made life almost unbearable for most Indians and Pakistanis, not just Kashmiris.
Kashmiris are thus showing the path ahead to all Indians and Pakistanis in this respect.
One may recall the march of Parisian women demanding bread to Versailles in October 1789, which brought down the Bourbon dynasty, and the demonstrations for bread in St Petersburg in February 1917 which brought down the Romanovs.
(2) The second significance of these protests is that in many places slogans were shouted ” We want freedom from Pakistan ”, and in some places even Indian flags were hoisted.
To my mind, this marks the beginning of the realisation among Pakistani people that in fact India and Pakistan ( and Bangladesh ) are really one nation, sharing the same culture, which were one for 500 years ( since the time of Mughal Emperor Akbar ). Partition of India in 1947 was a British swindle, on the basis of the bogus two nation theory, perpetrated by the British through their agents Gandhi and Jinnah, and must be undone.
The aim of Partition was to keep Hindus and Muslims fighting each other so that we remain weak and backward, and not emerge as a modern industrial giant, of which we have all the potential, and thus become another China, a big rival to Western industry with our cheap labour. ( as explained in the video below )
Unless we reunify under a secular government and with modern minded leaders we can never emerge as a modern industrial giant, but will remain condemned to massive poverty and unemployment, appalling level of child malnourishment, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses, etc
The brave Kashmiris, showing magnificent and unwearied fighting spirit, undaunted by all odds, are giving much needed leadership and guidance to the people of the entire Indian subcontinent.
Yesterday, 6th April 2024, the Kashmiri Pandits Association, an association of the non Kashmiri speaking Kashmiri Pandits, ( Kashmiri speaking Kashmiri Pandits have their own association called All India Kashmiri Samaj ), held a function in Delhi to honour me and Anita Mulla, the daughter of the heroic Capt MN Mulla who went down with his ship Kukri in the war against Pakistan, in the tradition of the Navy.
Kashmiri Pandits ( hereafter referred to as KPs ) are of two types, Kashmiri speaking, and non Kashmiri speaking, the former being about 400,000 in number, and the latter a little less than half of that. The latter, which includes me, are those whose ancestors migrated from Kashmir to the plains of India about 200 years ago, while the former are those who remained in the Kashmir valley until they were driven out by persecution in the 1990s.
Kashmiri is a language totally different from Hindi, and a Hindi speaker will not be able to understand it. Though our ancestors who migrated from Kashmir no doubt spoke Kashmiri, their descendants forgot it after a couple of generations or so, and could thereafter speak only Hindi and English.
However they retained their Kashmiri Pandit identity by marrying only among themselves and not with the local people ( now of course many have married outside the community ). They retained their Kashmiri food habits, being non vegetarians, and eating Kashmiri delicacies like roganjosh, kabargaah, damaloo, etc.
Though they had forgotten the Kashmiri language, in certain rituals like Herat puja they would utter some Kashmiri words which had been passed on for generations, without understanding a word of what they meant ( just as many people recite Sanskrit shlokas without understanding their meaning ). These too became distorted over the generations. For instance, the Kashmiri words ‘kus choo’ ( who is it ? ) became ‘kuch choo’. It was only after I married my wife Rupa, who is a Kashmiri speaking Kashmiri Pandit, that she told me the meaning and correct pronunciation of these words.
The non Kashmiri speaking KPs left Kashmir not because of persecution but for job opportunities. To understand this I must tell something about the history of KPs.
Kashmir was conquered by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1588 who deposed the last independent ruler of Kashmir Yusuf Shah Chak, and incorporated Kashmir into the Mughal Empire. Mughal rule was beneficial to KPs. At that time KPs comprised of only about 5% of the total Kashmiri population, the rest having converted to islam. The Mughals needed a buffer between themselves and the local Muslim population, so they made KPs landlords, whose tenants/servants were the local Muslims. KPs not only became landlords but were also the educated class in Kashmir ( Kashmiri Muslims then being almost all illiterate ), and they were very proficient in Persian and Urdu, which were the languages of the elite in the entire Indian subcontinent.
Because they were proficient in Persian and Urdu, KPs were in great demand in the princely states, where the court languages were Persian and Urdu.
During British rule part of India was under direct British rule, and part under the princely states i.e, states ruled by Maharajas and Nawabs ( who, however, recognised the paramountcy of the British ). Most of eastern India was under direct British rule, since Bengal was the first big base of the British in India after the batles of Plassey ( 1757 ) and Buxar ( 1764 ), and from there British rule expanded westward. The Maharajas of western and central India ( Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc ) were allowed to continue their rule ( though recognising British paramountcy ), and, as mentioned above, their court languages ( even of Hindu rulers ) were Persian and Urdu.
The ancestors of all non Kashmiri speaking KPs came to the plains of India in exactly the same way (whether the ancestor of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the eminent lawyer Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, or any others ), that is, they got jobs as officials in the courts of Maharaja and Nawabs ( because of their proficiency in Persian and Urdu ). They were trustworthy, industrious, and men of honour, and soon rose to high positions, many even becoming Dewans ( equivalent to Prime Minister ) in their states.
My own ancestor Pt Mansa Ram Katju, who migrated from Kashmir abouit 200 years ago, got employment as an official in the court of the Nawab of Jaora, which was a princely state in western MP bordering Rajasthan, and for many generations his descendants served there. Pt Mansa Ram wrote in the register of a panda in Kurukshetra ”Ba-talaash-e-maash aamadam ” ( i.e. I have come in quest of bread ) The descendant of the KP immigrants, too, became court officials in the princely states, but after a few generations some branched off and joined the legal profession as lawyers. This happened because KPs were an intellectual class, not physical labourers, and the only avenue then available to intellectuals was the legal profession. There was no IAS at that time, and the ICS recruited mainly Britishers. At that time most lawyers in India were sons of zamindars ( landlords ). This was because in those days a new lawyer would not earn anything for the first 4-5 years of his law practice, and so only sons of zamindars could sustain themselves in the early years of their practice as they received some allowances from their zamindar father.
The problem for KPs who entered the legal profession was that they had no zamindari. Hence they had to earn from almost the start of their practice, and for this they had to work hard day and night to quickly master the law. They soon gained a reputation for their knowledge of law and uprightness, and started getting clients. They quickly rose high, and became the top lawyers. Thus, in UP not only some of the top lawyers in the Allahabad High Court like Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Pt Moti Lal Nehru, Dr KN Katju etc were KPs, even in about half the district courts in UP the top lawyer was a KP, e.g. Prithvinath Chak in Kanpur, Shangloo saheb in Fyzabad ( now Ayodhya ), Anand Narain Tankha in Dehra Dun, Bakshi saheb in Hardoi, Masaldan saheb ( father of the President of KPA Gen Masaldan ) in Sitapur, etc. Similar was the position in many other states, e.g. Raj Kumar Tankha who started his law practice in Rewa district court and became a Judge of the MP High Court at a very young age, and in all likelihood would have become the Chief Justice of India ( as he was senior to Justice JS Verma who became CJI ) but for his untimely death at the age of 51. His son Vivek Tankha is today a top lawyer of India, as well as an MP.
I may also mention Justice Shambhu Nath Pandit, a KP, who became the first Indian Judge of a High Court in 1863.
Later, when more avenues were opened up, KPs went into the corporate sector, became professors, doctors, engineers, etc, and many have migrated to USA and elsewehere, where they have done very well. I am adding some pics of yesterday’s function
SRINAGAR: Kashmiri women journalist Safina Nabi on April 22, 2023 won the prestigious Fetisov Journalism Award for her article published on Scroll about how countless women in Kashmir, whose husbands disappeared and could never be traced, have been cut out of inheritances and left to fend for themselves.
Safina Nabi Wins Fetisov Award at Dubai on April 22, 2023
Nabi won the second prize in the “Outstanding Contribution to Peace” category, and the Fetisov Journalism Awards praised her reporting for providing a “comprehensive and impressively detailed picture” of the issue.
According to a press release from the awards, Nabi’s story “highlights what is not known, shows the human consequences of neglect, and most emphatically gives voice to the people totally disregarded by their own authorities and whose ordeal is largely invisible to international audiences.”
The Fetisov Journalism Awards have four categories in total, and each winner in the three categories shares a cash prize of 130,000 Swiss francs (Rs 11, 94,371).
Nabi’s award-winning reporting brings attention to an often-overlooked issue and highlights the struggles faced by “half-widows” in Kashmir, whose stories are often ignored.
SRINAGAR: In a heart-warming gesture, Maulana Bilal Ahmad Nadvi, an Islamic cleric was gifted an Umrah package by the Masjid committee in the Mareed Mohalla area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Nadvi had spent the entire month of Ramadan leading the Taraweeh prayers and reciting the holy Quran, an act of devotion that did not go unnoticed by the community.
The committee members of Mareed Mohalla expressed their gratitude for Maulana Nadvi’s dedication to his work, his ability to connect with the community, and his unwavering loyalty towards it. This gift was their way of showing their appreciation for his hard work and devotion during the holy month of Ramadan. Maulana Nadvi’s commitment to his work touched the hearts of the residents of Mareed Mohalla, who were deeply grateful for his tireless efforts to make their Ramadan special.
Showkat Ali, the chairman of the Masjid Committee, expressed his admiration for Maulana Bilal’s remarkable dedication to his work, saying, “We have been listening to the recitation of the Quran since our childhood, and this year we were mesmerized by the astonishing recitation of the Holy Quran by Maulana Bilal. His recitation was truly remarkable and touched the hearts of everyone present. We felt that we needed to do something special to show our appreciation for his hard work and devotion.”
Ali went on to reveal that the committee had decided to gift Maulana Bilal with an Umrah package, saying, “He will be leaving for the holy city of Mecca for Umrah soon. We hope that this small gesture will help to show him how much we value his efforts and dedication towards the community.”
Showkat emphasized that imams have a crucial role in spreading the teachings of Islam, and providing the Umrah package to Maulana Bilal is a significant gesture towards this cause. He also emphasized the need to recognize the imams’ work by providing them with good salaries, as they contribute immensely to the community.
Maulana Bilal stressed the importance of acknowledging the authority of imams throughout the year and supporting them from all parts of the valley, as they play a crucial role in educating the community about Islam.
Maulana Bilal expressed his gratitude towards the Masjid committee of Mareed Mohalla in Kupwara and said, “The gift of an Umrah package from the Masjid committee of Mareed Mohalla where I recite the Quran during Ramadan is a significant and thoughtful gesture. It is an honour and a blessing to receive this gift from the Almighty.”
The gesture made by the Masjid committee of Mareed Mohalla in Kupwara has been welcomed by everyone in the Kashmir valley. It is symbolic of the efforts and dedication of the imams in the region, who have received their education from various well-known Madarsas across India. Despite their immense contribution to the community, these imams are not well-known in the valley and are only occasionally acknowledged during the holy month of Ramadan or on significant holidays like Eid.
This initiative serves as a reminder of the pure spirit of Islam, which emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the work of imams, who play a vital role in educating the community about Islam and its teachings. The gesture is not just a reward for Maulana Bilal Ahmad Nadvi but also recognition of the hard work and dedication of all the imams in the region who work tirelessly to spread the message of Islam.
SRINAGAR: The Muslim community in the Wussan locality of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal came forward to perform the last rites of an elderly Kashmiri Pandit on Friday.
Eyewitnesses said that Avtar Krishan Koul, 75, son of Madhav Krishan Koul, passed away at her home in Wussan in the wee hours of Friday, which left the entire locality in mourning.
As soon as the news of her death spread, local Muslims made special arrangements to perform his last rites. They also helped the family by ferrying firewood to cremate the deceased.
“It is in our Islam to take care of neighbors irrespective of their religion,” said Ghulam Hassan, a local resident.
Another local mentioned, “Avtar was a remarkable person who always went above and beyond to help those in need. His kindness and generosity knew no bounds, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand, no matter what time of day or night it was.”
“Avtar was truly dedicated to his profession as a health worker. He saw it as his duty to care for the well-being of others, and he took this responsibility very seriously. He spent countless hours working tirelessly to help people in his community, never once seeking recognition or praise for his efforts,” said a native from his village.
Around a dozen Pandit families in the Wussan locality did not migrate from the Kashmir Valley during the early 1990s and instead decided to stay. Since then, the two communities have lived in harmony and have always shown compassion towards each other.
After the militancy erupted in the valley in the early 1990s, the Pandit community was forced to migrate from Kashmir. However, a small percentage of them stayed back and are currently living in many parts of Kashmir. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Students of Kashmir University’s Kashmiri Department are demanding a CBI inquiry into the alleged National Eligibility Test (NET) paper leak for the subject that was conducted on February 22.
As per reports, the aggrieved students on Sunday alleged that despite sending a representation to the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, Dean Academics, and the concerned Head of Department (HoD), the matter has not been taken care of, thus marring the career of hundreds of students who have toiled hard for the exam.
Daily Excelsior reported that, one of the aspirants who appeared for the exam said that the examination was held on February 22, and the result came out a few days ago. He added that soon after the exam, they got in touch with the concerned officials with their apprehensions but to no avail.
The aspirants are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry to ascertain the facts and to find out how a few candidates managed to score 96 out of 100 and 100 out of 100 in some cases.
Students have urged the LG administration to initiate a probe to identify the culprits while noting that they are sure that the paper was leaked.
SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has quashed the detention of Ashiq Hussain Teli, a resident of Watrina Bandipora who was lodged in Agra jail under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Teli, who worked as a cook, was arrested by police in Bandipora in January 2022 on charges of stone-pelting.
However, his lawyer, Advocate Bashir Ahmed Tak, argued that the detaining authority did not attribute any specific allegation against Teli and that he was arrested on old cases and fake charges.
Justice Sanjay Dhar, presiding over the case, ordered Teli’s release from the Agra Jail.
The Bombay High Court refused a petition which sought to quash an FIR report registered against a young Kashmiri professor for his WhatsApp status that read, “August 5 Black Day for Jammu and Kashmir” in reference to the abrogation of Article 370.
Javed Ahmed Hajam, the professor of Kolhapur College, who originally hails from Baramulla in Kashmir had allegedly, in 2022, put two WhatsApp statuses in a group of parents and teachers. In one he termed August 5, 2019, a black day. On the 2nd, he greeted Pakistan for its independence on August 14.
On Friday, the bench of Justice Sunil Shukre and MM Sathaye beheld that in a democratic country like India, there is a fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19. But they said that any critical words or dissenting opinions must be expressed properly after analysing the whole situation in a sensitive matter.
“The first message which has been posted on the WhatsApp application by the petitioner is, without giving any reason and without making any critical analysis of the step taken by the Central Government towards abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. In our view, this message has the tendency to play with the emotions of different groups of people in India as there are strong feelings of contrasting nature about the status of Jammu and Kashmir in India and, therefore, one has to tread cautiously in such a field, lest the emotions may reach up to such a level as to bring about consequences or a reasonable possibility of consequences visiting as envisaged in Section 153-A of Indian penal code (IPC),” the order stated.
Bench concluded by saying that the case was a matter of trial to investigate whether an accused is really implicated in the offence under section 153A of IPC
The court refused to quash the FIR, stating, “As of now, prima-facie it does appear to be having much impact on the mind of different groups of people, for the reasons stated just now, and therefore prima-facie constitutes the offence under Section 153-A of IPC.”
It pertains to say, Articles 370 and 35(A) which gave special status to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in terms of autonomy and its ability to formulate laws for the state’s permanent residents was nullified under the BJP-led government on August 5, 2019.
SRINAGAR: Seerat Naaz, a student from Lohai-Malhar village in Jammu & Kashmir, has expressed her disappointment with the condition of her school and made a heartfelt request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help in building a better school. Her request has touched the hearts of netizens, who have shared the video widely in the hope that it will reach the Prime Minister.
In the video, Seerat introduces herself as a student of a local government school and gives a tour of the school premises, highlighting the areas that need improvement.
She expresses her desire for a clean and safe school environment, saying, “Please Modi-ji, build a nice school for us.”
To watch the video, click here
The video, originally shared by a Facebook page called ‘Marmik News’ from Jammu and Kashmir, has garnered nearly 2 million views and over 116,000 likes. Seerat’s request has resonated with many, and people are hopeful that the government will take action to provide the students with a cleaner and safer school.
We hope that Seerat’s request is heard by the government officials, and steps are taken to provide the students with a better learning environment.
SRINAGAR: On Thursday, the Jammu Kashmir High Court overturned the Public Safety Act of Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah, who has been detained at Kot Balwal jail in Jammu since June 2022, nearly 300 kilometres away from his home in Srinagar’s Soura. Despite calls from organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for his release, Fahad has remained in detention for over a year.
Fahad was initially arrested by Pulwama Police on February 4, 2022, for social media posts that were deemed to glorify terrorist activities and harm the image of law enforcement agencies, as well as cause ill-will and disaffection towards the country.
Although he was granted bail in that case on February 26, he was arrested again by Srinagar police on March 5 in connection with a report on his news portal from January 2021, and was granted bail again on March 14 before being moved to Kupwara District jail on March 16. He was later shifted to Kot Balwal jail on June 9, after being booked under the Public Safety Act.
In the PSA dossier submitted to the District Magistrate of Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir police accused Fahad of propagating stories that were in line with ISI/separatist propaganda, posting anti-national content, and glorifying stone pelters, terrorists, and separatism.
The dossier also claimed that Fahad’s news portal, The Kashmir Walla, published stories that were against the interest and security of the nation, and that they mostly highlighted the allegations of the Kashmir conflict and the “Indian state’s highhandedness.”
Despite securing bail twice before, Fahad was arrested for the third time and booked under a fresh PSA case on Monday. The police described Fahad as an “instigator” and accused him of working against the ethics of journalism by posting anti-national content that had a negative impact on the sovereignty and unity of the country. The PSA dossier concluded that Fahad could pose a serious threat to the security of J&K by way of his unlawful activities. (KDC)
