REGISTERED: JK NP-222/SKGPO-2018-2020 VOL 10 VOL situation from ground zero that convinced non local donors to chip in for help visited some of the brides and the men behind the initiative to understand the compelling in mid-July, it ’s was firstwedding mass that triggered a lot of interest. Bhat Durdana When 105 brides and grooms assembled in a city club for taking marriage vows under one roof PLEDGING PUBLICLY PLEDGING PUBLICLY

ISSUE 17 ISSUE

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JULY 28, 2018

PAGES 32 ` 20.00

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KL Image: MEHRAJ BHAT GOVERNMENT OF AND KASHMIR 5 0143/18 Shakir Ahmad Seh Mohammad Shafi Seh Shameema M 289 500 57.8 Muneera 6 0506/18 Saboora Manzoor Manzoor Ahmad Ganie F 289 500 57.8 INDUSTRIAL TRAINING INSTITUTE Akhter TRADE :- ELECTRICIAN (NCVT) Sub :- Selection List Of Candidates Selected provisionally for various NCVT courses in this institute for the SELECTION LIST session 2018-19-20. 1 0745/18 Aaqib Rashid Dar Abdul Rashid Dar Farida Banoo M 442 500 88.4 2 0539/18 Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar Gh Nabi Dar Rahie Jan M 368 500 73.6 No:- ITI/SPN/Trgs/18/ Dated :- -07-2018. 3 0637/18 Umer Ahmad Mugloo Abdul Ahad Mugloo Saleema M 351 500 70.2 Selection List of candidates provisionally selected for admission to various courses in this institute purely 4 0184/18 Ubaid Rashid Abdul Rashid Sheikh Zaainub Banoo M 347 500 69.4 Mohammad Yousuf on merit basis as per entry qualification for each for the session 2018-19-20 subject to the Submission and 5 0043/18 Khalid Yousuf Sayeeda Banoo M 346 500 69.2 verification of the following certificates in original which will be retained by this office till the completion Bhat 6 0448/18 Wakeel Ahmad Shah Gh Qadir Shah Zaina M 335 500 67 of training . Mohammad Zubair 7 0629/18 Abdul Hamid wani Gulshana Bano M 334 500 66.8 01. Marks certificate of entry Qualification.(i.e 10th) Azfar ul Hamid 02. Date of Birth Certificate 8 0210/18 Danish Bashir Bashir Ahmad Bhat Raja Banoo M 333 500 66.6 03. Discharge Certificate of the institution last Attended. 9 0397/18 Saqib Ahmad Bhat Mohammad Amin Bhat Safiya Banoo M 331 500 66.2 10 0316/18 Sayeem Bashir Bashir Ahmad Dar Nafeeza Akhter M 330 500 66 04. State Subject Certificate.(PRC) Shareefa 11 0400/18 Towseef Gulzar Gulzar Ahmad Malik M 328 500 65.6 05. Category Certificate If any Bagum Maneera 06. Adhar Card Photostat(Mandatory) 12 0429/18 Quratul Ain Baha u Din Bhat F 284 500 56.8 F/Q 07. Affadavit of Non.Involment in any Govt,Semi Govt or Private Job and also not having any admission Akhter in any other institute duly attested by Ist class Judicial Magistrate 13 0430/18 Sobi Ali Ali Mohammad Dar Hajra Bano F 219 500 43.8 F/Q Haseena 14 0707/18 Arbina Gulzar Gulzar Ahmad Langoo F 203 500 40.6 F/Q The candidates falling in the selection list are advised to complete all the admission formalites w.e.f Akhter 20/7/2018 to 26/07/2018. Candidates who fails to report within the said time ,their admission will be treat- Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh Abdul Hamid Sheikh 15 0414/18 Anuara Begum M 213 500 42.6 S/T ed as cancelled, the candidate will have no claim whatsoever.The vacant seats will be filled from the waiting Gojar Gojar list w.e.f 27/07/2018 to 30/07/2018 WAITING LIST Mohammad Yousuf 1 0398/18 Mohammad Irfan Bhat Fatimah Banoo M 326 500 65.2 TRADE :- Stenography and Secretarial Assistant ( English) (NCVT) Bhat Shaheena 2 0356/18 Ishfaq Rasool Ghulam Rasool Dar M 325 500 65 SELECTION LIST Banoo Marks Max. %(Per- Cat- Mohammad Saleem SN form No Name of Candidate Parentage Residence Sex Remarks 3 0399/18 Mohammad Khalil Bhat Hajhara Banoo M 320 500 64 Obtained Marks centage egory Bhat 1 0593/18 Kamran Ul Haq M Amin Hajam Zarifa M 443 500 88.6 Mohammad Abdullah 4 0322/18 Nasir Ahmad Malik Hamida Banoo M 317 500 63.4 Khursheed Ahmad Malik 2 0028/18 Gh Ahmad Hajam Habla Banoo M 423 500 84.6 Hajam Mohammad Imran 5 0850/18 Abdul Hamid Naikoo Jana Beigum M 315 500 63 3 0012/18 Arsalan Ahmad Padder Fayaz Ahmad Padder Rukhsana M 415 500 83 Naikoo Shameem Ahmad Shaheena 4 0344/18 Abdul Basit Rather Firdoosa Banu M 404 500 80.8 6 0162/18 Irshad Ahmad paul Mohd Shafi Paul M 314 500 62.8 Rather Akhter 5 0385/18 Imran Ahmad Ganie Shabir Ahmad Ganie Haneefa Banu M 401 500 80.2 7 0600/18 Fairoz Ahmad Dar Mohammad Yaqoob Dar Sara Bano M 311 500 62.2 8 0402/18 Hilal Ahmad Ganaie Gh Ahmad Ganaie Sitara Bano M 303 500 60.6 6 0757/18 Umer Bashir Bashir ahmad Mir Raja Banu M 399 500 79.8 Mohammad Altaf Mehbooba 9 0949/18 Gulam Rasool Kumar Zareefa Banoo M 302 500 60.4 7 0531/18 Irfan Ayoub Bhat Mohammad Ayoub Bhat M 396 500 79.2 Kumar Akhter 10 0025/18 Shakeel Ahmad Mir Mohd Maqbool Mir Misra Bano M 301 500 60.2 Mohammad Maqbool 8 0730/18 Khushboo Maqbool Shameema F 387 500 77.4 11 0906/18 Rayees Ahmad Sheikh Gh Mohidin Sheikh Sara Banoo M 301 500 60.2 Malik Mubeena 12 0138/18 Inayat Manzoor Manzoor Ahmad Dar M 300 500 60 9 0021/18 Danish Ayoub Mohammad Ayoub Dar Rafiqa Akhter F 385 500 77 Banoo Firdousa Kulsooma 10 0367/18 Shugafta Jan Mohd Shareef Itoo F 380 500 76 13 0697/18 Zubair Ahmad Parray Bashir Ahmad parray M 299 500 59.8 Banoo Begum Mohammad Amin Manzoor Ahmad 11 0916/18 Sahil Amin Gunchi Nisara Banoo M 375 500 75 14 0040/18 Imtiyaz Manzoor Shameema M 298 500 59.6 Gunchi Cheachi 12 0348/18 Umer Shabir Wani Shabir Ahmad Wani Afroza M 373 500 74.6 Shahnawaz Ahmad Mohammad Ashraf 15 0903/18 Mohd Amin Sheikh Mubena M 296 500 59.2 13 0259/18 Zahid Ashraf Dilshada Bano M 372 500 74.4 Sheikh Shah TRADE: ELECTRICIAN PAYMENT (NCVT) Mohammad Maqbool 14 0556/18 Suhail Zeeshan Bhat Raja Bano M 370 500 74 SELEC- Bhat TION LIST 15 0005/18 Jasima Ishaq Mohammad Ishaq Bhat Shaista Ishaq F 367 500 73.4 1 0904/18 Inayat Lateef Mohd Lateef Shameema M 378 500 75.6 16 0654/18 shugufta Mushtaq Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat Shameema F 362 500 72.4 2 0540/18 Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar Gh Nabi Dar Rahie Jan M 368 500 73.6 17 0835/18 Basir Manzoor Manzoor Ahmad Laway Maroofa Banoo M 361 500 72.2 3 0308/18 Danish Bashir Bashir Ahmad Bhat Raja Banoo M 333 500 66.6 4 0209/18 Shahnawaz Shafi Mohammad Shafi Bhat Misra Banoo M 315 500 63 18 0755/18 Sahira Jan Gh Mohd Sofi Ameena Akhter F 261 500 52.2 H/C 60% Shaheena 5 0164/18 Irshad Ahmad paul Mohd Shafi Paul M 314 500 62.8 19 0401/18 Rafiq Ahmad Pumla Nazir Ahmad Pumla Hakam Bhee M 229 500 45.8 S/T Akhter WAITING LIST Waiting List 1 0477/18 Fancy Jan Hamza Rather Rahana Akhter F 360 500 72 1 0598/18 Fairoz Ahmad Dar Mohammad Yaqoob Dar Sara Bano M 311 500 62.2 Ghulam Mohammad Shameema 2 0403/18 Hilal Ahmad Ganaie Gh Ahmad Ganaie Sitara Bano M 303 500 60.6 2 0609/18 Abrina Jan F 359 500 71.8 Hajam Banoo 3 0662/18 Shakeel Ahmad Mir Mohd Maqbool Mir Misra Bano M 301 500 60.2 4 0773/18 Peer Syed Ibadullah Peer Syed Amanullah Fatima M 295 500 59 3 0688/18 Hurun Nisa Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Hajra Parveen F 357 500 71.4 Naseema 5 0768/18 Gulzar Ahmad Dar Bashir Ahmad Dar M 285 500 57 4 0634/18 Zeenat Rafiq Rafiq Ahmad Khanday Shamshada F 356 500 71.2 Banoo 5 0759/18 Yawer Ali Naik Gulam Qadir Naik Sitara Banoo M 356 500 71.2 TRADE :- SEWING TECHNOLOGY (NCVT) Muhammad Khalil Shakeela 6 0024/18 Gowhar Ahmad Wagay Saleema Banu M 354 500 70.8 1 0910/18 Zeshana Majeed Abdul Majeed Nengroo F 422 500 84.4 Wagay Banoo Shahzada 2 0909/18 Saqiba Amin Mohamad Amin Ganie Hamida Banoo F 394 500 78.8 7 0278/18 Aadil Yaseen Mohd Yaseen Khanday M 352 500 70.4 Banoo 3 0979/18 Zeenat Yousuf Mohammad Yousuf Mir Masooda Tury F 388 500 77.6 Mymoona 4 0715/18 Hurun Nisa Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Hajra Parveen F 357 500 71.4 8 0729/18 Aiman Bashir Bashir Ahmad Khan F 350 500 70 Banu 5 0983/18 Ather Manzoor Manzoor Ahmad Bhat Kowser Jan F 343 500 68.6 Naseema 9 0867/18 Syed Ruqaya Iqbal Mohammad Iqbal Shah Asmat Jan F 349 500 69.8 6 0286/18 Rehana Akhter Nisar Ahmad Naikoo F 312 500 62.4 Mohammad Hussain Haleema Akhter 10 0377/18 Tahmeed Hussain M 346 500 69.2 Mohammad Yaseen Lone Banoo 7 0717/18 Rohee Jan Taja Banoo F 304 500 60.8 Tasleema Ganai 11 0006/18 Qamar un Nisa Wahid u Rehman Naik F 346 500 69.2 Ghulam Mohi ud Din Akhter 8 0716/18 Iqra Mohi ud Din Gulshan Akhter F 300 500 60 Mohammad Hussain Meema wagay 12 0358/18 Najma Hussain F 345 500 69 Malik Parveen 9 0386/18 Rozy Jan Abdul Rashid Bhat Rafeeqa F 279 500 55.8 13 0019/18 Nazima Tabasum Sajad Ahmad Ganie Naziya F 341 500 68.2 10 0986/18 Rukhshanda Tawkeer Bashir Ahmad Rather F 270 500 54 11 0180/18 Saima Jan Mushtaq Ahmad Mir Nabiza Banoo F 268 500 53.6 14 0771/18 Amara Jan Gh Mohammad Kutey Tahirah F 341 500 68.2 12 0854/18 Shamas ul Shakeel Shakeel Ahmad Malik Nigeena Banoo F 264 500 52.8 15 0379/18 Waseem Rashid Lone Abdul Rashid Lone Rozia Akhter M 339 500 67.8 13 0808/18 Nuzhat Nazir Nazir Ahmad Lone Naseema Banu F 257 500 51.4 16 0023/18 Zakir Ahmad Dar Ab Salam Dar Jana Banu M 339 500 67.8 14 0742/18 Imrose Jan Manzoor Ahmad Ganaie Tahira Akhter F 256 500 51.2 17 0752/18 Iqra Sharief Mohd Sharief Naikoo Hafeeza Banoo F 339 500 67.8 15 0756/18 Nighat Bashir Bashir Ahmad Mir Raja Bano F 253 500 50.6 Lt Mohammad Shafi WAITING LIST 18 0623/18 Moieen ul Fatima Banoo M 338 500 67.6 Sheikh 1 0870/18 Sajeela Jan Mohammad Ayoub Lone Nishata Banoo F 249 500 49.8 19 0371/18 Mohd Yousf Awan Mushtaq Ahmad Awan Sharifa Bano M 211 500 42.2 H/C 45% 2 0927/18 Ishrat Jan Mohd Sharief Naikoo Fahmeeda F 245 500 49 TRADE :- Stenographer & Secreterial Assistant Payment(NCVT) 3 0096/18 Zeenat Ul Farooq Mohammad Farooq Zamrooda F 244 500 48.8 SELEC- 4 0714/18 Nuzhat Nazir Nazir Ahmad Wagay Raja Bano F 243 500 48.6 TION LIST 5 0911/18 Sabreena Nazir Nazir Ahmad Mir Dilshada Bano F 240 500 48 Mohammad Maqbool Sakeena 1 0784/18 Khushboo Maqbool Shameema F 387 500 77.4 6 0857/18 Rakeeba Jan Azad Hussain Lone F 235 500 47 Malik Akhter Mymoona 7 0287/18 Tabasum Gull Gh Mohammad Ganie Rafeeqa Banoo F 228 500 45.6 2 0783/18 Aiman Bashir Bashir Ahmad Khan F 350 500 70 Haseena Banu 8 0754/18 Hufsa Yaqoob Mohd Yaqoob Malik F 225 500 45 3 0109/18 Zakir Ahmad Dar Ab Salam Dar Jana Banu M 339 500 67.8 Akhter Mubeena 9 0381/18 Aafia Bashir Bashir Ahmad Seh Fatima Banoo F 224 500 44.8 4 0271/18 Aadil Zahoor Zahoor Ahmad Rather M 336 500 67.2 Akhter 10 0469/18 Refat Akhter Ab Hamid Magray Raja Banoo F 220 500 44 Mohammad Yousuf 5 0189/18 Nuzhat Mubarik Mubarik Ahmad Rather Munira Akhter F 326 500 65.2 11 0959/18 Fancy Yousuf Hafeeza Banoo F 220 500 44 6 0147/18 Saima Akhter Abdul Rashid Ganaie Rafeeqa Banoo F 317 500 63.4 Thoker Mohammad Amin WAITING LIST 12 0960/18 Irfat Amin Nisara Banoo F 218 500 43.6 1 0834/18 Aamir Ahmad Wagay Gh Mohammad Wagay Hajra Bano M 314 500 62.8 Gonchoo 13 0814/18 Shahida Lateef Mohd Lateef Shah Shameema F 217 500 43.4 2 0360/18 Zahid Abror Sofi Gh Mohammad Sofi Jana Banoo M 311 500 62.2 14 0928/18 Bisma Jan Ghulam Mohideen Bhat Meema Banoo F 213 500 42.6 3 0907/18 Rayees Ahmad Sheikh Gh Mohidin Sheikh Sara Banoo M 301 500 60.2 15 0950/18 Arbina Gulzar Gulzar Ahmad Sofi Zoona Akhtar F 208 500 41.6 Mohammad Maqbool Mehbooba 4 186/18 Zeeshan Malik F 294 500 58.8 Superintendent Malik Akhter ITI Shopian DIPK-5689/18 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

CONTENTS 03

PERSON OF INTEREST Cover Story 20

GULAM HASSAN MALIK

he last picture of Gulam Hassan Malik, 70, alias Noor Khan, a resident of Uri, who was lodged under Public Safety Act (PSA), at Kotbalwal Jail, Jammu, Twas clicked on a hospital bed, with his leg tied with a chain. Khan was taken to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, for a medical check-up by jail authorities, where he breathed his last. Khan, a former Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) commander, who gave up militancy after his arrest in the late 1990s, was booked in January on arms smuggling charges under PSA. As the news of Khan’s death reached Kashmir, obituaries started to pour in from different quarters. But the most unexpected obituary came from the other side of the ideological divide, when Brigadier P S Gothra, formerly Brigadier General Staff with the Northern Command, wrote a moving post describing Khan rescued his father, also an army officer, from a fellow militant group in 1993. PLEDGING PUBLICLY “With Noor Khan it was a unique relation…. Deep pain in my heart resembled as if I have lost somebody very close. Many BRIEFING 04 may wonder why a fourth-generation officer of the Indian Army is feeling bad on reading the headlines, ‘Pro-freedom activist CULTURE lodged in Jammu Jail passes away’,” P S Gothra wrote. After Gothra’s father Major G S Gothra, a chief engineer for MEEM SAHAB 06 the Uri hydroelectric project was taken hostage by militants, some NHPC staff and locals approached Khan, who was a state power department employee before joining militancy. SPECIAL REPORT The purpose was to seek Khan’s help to secure the release of Gothra’s father. REVIVING WORK CULTURE 11 After using his network Khan found out that Gothra’s father was held in Dangerpora village in Sheri Valley, . LIFE STORY Khan, who was himself a resident of Baramulla’s Narwaw village, took one a local truck driver of the project with him CLIFF HANGER 13 to Dangerpora. By midnight Khan, by putting his life in dan- ger, managed to secure Gothra’s father’s release from his kidnappers. In his tribute, Gothra told The Telegraph that CRIME Khan was a man of courage and “dignity”. MOLVI’S MURDER 25 After his release Gothra’s father called Khan, who was still a militant, to his office and offered him money, but he refused to take even a single penny. INTERVIEW In 2013, Brigadier Gothra was posted in the same area and visited Khan’s home “to thank him for the good deed”. HUZAIFA PANDIT 28 Three days before Khan’s death Kothbalwal jail authorities called his family and told them about his illness. “They were BOOKS only fulfilling a formality by calling us to the hospital. Oth- erwise, he was already 90 per cent dead,” Khan’s son Irshad GREEN IS THE COLOUR OF MEMORY 30 told media.

Owner, Printer, Publisher and Editor: Hilal Ahmed Dar | Published from: 5 , Ram Bagh, Behind Zam Zam Building, News Room Address: 9 - Press Enclave, Pratap Park, Srinagar 190 001 | Printed at: Access Printing Press, Zainakote, Srinagar RNI No. JKENG/2009/32003 | Registered: JK NP-222/SKGPO-2018-2020 | Managing Editor: Masood Hussain | Senior Reporter: Shams Irfan | Special Correspondent: Saima Bhat Correspondents: Umar Mukhtar, Umar Khurshid, Tahir Bhat | Contributing Reporters: Muhammad Younis, Saqib Mir, Faheem Mir | Layout & Graphics: Malik Kaisar | Photographer: Bilal Bahadur Advertisement & Circulation: Shuaib Wani +91 7006702454 | [email protected] | Contact at: 0194 - 2477387 | +91 941 908 8042 | E-Mail: [email protected] JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

04 BRIEFING

CHRAR-E-SHARIEF A tragic end to a love story took place in remote village of district’s Dadukhatu village, when Sameer’s body was fished out from a water reservoir in on July 10. Sameer’s family alleged that he was killed by his lover’s brother, after kidnapping him on June 24. Once the mourn- ing was over, Sameer’s relatives marched towards girls house and vandalised their property. It took intervention from police and SOG to restore order in the village.

SRINAGAR BAGH-E-MEHTAB AMU PHD scholar turned Hizb- In the Governor Raj, the anti-corruption ul-Mujahideen militant Mannan institutions have gone active. The first Bashir Wani, recently created major raid by State Vigilance Organisation a storm in both real and vir- (SVO) was in the house of Assistant A Sunday picnic outing turned into mourning tual world after his long letter Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Shop- when landslide hit Sehar Baba’s waterfall, a was published by a Srinagar ian, Abdul Majid Bhat, where it ended with revered place in , killing seven based news gathering agency the recovery of Rs 32 lakh in cash, gold persons and injuring 26. Located on the banks Current News Service (CNS). Within hours of its release worth Rs 10 lakhs and a licensed pistol of Chenab River, Sehar Baba is visited by both Wani’s letter became the most shared item of the day along with 47 rounds. They also recovered locals and Vasihno Devi bound pilgrims. Inter- on the internet in Kashmir. But by evening, after police Rs 99 thousands in old discarded currency. estingly, the rescue operation was being mon- filed an FIR against CNS for carrying Wani’s letter, it Other recoveries include ownership itored by Jitendra Singh from Prime Minister’s was taken down from all web-portals. While CNS argues documents of plots in Punjab and Chadoo- Office (PMO) in Delhi. that they carried Wani’s write-up for its news value, police ra (Budgam). Various bank check books thinks otherwise. and passbooks were also recovered.

SRINAGAR JAMMU On July 19, 2018, the journey of Haji Habibul- In a first such initiative, all women business lah Khan ended at Mazar-e-Shuhada unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank was (martyrs’ graveyard) at Eidgah in Srinagar, e-inaugurated this week by the first lady the same graveyard which he took care Usha Vohra from the SKICC auditorium. of since militancy broke in 1989. Khan as The thread that united all the women par- a gravedigger has laid to rest around 2000 ticipants from different social and eco- people, including Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, nomic backgrounds with those from the Abdul Gani Lone, Ishfaq Majeed Wani, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, and bank was the yearning for gender-equali- Jaleel Andrabi. A gravedigger by chance, Khan volunteered when ty in both the journeys and processes of an unidentified youngster’s body was bought for burial at Eid economic development of the state. Ghah in 1989. This was the first body Khan buried, but not the last as militancy intensified, leaves scores dead on a daily basis. His funeral prayers were led by . SHOPIAN In a dramatic development body of Tariq Ahmad Mohand, 24, a resident of Heff in Shopian, was exhumed and buried in local martyr’s graveyard. It was done after 100 MILITANTS, 43 militants appeared at his village and ordered he should be buried in martyr’s graveyard with full honour. Mohand was first kidnapped and then killed by uniden- FORCES PERSONNEL, 16 tified gunmen on July 8, 2018. His body was found in a paddy field in Arwani village of . Soon, rumours started doing rounds that Tariq was killed for being an CIVILIANS KILLED IN J&K army informer. Interestingly, Tariq, a carpenter, was cousin of slain Hizb militant Bilal Ahmad Mohand alias Bilal Molvi, who was killed along with Saddam Padder IN LAST 6 MONTHS: MHA in Badigam area of Shopian on May 6 this year.

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CONTACT: +91-9906959677, 9107350605, 9906676479, 0194-2431536, 2435575, 2435576 JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

06 CULTURE

LANGUAGE MEEM SAHAB In her childhood in Srinagar’s Gogjibagh, the Sufiana was just a routine and mother tongue a top priority. This love for the culture could not fade away even after she married a Pakistani cousin and settled in the US. Saima Bhat meets Asmat Ashai, the Meem Sahab behind the Funkar International, IBM’s offshore forays, and who campaigned for years with the Coke Studio Pakistan to record a Kashmiri number

n the Late eighties; the abnormal- ity had just started indicating its existence. As the situation deterio- Irated beyond control, many found their new addresses outside . The people who had already left had no option of coming back to see their families or relatives. The conflict had its impact. Far away from their soil and the difficulties in gettinga visa, the Kashmiris living abroad had their own desperation. Fear of losing the touch from their roots and its impact on the new generation was making them uneasy. The most restive was a lady in her thirties, Asmat Ashai, who wanted to keep her children closer to Kashmir, her roots. To begin with, in 1989, she started a youth camp for Kashmiri Ameri- cans in New York, at a farm, and introduced history and cuisine of Kashmir. When the target group started hanging out and was recep- tive to her teachings, an encouraged Asmat decided to continue with it. For the next two years, she hosted youth camps at her home where around 60 teenagers started living with her: boys in the basement, girls in the second floor and her family in the first floor. Later it became an organised affair, amidst the wazwan preparations, speakers thronged her camp. Gradually it emerged as an address for the new generation, most of whom had not even visited the home of their parents. Asmat Ashai WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 07

After the history and Wazwan Americans, the language miris have distinct music which was over, the camp started to does not make any sense. It could has different instruments. “So have cultural programmes. This be either English or Kashmiri they can pick it, listen to it and necessitated digital recordings, so her camps kept all youth clos- feel it.” but they could not find any. The er to their mother language. She intervened to have a musi- Thanks to the option left was to have their own The beginning was made by cal version of Awrade Fatihiya. generous records. The first she remembers recordings with some instru- She roped in a group of Ronnie was Dil Chooran Hai Nue (The mentalists and then with the Malley, a Chicago native of Pal- support of a few thief stole my heart). voice of non-Kashmiris. “The estinian descent who is a multi- members of the t was this small initiative, that aim was to make young people instrumentalist, and Qadi Ismael, Iin 1999 was registered as an realise that our language also and travelled with them to most Kashmiri- NGO, Funkar International. The has some value,” Asmat said. “So of the shrines like Khankah e American aim she says was to keep the if they want to speak any other Maula (Srinagar), Baba Reshi community, we alive in language, Kashmiri could be an (), so to give them a America by connecting Kash- option and they should feel proud feeling of Kashmiri shrines. were able to miris living there and preserve of it.” When their project was complete raise funds to and promote Kashmiri folk art, alling her journey great, they used a little bit of duff, little music, and language. She believes CFunkar’s first work was named music. It is available online. produce Saaz Tih this was the way to introduce Saazuk Safar (the journey of the “It gave it a new kind of life so Awaaz, the first Kashmir in America. music), and then they did Saaz that we could save it for next Asmat was not alone; she had Te Awaaz (music and sound) in generation otherwise they will digital format the support of a few others to 1999. lose it. It was better to do it in a recording of make this a success. “Thanks to She did not keep it to oldies way where everybody could lis- Kashmiri folk the generous support of a few only but she wanted to give it to ten to it,” Asmat insisted. members of the Kashmiri-Amer- generation next so she got young She does not keep it specific to music greats ican community, we were able artists. She started with Sar- Kashmiri artists only. For Ra- Ghulam Hassan to raise funds to produce Saaz madiya Shafi, who was intro- baab uk Hubab (the love of Rabab), Tih Awaaz, the first digital format duced in the late 90’s. Asmat got Habib Wardak, an Sofi, Raj Begum, recording of Kashmiri folk mu- Next, they did Badam Fulai Afghan American rabab player, and Naseem sic greats Ghulam Hassan Sofi, (instrumental only) with an aim from America to Kashmir in May Akhtar Raj Begum, and Naseem Akhtar,” to introduce Kashmiri music to 2013, for six weeks, for the Rabab Ashai said. people who are not Kashmiris, workshop with students and then Asmat says for Kashmiri to make them understand Kash- a concert in Kashmir University.

CD covers of Kashmiri Music and Songs. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

08 CULTURE

“A fter the concert we made it sure that we write it in Kash- miri so that it doesn’t become just a CD to listen but something that has a language, which has a script and can be read as well,” Asmat said. “We write it in Kash- miri and then in English as well.” During his stay, Wardak and Asmat collaborated with a local Mizraab School of Music. He created a curriculum for the school and introduced the use of western notation for all instru- ments. unkar International works Fglobally. It has the privilege of last Sufiyana music CD recorded in Belgium. Later, the list included Mainz Raat (wedding songs), Nikah Nama, which is a very unique thing and only happening in Kashmir. For this CD, Asmat used her parents Nikah Nama Asmat Ashai with others practicing Kashmir folk music. as its cover. ove of roots was coupled by the Asmat says her family used marry for four years. “We were Llove for music. The combo backs to go for long boat rides with planning to get married in Kabul, to her childhood days when her Sufiyana musicians like Tibat which was a safer place then. parent’s room would turn into a Bakaal. “I think music was in Ultimately after the intervention studio every morning at 9.15 am born. We inherited it from our of late Sheikh Sahab, who inter- in Gogji Bagh. “We always had parents and grandparents.” vened at the highest level and Raj Begum, Naseem Ji and Has- And her paternal grandfather managed through Indira Gandhi Asmat and her san Sofi playing in other room. Abdul Aziz Mir Drabu was a to get a special visa for Showkat’s sister, Nighat were That was the time I and my sister renowned landlord in Pulwom family.” among very few used to get ready for our school (she was very peculiar to call all Finally, Showkat along with Muslim girls who and then college. I believe that names with their correct Kash- his family and uncle were in rooted love for music and culture miri pronunciation) district. She Kashmir and they got married. could do their in me.” says he was a patron of folk mu- Soon after, they left for America, schooling in a Asmat and her sister, Nighat sic and Bandh Pather. where Showkat, a doctor by pro- missionary school, were among very few Muslim In college, Asmat then Asmat fession, was doing his residency, Presentation girls who could do their schooling Drabu, was a president, captain in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Bal- in a missionary school, Presenta- of the hockey team and partici- timore, Maryland, in the USA. Convent. At tion Convent. At school, it was pated in every drama passion- In America, Asmat had no work school, it was mandatory for them to speak in ately. An arts graduate she was visa but after she had her chil- mandatory for English. Back home they had to married to her Kashmiri born dren: daughter, who is a lawyer them to speak in speak in Kashmiri otherwise Pakistani first cousin, Showkat now, and son, who is business they would get beaten by her Ashai in 1974. graduate, turned six and four English. Back maternal grandfather, Ghulam “I had never seen him because years, she went back to school home they had to Ahmad Ashai, who was the first they were never allowed to re- where she did her MS in special speak in Kashmiri registrar at the University of turn,” Asmat regretted. But be- education (from Johns Hopkins otherwise they Kashmir. cause of her college principal, University). As her husband used “He was a strict man. He made Miss Mehmooda, she was given to remain busy for most of the would get beaten us collect dried leaves or clean a passport in 1970 and they could times, Asmat volunteered for by her maternal up waste pipe. That time we visit her would-be-husband. schools, counselling centres and grandfather, couldn’t understand him and felt “While we were in Pakistan hi- a Sunday exclusive Islamic Ghulam Ahmad offended but now I understand jacking (in 1971) of aeroplane school, where her children used actually he wanted to teach us took place and we had to return to study. Ashai, who was the dignity of labour,” Remem- as all borders were sealed be- In 1988, she was elected as the first registrar bers Asmat. She says it was be- tween and Pakistan.” first Muslim president of In- at the University cause of this attitude that she In the meantime, there was no dian Muslim Association but of Kashmir never hesitated while working communication between Showkat she decided to resign soon after at home. and Asmat and they couldn’t as the conflict started in Kash- 09

mir. “That was the last I could travel with my kids to Sri- nagar,” She remembers. Asmat also taught Kashmiri in a Berlitz language school for A TREAT TO ALL THE BRAND ADDICTS OF two years where she worked with two American linguists FASHION FIESTA and one Britain linguist, who INTRODUCES BRANDED helped her to write Kashmiri GARMENTS AT DISCOUNTED RATES GRAND SALE scripts. “That was the best UPTO experience of my life, to look at my own language because I realised how complicated it is,” She says with a sense of proud and achievement. “It was the most fascinating experience to see your language through a foreigner, it was absolutely Asmat Ashai

mind-blowing.” GRAND SALE 70%DISCOUNT ON ALL BRANDS Asmat used to teach them Irfan, Bilal and Mahmeet music too. Her class always had (IBM) came to the US for the MEN, WOMEN & KIDS a tumbakhner, and when her first time. Habib Wardak and students used to get stressed, George joined them in all the they used to sing on it. She Concerts. Habib played the believes the best way to teach Rabab and George accompanied a language is through music. them on Tumbakhnaer. Irfan Claims that the Kashmiri and Bilal are multi-instrumen- language is dying makes Asmat talists. Bilal has been playing

sick. “It will never die but the flute andHarmonium . Irfan KASHMIR LIFE DESIGN: fact that the young people who plays the Guitar, Rabab, Oudh know the language will not speak and Tumbakh. Mahmeet Syed | Residency Road | SARA City Centre | | | I Q Shopping Mall, Hyderpora | it. That gives me a sense of inse- is an accomplished vocalist. Budgam | | | Baramulla | | Shopian | Jammu | curity and loss,” she explains. “They had talent but I made “Every time I see a little boy or a girl speaking Kashmiri I just hug them and tell them how much it means to me.” smat’s daughter, who is also Aa board member of Funkar, introduced her to world musi- ROOT2FRUIT cians. But when she was a kid, she was introduced to the Kash- We Help Develop The Best Orchards miri language through music only. Asmat says her daughter was just thirteen years old Why Switch to High-Density Orchard? Our Basic Services when she sang in front of 500 Yield - Increased Yield from 10MT/Ha to 60 MT/Ha High-Density Orchard Development - Improved Quality from 30% to 70% A-Grade Quality people a Kashmiri song Mei Quality -Planting Material - Uniformity in Color & Size of produce -Trellis (European System) Kair Chai Kith Posh Daswaanai, Variety - Wide range of High Value Varieties -Drip Irrigation System for which she was appreciated - Mid to Late Soil Health Analysis as well. - Green to Red - Sweet to Acidic Additional Benefits With the help of her daughter 2 Free Expert Visits for first 3 years and other board members, As- Manual for Disease Management Monthly Online Consultation mat was able to do first Kash- Production Comparison (Per Kanal) Seminars/Workshops on HDP

miri music concert in the USA 350 332 300 282 in April 2015 where she intro- 249 Contact Us: 250 B o x e s ) duced three young musicians 200 166 K g ROOT2FRUIT 150 An aegis of H.N.AgriServe,

from Kashmir, who were joined ( 1 0 100 83 I.G.C Lassipora, , J&K 60 33 Mobile +91-9906565533/9906726699 by two other musicians from i e l d 50 10 Y 0 +91-9906733770/8803001406 0 0 0 0 0 Website - www.thefarm2u.com Chicago. They performed in Y0 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y10 e-mail - [email protected] Years six US cities, Washington DC, Traditional HDP Ellicott City MD, New Rochelle NY, Los Angeles CA, Dallas TX Increased Yield Improved Crop Quality Waste Reduction NVA Cost Reduction Farmer & Consumer Empowerment and Buffalo NY. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

10 CULTURE

Irfan, Bilal and Mehmeet performing in US. it sure they get dressed properly the IBM got their sponsors who ast this reporter met the culture then signboards across Kash- for an audience that sees art dif- wanted to take them to Australia Lactivist in 2016; she said her mir which are written in Eng- ferently,” Asmat said. “Parents and then to Dubai. next project is recording the lish or or Urdu also get upset when they see poorly Hoping to take Funkar to Khatam Shariefs of all shrines saddens her. dressed people singing, so we next level, Asmat was in Kashmir, with a coffee table “Why can’t they do it in Kash- cleaned up the image, we did bow literally desperate to take book on Muslim shrines of Kash- miri when at every airport, across ties and black shirts and pants. it to the level of Coke Studio, mir. “Every Shrine has its par- the globe they do announcements Actually, we wanted Kashmir to Pakistan. Last time she was ticular Khatam and I want to in local languages. Mostly Kash- be seen with different light.” Asmat in Pakistan, she met the record and preserve them.” miris travel through this airport, says they were peculiar that the team. She also suggested After that, she is going to do there could be somebody’s grand- language and instruments used them to play with Kashmiri Kashmiri books for children parents who don’t understand should be only Kashmiri. and Dogri music. which have to be illustrated. English or Hindi or Urdu.” That concert, Asmat says was “I am literally over the moon “World class illustration so that Asmat says she doesn’t blame a success. After the concert, her today. For five long years I young children pick up a book a young generation for ‘culture team made it sure the Kashmiri planned to have it done by Coke and say we want to read this, it onslaught’ in Kashmir as they singers meet and interact with Studio,” Asmat said after the should not be disfigured. And didn’t have the chance. Last time American musicians. “Introduc- Coke Studio released Altaf Mir’s another book of songs for chil- she had taken a video from city tion is very important so that Hou Gulu, last week. “The inten- dren.” to show it to her students, but she others would judge them as mu- tion was to promote and intro- Funkaar International did an- was disheartened when they sicians.” duce Kashmiri music on this other music workshop in Mary- pointed “why there are no sign- After that the three musicians prestigious platform. land USA in January 2017, in boards in Kashmiri.” performed in elementary, middle Asmat said she had gone with which instructions in Santoor, She says these small things and high schools in Washington. a request to the CEO of Coke Rabab and Tumbakh were sought catches one’s attention “That After schools, they were intro- Studio “to have a closer look at from local experts. is why I got Irfan and Bilal to duced at Dallas University as our music”. It took five years, smat gets saddened to see change their stream of rock well. They were later introduced she said, but it finally happened. Astate giving preference to music to Kashmiri exclusive to Russian musicians as well, “I had originally planned to handicrafts and tourism only only. And see today they are who play the Cello. They learnt have the song sung by artists at the global level. “We have a successful.” She believes this it and meanwhile, Asmat herself from both sides of the border. lot to give in terms of culture, is the way to introduce Kashmir learnt to play Santoor from an That, however, did not mature and music,” She said. And when in America and the world over. Iranian, who had come to the due to the prevailing situation she reaches at Srinagar air- Importantly she says “this way concert. between the two countries.” port, hearing an announce- I can preserve my distinct Kash- Seeing the response in the USA, ment in other languages and mir culture.” WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

SPECIAL REPORT 11

REVIVING WORK CULTURE Chief Secretary , BVR Subramanyam with advisor BB Vyas.

t was a teleconference with the police and smuggler Veerappan, is another adviser and In the 5-member civil administration heads of the south he has served as head of the Border Security State Administrative Kashmir range and the subject matter was Force (BSF) in Kashmir between 1998 and 2001 Ithe smooth conduct of the ongoing Amarnath before he became the head of CRPF. He knows Council (SAC), the yatra. An officer while briefing about the se- Kashmir completely and thoroughly. curity arrangements stated that they had a Vohra’s third adviser is Bharat Bhushan only person who is contingency plan in place as well, in case the Vyas, an IAS officer from J&K cadre, who was new to Kashmir is pilgrims were attacked. serving as the Chief Secretary when the gov- “Wait, wait, please repeat what you are say- ernment crumbled under its own weight. Vyas the Chief Secretary. ing,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary had reached superannuation on May 31, 2018, Masood Hussain BVR Subrahmanyam interrupted. As the of- but the Government of India amended the ficer repeated the sentence, promptly came the service rulers, perhaps for the first time in attempts a profile of reply: “If the yatra was attacked, your role ends history, to give him an extension of one year there and then. It will be my role that will take as the top babu in the state. Soon after creating BVR over and within next 15 minutes, I will sign this historic precedence, the government’s fall Subrahmanyam, the your dismissal order.” led to his elevation as an adviser as BVR re- This voice that orders, interrupts and asks placed him. man who is tasked uncomfortable questions is the newest one 1987 Chhattisgarh officer, BVR, whom his to deliver good echoing in the corridors of powers in Jammu Apeers call Subbu, was the Additional Chief and Kashmir, now-a-days. In the new dispensa- Secretary (Home) of the Naxal inflicted state governance to the tion that N N Vohra as state’s longest-serving when his services were placed before the governor is heading – after the fall of the Jammu and Kashmir government, almost the turmoil-hit state BJPDP government, it is BVR, who is new to same night the BJP withdrew from the coali- the state. tion. Insiders said the process of creating the Vohra’s “cabinet” (called State Administra- SAC had started almost three days before tive Council) has three advisers in addition to Kashmir observed Eid. the Chief Secretary – a total of five men, who Termed to be one of the finest IAS officers, are running one of the most sensitive states. BVR as the head of J&K’s bureaucracy is said Khursheed A Ganai resigned as state’s Infor- to be the personal choice of Prime Minister mation Commissioner to be the adviser, is a Narendra Modi. Before taking off for Srinagar local. K Vijay Kumar, the killer of Sandalwood for apparently the most challenging assign- JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

12 SPECIAL REPORT

Chief Secretary , BVR Subramanyam chairs an official meeting in Srinagar.

ment of his career, BVR had a remotely ruled by Delhi as the to the task he has,” one senior to stay away from cash! In one meeting with the Prime Minister. assembly is in suspended ani- officer said. “He does not believe meeting, he clearly hinted at In his first meeting with the of- mation. in academic discussions. He seeks “corruption in high places”. ficers in Srinagar, he indicated trained engineer with an progress and delivery, in plain Without making any noise, the the brief with which he flew to A MBA from London School of statistical terms.” entire middle rung management Srinagar: ‘good governance’. Economics, BVR is considered In the first week itself, a series in state police’s various verticals The 55-year old bureaucrat, to be an expert in internal se- of small events revealed the big- were changed. hailing from Andhra Pradesh, curity matters. Perhaps that is ger story: a top officer being “The Chief Secretary is work- has spent a decade in the Prime why he has all the eras in South reprimanded for a few minutes aholic,” an officer said. “Last minister’s Office (PMO). He was Block, India’s top decision-mak- delay to his meeting; another week, after the meeting at the Dr Manmohan Singh’s Private ing office. officer being sent back from his Raj Bhawan was over, he decided Secretary and one of the most “Subrahmanyam’s move to the chambers for uninvited entry; a to have a review meeting in powerful officers in the Con- militancy-hit state clearly signals clear no to routine courtesy calls. Baramulla and it was already 5 gress PMO. a return to an aggressive mus- The civil secretariat literally pm. He drove to the district, re- In 2008, BVR went on deputa- cular policy in J&K,” Maneesh devoid of the janta, a natural viewed the working of the district tion to the World Bank for three Chhibber reported in news web- impact of the fall of the political administration for many hours years (June 2008 and September site The Print. “As additional government, is rife with stories and drove back home in Srinagar 2011) as a senior adviser. He joined chief secretary (home) in Nax- of “discipline” of the “hard task- at around 11 pm, despite being his services back in the PMO in alism-hit Chhattisgarh, Subrah- master”. Though the biometric advised against the odd hour March 2012. It was the time when manyam is credited with chart- systems were installed across travel.” his state sought him back. ing and overseeing the state the government, BVR on the very political worker who knew the In 2012, journalist P R Ramesh police’s ongoing “toughest war first day made it mandatory. This Aofficer from his PMO stint said reported in Open magazine, when against” the Maoist insurgency. is the key reason why the secre- BVR is no stranger to Kashmir. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister He has worked in Manmohan tariat and most offices operating “During Manmohan Singh’s era Raman Singh sought BVR back Singh’s as well as Narendra in and around Srinagar are open he did handle Kashmir and was to the state insisting that since Modi’s PMO, and is seen as a at sharp 10 am and there are more actively involved,” the politician the state was created in 2000, he tough taskmaster.” jams and frantic honking be- said. “It was he who organised had never worked in the state, There is nothing much on re- tween 9 am and 9:30 am. most of the Round Table Confer- Manmohan Singh had written cord about his contributions in “He does not want to see any- ences.” Though not knowing him in response: “I need an officer the Naxal-hit state. One report body whom he has not called and directly, he insisted that BVR who has the experience and the said that he oversaw laying of would never permit an attendance will be encouraging the local exposure in handling sensitive almost 700 km of roads in the by proxy,” another senior officer officers because it is they who matters. The officer also needs seven Naxal-infested Bastar dis- said. “In all these days, we have actually are linked to the society to be someone who enjoys my tricts. He is credited for ensuring not seen him taking No as a re- and can deliver the services fast. trust and confidence. Due to these a balance between development sponse.” He, the officer said, talks So in the 5-member “govern- reasons, I have selected BVR and anti-Naxal operations. in plain bullet-points. “I think, ment”, two are Naxal specialists Subrahmanyam…” n Kashmir seemingly the entire he is the first chief secretary and Vohra is expected to call it As Joint Secretary, BVR was Ifocus is on the yatra to conclude after Ashok Jaitely who works a day, sooner than later. Now, in PMO when Narendra Modi peacefully. But BVR has ade- like this,” the officer added. it remains to be seen how Left took over in May 2014. He stayed quately indicated to the bureau- What surprises many people Wing Extremism (LWE) can there till March 2015 and then cracy in Jammu and Kashmir is that he is well briefed about have a common minimum man- moved to Chhattisgarh. Three how they are supposed to deliver. people. One story that has spread agement with that of Kashmir years later, he is holding the most “He is a completely different in the civil secretariat like wild militancy that is political in sensitive posting of his career person who is a strict disciplinar- fire is that when he shifted one nature and not rooted in eco- in a state which is now being ian and is completely dedicated officer recently, he advised him nomic deprivation. WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

LIFE STORY 13 CLIFF HANGER For lack of facilities around and the inability to have an attendant with him all the time, Ashraf discontinued his studies. One day, a mountaineering coach discovered and trained him and that gave this born blind boy a new life to live for, reports Umar Mukhtar

ohammad Ashraf Sofi, That too is not under any sports 22, a resident of Trich, a authority but that comes under small hamlet in Pulwa- the tourism authority. For a visu- Mma is visually impaired ally impaired boy like Sofi, it was by birth. The medical certificate not his cup of tea to come to issued by the medical officer Srinagar daily and practice there. shows complete visual disability So the rough practice on a willow in both his eyes. He cannot see, tree was all he could do. his eyelids remain close always. inally on March 27, the much But passions normally do not Fawaited first ever national rely on the situations one has sports climbing championship around. He was always eager to for visually impaired boys was take part in the activities like a held at Jammu. Sofi represented normal boy of his age. He want- Jammu and Kashmir. “I had ed to be on par with his peers. practised hard and was confident After studying up to the sev- of doing well there but I was enth standard in a local school, little nervous also as it was for his teachers advised his father the first time I had to participate to admit him in a school meant in such a championship,” admit- for specially-abled children. He ted Sofi. was enrolled in a school at Pul- But hard work pays. Sofi made wama, almost 10 km away from it to the semi-finals grabbing the his home. seventh spot in a two-day climb- It was not a small exercise. The ing championship. It was a 45 family had to depute one person feet high wall that he had to climb. with him all the day who would assistance,” said his father, a getting coaching from Andrabi. For a visually impaired boy, to assist Sofi in taking and getting labour by profession. He taught him some basic exer- climb a 45 feet wall that too with- him back from the school. It would The ice-breaking moment in cises which helped Sofi in getting out any support is in itself a feat. impact the earnings of the fam- Sofi’s life was when he came in a firm grip on what he was sup- This was the first ever Indian ily because they could not spare contact with a mountaineering posed to compete for. Gradually IMF national sports climbing a person as Sofi’s aid. This im- coach, Syed Abdul Mohsin An- he improved. “His response was championship for visually im- pacted Sofi’s education and even- drabi, a resident of , a outstanding, he picked up things paired persons. tually, he had to quit the studies. neighbouring village. In January with ease,” Andrabi said. There were around 80 partici- “I wanted to continue my stud- 2018, Indian Mountaineering Sofi left no stone unturned and pants from six different states ies but my disability factor came Foundation (IMF) announced to practised very tough. A willow who took part in the wall climb- in between,” Sofi said. “I was have a wall climbing national tree in the yard of their house ing event. In the boy’s category, dependent on others.” championship for the visually was the only source available for there were 40 participants. itting idle at home and making impaired boys. Andrabi, the IMF his practice. To chase his dreams, “Though he could not make it to Sdisability an excuse for doing general secretary in Kashmir Sofi used to practice by climbing finals but his maiden perfor- nothing, Sofi wanted to break had heard of Sofi. He approached it to the top thrice a day.“It is true mance with little practice must this stereotype by doing some- him and asked if he wanted to he has no vision but he has a be appreciated,” insists Andrabi, thing. He started going to local participate. To this, Sofi got over- willpower which makes him see his coach. Darasgah, learnt Arabic and whelmed and instantly agreed the things,” insists his father. Confidant and eager, Sofi is basics of deeniyaat there. Also to be part of the championship. “There are no facilities avail- now interested in sports. He is one of his videos has gone viral or Sofi, it was dream come true. able where he could have either now eager to take part in another on social networking sites where FTo his luck, the coach was also practised,” said Andrabi. There championship. Now he has three he can be seen reciting a naat. a stone’s throw away from his is only one wall climbing facil- main activities: prayers, practice “He is a witty child and does home, barely two kilometres ity in Kashmir at TRC in Now- and listening to the radio about almost all his work without any away from Ratnipora. He started gam, near the Railway Station. the sports events. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

14 CLASSROOM

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC THROUGH HEADPHONES?

echnology is both a boon and a curse. On one hand, Tit has made our life so much easier and convenient. But on the other hand, it comes with so many drawbacks and ill effects. There is one such piece of tech- nology which has made it super convenient for us to listen to our favorite music any time of the day (or night). But it is also re- sponsible for our ignorant be- havior as well. In this article, we are discuss- ing some adverse effects of listen- ing to music over headphones

Loss of hearing- Almost all the headphones expose your ears to high-decibel sound waves which can cause some serious damage to your ears. If you listen to music on a high volume which is equivalent or higher than 90 decibels, then it may cause some serious damage to your ears as well Even when you decide to share which can cause severe harm Sharing headphones-It’s cute to as permanent hearing loss. your earphones make sure to to the brain in the long run. share headphones, but is it still Thus make sure to take breaks sanitize them before using. Since the inner part of the ear cute if they are returned with while listening to music on is connected to the brain, any free. Of course, listening to music earphones. Also, maintain the Ear numbness- Listening on damage caused to this part together is quite romantic. But level of volume on a moderate to music for extended hours on causes serious damage to the there are repercussions. Shar- level. your earphone may also lead to brain as well. ing or borrowing headphones ear numbness. Along with ear can transfer someone else’s Congested air passage- Nowa- numbness, you may also lose External threats- Overusing bacteria to your ears. This can days most of the high-quality your hearing abilities tempo- using earphones may also cause cause harmful ear infections. headphones requires you to place rarily. But if you ignore these serious threats to your life. Get- Always sanitize headphones by them in the ear canal, which signs and continue with the same ting too carried while listening cleaning them with a tissue paper is very close to the eardrum. habits then it may also result in to music, disconnects you from and then plugging them in. These earphones may give you a permanent hearing loss. the rest of the world and you an amazing music experience, may have to face severe con- Not changing sponges-Forget but at what cost? Using these Ear-ache– Prolonged use of ear- sequences. The consequences the germs you get from sharing earphones for extended hours phones or listening to music on may vary from small losses to someone else’s headphones, imag- means you are restricting the a very high volume may lead to really big ones. In fact, in the ine the germs you get from not flow of air through the air canal aching ears. You may experience recent times, the number of ac- changing your own headphone making it more susceptible to severe pain not just in your ear cidents caused due to listening sponges! ear infections. but also the adjoining parts. to music while being ignorant It is recommended that you about the outer environment change your sponge or rubber Ear infections- Another thing Adverse effect on the has increased drastically. Thus cover every two months because that you abide by while using your brain- You brain too doesn’t stay when you are in an alien sur- they get covered with bacteria headphones/earphones is that untouched from the ill effects of rounding especially outside, over time. It is necessary to keep you should never ever share them the extended and prolonged use walking on the road, etc. avoid changing the covers for hygiene with anyone. Sharing earphones of headphones. Your headphones the use of headphones as much purposes. may cause unwanted infections. generate electromagnetic waves as possible. source: internet WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

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The job shall also include training of an official/ Full International Postgraduate technician, designated by JKEDI for the purpose. At the at University of Wollongong in Dubai, 09-08-2018 Scholarships in UK, 2018 conclusion of such training, of whatever required duration, 6 Bid Submission End Date 2018 (2:00 pm) University of Wollongong, United Arab Leicester Castle Business School, JKEDI must be satisfied that the designated official is suf- Emirates United Kingdom ficiently trained to run the successfully executed and com- Date and Time of opening of 11-08-2018 8 Application Deadline: September 6, 2018 Application Deadline: July 31, 2018 missioned system and equipment etc. Technical Bids (2:00 pm) Apply Now Apply Now The Interested Bidders mustsuccessfully fulfill the criteria specified for the purpose in the detailed Tender Document. 1. The cost of tender document in the shape of E-Challan Vice-Chancellor Scholarships at University of Brighton Scholar- (Format provided in the tender document) of Rs. 2,000.00 (Rupees Two Thousand Only) must be up- Earnest Time loaded with E-Tender. Money Estimated of Deposit SN Name of Work Cost (Rs com- 2. Earnest money, in the shape of CDR/FDR/ Bank (EMD), in lakhs) ple- Guarantee for the above amount, for a period of one Rs in Office of the Executive Engineer, Construction Division tion lakhs year, shall be pledged to The Director JKEDI, Srinagar/ SHORT TERM NOTICE INVITING E-TENDER Jammu. For and on behalf of the University of Kashmir, e-tenders (In Single cover system) are invited on item rate 3. Scanned copies of Demand Draft/CDR/FDR/Bank Providing, instal- basis from approved and eligible Contractors Registered with J&K State Govt., CPWD, Railways and other State/ Guarantee and all other requisite documents shall be Central Governments for the following works:- lation, Execution, Commissioning and uploaded, by the tenderers, as required under the e- Date & Time Time & Est. Cost Earnest Cost of T/ Time and Date Time of of Submission Date of Class of Successful running tendering process. No hard copies shall be submitted. SN Name of Work (Rs. In Money Doc for Submission of completion of Hard Copy Opening Contractor for a three-month Lacs) (in Rs.) (in Rs.) E-Tender. The successful, lowest bonafide bidder shall, however, Of Documents of Bid trial period, complete produce all the required documents, in original, to fa- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 turnkey job, of fully In- tegrated Audio-Visual cilitate the allotment of work in his favour. In case of 45 Construction 01 System for the Admin- 115.00 02.30 his failure to do so, JKEDI reserves the right to allot of Computer 20-07-2018 26-07- days Cum Reading (11.00AM) To 25-07-2018 istrative Building of the work to the next lowest bonafide bidder. 1. 1.22 Rs.2440/- Rs.100/- 30-Days 2018 Table in Centre 24-07-2018 (02.00 PM) DEE (11.00 AM) JKEDI in its premises of Central (6.00 PM) 4. The Director, JKEDI reserves the right to accept or re- Asian Studies. at Pampore, Kashmir. The job shall also ject any or all the tenders without assigning a reason The bid forms and other details can be obtained from the web site www.kashmiruniversity.net / www.jktenders. include training of an thereof. official/technician, gov.in. Executive Engineer designated by JKEDI Sd/- NIT No: -F (E.Tend) (Com. CCAS) (UCD) KU/ 37/18 for the purpose. Director, JKEDI DATED: -19-07-2018 DIPK-NB-1863/18 JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

16 YOUNG LIFE

AN EVE OF SPRING DRAWN IN RED MIR UMAR | [email protected] AAMIR SHAFAT KHAN | MA (ENGLISH) | AS COLLEGE

“The day Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring” – Bernard Williams Near the lake of lemon’ Like cold ice cube’ The mountains look clear now. A thin blanket of snow is still trapped on Where Tiresias wept brooks’ In glass of wine’ their surface. When the rays of sun touch the frizzy surface of snow, it reflects Bold bald Bastards But the rage, the religion, back and figures a blur in the eyes. The clouds have open and stretched up Lighted up the torches’ The sectoral race’ their arms and are moving carelessly in different directions. Birds move Not to visit the chapel perilous’ In them their brutes ignited’ thoroughly in the sky and their chirping sounds gives immense pleasure to In the search of holY Grail’ Without being wooden log’ enjoy their soothing belated voice. A small thin layer of green, fleshy grass has evolved from the earth’s surface after a deep torture of snow and rains. But to burn her blonde hair’ On the roaring band saw’ The nature seems to be in refreshing mode. Which had spectrum of sun’ They tattered her in two’ The curtains of my room are still restricting the day light to come inside. In everY lock’ There in the lobbY of house’ The environment looks cool and favourable outside. The tolerance of She had charm, not same religion’ Waited the eager mother’ nature has increased a bit which would be justified by small things and She had massive breasts Conquering smile at everY image of her creatures present in galore. The tulips of different colours and shades Not bible in bra’ daughter’ are blooming with resplendent colours. The almond trees, now a symbol TheY dropped their pants’ She took the blue long brush’ of love and beauty are in full bloom. Its little sharp coloured flowers are Knotted her shoe laces’ In Chinar leaf like hand’ falling with a new zest that drives my imagination. It just feels a new With hounds in mummY like mouths’ On foam face of white wall’ hope in my heart. TheY taped her pond like lips’ Drew the daughter in pink dress’ Spring in Kashmir is usually the season of ‘bloom’. The almond trees Her two arms wide spread’ Almond orchards in Hazel eYes’ usually bloom in this phase. Wherever we found an almond tree, we are desperate to take a picture with it. It looks beautiful when the almond BY high four jackboots’ Coral crops on the bed of lips’ trees occupy some place in the countryside and makes the journey of Her two hands nailed’ Wanton locks over slant back’ people more enthusiastic by walking beside them. Not only almond Hastened their carnal weapons’ But For her blushing cheeks’ trees, little tulips also carry a message. They pose for love and peace Not the woes of her gender’ Searched crimson red’ among people. The fragrance of tulips invades in human soul and flows But blasted the door of her feminitY ‘ On floor beated fro’ in the body as a natural scent. TheY battled with fierce drive’ At the blood bathed doormat’ The trees which were in search of new life and colour as winter had made With biblical verses in each push-up’ Of ominous store room’ their life hopeless and colorless; a new life is evolving through their withered TheY unloaded their lush weapons’ Found florid red colour flowing’ bodies. A new thin layer of green fleshy coat has appeared. Snow and rains At her vergin thighs’ Through the crevice of door’ had made trees hopeless but with the onset of spring, I can see a new life in them. The immense coldness has too disappeared and now a cold wind If on the first night of wedlock’ Dipped the brush in it’ flutters only on the evenings. People too have shed their winter camou- This un- wedded bride, born to please Painted the face of image in exact red” flages and reduced their warm clothes of wearing. But our old people can all ten’ Wondered at the life in colour’ still be seen in ‘pheran’ gossiping outside small wooden half-broken shop Thought of fixing in freezer’ She slammed the door wide’ of the town. Their wrinkled faces and scars left permanently on their skin This blue moon of eternal skY’ Saw her daughter apparent tall’ speak many things. They advocate us about their struggle what they have And taste her everY hour’ Half on floor and full on wall! had in their youth tenure. Some can also be seen in the orchards, returning back to their phase of hard work. Children too enjoy their way of spring. Every day comes with a different feeling of joy especially when they leave their homes early in the morning, making their way to the nearby hill and fluttering away their kites. Little kite runners throng to the hills to raise their mixed coloured kites in the open sky. The sky becomes artificially colored at that time. The duals (rivers and streams) make their way from the dense forest and reach to the plains. The sound produced by the waves after touch- KASHMIR LIFE ing the stony layers gives me immense pleasure from the griefs of the SOLE DISTRIBUTORS FOR J&K daily life. When chirping of birds gives the pleasure of music and green JANTA grass act as a natural sofa, it is hard to leave the aura of spring espe- cially here in Kashmir.

Mir Umar is a student of English Literature. AGENCIES He can be reached at: [email protected] M A ROAD SRINAGAR 17

THE TEACHER

MUHAMMAD TAUBIN RATHER CLASS: 9TH | SCHOOL: DPS, SRINAGAR

It’s an art of a Teacher, To make us good at future.

Teachers are like our second mothers and fathers, But they seem sometimes like disasters.

It’s an art of a Teacher, To make us good at future. We Guarantee

If you want to do something big, you’ll never revert back to Ask your Teacher and he/she will make you think about it. what you used beforehand. It’s an art of a Teacher, Finally To make us good at future. there is If you have any difficulty, hK cement Tell them to your Teacher! They will clear your doubts, And will make u feel better.

It’s an art of a Teacher, To make us good at future.

Respect the Teacher, Or You will fall ! You should respect the teacher, And that’s all , that’s is all .

It’s an art of a Teacher, To make us good at future. www.associatedmedia.org

(Muhammad Taubin Rather is presently in Class 9th at DPS, Srinagar. This poem is written by him when he was in Class 6th) Toll free 18001230677 HK Cement Industries Pvt Ltd. Corporate Office:NH Bye-Pass Crossing Athwajan Srinagar. Factory: Bathen, Village, Khrew, Pulwama (J&K) Government of Jammu & Kashmir 61 GH. HASSAN BHAT AD. AHAD BHAT ARRIGATNOO 0602040150000390 OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, KULGAM 62 HYDER LONE AMA LONE ASTHAL 0010040800026898 Main Kulgam Subject:- Proposed weed out list of NSAP of District Kulgam. 63 SAKEENA BANU AB REHMAN BHAT ARRIGATNOO 0015040100011377 T P Kulgam ….. 64 GH AHMAD BHAT S/L ISMAIL DAR FRISAL 0437040850007294 Yaripora 1- Whereas Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Kulgam / Devsar / DH Pora has conducted verification through Social Workers of beneficiaries receiving financial assistance under pension scheme of NSAP through the department of Social Welfare. 65 ZAINA GH NABI DAR TARIGAM 0437040850004320 Yaripora Whereas after verification, the list of beneficiaries who were found dead / ineligible under the aforesaid schemes has been forwarded 2- 66 GH RASOOL AB SATAR RATHER TARIGAM 0437040850003961 Yaripora by TSWOs to this office. Therefore, before taking further course of action (weed out process) objections if any are invited from all the stake holders, the proposed weed 67 AMA BHAT QADIR BHAT TARIGAM 0437040850003837 Yaripora out list appended below, which should reach to the office of the District Social Welfare Officer, Kulgam or Tehsil Social Welfare Office Kulgam / Devsar / DH Pora within a period of 07 days from the publication of this notice. After the expiry of date, the weed out process shall be taken by 68 M IBRAHEEM ALI MOHD SHEIKH TARIGAM 0437040850003849 Yaripora DLSC without any further notice. 69 SONA DAR M SABIR DAR TARIGAM 0437040850003908 Yaripora

70 ALI MOHD RATHER GH MOHD RATHER TARIGAM 0577040100000559 Bugam SN Name of Beneficary Parentage Address Account No. Bank 71 MOHD ISMAIL PALA MOHD MAQBOOL MALA TARIGAM 0577040100000601 Bugam 1 RAJA AB REHMAN BHAT PAHLOO 0442040800000541 Dewsar 72 M AKRAM BHAT MOHDA BHAT TARIGAM 0577040850000004 Bugam 2 GULL MOHD AB. SAMAD RESHI PAHLOO 0442040100000439 Dewsar 73 AB GAFAR BHAT AMBIR BHAT TARIGAM 0577040100000651 Bugam 3 GH MOHD RESHI MOHD ISMAIL RESHI PAHLOO 0442040800000528 Dewsar 74 GH NABI GH RASOOL DAR TARIGAM 0437040850004314 Yaripora 4 SABIR NAJAR AB REHMAN NAJAR KAKREN 0489040850000052 Nehama 75 KHALIQ SHAH HABIB SHAH KULGAM 0015040100007386 T P Kulgam 5 M AKRAM NAJAR ALI MOHD NAJAR KAKREN 0489040850000054 Nehama 76 SARA RAJAB WAGAY WARIPORA 0442040100000373 Dewsar 6 SARA AB AHAD BHAT GUDDER 0010040800002174 Main Kulgam SHAHOO- 77 TAJA AHAD GANIE 0442040800000176 Dewsar 7 MOHD RAMZAN MOHD SABIR KHAN GUDDER 0010040800010791 Main Kulgam SACHAN 8 MOHD ABDULLAH LASSI BHAT LAISOO 0010040800002092 Main Kulgam 78 JANA GH MOHD MALIK DEVSAR 0442040800000215 Dewsar 9 SARDARI MOHD ABDULLAH BHAT LAISOO 0010040800002102 Main Kulgam 79 HUSSAINEY GH AHMAD GORSIE KHUDWANI 0442040800002294 Dewsar 10 ABDUL RASHID BHAT RASTUM BHAT LAISOO 0010040100022332 Main Kulgam 80 AB GAFAR AB AZIZ NAJAR SHURAT-JAGIR 0015040100011087 T P Kulgam 11 MOHD RAMZAN BHAT WAHAB BHAT NILLOW 0815040150001222 Nillow 81 ALI MOHD SHAH AB. 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QADIR TANTARY KILAM-A 0017040100000437 Qazigud 15 AB SALAM SHER HABIBULLAH SHER GTPORA 0602040850000161 Pahloo 85 MOHD SULTAN AMA BHATT PALPORA 0017040100026219 Qazigud 16 GULL MOHAMMAD ABDUL KIRAM YHBABAPORA 0602040100002524 Ashmuji 86 AB RAZAQ MOHD SUBHAN CHOPAN KILAM-A 0017040100000772 Qazigud 17 AB AZIZ MIR NABIR MIR KUND 0442040800000191 Dewsar 87 RAJA GH MOHI DIN SHEIKH MANDHOLE 0017040100000759 Qazigud 18 SAARA BANOO MUMMA HAJAM BOZGAM 0442040800007601 Dewsar 88 HARI GH QADIR WAGAY GUND KILAM 0017040100000803 Qazigud 19 MOHD SABIR DAR LASSI DAR DANTHARI 0551040800002000 Mir Bazar 89 AB AZIZ WAGAY LASSI WAGAY MANDHOLE 0017040850001201 Qazigund 20 GH NABI LAL WAGAY SHALIPORA 0010040800021190 Main Kulgam 90 GULL MOHAMMAD SHEIKH GH MOHIDIN SHEIKH SOPAT 0017040100000769 Qazigud 21 SAHIA PARVEEN MOHD RAMZAN PACHGAM 0442040800003896 Dewsar 91 PEER BAKISH FAT DEEDED WALTENGOO-A 0017040100000136 Qazigud 22 MOHD RAMZAN THOKAR GULAM MOHD THOKAR NIGEENPORA 0442040800003524 Dewsar 92 NOOR DIN GH. HASSAN DEVSAR 0017040100000118 Qazigud 23 GH MOHD MIR HABIBULLAH MIR Begam 0815040150002178 Nehama 93 SAHIA PARVEEN MOHD RAMZAN PACHGAM 0442040800003896 Dewsar 24 JANA GH. MOHD DAR BHAN 0015040100007392 T P Kulgam 94 MOHD RAMZAN THOKAR GULAM MOHD THOKAR NIGEENPORA 0442040800003524 Dewsar 25 AZI BEGAM AB RAZAQ DAR CHECKPORA 0437040850007405 Yaripora 95 JANA BAGAM GH MOHD BHAT BOGUND 0580040100001958 Khudwani 26 NEZAM DIN MAM DIN TANGMARAG-A 0128040100008212 D H Pora 96 SHAHMALA BEGUM AB RASHID GANIE PARIGAM 0575040150000315 Kadder 27 KHURSHEE AHMAD SHEIKH TANGMARAG-A 0128040100008752 D H Pora 97 MOHAN LAL KOUL SHAMBU NATH KOUL Dewsar 0442040800000948 Dewsar 28 SARDAR MIR BAZ KHATANA TANGMARAG-A 0128040100008784 D H Pora 98 M ISMAIL TANYREY M SUBHAN TANTREY REDWANI 0580040850004981 Khudwani 29 MOHD RAMZAN SAMAD KARIM HUMPATHRI 0296040800004109 D K Marag 99 ABDUL REHMAN QADIR KHANDAY CHANSER 0756040800000248 30 SONAULLAH SAMAD MALIK KARIM HUMPATHRI 0296040800004114 D K Marag 100 KHURSHI GH MOHD DAR CHANSER 0010040800002084 Main Kulgam 31 ALI MOHD RATHER AB. SALAM RATHER TANGMARAG-A 0578040100000781 Manzgam 101 MOHD JAMAL KUMAR AB SALAM OKEY 0010040800002033 Main Kulgam 32 NOORYA KHATANA GH. QADIR TANGMARAG-A 0578040100000861 Manzgam 102 BAKATI AB RAHIM PADDAY OKEY 0010040800022648 Main Kulgam 33 GH. QADIR ALI MOHD. PASWAL TANGMARAG-A 0578040100001829 Manzgam 103 JANA GH MALIK KAKREN 0461040100000747 Areh 34 ALAM BEE JAMAL DIN CHOHAN TANGMARAG-A 0578040100003831 Manzgam 104 AB AZIZ BHAT AB GANI BHAT KAKREN 0010040800020956 Main Kulgam 35 LAL DIN CHOHAN GHULAM MOHD CHOHAN TANGMARAG-A 0578040150001778 Manzgam 105 JAMAL DAR M IBRAHEEM DAR KAKREN 0010040800023191 Main Kulgam 36 HAJRA BEGUM SONAULLAH RATHER TANGMARAG-A 0578040800000814 Manzgam 106 GULL MOHD MIR FATHA MIR KAKREN 0461040100001135 Areh 37 GH NABI LAL WAGAY SHALIPORA 0010040800021190 Main Kulgam 107 ALI MOHD M JAMAL GANI KAKREN 0010040800020917 Main Kulgam 38 G MOHD SHEIKH AB KHALIK SHEIKH TURIGAM 0575020450000722 Kadder 108 GH AHMAD AB AHAD MIR HADIGAM 0010040800021022 Main Kulgam 39 HAJARA BANOO AB RAZZAQ BHAT TANTRAYPORA 0437040850008968 Yaripora 109 SONAULLAH WANI LASSI WANI CHEHLAN 0010040800002079 Main Kulgam 40 MOHD JAMAL SHAKSAZ HABIB SHAKSAZ OKEY 0010040800027189 Main Kulgam 110 HANEEFA MUM SHAH CHEHLAN 0010040800022736 Main Kulgam 41 MOHD JAMAL SHAKSAUZ HABEEB SHAKSAUZ OKEY 0010040850000225 Main Kulgam 111 GH. HASSAN BHAT AD. AHAD BHAT ARRIGATNOO 0602040150000390 Pahloo 42 GH.MOHD GH.NABI SHAH KHARGUND 0442040100001338 Dewsar 112 HYDER LONE AMA LONE ASTHAL 0010040800026898 Main Kulgam 43 GH MOHD MIR HABIBULLAH MIR Begam 0815040150002178 Nillow 113 SAKEENA BANU AB REHMAN BHAT ARRIGATNOO 0015040100011377 T P Kulgam 44 JANA M RAMZAN MONCHI AKHRAN 0219040100011566 Wanpoh 114 GH AHMAD BHAT S/L ISMAIL DAR FRISAL 0437040850007294 Yaripora SHAHOO- 45 M IBRAHIM JAN AKBAR JAN 0602040800000016 Pahloo 115 ZAINA GH NABI DAR TARIGAM 0437040850004320 Yaripora SACHAN 116 GH RASOOL AB SATAR RATHER TARIGAM 0437040850003961 Yaripora 46 AHAD MALIK KABIR MALIK D K MARAG-A 0296040800002179 D K Marag 117 AMA BHAT QADIR BHAT TARIGAM 0437040850003837 Yaripora 47 HAJRA GH MOHIDIN BHAT DEVSAR 0442040100001268 Dewsar 118 M IBRAHEEM ALI MOHD SHEIKH TARIGAM 0437040850003849 Yaripora 48 KHATJEE AB KAREEM WAGAY DEVSAR 0442040100001431 Dewsar 119 SONA DAR M SABIR DAR TARIGAM 0437040850003908 Yaripora 49 ABDUL REHMAN QADIR KHANDAY CHANSER 0756040800000248 Chowgam 120 ALI MOHD RATHER GH MOHD RATHER TARIGAM 0577040100000559 Bugam 50 KHURSHI GH MOHD DAR CHANSER 0010040800002084 Main Kulgam 121 MOHD ISMAIL PALA MOHD MAQBOOL MALA TARIGAM 0577040100000601 Bugam 51 MOHD JAMAL KUMAR AB SALAM OKEY 0010040800002033 Main Kulgam 122 M AKRAM BHAT MOHDA BHAT TARIGAM 0577040850000004 Bugam 52 BAKATI AB RAHIM PADDAY OKEY 0010040800022648 Main Kulgam 123 AB GAFAR BHAT AMBIR BHAT TARIGAM 0577040100000651 Bugam 53 JANA GH MALIK KAKREN 0461040100000747 Areh 124 GH NABI GH RASOOL DAR TARIGAM 0437040850004314 Yaripora 54 AB AZIZ BHAT AB GANI BHAT KAKREN 0010040800020956 Main Kulgam 125 KHALIQ SHAH HABIB SHAH KULGAM 0015040100007386 T P Kulgam 55 JAMAL DAR M IBRAHEEM DAR KAKREN 0010040800023191 Main Kulgam 126 SARA RAJAB WAGAY WARIPORA 0442040100000373 Dewsar 56 GULL MOHD MIR FATHA MIR KAKREN 0461040100001135 Areh SHAHOO- 127 TAJA AHAD GANIE 0442040800000176 Dewsar 57 ALI MOHD M JAMAL GANI KAKREN 0010040800020917 Main Kulgam SACHAN 58 GH AHMAD AB AHAD MIR HADIGAM 0010040800021022 Main Kulgam 128 JANA GH MOHD MALIK DEVSAR 0442040800000215 Dewsar 59 SONAULLAH WANI LASSI WANI CHEHLAN 0010040800002079 Main Kulgam 129 HUSSAINEY GH AHMAD GORSIE KHUDWANI 0442040800002294 Dewsar 60 HANEEFA MUM SHAH CHEHLAN 0010040800022736 Main Kulgam 130 MOHD LATEEF MOHD YASEEN RAINA MOHAMADPORA 0579040100001315 Mohd Pora 131 ZAINA GH RASOOL MALIK MOHAMADPORA 0010040800021930 Main Kulgam 165 WALI MOHD MALIK AB SALAM MALIK MALWAN-A 0602040850000054 Pahloo 132 GH MOHD ALI MOHD MALIK KHEE JOGIPORA 0579040800000868 Mohd Pora 166 KHATOONI AHMAD MAILK LAMMER-A 0017040100000535 Qazigud 133 JANA SANAULLAH DAR BATAPORA 0010040800021287 Main Kulgam 167 ALI MOHAMMAD MALIK MOHD ABLI MALK LAMMER-A 0442040100005911 Dewsar 134 AB KHALIQ AZEEM KOCHAY SHOUCH 0010040800022636 Main Kulgam LADGOO- 168 AB KHALIQ KHANDAY MUMA KHANADAY 0489040100002396 Nehama RAMBHAMA 135 ZAINA AB RAZAQ BHAT SHOUCH 0010040800020711 Main Kulgam 169 SADA GH MOHD MALIK LAISOO 0010040800021463 Main Kulgam 136 MARYAM BANOO BASHIR AHMAD SHAH BEHIBAGH 0575040150002123 Kadder 170 LAL DIN SOBIA DEEDAR LAMMER-A 0017040100000626 Qazigud 137 BASHIR AHMAD SHAH AB REHIM SHAH BEHIBAGH 0575040800001076 Kadder 171 MOHD. ABDULLAH HABIBULLAH KILAM-A 0017040100026189 Qazigud 138 GH MOHI DIN GH MOHD DAR SANGUS 0010040800002126 Main Kulgam 172 GH MOHD AB REHMAN DAR KALADRANG 0437040850004843 Yaripora 139 JANTI GH MOHD GANIE SANGUS 0010040800020839 Main Kulgam 173 ZAINA MOHD SHABAN SHEIKH GUND KILAM 0017040100000439 Qazigud 140 MOHD SUBHAN HAJAM MOHD ASHOOR HAJAM SANGUS 0015040100009260 T P Kulgam 174 GH HASSAN SOFI GH MOHD SOFI FRISAL 0437040850007241 Yaripora 141 MOHD MAQBOOL GH MOHD HAJAM SANGUS 0010040800002099 Main Kulgam 175 GULL MOHD SHERGOJREY MOHD SHERGOJREY C. PAJAN 0296040800000242 Dewsar 142 GH AHMAD AB GANI LONE SANGUS 0010040800020871 Main Kulgam 176 GULAM GURSEE HALEEM GURSEE BRINAL 0017040100000490 Qazigud 143 AB GANI SABIR RATHER SANGUS 0010040800022940 Main Kulgam 177 SAJA GH. HASSAN MALIK BRINAL 0017040850000420 Qazigud 144 ABDUL RASHID SHEIKH GH MOHD SHEIKH BEHIBAGH 0575040800001510 Kadder 178 ZEBA GH. MOHD NAIKOO BRINAL 0017040100026239 Qazigund 145 SADA ABDULLAH MALIK ARREH 0010040800021154 Main Kulgam 179 RAJA BEGUM ABDUL AHAD BUCHROO 0916408000000012 Tarigam 146 SUNDARI BANO GH AHMAD WAGAY Kilam 0442040800002718 Dewsar 180 JANA BEGUM GH HASSAN SHEIKH BANIMULLAH 0625040150002739 Pahloo 147 SHAMEEMA BANOO ABDUL BASHIR GANIE SANGUS 0010040100409626 Main Kulgam 181 MOHD YOUSUF DAR GH MOHD DAR B TACHLOO 0219040800015113 Wanpoh 148 KHATIJI MOHD AKBAR BHAT SANGUS 0010040850000088 Main Kulgam GULAM MOHAMMAD 149 RAJA AB RASHID SHAH BEHIBAGH 0575040800002678 Kader 182 MOHD AMBIR NENGROO BADROO 0437040150008103 Yaripora NENGROO LADGOO- 150 SAJA SAMADULLAH LONE 0128040100007876 D H Pora 183 AB AZIZ HAJAM AKLI HAJAM MUTALHAMA 0219040100002408 Wanpoh RAMBHAMA 184 ABDUL REHMAN LAWAY MOHD IBRAHIM LAWAY YARIKHAH 0128040800001510 D H Pora LADGOO- 151 ZAIBA JAMAL SHEIKH 0128040100007563 D H Pora RAMBHAMA 185 M SHABAN HELLA AB KHALIQ HELLA ADIJAN 0010040800020927 Main Kulgam 152 GH. MOHD JAMAL BHATT HARIWAITH 0489040100000429 Nehama 186 AZI BEGAM KHAZIR MOHD LONE ADIJAN 0489040100003241 Nehama 153 KHURSHEE AB GANI BHAT WALTENGOO-A 0442040800001323 Dewsar 187 AB GANI MIR AB MAJEED MIR GOPALPORA 0489040100005081 Nehama 154 RAJA GHULAM HASAN MALIK YARIPORA 0437048150002655 Yaripora 188 JANA GH NABI MIR GOPALPORA 0010040800020926 Main Kulgam 155 GULL MOHD SABER WANI WANIGUND 0219040100009747 Wanpoh LADGOO- 189 SAJA SAMADULLAH LONE 0128040100007876 D H Pora RAMBHAMA 156 ZEBA GH . HASSAN WANIGUND 0219040100009750 Wanpoh LADGOO- 157 KARIM PASWAL NAZAM DIN TANGMARAG-A 0128040100008198 D H Pora 190 ZAIBA JAMAL SHEIKH 0128040100007563 D H Pora RAMBHAMA SHAHOO- 158 HANEEFA BANOO GULL MOHD WANI 0602040850000029 Pahloo 191 GH. MOHD JAMAL BHATT HARIWAITH 0489040100000429 Nehama SACHAN 192 KHURSHEE AB GANI BHAT WALTENGOO-A 0442040800001323 Dewsar 159 SITARA MOHD ISMAIL GANIE PARIGAM 0437040100007644 Yaripora 193 MOHD YOUSUF PARRAY SONUHALLA PARRAY Asthal 044204080003241 Devsar 160 GHULAM QADIR WAGAY GH MOHAMMAD WAGAY ODURA 0010040100001011 Main Kulgam 194 BASHIR AHMAD RATHER GULL MOHD RATHER Asthal 0010040800026525 Kulgam 161 ABDUL KHALIQ MIR AB REHMAN MIR OKEY 0815010150001327 Nillow LADGOO- 162 GH . NABI HABEEB NAIKOO MUTALHAMA 0219040100009578 Wanpoh 195 AB GANI MUMA GANIE 0489040100000123 nehma RAMBHAMA 163 FAZI BEGUM GULL MOHD AHANGER MOHAMADPORA 0579040100000975 Mohd Pora 196 AB SITAR WAHAB SHEIKH Gandwani 0128040100007670 D.H.Pora 164 GH. HASSAN LASI MOHD MANIGAM 0017040850000651 Qazigud 197 ZAINA RAM MIR Watto B 0128040100008495 D.H.Pora DIPK-5487/18

Detailed Tender Documents along with Technical Specifications, terms & conditions etc. can be seen or downloaded from the website, www.jktenders.gov.in as per schedule of dates given below.

1 Date of Issue of Tender Notice 19-07-2018 JAMMU & KASHMIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (JKEDI) 2 Date of Publishing/uploading of Tender document 20-07-2018 Pampore Kashmir/01933-224362 / IE, Baribrahmna, Jammu, 01923-222415 3 Period of downloading of bidding documents 23-07-2018 NOTICE INVITING E-TENDERS Pre Bid meeting between JKEDI authorities and the N.I.T. No.JKEDI/Advt./18/78Dated: 19-07-2018 4 28-07-2018 (11:00 am) interested Tenderers E-Tenders in two cover pattern (Technical and Financial Bids) are hereby invited for De- sign, Execution, Commissioning and Successful running for a three month trial period, 5 Bid Submission Start Date 01-08-2018 (11:00 am) complete turnkey job, of two 70 KLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) based on SBR Technology for JKEDI in its premises at Sempora, Pampore, Kashmir and Bari 6 Bid Submission End Date 08-08-2018 (2:00 pm) Brahmana Industrial Area, Jammu. The project shall include design and laying of the 7 Date and Time of opening of Technical Bids 10-08-2018 (2:00 pm) sewage line/network to connect various buildings of both the premises at Pampore and Bari Brahmanawith the respective STPs. 1. The cost of tender document in the shape of E-Challan (Format provided in The Interested Bidders must be registered firms/Companies with a minimum experi- the tender document) of Rs. 2,000.00 (Rupees Two Thousand Only) must be ence of three years in the field and must successfully fulfil the criteria specified for the uploaded with E-Tender. purpose in the detailed Tender Document. Copies of valid Registration with the compe- tent authority must accompany the Tender. 2. Earnest money, in the shape of CDR/FDR/ Bank Guarantee for the above amount, for a period of one year, shall be pledged to The Director JKEDI, Earnest Money Srinagar/Jammu. Estimated Cost Time of S N Name of Work Deposit (Rs in Lakhs) Completion (Rs in Lakhs) 3. Scanned copies of Demand Draft/CDR/FDR/Bank Guarantee and all other requisite documents shall be uploaded, by the tenderers, as required under 01. Design, Execution, Commissioning and Successful running for a three- the e-tendering process. No hard copies shall be submitted. The successful, month trial period, complete turnkey lowest bonafide bidder shall, however, produce all the required documents, job, of two 70 KLD capacity Sewage 3 months. in original, in order to facilitate the allotment of work in his favour. In case of Treatment Plants (STPs) based on 70.00 for Work on SBR Technology for JKEDI in Its prem- each work at both the his failure to do so, JKEDI reserves the right to allot the work to the next lowest ises at Sempora, Pampore, Kashmir Kashmir and 2.80 projects shall bonafide bidder. and Bari Brahmana Industrial Area, Jammu. commence Jammu. The project works shall in- Total of 140.00 simultane- 4. The Director, JKEDI reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the tenders clude design and construction of the ously without assigning a reason thereof. necessary Sewage Line/Network to connect various buildings inside both Sd/- the premises to the respective STPs. DIPK-NB-1862/18 Director, JKEDI JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

20 COVER STORY

SOCIETY PLEDGING PUBLICLY When 105 brides and grooms assembled in a city club for taking marriage vows under one roof in mid-July, it was Kashmir’s first mass wedding that triggered a lot of interest. Durdana Bhat visited some of the brides and the men behind the initiative to understand the compelling situation from ground zero that convinced non local donors to chip in for help KL Image: BHAT DURDANA

he bare skeleton of bricks dropped out of school after their Table 1: Marital Status Of Muslim Women In J&K and an unfurnished floor father died of illness eight months Total Married Not Married percentage scattered with jute matting back. Her two older sisters are Tare clear pointers towards married and settled. All Ages 4,138,711 1,830,559 2308152 55.76 the state of well being of the in- In 2015, she was engaged to a Less than 15 1,506,872 10,329 1496543 99.31 mates. The bricks painted with man, a Pashmina weaver. But when 15-19 432,279 36,883 395396 91.46 a lighter shade of green describe her father died, there was no one the room where the only stable who could help them with the 20-24 386,715 140,193 246522 63.74 and furnished object was the loom daily expenses. She was supposed 25-29 337,238 229,244 107994 32.02 for weaving carpets. Even the to get married in 2016 but with the 30-34 287,881 253,714 34167 11.86 flooring was sourced from used growing expenses, she found the sacks. And seated near the loom only way-out in taking over the 35-39 265,274 255,670 9604 3.62 with her back turned towards the loom. Tabassum has been trying 40-44 216,674 212,284 4390 2.02 window was Tabassum. her level best to earn and manage Tabassum, 23-year-old beautiful the affairs of her family, living in 45-49 180,528 178,630 1898 1.05 girl from Sumbal, Sonawari, 21 extreme conditions. The loom is 50-54 135,699 134,323 1376 1.01 kms away from Srinagar, was the only source to earn for the 55-59 109,135 108,253 882 0.808 busy with the carpet weaving, family and she tries to save a bit working day and night so that for her marriage. 60-64 96,819 95,119 1700 1.75 she can earn for her family. She “I am working day and night 65-69 65,217 63,824 1393 2.13 is the sole earner of an so that I can save for my mar- underprivileged family riage,” Tabassum said in plain 70-74 54,877 53,572 1305 2.37 comprising four members: a terms. “Right now, I cannot afford 75-79 24,563 24,069 494 2 widowed mother, two younger one.” 80+ 35,539 33,293 2246 6.31 brothers, of whom one studies in ith marriages in Kashmir sixth standard. Her other brother Wgetting expensive, the burden Source: Census 2011 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 21

This table has sourced data of Muslim women across from Census 2011 for the age group 20-34 years of age to tabulate a trend in marriage of Muslims women across 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. seems to be getting bigger, especially for the women not married in the 20-34 age group. percent of women in this age group are mar- people who cannot afford it. Though fat wed- By and large all the Kashmir districts in- ried and settled. dings were restricted to the urban habitations cluding the arid Ladkah desert reflect the ut not in all the cases is the career and and the elite, now every marriage ceremony same trend. Beducation a key factor that prevents mar- is expensive and elaborate. From golden Unlike Kashmir, the situation of Muslim riage in the most productive age. In a num- jewellery to the huge dowry, the bridal gifts, women in Jammu region is much better on ber of cases, even within the urban belts, the trousseau, and Wazwaan, the grand feast, this count. In most of these districts, 80 lack of resources is a key factor. the new basics of the Kashmir’s ostentatious marriages is more for the market and the society than the people who take the mar- riage vows. Marriage has transformed from the occa- sion of celebrations to a liability generation event and a statement about social status. The fashion of putting careers over the marriage has added a new dimension, resulting into late marriages. This is lead- ing to the birth of an unwell generation to face the life. As is clear from Table 1, the women prefer to defer their marriage in the prime of their youth. Census 2011 suggested that in 20-24 age group (involving conclusion of gradua- tion and post-graduation), 63.74 percent of women were unmarried. In 25-29 age group, the unmarried were almost one-third: 32.02. Even in 30-34 age group, 11.86 percent wom- en had not married at all. Table 2 offers a clear situation. In cumula- tive three age group 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34 which makes the most productive age group for young women 20-23, a total of 13 years, the district situation tells the real story. Districts, apparently developed and well educated, follow an urban trend in which most women in this age group wait for their marriages. In case of districts which are considered backward have a better situation NIMBARK ORGANIC STORES: as the number of unmarried women is quite less here. Store 1: Opp. Railway Crossing, Sector 3, Channi Himmat, Jammu - 180015 Srinagar tops the number of unmarried Store 2: NH – 1, Sarveshwar House, Bari Brahmana, Jammu - 181133 women with 51.33 percent yet to be married. This is followed by Budgam with 46.46 percent Store 3: Jawahar Nagar, Near Beeco Gallery, Srinagar - 190008. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

22 COVER STORY KL Image: BHAT DURDANA

Ruksana, the bride in Nowgam, is happy that she will finally settle down. In her 20s, she is an orphan who has lost her father almost eight years. Ruksana is now working at home as a carpet weaver. There are some people in the worked as a social worker before ment Higher Secondary School, society who look beyond the I started Jaffri Council of Jammu Nowgam. “In 2016, we helped 70 obvious. In case of Tabassum, and Kashmir. During September couples marry in a joint function for instance, members of the floods of 2014, when my team and in Nowgam but this time the Jaffri Council of Jammu and I launched the relief operations couples hailed from different Kashmir identified her and she in Nowgam, Sonawari belt, I got villages like , San- eventually became the part of an idea about this initiative.” grama and Nowgam. In 2017, the the mass marriage where around Haji said. “Gradually, we did number rose to 75 and the func- “The concept of mass 105 couples tied the nuptial knot carry out our survey and our tion was carried out in Amar in a simple function at Amar group realized that there were Singh club” he said. “So far, the marriage was Singh Club located in Srinagar, so many girls in that area that 2018 function is the biggest. We initiated by one of my on July 15, 2018. The ceremony, had lost their marriage stuff, believe next time we will have however, did not lead to instant which they had collected over a much bigger mass marriage friends from Gujarat, Rukhsati. The respective families years for marriages and it was event.” namely Asgar will be having small functions destroyed by the devastating The group took off from Bathan- for that, separately. floods. The idea of marrying di in Jammu and is a registered Bhai Kashwani, It was first such event in the these girls gradually formed into NGO that operates across the Ghulam Ali Banji Bhai . The organiz- a project and we started taking state. The funding of this orga- ers spent Rs 40,000 on each wed- up mass marriages.” nization is done by the people of (Bapu ji) and they ding including Mehar, possession “The concept of mass marriage Gujarat and Mumbai. Most of were the people paid by the groom or his father was initiated by one of my friends the fund members are from Gu- to the bride at the time of mar- from Gujarat, namely Asgar jarat and are members of Lion’s behind this concept riage. Bhai Kashwani, Ghulam Ali Club. There are around 10 mem- of mass marriage,” he Council came in existence Banji Bhai (Bapu ji) and they bers who fund this organization Tin March 2015, and is headed were the people behind this con- and they are mostly in business. Haji added. by Haji Musadiq Hussain who cept of mass marriage,” Haji They don’t provide cash to the One day Haji hails from Kamalkot, Uri. A added. organization but contribute by retired gazetted officer, Haji One day Haji remembers he purchasing items which are remembers he was completed his studies from was part of a mass marriage distributed among the couples part of a mass Baramulla Degree College, Mas- event in Ahmadabad where 60 at the event. ters in Urdu from Kashmir Uni- marriages took place. “This gave The Council has its office in marriage event in versity and another post gradu- me the clear idea about how it is Khomanie Chowk in . Ahmadabad where ation in Economics from the to be done,” he said. The couples come and register Maharashtra University. From Back home, Haji realized that with them at their office. Later, 60 marriages took last 30 years, he is living in Bag- there were around 18 girls who the members of the organization place. “This gave me wan Porah, Lal Bazar Srinagar. were supposed to marry in the go on a survey to identify and “When I retired I had a motiva- same year but had lost everything seek proof. They visit their homes the clear idea about tion to work for my people. I to the floods. On April 8, 2015, and collect the details to verify how it is to be done,” belong to that part of the society the Council undertook to marry and recheck the details being who are economically backward, 38 couples from deserving cat- submitted. In the end, they check he said so I wanted to work for them. I egories of the society in Govern- if they deserve the help or not. WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 23

They also check the age of the from Sumbal, she completed riage event belonged to five dis- bride through the documents her graduation last year and tricts. But the organizers are so like Aadhar Card or marks card. quickly she was engaged with keen to offer a “constituency The organization has volunteers a relative’s son in 2016. wise” brek-up: 2 couples each around different districts. Haji “I have seen many girls get from Uri, Srinagar and Gander- said, in every ward there are five married very late because their bal, 1 from Sagrama, 28 from Pat- members and they check and parents haven’t saved enough tan, 4 from Tangmarg, 5 from verify the relevant details. After for them,” Mohammad Yousuf, Khan Sahab, 17 from Beerwah, their confirmation, their block her father, said. 16 from Budgam, 5 from Zadiba, body goes on another round to “Look at my condition. I and 22 from Sonawari. “Off all The Council has re-verify the details, then tehsil couldn’t afford to marry her off of them, if you see, 30 girls are volunteers from body and at the end the district right now because I am a la- orphans so are 12 boys,” Haji and the head of the organization bourer. And it’s hard to sustain said. Council gave the couples south Kashmir as goes on a final round. And this in today’s world. I fear by the 41 items which were worth Rs well but it has not whole process takes around six time I will arrange the resourc- 40 thousand. It didn’t have any months to complete. es, she would have passed the gold item in it but had one been able to sell the In Kashmir, Haji said, they desirable age.” briefcase which included the idea there. “The have a selfless team of 125 people Yousuf said the mass marriage basic cosmetic products. There including religious scholars, is a good initiative. “More people were no copper items. They people from south youth and clerics who are should get into this so that it will provided them with basic kitch- Kashmir are not working round the clock for this be helpful for someone like us, en items, one Almirah and it cause. The idea behind this a part of a society who no one is includes no cash. interested in this initiative is to tell the people that thinking about,” he said, insist- The Council has volunteers initiative,” Haji said. Muslims are supposed to make ing on every single word. from south Kashmir as well but marriages simple and less Ghulam Rasool Chakan, the it has not been able to sell the “But we hope that expensive. Jaffri Council general secretary idea there. “The people from one day they will also nother bride who took the is also Sarpanch of Nowgam, south Kashmir are not inter- Amarriage vows at the mass Sonawari. He has played a key ested in this initiative,” Haji be part of this marriage event in Srinagar was role in identifying these cases. said. “But we hope that one day process because they Yasmeena, 23. Hailing Beneficiaries of the mass mar- they will also be part of this process because they don’t yet don’t yet know how know how useful this would be useful this would be for them.” t the Nikkah ceremony, the for them.” ACouncil had asked every single groom and the bride, to bring 10 families members each to the event. They all were served a 7-course Wazwan. With the successful event at Amar Singh Club, the Council is planning another mass marriage of 30 couples after three months. “The people of Kashmir after getting to know about the mass marriage are coming forward to help these underprivileged families,” Haji insisted. “I am getting calls from different peo- ple and this will get help to more people.” uksana, the bride in Nowgam, Ris happy that she will finally settle down. In her 20s, she is an orphan who has lost her father almost eight years. In 2016 she was engaged but her mother couldn’t afford her marriage expenses. Ruksana is now work- ing at home as a carpet weaver Tabassum is the sole earner of an underprivileged family comprising four and earns around Rs 70 a day. members: a widowed mother, two younger brothers, of whom one studies in “My mother went to Sarpanch, sixth standard. Her other brother dropped out of school after their father Ghulam Rasool Chakan to inform died of illness eight months back him about our condition and my JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

24 COVER STORY

Muhammad Yousuf, father of one of the bride showing his daughter’s belonging s. marriage,” Rukhsana said. “He “Marriage has certain Introducing helped us through the process vital basics that cannot and we gave them the applica- be compromised and specially for tion.” our system requires a The event has made her moth- lot of effort.” er happy too. “I am old now and Zaroo said the mar- weddings and ceremonies I can’t work anymore,” her riages for TV cameras mother said. “After her father are different from the died, she learned carpet weav- marriages that will Personal 160gm Dahi Cup ing in order to sustain the sustain the toughest daily expenses. She is elder tests of time. “We have among my five children and a process of counsel- most of the resource that is ling families and then given to a bride is covered by the couples and that #EAT the Jaffri Council. Now I just is perhaps why we have to cover the expenses of take lot of time in sol- her marriage feast.” emnizing a marriage,” DAHI he Amar Singh Club event Zaroo said. “This is Tcreated a lot of interest in the important because the EVERYDAY society. From the newspapers couple has to face to the Council offices, the que- challenges of life and ries about the next event are a they must be ready for continuous process. Since all that. Mass events may Available at the brides and the grooms who not suit in our case RS. 16 took the marriage vows were because it is a very Per Cup Shia Muslims, is there a pos- sensitive issue and sibility that even the predomi- needs lot of efforts nant Sunni population copies before the marriage.” the model and takes it to the He said his group is next level? more concerned that KHYBER MILK “It is easy said than done,” the marriages should Fayaz Ahmad Zaroo of the Hum- not end up in court Call on: safar Marriage Counselling rooms and police sta- Centre said. His centre is respon- tions thus adding an Purity of kashmir sible for almost 30,000 modest avoidable cost to the 8491945138 marriages in last many years. children. WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

CRIME 25

Abdul Rahman Ganie, father of slain Aabid Ahmad Ganie, with his family.

HUMAN RIGHTS MOLVI’S MURDER It has been years since the only brother of five sisters was murdered in a distant Rajasthan town where he was enrolled in a seminary. The family is sure they can get the killers to justice but lack funds to contest the case reports Zafar Afaaq

bdul Rahman Ganie and where Aabid Ahmad Ganie’s inary in Ahmadabad (Gujarat). friends from the local seminary his five daughters live in family lives and they will guide In February 2013, Aabid was showed up at their house. They Larson, a small, sparsely you,” his sister Firdousa Rehm- enrolled in the seminary to study were looking for Aabid. Mugli Apopulated village with the an told me at a scrap factory in Quran after his impressive stint did not offer them any detail pastoral hinterland. Dusky, it is Zakura Srinagar where she works at a local seminary in Gandarbal because “he was my only son.” located in the hem of a bare moun- to help her family. run by Madni group. Aabid’s Somehow, later, Aabid and tain on Bandipora road in Gan- The house was constructed wailing mother, Mughli says that his friends got her convinced derbal. after Aabid’s mysterious death. Aabid was strongly inclinated that he will have to be enrolled Ganie’s house is on the road. His father got his dead son’s name towards Madni group after he in Ahmadabad for further What makes it distinct is a small inscribed on the wall and this saw everyone among his friends Quranic studies. In his stint in granite slab attached to the main gives it a distinct identity. For in the area associated with them. the local seminary, he had im- door that carries the name of the village, Aabid is a martyr. He would often tell me, “Bobai, pressed everybody by his con- Aabid Ahmad Ganai written in abid was allegedly killed in I want to study the Quran at Dar- duct. The drive to send him to beautiful Urdu. AJuly 2013 in Bhim (Rajasthan). ul-Uloom.” a better seminary was so strong “If you want to reach my home, He was a student at Dar-ul-Uloom One day, she remembers Molvi that even neighbours came for- ask anyone in the Ganderbal Fazani Madini, an Islamic sem- Hilal Ahmad and Aabid’s two ward with help if required. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

26 CRIME

Eventually, in early February worthy Molvi course certifi- with money. He had also called 2013, Aabid left for Ahmad- cate and getting him to per- his Ahmadabad teacher and abad to attend a seminary for form his Aitkaaf in Madina. informed him about the dan- religious education. He had promised Aabid free ger to his life. He had been ithin days of his joining, accommodation and food. advised to leave the place WAabid outshines his peers. Aabid’s sister Rukhsan somehow. “He impressed his teachers so Rehman talked with this man Then the stranger who had much that one of his teacher, on the phone who assured her lured Aabid to Rajasthan rang [by the name] Baba Jani, gift- that he will take good care of up Aabid’s sister Rukhsana ed him a Taveez [Amulet] for his brother. Rukhsana, a telling her they cannot be his protection from evil eye,” graduate, is the only one in contacted for next three days. Mughli recalls. She says that the family who can talk in “He told me that they have to his teachers had predicted Urdu and Hindi. His friendly go very far off place where about him that one day he will response convinced the fam- they have to perform Aitkaaf,” become a great teacher of the ily to let Aabid go along with Rukhsana says. seminary. him. uring these three days Aa- Aabid Ahmad Ganie When he returned home for Next day Aabid surprises Dbid’s family was very much the first time after two and a his mother again. The strang- worried. They were trying half months, “he was happy er offered him he will fund a his number repeatedly but and satisfied.” business if Aabid wants. Mu- there was no response. He visited home twice ghli told him not to rush and “On July 14, at 11 Am in the later. “But they (his murder- complete his Molvi course first. morning, Rukhsana receives ers) did not let him make his Next morning Aabid called a phone call from Police Sta- fourth visit,” Mughli breaks her again, seeking money to tion Tulmulla Ganderbal,” down. buy new books. She sent him Mughli breaks down for the ive days before the onset of Rs 1000. Then third time during the conver- FRamzaan 2013, Aabid made Aabid sought more money sation. She starts beating her a call to his mother informing to get a bicycle on rent because chest. her that he will be coming he will have to travel 25 km The police had informed home for fasting and to perform daily to reach his new semi- Rukhsana that Rajasthan Aatikaaf (staying in isolation nary. police has recovered Aabid in prayers in the mosque for “He called me in the evening Ahmad Ganie’s dead body Aabid used to last 10 days of teh month of on the eve of Ramzaan and in Bhim (Rajasthan). Bhim fasting) at Srinagar’s Aali congratulated me,” Mughli is located more than 400 Kms wear a green Masjid. He asked for Rs 2000 asked him for what? He told in the north east of Ahmad- amama (the for travel. her he has been conferred abad. “I told him that I will de- with a worthy certificate from Aabid’s news of death signature turban posit only Rs 1000 right now, a reputed seminary. “I have triggered protests in Gan- once you reach Delhi or Jam- become the real Madni Molvi. derbal and there were of Madnis’). The mu; I will deposit the balance You are lucky that I was born clashes between protestors stranger had lured sum,” Mughli remembers to you. I have passed the Mol- and police. telling her son. Next day he vi examination,” Aabid re- n July 15, 2013, Aabid’s two Aabid on the left for his home. After tra- quested her to thank Allah. Ouncles, Mohammad Maq- versing some 25 Kms, he “I was overtaken by joy.” bool and Mohammad Yasin, pretext of reached the bus stand. He On the day one of Ramazaan, left for Rajasthan to receive conferring him called his mother again ask- Aabid called her seeking Rs the body. They drove teh body ing to send more money. “I 3000 immediately. “I told him to AIIMS for medico-legal with a much told him, you book the ticket that there is no money at home formalities and flew to Sri- and get on the bus; I will send right now,” Mughli recalls. nagar. The state government worthy Molvi you more money.” That eve- “Aabid told her to arrange funded the transportation of course certificate ning Mughli called Aabid to the money immediately else the corpse and their travel. know his whereabouts. The he will be killed.” “Thousands of locals took the and getting him to response was surprising. Aa- Trepidation and anxiety body and stage a sit-in before bid told her he met a person overtook Mughli. DC,” Arifa, his younger sister perform his at the bus stop who insisted She told he husband Rehm- said. “Tanveer Sadiq, political Aitkaaf in Madina. he will take him to a highly an to sell her gold earnings secretary of , reputed seminary in Rajast- and arrange Rs 3000. “That appeared on the scene and He had promised han. was the only thing available managed the situation.” They Aabid used to wear a green at home and my son’s life, was were promised a job and in- Aabid free amama (the signature turban more valuable than our whole vestigations in the case. accommodation of Madnis’). The stranger had property,” Mughli said. n February 2014, two cops of lured Aabid on the pretext of Aabid called her again seek- IRajasthan police showed up and food conferring him with a much ing a police certificate along at the house of Aabid Ahmad WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 27

Ganie, carrying summon mortem report from the EDITORIAL to appear before the court. medico-legal file. “His body A few days later, Rukh- had marks of torture on sana, the only literate mem- vital parts,” Maqbool re- ber in the family, decided veals as having seen. TAKE CHILDREN SERIOUSLY to travel to Rajasthan to In the original post-mor- appear in the court and see tem report, the lawyer told or the last few months, boys and girls are increasingly where has the case reached. the family, Aabid’s stomach getting to the newspaper front pages for the crimes “I wanted to see if anyone was found empty, “which being committed upon them. While there has been a has been arrested so far,” means he had not eaten any- F spate of teenage girls going missing in mysterious she said. Her maternal un- thing for days as he was circumstances, in various cases boys are also getting missed cle accompanied her. scared of being killed,” and a few of them being recovered and restored to the families. In Bhim court, she found Rukhsana said. The police However, there has been a serious incident from Kupwara. out that she was summoned have recovered Rs 2000 and An 11-year old boy went missing triggered a village unrest. A to sign on a blank paper an ATM card from Aabid’s few days later he is recovered, dead. He was burnt and his arm against a compensation of possession which is part of was amputated. This triggered massive protests and almost Rs 50,000. “The clerk in the the case file. all the political parties strongly reacted to the tragedy. court had asked her to sign After a week Rukhsana Jammu and Kashmir is one of the few states that witnessed on a paper wherein he was and Maqbool returned home a four-time numerical growth in the police. Its constabulary going to declare that my never to go back again to jumped in numbers from less than 30,000 in 1988 to more brother has died of drown- attend the court. than 120 thousand now, if the SPOs and other extra-consti- ing and I had no objection n May 27, 2014, the then tutional positions are to be enumerated. Besides, the budget in allowing him to close the OChief Minister Omar for the police has also grown phenomenally. Jammu and file,” Rukhsana said. “I pro- Abdullah held an Awami Kashmir Police requires more than Rs 3200 crores a year, and tested and refused to sign. Darbar at Ganderbal. Ruk- falls next to the education department, by way of budgets and He warned me to either sana appeared before him, the numbers. name the killers else he is insisting of being treated If the numbers of the paramilitary forces which are rou- going to close the file.” At a unfairly. “He said, your tinely been taken in aid of the state police are added up, the nearby desk, an agent of an brother was killed, so be it, number goes to a much larger figure. advocate saw Rukhsana we can’t do anything, we This is true that the security situation was the prime rea- arguing with the clerk. He cannot provide you compen- son responsible for such a phenomenal growth in three took Rukhsana and his sation or employment,” she decades. But the claims that most of the resources are uncle aside to understand quoted Omar telling her. simply being deployed for the security system needs to be the argument. After listen- After a few months, the strongly contested. ing to their plight, they were lawyer called Rukhsana While the police will have to take care of the security concerns, introduced to a lawyer. and asked her to come at it cannot keep the routine policing waiting for the situational After examining the file, least once for one full month priorities. It must have clear and dedicated setups that will the lawyer said Aabid’s body to take the case to its conclu- take care of the peculiar crimes that have suddenly started was recovered near a cess- sion. “He says that he will showing up. The access to rail and other fast communication pool which is three feet deep. get the murderers of Aabid set up has added to the apprehensions because these fast and During her stay, Rukh- arrested if I appear and bear better systems of communication will be a support to the sana met the witnesses in witness in the court,” Rukh- criminals. There have to be special cells to take care of the the court who revealed that sana says. “I have to listen crimes being committed upon the children, both boys, and girls. they had seen Aabid com- and recognize the voices of Earlier, it was being told that the state police have added to ing down from a vehicle, suspected murderers in the the number of women in its constabulary and added more panting and running away court as I had talked on the police stations exclusively for women and managed by women. with a backpack. “The phone with the stranger Why cannot this set up take care of the crimes against children other witnesses I met were during that time when my as well? construction workers and brother was with him,” she While police have the responsibility of fighting crimes of all they were the one who in- said. sorts, the society at large cannot be absolved of its responsibil- formed the police that they What is preventing her is ity of being the primary caretaker of its young population. There had seen the corpse of a the costs it entails: Rs 100 is a requirement of the society backed set up at village and boy near the cesspool,” thousand, at least including Mohalla level that can take care of certain basics including the Rukhsana says. the lawyer’s fee. “We don’t safety of the children. There is a requirement of the social and “Had he drowned natu- have money,” she regrets. educational institutions to remain in touch and there must a rally, the police would have The family is sure Aabid few institutional setups that will exclusively take care of the recovered a bag and mobile was murdered. They don’t children in distress. phone in his possession.” believe in theories of down- Kashmir is one of the safest places for women, right now. aqbool, Aabid’s uncle, ing. They want killers of But that does not mean its children will suffer. People may Malleged that in Delhi a their only brother brought argue that these are quite a few instances but even one is a CID official from Jammu to justice. But nobody is major one, if the boy is kidnapped, killed and roasted. It is high and Kashmir government helping them even in getting time that society takes these cases seriously. had removed a copy of post- justice. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

28 INTERVIEW ‘In the vast desert of red blood, and pale death poetry is the only patch of life’ Huzaifa Pandit is a poet and currently, a research scholar at the University of Kashmir, pursuing a PhD on Resistance Poetry - Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Agha In this city of lights Shahid Ali and Mohammad Darwis. He is fond of Urdu poetry. His poems, Who would’ve imagined gassed darkness would reign? translations, essays and papers have been published in various journals This nightmare had never hit me like Indian Literature, PaperCuts, CLRI Punch and Muse India. Recently, Had the suspicion ever struck you? Huzaifa’s book Green is the colour of Memory, a collection of 35 poems Curfewed Friday written over a span of six years. Published by Hawakal Publishers, the book captures the resurgence and vitality of memory shaped by the trauma of lived experience of growing up in Kashmir – one of the most militarized zones in the modern world. The poems strive to record the trauma and memory of trauma. He talked to Durdana Bhat.

KASHMIR LIFE: Can you share details poems from 2012 when I was di- through whatever medium one trauma alone. There are poems of the events from your life that shaped agnosed with PTSD. The writing chooses. that tackle various other aspects your interest towards writing? was a form of therapy and cathar- of my existence – of my student sis so when I shifted to Pune, I KL: Can you talk a bit about the title of life in Pune, my encounter with HUZAIFA PANDIT (HP): I was inter- studied creative writing formally. the book. Does the content of the book Marathi, or life in academia. So ested in writing from an early The next crisis came in 2016 sum- talk about the memory and it’s language while the conflict is the overriding age. In fourth or the fifth grade, I mer when the whole valley elapsed and semiotics? theme, it also tries to step back wrote a couple of juvenile poems into a cycle of violence. Many from the vortex of violence and one of which had a line: life in the poems in the book were written HP: What is the answer to the tackle other issues. After all one hills is a treat/the weather is very during and after that as old wounds question: Why Green is the Colour can’t forever be in a state of lament- sweet. I had them and a few pieces were opened again, and so the of Memory’ ? For one, green is as- ing, though circumstances here of prose written on themes which cycle continues. sociated with resurgence, revival certainly conspire to do so. were typically asked in English and vitality. The title desired to As for language and semiotics, examinations like my hobby writ- KL: What’s the book that has been capture this resurgence and vital- certainly, that is a feature of the ten in a neat hand in a notebook published recently, about? What ac- ity of memory shaped by the poetic process itself. After all, covered with glittery paper. But cording to you are the problems that trauma of lived experience of poetry is meant to exploit the as I shifted to the High School, I are dealt with in the book? growing up in Kashmir – one of malleability of language, its abil- forgot all about it. Only after I had the most militarized zones in the ity to absorb and conceive of pos- finished my 10+2, and joined Amar HP: The book is a collection of modern world. The poems strive sibilities that are not permissible Singh College I began to write thirty-five poems written over a to record the trauma and memo- or projected in ordinary language. short essays for class assignments span of six years. The poems ry of trauma. As Kashmir slips My endeavour certainly has been of which I remember arguing that tackle various themes ranging gradually into a long inevitable to avoid a transparent reproduc- a write-up must necessarily be from conflict, nostalgia, life in decay and implosion, nothing of tion of circumstances, but rather written in difficult language so academia, home and exile. I am the security and aspiration it once translate the subjectivity they as to increase the reader’s plea- not sure that the book tackles any stood for remains. Faced with the engender. That necessarily in- sure. It was only a year later, in problems except the problem that twin catastrophes of climate volves delving into semiotics e.g. 2010 that I started writing seri- is fundamental to any art – the change due to unbridled urbaniza- the radio is a recurrent image in ously. problem of existence, the problem tion, and relentless military oc- my poetry, not just as an instru- First I wrote a series of three of meaning and the problem of cupation, the only resurgence in ment of information, but as an essays documenting my experi- metaphoric language where things Kashmir is in chronicling grief instrument that performs trauma ence of curfew titled Huzaif in have multiple meanings, and one and lamenting the past. In the by recording contradictory nar- Curfewland. The essays got a good thing stands for the other. This is vast desert of red blood, and pale ratives – the state narrative and response on Facebook, and I felt a problem, which I feel is intrinsic death poetry is the only patch of the narrative of the people. encouraged. I then started first to any artistic endeavour – one is life. with translations (See life and simply not content to observe but But I think it would be a sim- KL: What is the commonalities between legends on why) and then my own must scratch the itch of expression plification if I say the book is about the three poets that you are research- WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018

BOOKS 29

ing. And what makes them different he has a culture not an ideology. identities at the same time? He is primarily a poet who is quite concerned about Kashmir, and HP: I heard the ghazal of Faiz therefore his poetry while being Ahmed Faiz sung by Fareeda very moving is not of the same Khanum: Toofan Ba Dil Hai Har nature as Darwish, Faiz or Qab- Koi Dildaar Dekhna (“Every heart bani. It lacks a lived experience, here shelters a storm/My Love, and is primarily a literary product won’t you see?”). It was 2010, the of a sharpened poetic imagination couplet immediately appealed to rather than experiential. me as a true representation of the Therefore, we must guard leadership crisis in Kashmir –both against appropriating him, as we the mainstream and separatist tend to do. This is not to dismiss leadership –Hurriyat Conference be reactionary and propagandist is forcing them to speak in a glob- Shahid’s contribution or suggest were unable to provide a proper in nature. My endeavour is to al language, I don’t agree. We all that his poetry has nothing of the response to the crisis unfolding point out that they present three write in languages we are com- trauma of Kashmir. Indeed, it around them. different models of such poetry, fortable with, therefore poetry does reproduce it effectively, it is I had read Faiz briefly at school, and prove that such poetry can and prose is being composed in just that even this part doesn’t but this spurred in me a new inter- not only serve as a counter-nar- Kashmiri say by the likes of Nighat comment only on Kashmir, it is est in him. I found a lot of Faiz rative to official narratives, but Sahiba, or in Urdu by Faisal as much about other parts of his poems like Raqeeb Say (To the also it can actively engender and Fehmi. It could be argued to some identity – an imagined exile from Rival) and began reading him accommodate strategies of re- degree that English gives you a home, his voluminous reading, earnestly. All his poems appeared sistance. wider audience, but I think social and a loss of a nostalgic connection to resonate with not only my emo- The three different styles point media has been a great leveller. to Kashmir, and to some extent a tions, but also those of the other out that it is possible to conceive There is an audience for every suppression of his sexuality. That Kashmiris around me. I started a trans-national model that cri- language there as long as it touch- much about his contribution to translating him and by 2015, when tiques imperialism, including es the readers. I seriously doubt Kashmir crisis. I got into the PhD program, I had cultural and economic imperial- that one can be forced into writing As concerns the question of read quite a bit about him, so he ism in its myriad forms, along in a certain way; it doesn’t occur reach, Shahid was product of an fit in naturally. with the various ideological state to me that such writing will be elite education, and was located I had read Shahid’s translation apparatuses that sustain it. effective. squarely in American academia. of Faiz, The Rebel’s Silhouette, and It was natural that his voice The Country without a Post Office. KL: Is there an invisible movement in KL: Agah Shahid is credited for taking should reach more audiences It is one of the widely quoted books Kashmir about young men and women the Kashmir crisis to places where it than one in the East, because in Kashmir, since it deals with writing English poetry? How serious is otherwise would rarely reach. But how the academy enjoys a monopoly the dark days of 1990’s. Since I this movement and how far is it correct Kashmir treated Agha Shahid? over networks of publishing. So wanted to speak of Kashmir, he that the turmoil is forcing them to talk it is least surprising. too fit in nicely. ThenDarwish in a language that is global? HP: Interesting question! Shahid’s How did Kashmir treat him? I was an obvious choice because legacy can’t be disputed but I think think it treated him quite well – he the Palestinians and Kashmiris HP: There is a movement, and it its contours certainly can. First, is eulogized here, is he not? Or do share a common experience of is pretty visible. I can see a lot of Shahid’s volume of writing is quite you mean Kashmir University? life. His poetry is a clear repre- people trying to write various vast, and Kashmir forms only a Legend has it he wished to teach sentation of the subjugated all stories in prose and poetry. The small though special part of his there, at least a few classes, but around the world. trend has picked up during the writing. Almost all of it is re- was not allowed or discouraged It appears to me that the three last three four years, and if you stricted to The Country without a from doing so. Even that is not poets present a perfect demonstra- check the sales of self-publishing Post Office, and maybe a scattered surprising. Kashmir University tion of Resistance Poetry, i.e. houses like Notion Press, you will reference here and there in Call is not exactly known as a bastion poetry written from a clear anti- see that Kashmir is among the me Ishmael Tonight. of free and critical thought. It is imperial and anti-colonial politics. most lucrative markets. Second, Shahid is not an ideo- set in the old feudal system where Such poetry is often thought to As for the question the turmoil logue. He himself confessed that hierarchies are quite rigid. JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

30 BOOKS

In a serious attempt to deconstruct the Green and Memory of the poet Huzaifa Pandit, Shabir Mir discovers a stylish poet’s ornate craftsmanship of GREEN IS a deft and subtle artist, a voice to look forward to

THE COLOUR uzaifa Pandit’s poetry collection Green Is The Colour Of Memory was in fact selected by Rhythm Divine Poets as the winner of their 2017 Poetry Chapbook HContest. The title, Huzaifa himself confesses, is a line borrowed OF MEMORY from Randhir Khare’s eponymous poem and it immedi- WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2018 31

ately draws attention. Green Green we come across in these We wrote back Das in her wonderful introduc- and Memory are the two key- poems is definitely not the clas- An ember breeds in our ances- tion to these poems points it out words here. While it is tempting sic Green of envy or jealousy. mouths so succinctly: “The language to yield to the deceptively sim- It rather is Green as in raw, when cold minutes prey on a in this book is startling, and ple connotation of these two fresh: an unhealed wound. And mutilated memory. the emotions delicate. Like Sha- words and by extension read when one considers how Green We wrote that this fire also hid Ali, Huzaifa’s central style Huzaifa’s poetry in the same has become an objective-cor- feeds on our caned bones. is ghazalesque, although he vein-poetry of nostalgia and relative of a definite Historico- (Letters to Azaadi) writes free verse deftly.”Per se reminiscences- but that would political substratum in Kash- there are only two poems in this just be a semantic travesty as mir, Huzaifa’s Green or this: collection, A Ghazal For Zahid well as a syntactic tragedy be- metamorphoses into a mythol- and BUHU ush Sings An Elegy cause neither Memory nor Green ogized metaphor. Nothing ex- Often, on cold grainy mid- For Kashmir which maintain is straightforward in Huzaifa’s plains it better than these lines: nights the flag of your memory an outward structure of a poetry. unfurls on the mast of tedious Ghazal (to some extent) but et us first consider the Mem- Time, it whispers, was crucified, death. ironically these two poems are Lory’ part of it. when lips were sealed in three the least ghazelesque of all the Huzaifa’s Poetry steeps itself colours The doctor says hysterics suf- poems in this collection. Not overwhelmingly in Memory. and the nation collided with its fer from reminiscences. because structurally they main- His poetry appears to be his destiny. (Dreams at Midnight) tain no kaafiyabut only radeef medium to reengage with mem- (Afternoon at Golay Hall) (English Ghazals have by and ories and to reclaim them; The anger arising from such large done away with behr) and sample these: Although Huzaifa does ac- helplessness does not lead Hu- they have no Matla or Maqta knowledge the other hues of his zaifa to an outrage or high dra- proper but more importantly I will ask the snoring cobbler to Memory- Yellow, Grey or Red matics. It rather infuses into they are nowhere near that stitch, (as he points out in the poem his poetry as black humor; it self-gazing, invocative voice the skeleton of my poem with Sketches from Memory) - it is sharpens his verses into biting that Huzaifa so effectively uses threads of my memory the ‘Green Memory’ that pre- satire and devastating irony: in the rest of ‘free-verse, non- (At a seminar on Agha Shahid dominate his poetry. And he ghazal’ poems. Ali) understands this helplessness The very old theatric microphone of his against such skewing of bows to old departmental aca- The voice that is so beauti- Here I am an old man, his memory: demic claps fully on display in poems like Waiting for the warm day to sink, the speaker stammers American- Getting Lost In Pune or in Tes- At the rusted gates of the old What would I scheme Cashmere timony in February. In such cemetery crafted in my memory. when the fidgety ash of an ill an idea strikes my mind, a feeling poems Huzaifa the poet sepa- (Autobiography) spent decade arises in my heart rates himself from Huzaifa the rebels against the yawning poet In the near future subject of his poetry (and re- The poems in this collection who writes I may explore the country with- pository of his Green Memories) are replete with such preoc- with wrenched twigs on baked out computerized post offices and gazes upon the latter with cupation with memories or as clay? for undelivered orgasms of chaste such sadness and longing as the Huzaifa himself puts it, with, (The Mad Book Thief) epistemology Ghazal Masters of yore did visa Vomiting of Memory. But this In simpler words I will seek truth vis their beloveds. And this is ‘Memory’ is not a simple case But there is no escape from like Buddha precisely what renders such of nostalgia or bitter-sweet this helplessness; from this in even simpler words, I will doze poems with an air of ghaze- reminiscences of times bygone Green Memory. There is no on expensive plastic chairs lesque. Whenever and wher- or even a mature reconsidera- Azaadi: because in a convo- be robbed of nightmares and ever such instances appear the tion of one’s past but the Mem- luted alchemy of time and cir- thank overcrowded university poetry of Huzaifa Pandit invests ory here is rather a complex cumstances the Memory of conference rooms itself with an ornate craftsman- construct. The Memory of Hu- Huzaifa has become Memory ship of a deft and subtle artist zaifa is a conundrum that he of Kashmir and vice versa: Master I have forfeited my dog- although it must be said that at himself is trying to solve and We wake to midnight news: mas times the verses do appear crum- poetry is his medium for work- surrendered every charade of a bling under the overload of the ing out a solution: Every dreamer shall forthwith plan. emotions-meanings they are Stay puzzled a while-, be considered a state enemy. I have sworn via costly affidavits trying to carry. Such a flaw is I will multiply (Beaded Dreams) before predominantly an outcome of reality by fantasy divide it in their Lordships: I won’t atone the restraint that Huzaifa so time and space. A memory of a raw, painful, my sins. precociously tries to maintain. Bear with me a while unhealed history that is rein- Yet, every night, Master, my I will soon vomit memory. forced cruelly everyday on the throat refuses to howl. All in all, Green is the Color (At the mental hospital Srinagar) streets. How can one escape I ache for a sip of warm blood. of Memory is a promise that from a history that is repeated (His Master’s Voice) Huzaifa makes with his read- nd an attempt at solution of everyday?! What else can then ers and if the promise is kept Athis puzzle brings us to the a poet write but this: ow coming to the overall style Kashmir has a voice to look second keyword - Green. The Nof Huzaifa’s poetry, Nabina forward to.