Filled NT form together, 8 years later met as strangers

http://www.risingkashmir.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=10890

In 2001 they had submitted examination form for Naib Tehsildar together as friends, planning to get married. Eight years later they met at the examination centre as long lost friends.

Eight years after the candidates submitted the forms for the first time in 2001, every individual had a story to tell about what happened in their lives during that long wait.Hilal Shah (name changed), one of the candidates narrates a peculiar tail of the ‘waiting for the exams.’

“It is an emotional rejuvenation of friendship. I felt I had three hearts and my body could hardly hold them. I revisited the era I have always treasured,” expresses Shah who met a lost friend with whom he was planning to marry eight years now but destiny had different plans for the both.

“I was in a relation with a girl with whom I had planned to marry in 2001. We submitted the form together in 2001 and were planning for living the happy life,” narrates Shah who was sipping a cup of coffee at a famous café in Lal Chowk after appearing in the exams.But somehow the relation could not work and the two parted ways in 2002.

“It was horrible as we had made plans for the years to come. But destiny had something else in store for us,” says Shah and now his friend joins in the conversation.“It was a terrible break-up. But I think we had no choice but to part ways,” she remembers who is now married and has a child as well. Her driver is carrying the baby along.

Shah is still looking for the job and could not believe his eyes when his friend was sitting next to him in the examination centre.“We never met after 2002. We lost complete track of each other until we met today. Today it seemed rendezvous,” sighs Shah whose eyes were moist, but somehow tried to hold his tears ‘Men don’t cry isn’t it’, he says.

In a lighter tone his friend soliloquized, “Two of us have not put on weight, we sound the same, and we knew who we were without a single bit of double takes.”Sharing few moments in the café, both left toward their homes without recalling a single sentence from their shared past.

NT examination was more than an exam itself. It witnessed the reunion of old friends, renewed hope of job in people at the verge of being over age, mothers attending exams with their children, fathers preparing along with their children and pregnant ladies fighting to remember things along with the joy of going to be the would be mothers.

The bullet that killed Mathematics…

Hakeem Irfan Rashid Madroo

An empty greenish black water bottle was slinging from the neck. A whole consignment of books hanging from his back in a bag with dysfunctional chain (dysfuntionality of the chain was function of the same day as he had a scuffle with his bench mate on the demarcation of territory of their common bench). Running through the seemingly unending corridors of an apparent dungeon (as it appears to every normally abnormal kid) but conventionally called school.

Haroon; yet to enter his tweens. It was 1992, Srinagar Spring. Summers following were special as his father had promised to buy a cycle for him after his 1st term exams. He was a part of hundreds moving in the corridors. Kicking at nothing. Piercing the silence with their stylish snivels and cries. Haroon was making way through the crowd in order to be able to reserve a seat in the last row of the (52 seater) bus number 2. It was parked in the school campus.

The last row was special as it was for the seniors and it was a matter of pride to be with seniors those days. Besides he never liked the conductor of the bus Manzoor. He was always sitting with the juniors in front and scolding little ones for the slightest movement. Manzoor, a tall, lean man with drooped shoulders, bony chest over which the jacket he wore always seemed to be hanging, crooked nose as if trying to somehow kiss the upper lip of his mouth, protruded neck, and always with a cigarette between the little and second last finger of his left hand. He was a complaint box with a complaint for every parent waiting at each stop for their children.

Bus number 2 cruised along the whole of the downtown ( Shehr-e-Khas) old town of Srinagar city. Some 60 children used to travel in the bus. Traveling in the bus was fun only if Haroon was at the back.

The Valley those days was living a different phase. Innocence and naughtiness was limited to the minds of children only. Kashmir was living the best and worst part of its history. It was a state and phenomenon too complicated to be understood by under tween Haroon. He boarded his bus number 2. Luckily he was victorious in reserving a seat on the back side that too from a window (a business class seat for young Haroon).

Crisscrossing along the narrow streets of 1992 downtown Haroon was biding a bye to everyone getting down from the bus. Bus had taken a turn from Fateh Kadal road (Bridge on the famous River Jehlum) to Baba Demb road (Fresh water body turned into a swamp). Suddenly, Haroon heard a bang followed by a thud as if some strong thing exploded.Yes, it was a Grenade attack on a camp near Gandhi Memorial College, known less for its studies and more for its co –education my uncle says so who is alumnus of this college. Cries were heard all over the bus and firing had already started. Many of the children wet their pants and seniors were thinking of the aftershocks given by the army in the form of arrests, tortures and crackdowns.

Bus number 2 was in the middle of nowhere. Manzoor was for the first time trying to take all the kids under his arms which miraculously he was able to do to a very large extent. He himself was all wet with sweat. Driver was trying his best to come out of the area and all of the students were lying on the floor (best position when you are in the line of fire). Somehow, he managed to come out of the place and all the students were safe. But psychologically every one definitely was in some sort of trauma.

By then the news had reached all over the Valley. Parents waiting anxiously at the respective bus stops fainted when they saw their children coming out of bus number 2 alive.Haroon too was a bit confused and traumatized but the unlikely grand welcome at his bus stop made him to forget earlier pain and stress. He was living the moment king size. His parents offered three chocolates which otherwise with an addition of the juice as well.

Haroon was preparing for the home work in the evening. As he checked his diary, it was mathematics all over and thus he opened his mathematics book. To his utter shock and surprise the book was torn apart. There was a big hole in middle of it. When he tried to somehow open it, there was some pointed semi hot ironish thing in it. He immediately ran to his parents at the other corner of the room and showed it to them. Haroon’s mother started crying and his father (Abuji) looking at his uncle (Papaji) said it is a “Bullet”. I

t could have pierced his body. His mother (Amiji) said “This is a second life for my child, taking Haroon in her arms and kissing him with tears rolling down her eyes.”Haroon went back to his place of home work but now he thought he should post pone his maths home work. Next day he got the new book but still he did not like to do mathematics.

Haroon was a topper in the class but his score in maths was comparably low in the final exams. He went on with his studies but maths was always a stumbling stone. He was topper for next seven years but maths was always lagging behind. He got the best of coaches for maths still could not improve.In 12th standard he took maths as an additional subject but was feeling a sort of continuous dyslexia with the subject. And when the results of 12th came, Haroon was failing in mathematics. He had got only 53 out of 150 while the pass points were 54 out of 150.

He was not eligible for the coming All India Engineering Entrance Exams (AIEEE). Interestingly AIEEE is scheduled in April this year again but Haroon still cannot appear. Actually Haroon survived the firing in 1992 but it killed his mathematical skill. It affected him psychologically and could not retrieve the love for the subject.Conflict is a situation where abnormality becomes normal and vice versa.

…and I still missed a story.

Hakeem Irfan

Last Sunday I woke very late. It was the time of lipton at ten for rest of the family but I had to embarrassingly ask for the Nun chai (salt tea) .Nun chai was served but with the more salt of satirical annotations from my family. Yes I was 5 hour late than my average family schedule. I live in a joint family and you could yourself imagine how intense would have been the shower of comments. Even my youngest 8 year old cousin got a chance to abuse me and make happy her inner self as she got a chance to harass her sermonizer and occasional guide.

But I could not react as I had already missed the all important morning prayers and also the weekly opportunity of meeting my maternal Uncle and paternal aunt. Mamaji (uncle) and Paphi ji (Aunt) arrives at our house early in the morning every Sunday after weekly morning walk. They breakfast at our house. This Sunday I missed my religious and social obligation. What other reason one needs to be labeled as outcast. My Amiji commented in Kashmiri “akh wothuk duphaaras nendre baeye chuk che Cholmut” which means “one you were out of the bed in afternoon and you even don’t value relations”. This is how morning of my last Sunday started.With all this baggage I left my home in search of a story for my newspaper.

Sunday’s are mostly barren or impotent for stories. I boarded a bus to City centre (Lal Chowk). On the last seat of the bus I was thinking of the Pulitzer Prize in journalism and the ceremony for noble prize winners. The horrible shake at double speed breaker near Doulatabad (Nowpora) brought me back to the nation of bunkers and barbed wires, Nation that is fighting for a cause from so many years. I could see the bunkers of foreign troopers constructed on roads and also few of the troopers trampling the green grass on the nearby graveyard. I just uttered little unsocial slang within myself.

Meanwhile I called up my three sources and also the Public Relations Officers of the people I take care of news wise. But no one had anything to offer and thus it was a sterile day for my beat. I got down from the bus at Regal Chowk. Khan News Agency was my next stopover as here you can update yourself with a cursory look at every news paper without purchasing even a single copy. Often journalists check their bylines here only. Hilal (Owner) greets everybody with a smile although only few are potential customers (I don’t know is it a hearty gesture or he fears that media persons are good at messing up things).I was there to check my bylines in our newspaper. I still was not able to find some story and my common sense was very uncommon that day. I was really getting out of ideas. I went to press colony and heard that some press conference is going to happen but not from my beat. I still went and had a good lunch, additionally got some stuff for the city editor as well. But I was still thinking about some front page stuff (as our editors call it) which I was not able to get.

Disappointingly I went my office and sat with my boss. He gave some valuable tips and insights. But the whole baggage of home and story paucity was still lingering in my mind.I just got up and went to the news room. I started surfing net. It was also disappointing as nobody had scrapped or even forwarded any mail. Not even a spam lottery mail (to which few of our friends do reply). Later in the day I got a call from a source and did a story from my beat. It was good and I was a bit relaxed.

Next day I woke up early in the morning. I had my breakfast with few of the family members although I was an hour late that day as well. But things were tending to normalcy. Suddenly “Malgudi Days” signature tone of my cell chimed up. It was a call from my boss. He said “Yaar you have missed a big story on your beat on Sunday, You should be alert and see why you don’t remain informed about things.”This was my first day of week and then the things followed as “usual”. I remember one of the Goethe’s couplets:“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

Lipton at Ten

Hakeem Irfan
A hot cup of tea spilled over in a scuffle with my younger cousin in our ancestral downtown house. My cousin was hurt as the hot tea sneaked under his legs like a stream and his skin was badly bruised. What followed was his magnificent art of expressing things more really than actual. He was the child with congenital art of exaggerating and sensationalizing things. He was the exclusive choice for the modern propaganda industry.

I was waiting for seventh summer of my life and my cousin was two years less in experience comparably. It was the forenoon of spring 1991 Srinagar. The years of young revolution that was too delicate to be handled and dealt with.My Amiji (mother) remembers me what my Daadi (grandmother) said that day in reaction to our scuffle. All furious for my action of spilling the tea, she said in Kashmiri “goode baneuv ye noovey feeshenah dahe baje maadr chaay chen, shur tae karekh kharaab ame seeth, teeli aes soud doopharas bate khawaan” which means “This sugar tea at ten is a fashion now it never used to be like that before, it is spoiling the children as well, we used to eat food directly at noon.”Actually armed resistance and counter operation in Kashmir brought with it many new things into the societal fabric of valley.

Continuous Crack downs, curfews and hartals changed the working and eating schedule of every Kashmiri. Men of our society were always looking for the engagements within the four walls of their houses as moving out was synonym to call the angel of death many a time.Having sugar tea around 10 in the morning is the fixation of those days. Most of the people liked having the hot tea as it favored the climate as well which is mostly dominated by the cold chapter.

Kashmiri’s developed a sort of affair with the sweet tea. It was a transition from traditional salt tea (Noon chai) and Kehwa (sweet water with special spices and saffron) that was the specialty on unique occasions. Sugar tea in common parlance is called Lipton tea. As my Abbaji (Grandfather) told me that in those days only one brand of tea was available in the market and it was of “Lipton” that is why the sweet tea became famous by the name of “Lipton tea”. It is still in vogue, when scores of brands are available in the market.Lipton tea is the creation of 90’s and I still remember the days when we used to take thermos of Lipton tea to our family males many a time who were out in the crackdown for hours together under the naked sky. Tea served as a support in the situation when a single buzzer from a gypsy standing by for identification decided the apparent future.Lipton at ten then became the craze.

From carpenter to the elite family eating schedules; Lipton tea paved its way. This carved niche for a special kind of bakery in Kashmir as well. People started having sweet biscuits with the tea which snow balled into what is now a multi crore business of short bakery and confectionary. Off late cakes, pastries and kulchas became the daily consumables.We are now witnessing a boom in tea stalls and restaurants offering “Lipton tea”. This culture has even crept in the government and private offices now. A tea is served to an official immediately he or she steps in the office for the days’ work.

meet with Siddharth Vardarajan.n.

By: Hakeem Irfan

I had an informal conversation with Associate Editor of Hindu two years back at a hotel in Srinagar. Here are the excerpts of our conversation.

Hakeem Irfan:- You have a degree in Economics. Why didn’t you opt for Business Journalism?

Siddharth Vardarajan:- When I came back in 1995 I realized that Business Journalism has turned into Corporate Journalism in India and I was not comfortable with that. I was interested in “Macro Economic Issues”. I thought I should carve a niche some where and I joined TOI as an Assistant Editor.

HI:- You left TOI after nine long years in 2004, was time fatigue a reason for your departure from TOI or…?

SV:- You can’t call it a fatigue but Times of India had Pro Liberalization Policy and it was furthering by the every passing day. I myself could not go in tune with that, and I felt saturation there. I mean I was feeling frustrated for lack of space in Times of India and also Nine years in an organization are enough. Interferences from the management and perceived political differences were also a stumbling stone for my continuation at TOI. But after I left TOI improved a lot.

HI:- Why was Hindu a choice after TOI?

SV:- The Hindu allows you to go in detail and do an in depth analysis. Although you have to be ready for regular clashes with your editors everywhere but at Hindu its not that problematic. Besides Hindu provides a reasonable space for the development issues which of course are not sensational or glamorized.

HI:- Being associated with two reputed Dailies of India how do you see a “good journalist” or “ the journalist”?

SV:- Journalists have to do “cost and benefit analysis” and always try to take the cost of him or her much higher. He or she should be able to carve a niche which is safe enough to be reached to by any of the interests. Try to be impartial and it will be difficult for any body to mess with you. This is the mantra for conflict zones specially. This will strengthen your credibility and what else you need for being a good journalist.

HI:- Being well versed with the politics of the Sub continent why was there a major change in the attitude of Pakistan and India at the quay of 21st century?

SV:- Change in the attitude came because of Kargil and Parikram, it was realized by both the countries that this is not the way to resolve conflicts. These operations have in turn opened way for peaceful resolution. This is an optimistic stage and both the countries should try to carry it for long period.

HI:- What in your opinion are the achievements of the on going Peace process between the two Sub continental Nuclear Powers?

SV:- India and Pakistan have reached a common vocabulary and definitions which is an achievement as for as the peace process is concerned. I think this should be appreciated.

HI:- Is there some missing link in the ongoing peace process and Round Tables?

SV:- Unconditional Dialogue with the parties is the need of hour. If Governent of India can talk with other groups from different parts of India why only Kashmir is the bone of contention? GoI has to internalize peace process which is to bring genuine Kashmiri sentiment on the table. GOI has to invite Hizbul Mujahideen for unconditional talks if at all they think that the round tables and peace process should be a positive process as for as solving Kashmir conflict is concerned. Sense of accounting, Peace with justice and proper reconciliation is the need of hour.

HI:- How do you see the future of India and Pakistan as Nuclear Neighbors?

SV:- Nuclear power with both the countries has diminished the chances of war. Likely hood of war is more unlikely now. Future belongs to peace and they have to go back and think on it very seriously as soon as possible.

HI:- Which moment you always cherish in your life?

SV:- Feed back is solace for me and that too when you come to know you have touched chord of some one who you don’t know. It is some thing like out of this world feeling. You feel elated.

HI:- Do you think Musharaf politics is in tune with the present situation in Pakistan visa vi Kashmir?

SV:- Look Musharaf is a creative person but he runs ahead of curve as well. He has to be very sensible in taking the steps especially in conditions presently prevailing in Pakistan.

HI:-What do you think about these Round Tables organized by New Delhi?

SV:- I think... (a little pause) they should talk with those who disagree with their (New Delhi’s) viewpoint. They should try to involve every body to come to a conclusion. Otherwise this is will be reduced to a calendar activity of New Delhi without any fruitful results.

HI:- Your suggestion for the students of media visa vi understanding Kashmir issue.

SV:- Students should always try to compare 4 news papers, Times Of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu as for as covering Kashmir is concerned, it will broaden their vision and inculcate an in depth analytical sense. They should also regularly follow the local Dailies which will add a different perspective. This is necessary for being a journalist with difference. Actually it is all about to know so many aspects of the conflict.

HI:- Your family?

SV:- My wife Prof. Nandini Sunder . She is a Prof. at Delhi School of Economics.

HI:- What are the options for a media student, I mean other than print and broadcast area?

SV:- Go for blogging and don’t wait for jobs. Things come to you if you are capable enough and you know your job very well, I’m of the opinion that we must be well versed with the modern changing medium of communication. We have to think of the future and that will secure our place in the coming media scenario.


Profile...

Sidharth Vardarajan Associate Editor “The Hindu”.
Studies:- London School of Economics and Colombia University.
Masters in Economics, but abandoned his Phd. and taught at New York University.
Joined Times Of India in 1995 as Assistant Editor.
Shifted to Hindu in 2004 as Associate Editor (Strategic Affairs Editor)
Writes on:- Indian Foreign Policy, International Political Economy, Indian Government and politics, and International Security
Edited a book on Gujrat namely “The making of Tragedy”
Awards “The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize Silver Medal” for Print Journalism by the United Nations Correspondents Association in 2005, and “Bernado O’Higgins prize” by the President of Chile in march.

NGO’s; Economics, Politics or Social Work?

Hakeem Irfan

The last few years have seen an increasing number of NGO’s appearing on the scene of the Kashmir Valley. This sector has now become one of the professions and is a viable career option. With the courses offered like Masters in social works (MSW) and Masters in Sociology more and more youngsters are attracted towards this sector. Even people from other fields like medicine, management, and media are interested in this field.

What is the mantra that attracts people to this sector? Is it the feel good factor only or there is something else? In Valley number of NGO’s runs in thousands and many of them are from outside Valley “whose organizational setup and reason for being here is not clear.” Although sociologists think that October 8th 2005 earth quake opened pavement for various NGO’s to work in the Valley which are not only working for the affected but in other fields as well. One of the sociologist pleading for anonymity comments “Kashmir is a trouble torn area, here vested interests use different tactics to control the situation and NGO sector is the most vulnerable option for them”. All of us know there is nothing like social work for betterment of our society but what if it is used as a tool against us, he added.

This situation has raised a question mark even on the genuine players in this sector. One of the leading social worker and a doctor by profession says “It has made our life hell as people are taking us as the riders of the same band wagon which are working at the behest of certain vested interests.” Here people are now intelligent enough to know what is happening but they are reluctant to voice their feelings because of the known reasons, he further added. The aura of cladestinalism is surrounding the whole NGO scenario in the Valley. Few of them are making an effort to be transparent and be close to the local populace, but it is diluted by the wrongs of many. NGO’s in present day world are very important as they keep a check on policies of the government and are thought to be the voice of a common man. Manzoor Ahmad an engineer by profession says “I know a person who painted some of the walls in his own area writing ‘Save Dal’ on them and conveyed to NGO that he has done it all over the banks of DAL thus getting a good amount from the concerned NGO, besides he is also a political worker.” What will the fate of development projects if these things happen at such a grass root level, he added with a sigh.

NGO sector is presenting a smoke screen view for a common Kashmiri as he is now unable to recognize the genuine players. Mr. Haris (KAS),a Rural Development Officer laments “Govt. too has funds for NGO’s but we are seeing money minting machines everywhere, there is hardly anybody that we can trust and release our funds to, this results in lapse of funds or corruption in the Govt. department itself”.

There are many international organizations working in the Valley, who are doing well and people are satisfied with their work. “They too are not touching the real standards of the work but at least doing something at the ground level” says Suhail a PG student from sociology deptt. University of Kashmir. There is an emerging concern in the society and people are sensitized towards the fact that NGO’s are now discussing Kashmir problem and are working in the young circles for the sensitization among them according to their own preferences. “This is in contrast of their protocol, although they are doing it under the garb of ‘civil societies’, people from outside supposed to teach us how local populace can take initiatives in this regard” comments, Coordinator of a Human Rights Group. Seminars, debates etc arranged by the NGO’s who were nowhere in the scene are emerging from nowhere, we have to be cautious of this fact as well, he added.

People are making moolah of many kinds out of all this. Instead of changing somebody’s life and giving a new flowering expression and liberation NGO’s are busy with materialistic, capitalistic and political benefits which is available to them all around the valley. Dr. Noor Ahmad Baba, HOD Deptt. Of Political Science, University of Kashmir says “NGO culture is a global phenomenon and in Valley with so many negatives this thing also brings a positive change in the civil society”. NGO’s have to rectify their policies and come out the chicanery they follow at this point of time otherwise they will be always culpable in people’s eyes.
Dr.Anisa Shafi, HOD Deptt. Of Sociology and Social Works comments “NGO sector in the Valley is mostly with the non professionals and we are trying our level best through our courses to develop professional social workers with good ethical code of conduct” she further added “there are embezzlements at present in this sector and it is bringing bad name to whole lot”. Amelioration of the NGO sector is needed and people in this sector should realize this as soon as possible.

“YOUTH FOR CHANGE”

Hakeem Irfan

“…The aim of life must not be mere to control mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation hereafter only, but to make best use of it here below; and not to realize beauty, truth and good only in contemplation, but also in actual experience of daily life, progress does not mean ennoblement of few but enrichment of ‘many’….” (An Indian Revolutionary).

Revolution doesn’t merely or only mean an upheaval or a sanguinary strife-nor is there any place for individual vendetta. Revolution necessarily implies the programme of systematic reconstruction of society on a better basis. Revolution means that present order of things which is based on manifest injustice must change. The revolution is the spirit, the longing for a “transformation” for better..

Who can bring this “transformation”? What can be the answer to this other than “YOUTH”. Change factor depends crucially on the ways and means through which the youth are encouraged and nurtured as a positive force for catalysts of the “change”. At institutional level it is essential for an appropriate policy frame work to be in place to harness the energies of the youth, which is terribly missing here or is sabotaged by the institution itself. Youth has to instill in themselves, an abiding awareness of the whole scenario, and adherence to the “change process” and then unswerving commitment to this is but necessary.

There are efforts to convert youth, who are to take reins of the land in their hands tomorrow, into absolute dumb individuals. We all agree that their main focus should be their studies but is the knowledge about the conditions in their land and ability to improve them not part of their education? If it is not then we question this system only. Many parents say “Son or daughter, you may study and think in tune with ‘politics’ but don’t actively participate in it. This way you will be wiser and more helpful to the nation.” Then it is better to teach students the lesson of sycophancy from their birth itself. The people generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of “change”. It is this lethargical spirit that needs to be replaced by the revolutionary spirit otherwise degeneration gains the upper hand and all of nation is led astray by “so many” forces. Such a state of affairs leads to stagnation and paralysis in progress of nation.

When we study revolutions we come across the contribution of students in all those winning strides and know how students have shaped the destinies of nations. Students in highest seat of learning are mature enough to take part in decision making as well as forming strategies and execution part as well. But here a student of same age can be father or mother of next generation but he or she is still immature for being the part of “the change making machinery”. Institutions here have to be the platform for grooming the next generation leaders and it is their duty to provide the space without any biases and inclinations of any kind. They will lead our nation in future. Otherwise in near future we will be having leaders who don’t even know how to react to a particular incident or even to a question, which is the case this time as well with few exceptions only. We are witnessing the terrible failure of our leaders, and we have to follow them as our second line of leaders is nowhere. Our young generation is the driving spirit of the “change” we all want and we all have to be initiators of this “change”. If we will cocoon ourselves in the criminal silence, just cramming the salybus, then we have to bear with the leaders from shop parapets and hooligans from the mob. At least we have to appreciate them for taking this “brave step” which our educated class is not able to do even after being the students of “Revolutionary Studies and Political Sciences”. We then will be having no right to say that why is somebody else making decision on our behalf. Our youth have to successfully accomplish the challenging tasks of national reconstruction and “change” we all talk about. Our youth is to be motivitated to be active and committed participants in the exciting and tuff tasks of “change”.

Our nation stands at the decisive cross roads. Will we recklessly walk the same path of acquiescence, injustice and political ignorance? Or we will pull back before it is too late and reclaim the goal which is blurring by the every passing day. Above all it is for the youth to decide the path. This choice will decide and determine the future we will leave for our future generations.

Its Cell Phone Vs Chocolates and Chips Now!!!

Hakeem Irfan

We are living in a globalized world where “stay connected” is the mantra. Inhabitants of valley as well are a part of this whole converging machination. From past five years or more we are connected “more efficiently” through our mobile phones to the world outside and inside as well.

Youngsters of Valley are more ‘obsessed’ with this communication device; we see them busy with their mobiles throughout. “Money spent on this is exceeding the expenditure on clothes as well as on other more important entities” a survey adds. Every nook and corner of the valley is witnessing deliberations by our youth on the device. It has now acquired a ‘key position’ in the sphere of their lives but unfortunately at the cost of many more important things.

Cell phone recharge coupons are giving a tough competition to the chocolates, chips, bubble gums, and toffees sold by departmental stores locally called kiryana stores. Here shopkeepers are much concerned about the low sales of chocolates & bubble gums due to the Rs 10 and Rs 20 Rs 50 recharge coupons launched by the stalwarts of the communication sector here. This is seen as a serious threat to the business of many shopkeepers who earn their bread and butter from these chocolates, chips and gums only.

Now these recharge coupons are available at departmental stores itself, they think that no body will be visiting their shops if these coupons are not available there. It has its bad side as well because percentage given to these shopkeepers is very less. Mohammad Rafiq a retailer kiryana store owner comments “I think it is more important to have recharge facility at our shop than variety of confectionary as this is what sells in the market”.

Manager of Arco Trading Co. a reputed wholesaler of confectionery and C&F of many reputed confectionary brands says “As for as recharge coupons are concerned shop keepers get 2% profit while it is at least 5% in case of chocolates, chips and other confectionery, besides there is a chain of man power involved in business of confectionary while money from mobile phones is directly going in the hands of corporate owners outside state thus diluting all the involvement of locals”. This will have an adverse effect on our economy as money is going out at a very high rate while as a less chunk comes back to the Valley because of the dearth of our own well built business setup he added.

Manzoor Ahmed of MA traders a wholesaler firm comments, “Situation is very grim as for as business of confectionary is concerned, recharge coupons are overshadowing everything, its quite clear that pocket money of students and youth in general is same while as their preference in spending has shifted from eatables to recharges and mobile phones”.
Peer Mohammad Altaf, father of two teenager sons shares his experience and says “ Both my sons have mobile phones and even being a postgraduate myself I fail to understand why they need it, besides they don’t demand money for confectionary but for the recharge coupons and I have to give it because of so many reasons”. It is not only affecting our economy but it has some other ‘socio-moral impact’ as well which is to be taken care of.

Service providers like Airtel and Bsnl too are on their toes to continue their hold on the grooming market of the Valley. Introduction of late night schemes and easily available sim cards is helping them to do the brisk business. They are having strong foothold which can have implications beyond what is apparent. They are involving every Tom Dick and Harry in the business and many people who were doing well in other business have jumped into this wagon because of the enormous market response. Shabir Ahmed of GM Sons C&F of “perfitti” a reputed confectionary brand says “we have to sell what market demands and now demand of chocolates and chips is decreasing which of course forces many people to look for alternatives and there is no better option than going for mobile recharge coupons and other related stuff”.

Abrar ul Haq an 11th class student says “ we need mobiles and our parents should know that and we are not demanding for some extra, it is the share which we always took for our chocolates and chips”. Valley is observing tremendous change in the overall set up but this time many people are affected with this latest ‘in’ thing. Its not only about draining of economy but also about so many paunches who have these confectionary shops as the only source to feed them.

Malignant Leprosy…

Hakeem Irfan

Sitting at a Dhaba outside the University campus with a teacher, as usual conversing and debating on issues of common priority. In the middle of hot tea, cakes and ideas an elderly person interrupted with a disclaimer right in the beginning that “he is an illiterate person knowing nothing” but he wanted to say something (perhaps he had overheard our multilingual conversation). He said you were discussing different problems faced by us as a nation. He added with a humble submission that the basic and root cause of our problem is that we have mottled our character as a nation. Our systems: from family to the broader governing units (of every side) are in a final phase of leprosy of all kinds that too is malignant and fatal. He added with the earlier disclaimer that “yaeth gache waen aasmeney gooley wasun” means only a supernatural bomb from sky is the final solution to the problems here.

Have we ever taken such comments from a common man seriously? Whenever we move in the bus, go to some public place or are in some function, we hear a lot of problem solving ideas of the same sort like “Only an Earth Quake is the final solution or the Valley should be overturned by Almighty for the final solution of problems or we have degraded so much that only some big disaster is what we deserve. These are not only the solutions but indirect prays to Almighty. If we peep a little further I think it speaks of how we are expressing our incapability of solving the problems or even facing the crisis in the first hand. Or it can be taken as an indicator of the grave scenario in every sphere of life in the Valley.

If I am allowed to make comparisons, isn’t dying Dal lake an excellent example of deteriorating collective conscience of us as a people. Anchar lake has not died but it is the soul of the section of society that has lost its living characteristics. Are we as a nation casing our personal discrepancies, incompetence and wickedness under the garb of conflict? Our religion has guided us how we have to behave and act during the crisis of any kind and dimension. We have to be humane (muslim) even if the worst situation arises. We as a nation need a collective prudence that is necessary for our struggle to be won.

We have to ponder over the fact that why our long cherished goal is getting distanced from us by the every passing day. Have lost hope as a nation and that too at a very crucial juncture of the history? When we are fighting for some cause: first and foremost thing is that civil society has to be an integral and indispensable part of that. But isn’t it getting parted from the struggle in an engineered way? We as a civil society have blasphemously tolerated the blasphemy of our belief and conviction. What else can be the height of things? How can we be the elements of change? Our next generation is so much involved and impressed with the materialistic approach that they think of personal benefits at every decision. Our columnists pray every now and then that Edward Said should be born once again for Kashmir, but is our society ready to accept him or are we in a position to produce such brains. Our new generation thinks with tummies and tunnel vision. They are so much into self centralized and individualized cocoons that any cause or collective problem of a society is meaningless for them. Was the elderly man right with his suggestion?

Our nation has offered sacrifices of every kind. Our sons and daughters have given their blood for a goal, but it needs well organized, focused and honest machinery that can count on those sacrifices and take the struggle to its logical and only end. Are we after so many years of sufferings trying to take shelter in the self imposed confusions for our personal benefits? This unspeakable confusion is everywhere weltering within. Even our intellectuals till now are coming up with criticism only without focusing on the suggestions for our future (May be because of so many pressures). We have to be clear enough with the fact that who we are fighting against and what we are fighting for? We may know the former but there are some deliberate delusions in the later. Our situation demands some national qualities without which it is impossible to see the dawn of the long desired destination. We are not living in the “normal” situation, so we have to have some extraordinary characteristics for our future feats.
Arash Hejazi once wrote to Paulo Coelho “Today, I got caught in a heavy shower while walking on the street .Fortunately, I had my umbrella and rain cape; however, both were in boot of my car, which was parked some way away. While I was running to get them, I thought about the strange signal I was receiving from God: We always have the necessary resources to face the storms that life throws at us, but most of the time, those resources are locked up in the depths of our heart and we waste an enormous time trying to find them. By the time we have found them, we have already been defeated by the adversity.” Let us, therefore always be prepared; otherwise, we either miss an opportunity or lose the battle.

Patients of Language

God knows why do these doctors use an alien language to throw impression on patients

Hakeem Irfan

Last year I happened to visit nearly every “big” hospital of the Srinagar city and stayed for some days. It was a life time experience, that too when I was not patient myself. I witnessed a lot of incidents, harassments, compromises and what not. But here I share a few of common concern.

Here I am not to talk about the infrastructure which is pathetic. I am not talking about the dogs patrolling the corridors in a very reputed hospital. The technicians who themselves recommend to go for the test outside the hospital in some private lab. The patients who wait for their X rays for hours together and in the end get a blurred horror picture which looks more like a monster than the organ itself. I am not referring to the new “corruption beats” created in the name of “entry fee” and “gate keeping”. The “political patients” for whom, side rooms and “special caretaking cell” comes into being immediately after their entry in a government hospital. The ground staff who intimidate you if they are not given a proper “niyaaz”. I am not here to refer to an incident when a patient from a village with critical orthopedic injury was left for 25 days without operation while a relative of an officer was operated the same day she came to the hospital and that too by the doctors who were on leave otherwise.

I am not talking about the brand of medicine available in the hospitals and those recommended by the doctor which is a complex intermingle of interests of MR’s, Distributors and Doctors like the chemical composition of the medicine itself. Not to talk about the Doctors who take more care about their dressing pattern and walking style in the hospital corridors (as if on the ramp) like celebrities. It is not their fault, “Star Plus effect” and other programs have marred the essence of this noble profession where personal stories are overshadowing the patients care. Actually I want to talk about the “patients of language” in the hospitals. Doctors have to specialize in the public relations as well. But the scenario here is different.

When I heard the dialogue between a doctor and a common Kashmiri patient, nearly 70% of words used by a young doctor are from Urdu and English language which is alien to many of the Kashmiri patients visiting these government hospitals. Once in a ward during doctors round an attendant pointed towards me and said “please be here with me as doctors are on round and I could not understand their English and Urdu, I am feeling linguistically handicapped from a week now which is affecting my patient”.

Next time if a Kashmiri is admitted to a hospital he or she has to be familiar with these two languages or hire a translator for getting effective treatment. Is our new generation of doctors linguistic patients themselves? Or they think of using common Kashmiri parlance below their dignity and job profile. Hospitals are institutions for the wellbeing of “aam admi” and we have every right to question if things are not going in a proper direction.

Will Hurriyat revive Red Crescent of 1990s?

Hilal-e-Ahmar raised Rs 8.2 Cr in 10 months and vanished

Hakeem Irfan/Mehboob Jeelani

Jan 03: Kashmir’s foremost social charity Anjuman-e-Hilal-e-Ahmar (AHA) raised Rs 8.2 Crore in ten months of 1989 to combat the consequences of recurrent curfews and to rehabilitate the victims of violence.

Nearly two decades on, the fund raising potential of Anjuman-e-Hilal-e-Ahmar (Red Crescent Society) has dwindled to a paltry Rs 20000 a month and the ambitious projects of setting up hospitals, schools etc are long dead.

Revisiting these details is troubling the separatist leadership that wants to reestablish its lost rapport with the masses.

Why did AHA experiment fail? The charity is said to have been consumed in the bickering between the trustees however some separatist activists allege government of India conspired to sabotage the AHA agenda, which sought to sustain the freedom struggle in J&K.

“It was a big dream. Had this model been implemented sincerely, presently Kashmiri people would have been economically independent,” said Ghulam Muhammad Dar, father of the frontline JKLF leader, Aijaz Ahmed Dar who was among the first martyrs of Kashmir.

Dar claims to be the first Chairman of AHA and alleges that due to the ‘internal bickering’ the organization weakened and ultimately failed to purse its agenda.

“On the occasion of Eid ul Azha in 1990,” Dar recollects, “AHA collected 120 thousand animal hides and nobody knows about the details like what happened to them and who got the money,” says Dar.

The idea of floating a socio-economic forum in the name of AHA was actually conceived by Ishfaq Majeed Wani of Srinagar. After joining JKLF, Ishfaq fell to bullets of Indian armed forces in early 1990s. “He was a bright boy with revolutionary ideas regarding the sustenance of the freedom movement. But soon after he was martyred and I was arrested. Whole idea of AHA was hijacked for personal gains,” Dar adds.However he refused to name any individual or group that ‘hijacked’ AHA. “I was in jail. When I was released after two years of detention in 1992, I found AHA almost defunct.”

Besides Dar Abdul Majeed Wani, father of Ishfaq Majeed, Abdul Kabir Sheikh, father of slain JKLF commander Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Farooq Ahmed Shah, father of slain Sajad Shah, Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad father of Shakeel Bakshi who is presently heading Islamic Students League were the trustees of AHA.“It was completely based on local support.

From October 1989 to August 1990 Rs 8.2 Crores were raised,” said Abdul Majeed Wani who also claims to be one of the Chairmen of AHA.Wani admits that people from all corners of valley donated liberally for the ‘cause’. “I still remember how Khadeeja, a poor lady from Halmetpora Kupwara, donated a box of homemade pickle because she had no other commodity worth donating,” Wani recalls.

Wani says the organization was pursuing the agenda of relief distribution but had conceived a micro-project of establishing small-scale industries and other social institutions across J&K.“This was a big project. Our aim was to establish large and small scale industries, educational institutions, factories, and other services that could have made Kashmir economically independent.”Ishfaq’s father, Majid Wani says such was the success of AHA that Jama’at-e-Islami floated a parallel Markaz-e-Hilalal-e-Ahmar (Center of Red Crescent) to pursue the agenda of socio-economic development on the sidelines of an armed movement in the state.

According the office bearers of AHA, the charity had earmarked a relief package of Rs 10, 000 for the family of each militant killed by Army, Police and other Indian forces.“One of the major relief packages was given to the fire victims of Magam and Watmagam in 1991 when Indian army set ablaze many houses,” Wani informs.Apart from relief packages for the dead, the organization used to pay monthly cash assistance of Rs 1000 to the families of those in jails.Is AHA dead?Wani says the charity is still running but it is almost defunct and its fundraising capacity has reduced drastically.

“Presently the monthly income of AHA is Rs 20000 and each penny gets distributed among those who deserve to get relief,” he claims.Significantly, the AHA was the only charity group from Kashmir that enjoyed recognition by Saudi-based International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), a social wing of Raabita-e-Alam-e-Islam.Longtime freedom activist and Chairman of Islamic Students League, Shakeel Bakhshi believes the government of India sabotaged the AHA.“Aggressor never wants such kind of initiatives to get implemented on ground. Government of India arrested all the founders of AHA and sabotaged this idea which was growing to become a big institution,” Bakhshi asserts.There are voices within separatist circles that Jama’at-e-Islami and JKLF should forge an external alliance and revive AHA. “Jama’at and JKLF may have different ideology regarding the political future of J&K but they have compatibility when it comes to sustain the struggle and win back the support of the masses,” said a middle-rung separatist leader wishing not to be quoted by name.


Separatists have borrowed the title from Arabic chapter of Red Cross. Hilal e Ahmar (Arabic: هلال احمر‎) is the Red Crescent society. It is the equivalent of Saleeb e Ahmar (Arabic: صلیب احمر‎) or Red Cross society. Hilal e Ahmar was formed as Kızılay Derneği in the Ottoman Empire

Flashback 2000: Hurriyat disowned Delhi-Hizb talks: Qureshi

APHC dissuaded people in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad’
India had agreed to involve Pak in the process: Zaffar

Hakeem Irfan

As the new Chief Minister Omer Abdullah hinted on facilitating the dialogue process with the pro freedom leadership soon, Senior Hurriyat leader Wednesday revealed that the breakdown of the Hizbul Mujahideen and New Delhi talks in August 2000 was a lost opportunity and Hurriyat’s cold response derailed the process.

Senior Hurriyat leader and executive member of Hurriyat (M) Fazlul Haque Qureshi while talking to Rising Kashmir said, “I think that time will not come again. We were in a bargaining position. Hizbul Mujahedeen and Hurriyat made a potent force to convince India regarding the solution of the issue. But unfortunately the cold response of Hurriyat Conference at that time derailed the process.”The then commander of the Hizbul Mujahedeen Abdul Majeed Dar along with other commanders had come to Valley from Muzafarabad and addressed a press Conference in July 2000 announcing the ceasefire from the Hizbul Mujahedeen.

“Majeed Dar gave a press conference regarding the ceasefire and between the lines nominated me as an interlocutor. When I listened I was ready to take the task. Majeed Dar had taken both Syed Salahuddin and Pakistan in confidence,” said senior Hurriyat leader who was also a part of the historical dialogue held at Nehru place Srinagar.

In August 2000 it was the first time the government of India entered in the talks with any militant organisation operating in Kashmir and thus recognizing them as a party to the dispute. The then Home Secretary of India Kamal Pandey was leading the delegation from India.

“Majeed Dar met the Hurriyat leadership before the press conference in July and tried to convince the pro freedom leadership here. They had planned that Hurriyat will announce the invitation to India, Pakistan and militant leadership to sit together and solve the issue. Cold response towards that due to the problems within the leadership and fear of being sidelined forced Hurriyat to oppose the move,” said Fazlul Haque Qureshi.According to Qureshi, “Hurriyat was successful in prevailing upon the opinion in Muzafarabad and Pakistan due to which Salahuddin immediately withdrew the ceasefire on August 08 2000.” Meanwhile in a press conference Senior Hurriyat leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat termed the whole process of ceasefire and dialogue as “a broken step.”

“The meeting was healthy. Pandey after listening to the Commander Masood (one of the HM commanders in the meeting) agreed that Pakistan will be involved in the follow up meetings. Masood made him clear that Hizb has not come with a begging bowl and they are equally powerful. Besides we were there just to work out the modalities for the process,” said Qureshi who also spoke during the historic 80 minute parley.Later according to Qureshi, Hurriyat sought an explanation from him regarding the participation as an interlocutor in the HM-New Delhi talks.

Also Hurriyat leader and Salvation Movement Chairman Zafar Akbar Bhat, who was one of the Hizb commanders those days while talking about the dialogue process said, “Majeed Dar was offered Home Ministerial Chair, India was ready to restore the 1953 position of J&K state and also ready to transfer the government to us at that time. But Dar didn’t paid heed to any such thing. He was just concerned about the solution of the issue as per the aspirations of the people here,” said Bhat who left the militancy and joined the Hurriyat Conference in 2003 when Abbas Ansari was chairing the conglomerate.

The then Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee in a news briefing in 2000 said, “We are ready to talk outside the constitution of India on humanitarian grounds.”“HM was sincere with the dialogue and equally powerful as they carried out successful attacks 15 days ahead of the ceasefire. It was a golden chance. But some vested interests within the pro freedom ranks didn’t wish to carry on the process. They had the fear of becoming irrelevant lingering in their minds. We had only that time stopped the gun and not dropped them,” said Bhat.According to Bhat, the then American under Secretary Richard Boucher acknowledged the process saying, “HM has opened doors for both India and Pakistan. They should solve the issue. Besides General Patnagar of 15 Core also commented that the HM is equally powerful and it is an indigenous struggle.”

“I don’t want any frictions within the leadership now. But the pro freedom leadership lost the opportunity that time,” said Bhat.
‘It’s a story of lost opportunity’ When contacted, the incumbent Chairman of Hurriyat (M) admitted that the abortion of talks between Hizbul Mujahideen and New Delhi was a story of “lost opportunity”.“I was not here that time. I was in Tehran for my M Phil program. But definitely that was a lost opportunity. That could have been turned into a big thing. But at the same time I think the dialogue was not at the appropriate level. Jihad Council leadership is an important part of the issue but for such initiatives the political leadership should have been taken into confidence,” said Mirwaiz.

"Gow Kadal Massacre: 21 Jan 1990"

‘Young boy shielded us, braved bullets on chest’

Hakeem Irfan

“Blood-stained bodies were spread all around. I was motionless, pretending as dead so that the troops don’t kill me.” This is how Muhammad Altaf Qureshi recollects the tragic memories of the most bloody military action against protesters Kashmir has ever witnessed since the outbreak of militancy in 1989.
Qureshi, 50, was part of the pro-freedom procession on January 21, 1990 but, Qureshi recounts, the moment the procession reached Gow Kadal, a city interior adjacent to Lal Chowk, cops from India’s Central Reserve Police Force showered bullets leaving at least 50 persons dead many more injured. The procession is said to have been provoked by strict curfew and security restrictions.

“I was fortunate enough to live up to this day. I think survived by the grace of Allah so that I could tell the story of that black day to my future generations,” says Qureshi.While the incident is locally called ‘Gow Kadal massacre’, Qureshi believes was the “ultimate example of resilience and commitment people had with their aspirations.”He goes on to reminisce thus: “A trooper was showering bullets from a short distance and one of the youngsters in the procession tried to shield the people, taking all the bullets in his chest. It was bravery beyond one’s imagination,” said Qureshi who was then watching bullets coming out of a carbine.

According to Qureshi hundreds of people had marched from Jawahar Nagar and Ikhrajpora, raising slogans in favor of Islam, Freedom and Pakistan came out to defy the curfew and campaign for freedom. “However,” he says “participant did not know where to go. There was no set destination. Some were suggesting going straight to the UN office in Sonwar. But the rest were saying the people from the downtown should join so as to make it more impressive. That is why the procession turned towards the downtown via Gow Kadal.”

Recalling finer details of the ‘Gow Kadal Massacre’, Qureshi says some of troops were masked and their gestures would suggest that they wanted to take “revenge”. “I still remember that masked face of few of the troopers. I still remember the eyes of a trooper. His eyes were full of fury and revenge. I tried to jump in the river with my Kangri (Earthen firepot) but somehow I couldn’t,” says Qureshi adding, “I preferred to remain with the dead bodies of my neighbours and other participants. I knew for sure I will be shot. In the pool of blood, I closed my eyes and remembered my Allah, recited the Kalima and the face of my three- month-old daughter flashed my mind.”

He further recollects, “That scene is still intact in my memories. We all were like sack of flesh and bones without any life. The whole Universe seemed to have frozen for nearly an hour,” says Qureshi in an uncomfortable tone, suggesting the pain even after the two decades. Cops of J&K Police, Qureshi says, lifted him and tried to take him to the other place after an hour but he says, “I still pretended to be seriously injured. But in a swift glance I could see women from a distance peeping through alleys, wailing and pleading the troopers for removing the dead and inured bodies.”

“I was taken to a nearby fire station by the Police from where I called up my home where my family was waiting for my corpse after hearing the news of the massacre,” says Qureshi with nearly sobbing tone. According the Qureshi people were told to move towards Maisuma through public address systems with their hands up.

Locals in Maisuma had started preparing food, eatables and heating systems for the stranded people as the curfew continued even after the incident.Local photo Journalist Mehrajudin has witnessed the dead bodies in the police control room soon after the ‘Massacre’. He says, “It was a gory scene. Troopers were crossing over the dead bodies probably for recognition. But I broke down into tears. Every body tried to console but to no effect. After that no tragedy made me so emotional.”Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had also erected a plaque in memory of the people who died in the incident.

When you need a passport in Delhi…

Hakeem Irfan

“Just get the photocopy of your passport, identity card, address of the hotel you are staying at, with your permanent address; then you can avail the services.”
It was not the list of requirements at an immigration office, police station, airport authority or any other enquiring agency. These were the pre-requisites to make an STD call from New Delhi to Kashmir, on a telephone booth in December 2008.

Just after my entry in a PCO in New Delhi, last month, the owner cast a glance at my face and said, “STD is defunct, ISD is out of service and for a local call you can go to the next shop.” After this he continued to surf the channels on his LG color TV. I wonder why he had opened the booth that day if nothing was working.

Moving to the next booth had an extra shock for me. As I peeped from the window of the shop, a fat man in his mid forties sitting on the half rugged chair said, “Write name, address and all the personnel details in the register that is lying there on the shelf. Give me your identity proof and also a local reference.” I jotted down every thing as I had to make the call. The family in Kashmir would have been too worried about my arrival in the metropolis.Soon all my ‘jottings’ went waste when the owner said, “Now you can make a local call only.” It was seriously getting into my head now. But I had no choice. I called my friend in Delhi and asked him to call my home. Inform them about my safe arrival in the city hosting Common Wealth Games in couple of years!

For a Kashmiri, being in the metropolitan has always been a worried thing. Being now a member of the fourth estate I thought this time around things might be different. I never knew that it is going to be the same old story.

The scenes of the Mumbai attack were still lingering around in the atmosphere. I, as a Kashmiri, was probably feeling it more than anybody else. Besides, the way advertisement and TRP savvy news channels broadcast the whole event, had strengthened the usual suspect theory and occupied the common man’s mind.

Soon I realized that the Indian currency had devalued more to the limits that I would have never imagined. A Kashmiri was not getting the accommodation even after paying extra bucks for an ordinary room in a below average hotel. Money was Indian, they all could see, but it was in a Kashmiri pocket. Disputed! How much they needed to be paid, didn’t matter. Who was to pay it, mattered! At this economy, I was completely at loss. Probably this might be the real meaning of Political Economy!

Finally, I could arrange a room in a decent hotel. I had to call a local acquaintance who suggested me to go this hotel. The manager in the hotel was a friend of my acquaintance. Still I had to hand over my identity card, and which ever proof I had, to the manager, so that he could Xerox it and keep of a copy of.Some surprises were yet to spring. Two hours later the bell of my room rang. A person entered with a camera, wearing a smile; ‘Sir! Can we take your photograph, please!?” I thought this is a unique way of welcome. But the camera person said, “This is for the security reasons.” I was amazed, but could not afford to lose the accommodation. Then I suggested them to take a blood sample as well! But he refused saying, “Sir, the system here is not that much advanced.”

Surfing the internet was a Herculean task. Three net café owners refused to render the services. Finally, I again had to ink all my details, submit the photocopy of my identity card, local reference, hotel address at one of the cafés. Still I had to give the password of my email account to the owner. He was more interested in going through my inbox. This was embarrassing but I was expecting an email from my brother about the books and CDs he wanted me to purchase for him. I had to reveal my password which was no more a password. Failword!

My stay in the expanding conurbation had a baggage of experiences. From the celebrity of the Bollywood to a first class executive, from a Professor in the elite University in Delhi to a senior Army official, I met during my stay, everyone was nurturing the sensational and subjective notions vis-a-vis Kashmir. Although there were exceptions but then the black denies freedom to any other color to express itself.

Who Let The Dogs Out?

A late night assignment that was followed by horror, thanks to million dogs in our city; thanks also to dog-lovers who want them sterilized and not killed!

Hakeem Irfan:-

It was the biggest in town. It never made the continuous horrific and scary noise. But the rhythmic Dolby digital breathing of it was enough to make me sweat to the level I cannot explain. I was encountering one of the biggest canines in the city.

Around 11 in the night I was walking past Zero Bridge after completing an assignment at my office. My destination was Rainawari. I was walking the distance with my colleague, but at once we crossed Zero Bridge, our ways branched off. He headed towards Lal Chowk, and I headed for Rianwari. We were walking with our mobiles acting as troches. Some of the street lights were working but they were extremely dim. It seemed to be a perfect setting for the horror sequence. I was anticipating an encounter with dogs. I had read the news paper reports about the growing dog menace in the city. I was now looking for the some pebbles. It is the only defence of humans against the canines, in Kashmir. Otherwise too Kashmiris have only stones to throw!

Soon a gang of dogs barged out from TRC ground, barking as loud as possible. The silence of night acted as the amplifier. The long barks with a pause for comparatively longer time made horror scenes flash in my mind that I had watched in the movies till date. But I refused to succumb to the horror and continued my night stroll. Crossing the stretch of road spanning J&K Bank Corporate Headquarters was like to be hell and back. The vocal cords of the dogs had strained a bit and the noise was now diminishing. Actually the four of them tried to run after me, but somehow they lost interest, perhaps me not going to the gym saved me! Not the right pound of flesh!

Simultaneously the sweat droplets slithered down on my body, and I could well feel it. It made me laugh at my own self. The droplets of sweat were the only physical companions. I managed to reach the three-way, where Boulevard bears on right. Another band of canines was shouting at each other; to settle some scores, I think! I never wanted to pay heed to it but they came too close to be avoided. I thought they were asking me to be their trouble shooter. I forcibly climbed an iron grill on one side of the road and stared at all of them. Under the flood of street lights all of them were visible. After few minutes of a barking session they all showed their teeth to each other and dispersed peacefully. I took a sigh of relief. I came down of the ‘higher pedestal’ and restarted my journey.Scores of the canines were sleeping on the shop parapets. Some of them were just staring at stars. Others were gazing at me without any noise. It was the real testing time. I continued my night stroll.

I was moving towards our favorite barbeque market Khayam. As I reached Khayam Chowk, dozens of dogs were alerted. They were resting on the huge SMC garbage bin. It was a dog regiment. Soon, like the don, appeared a huge dog. It was one my friends of the same area who had talked about the same creature earlier. It was turning horrible. Nearly fifty dogs in front of me. Few of them appeared from the backside. I had no choice. Decisions had to be taken and executed is split seconds. I started reciting whatever I remembered of sacred. I started taking small light steps. Dogs started moving as well. Everything was frozen this time. I was benumbed. No ideas. No thoughts. It was only how to cross Khayam unhurt. All the dogs were well built and the biggest one resembled the lion that I once saw in a Zoo, in New Delhi. I think the leftover of the barbeques had made them such. The dogs started assembling on one side as if giving me the way. But I could not trust them. I took a step back. The few on the backside were still there. I decided to walk slowly. As I started walking, nearly fifty of them walked along, without making any sound. Just their breathing was audible. It could have been a good music for the some new Slumdog movie. They all just followed me up to the Nowpora Chowk, some Kilometer away, as an escort. But it must have been the first escort to scare the escorted. Now I was near Shiraz Chowk, Khanyar.

Suddenly Manika Gandhi flashed across my mind. Does she ever had any encounter with the dogs, like the one I had? Does she what stray dogs mean to ordinary citizens!? Or is she living in the world of Tommies and Nancies who never come out their master’s garden. The high breeds that have passports and the ones who are treated in the five star clinics or the birthday canines. That is why she opposes the killing of dogs. Is she against the killing of those who she has never met and has no firsthand experience of? Those Lactogen Tommies and puppies are very cute but, Mrs. Gandhi people have to face these non-vegetarian barbeque fed dogs that could tear a human being to pieces.

Meanwhile I reached Rainawari. I was a bit relaxed though dogs were still there. I was moving in a lane near my house. It was dark and I could just see what my mobile light could allow me to. I just stepped on the tail of a sleeping dog and it cried like anything. At last things turned ugly. I started running. Dog also started chasing and barking. It was a female as the voices of few small puppies could also be heard. I managed to enter my house and it continued barking at me. It was an unhappy ending. When I entered the kitchen I saw my Kurta torn from the back side. The dog had got something of me, at least! Soon my cell phone rang. It was my colleague. He had the same story. He was trapped near Poloview. Dogs had surrounded him. He too shouted back. He said this is what he could do. He managed to enter the office of one of the newspaper. All he could do was cursing me for the decision of taking that late assignment.
I remembered the English number Who let the dogs out?