Rahul Bose In Kashmir

Baba Umar

RISING KASHMIR
Srinagar Dec, 15

“‘Daastan’ will change the perception of Kashmir at global level.” These were the opening words of Bollywood actor and model turned Rugby player, Rahul Bose, who along with other Bollywood stars are done with shooting at the picturesque Pahalgam.

Talking to media personnel in a press conference here in city’s “Coffee Arabica”, Bose said he apart from his film shoot is interested in promoting rugby in the state.

“Promoting rugby in Kashmir would give the state a new recognition,” he said, adding, “He along with the Jammu and Kashmir Rugby Football Association (JKRFA) may also try snow rugby or mountain rugby during winters that will lift the valley to new heights.”

Whether Santosh Sivan’s ‘Daastan’ includes the trend of glorifying Indian army as has been the central idea with many Bollywood films, the answer came in negative. “No, it would be a first film of its kind where the story, people and location are real and totally unconcerned with the politics of the valley.”

Bose who got trapped in snow few days back while on shoot in phalgam called the experience as ‘awesome’. “We walked down the snow-clad roads and I told my niece that the ‘adventures of narnia’ has begun.” The scenic Phalgam, he said “is more beautiful than any other place on earth.”


Shortly after the press conference, the actor made his way in the city’s Polo Ground where the young players of the valley got a touch of his rugby flamboyance. Donned in a professional rugby gear with a jersey no 20, he for half-an-hour explained number of techniques to the students followed by a mock drill.

“They (students) are very much curious to learn and I am glad with the passion they are imbibing the techniques,” Bose said, adding, “Girls are less aggressive on the field and that’s the hallmark of true sportsmanship.”

The young rugby player too saw an opportunity to gain knowledge of techniques the actor exhibited.

“It was a good experience,” said Sarib Sajad, 16, who is likely to play in the national team this year. “We were earlier playing a basic level rugby, now we can play with a high level technique.”

Another student Afran Mushtaq of Linton Hall School said they were playing ‘touch rugby’ and now she is ready to play ‘tackle rugby’. “We can improve our game using the techniques he (Rahul Bose) taught us.”


However, Rahul Bose’s visit to Polo Ground was a low intensity affair. Youngsters practising cricket just beside the turf where the actor was engaged, seemed to be in a hurry to set off their tournament match. “We know he has come,” said a cricketer who deliberately smashed the ball into the herd of rugby players. “Yeh kab niklengey (When are they going to finish)” he said referring to the actor and his trainees.

Rahul Bose In Kashmir

E-Cards

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
SRINGAR, DEC. 15:

Come eid, and the time for internet aficionados of the valley to swap greeting cards on internet kicks off. The trend isn’t new; however, trading electronic cards (e-cards) is gaining a rapid pace as the festival draws near.

“I’m done with sheep buying. Now it’s the time to log in,” says Izhar Ahmed, an internet freak and a businessman, who is all set to visit a net café.

Ask him why he chose e-card as a substitute of customary paper card to reach his relatives and friends; the answer comes in a shrewd businessmen way.

Purchasing a conventional greeting card, he says, “would cost me around 40 to 50 bucks.” “Plus the charges and poor postal service involved in sending it,” he puts in.

E-cards come in sundry varieties. And as the process of electronic mailing is instant, safe and hassle free, young people of the Kashmir are finding it quite handy to get their distant friends and relatives greeted on the celebration.

“Trading e-cards is a real fun, we do it in a click, that too with a confirmation message that our card has been delivered to the recipient,” Izhar’s friend, Amir, chips in.
About the choice available in the market, he says, “We don’t need to stalk through shops where we are offered cards with inadequate schema.”

The GenY of Kashmir seems to believe in versatility of things and e-cards have this edge over stereotypical greeting cards. These cards involve “custom imprinting” facility and also come in different formats: videos, audios and html tags by some sites like myspace.com gives your mail a new look.

“I prefer to mail e-cards on eid,” says Tasim Zahid, a media student of the Kashmir University and a hard net-surfer. “These cards are chicly tailored for users, we can easily personalise them.” “Besides appearing flashy and sprinkling on the screens,” Zahid says, “e-cards are free from the hackneyed notes and messages that are etched on the ordinary greeting cards.”

Says Shafia Gulzar: “To me ‘Archies’ and ‘Expressions’ are things of bygone eon. In the age of bloggers and orkutians, who would bother to visit card galleries followed by lengthy postal work. We do it online.”

And for the Kashimiris who are working outside the state and can’t make it to home this eid, e-cards are getting the distances look small and shorter.

“I can’t be home this eid, so I have decided to drop an e-card for my family and friends,” Tamim Ahmad, who is studying MBA in a Pune College, says in an email interview. “I’ll greet them the electronic way.”

“This is the best possible alternative to wish my family and pals,” says Farooq Ahmed, who hails from Sopur and presently works as Content Editor in Bangloru for Yahoo.com. “And because we're such a large family I find it timesaving and cheaper to bulk send e-cards,” says the techie.

Farooq’s father, Abdul Rashid Khan, who runs a textile shop in Sopore, is also expecting an electronic felicitation from his son’s side on this eid.

“He (Farooq) had mailed an e-card last eid too and this eid the whole family is hopeful to have again from him,” Khan says.

With the new age group bent on getting things to be solved within no time, electronic mailing has given a back seat to accustomed paper cards in Kashmir.

Traders say along with mobile phone sms’, the facility of devising eid cards on computers and swapping them via internet has led people avoid buying pricey paper cards.

Says Ajaz: “We were doing a good business a year ago, now e-cards are chipping in as a replacement of traditional eid greeting cards.” Ajaz who runs a whole sale gift shop in Gojwara says the business next year too might go trailing.

“Shall we launch a net café?” was the Ajaz’s poser to his brother, who was sitting just next to him.

‘Innovative Protest’

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
SRINAGAR, Dec 10

Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) today held a peaceful candle light march past to observe the International Human Rights (IHR) day.

In what may termed as an ‘Innovative Protest’, students carrying placards and candles took the procession from Press colony that ended in Lal Chowk’s clock tower (Ghanta Gher).

The protesters were demanding immediate cessation of human rights violation by troops in the valley. Terming the state of Kashmiri students as ‘nightmarish’, demonstrators called for the intervention of international community to stop the growing number of human rights violation in the valley at the hands of Indian soldiers.

“We want to make international community aware of the plight of Kashmiris through this protest,” said Aala Fazili, carrying a pack of candles in his hand. On the wax that covered his fingertips, he said, “Let me feel the same pain that every Kashmiri student has been going through from the past 18 years.”

“Are we the creation of lesser gods?” asked one of the students referring to the escalating violation of ‘Zero tolerance slogan’ floated by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Calling their candle light protest ‘a unique resistance through non-violent means’, members of KUSU demanded the students’ rights must be upheld and any violation should be addressed by the international community.


“The concept of lighting candles was to call for United Nation’s attention towards the plight of Kashmiri students,” said Sakib Amin, a KUSU member. “There should be a UN cell in the Kashmir University for the student fraternity.” He asked for.

Resting the lit candles on the base where the Clock Tower erects, KUSU members before several media persons demanded that students both in and outside Kashmir should not be harassed and maltreated and the physical torture meted out to them should be immediately put on halt.

“Students of Kashmir are tense and depressed. How come we expect a better future?” a student and a KUSU member posed.

Unfortunately, his poser had no immediate answer.

Kashmir's 'Unsung Heroes'

Baba Umar
Rising Kashmir
Srinagar Dec, 16

Eulogizing their exceptional work for the cause of Kashmiri freedom struggle, this year’s Robert Thorpe award was posthoumsly given to Late Akhter Mohi-ud-din, whose son Hilal Akhter received the honor and Late Khwaja Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar was acknowledged as one of the Kashmir’s ‘Unsung Hero’.

In a seminar titled “Unsung Heroes of Kashmir”, organized by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) here in city’s Grand Mumtaz Hotel, Parvaiz Imroz, President of JKCCS, said the event was meant to commemorate those ‘Heroes of Kashmir’ who remained unsung despite their exceptional contribution in the freedom struggle of Kashmir. He said Kashmir’s history has been annihilated and it’s every Kashmiri’s duty to unearth the truth about Kashmir freedom struggle.

“The idea is to infuse information in the new generation regarding the people who championed the cause of Kashmir liberation struggle,” Imroz said. “Occupiers obliterate history and we have to re-invent it.”

Other speakers on the occasion included, Prof. Fida Mohammad Hussnain, Dr Sheikh Showket Hussain, Prof. Noor Mohammad Baba, noted poet and social activist Zarief Ahmad Zarief, Dr Altaf, author ‘The wounded Paradise’, social activist Dr Mubarik and Delhi based social activist Gautam Naulakha.

Speaking on the topic ‘Why we failed to remember those who mattered’, Dr Sheikh Showket Hussain said the reason for this was the U-turn our leaders took during our freedom struggle. “We keep on investing our energy on the ‘slogans’ only to be labeled as unachievable later,” he ridiculed. “Our leaders feel they can’t achieve a certain goal and later they succumb to occupiers’ pressure.” He added.

Blaming partially the academicians for the tangle, he said students should be encouraged to do Ph.D research on the doings of people who pioneered Kashmir’s Freedom movement.

“There are ‘cultural renegades’ who effaced things at the behest of the occupiers, but our students and academicians should take the workings of Gilkaar and Mohi-ud-din as a research topic,” Hussain said. The politicians, he said “are least bothered about our history.”

Prof. Noor Mohammad Baba speaking on the same topic said the “failure to be focussed” and “the crash of the collective efforts of all” led to the breakdown of Kashmiris.

“We should be united on all fronts and the coordinated attempt to thwart any further collapse is the need of the hour.” Baba said.


On the ‘life and Contribution of Akhter Mohi-ud-din’, eminent Kashmiri poet, Zarief Ahmad Zarief, commended the role played by the fiction writer, historian and human right activist Akhter Mohi-ud-din.
“His greatness reflects from the decision he took when he returned to the government of India the Sahitya Academy Award in 1968 in protest of Maqbool Bhat’s execution.”

Zarief said what else could be the greatest contribution of Mohi-ud-din when the latter issued a statement that read: “ Ghandhi Ji’s India will not gain anything by Hanging Maqbool Bhat.”

On Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar, Zarief said, “He was the first person to give Kashmiris pen and paper what people today know as Reading Room Home.”

And as Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, former Chairman of Bar Association stood on the podium; his fiery words sent everybody’s jaw dropping.

“They remained unsung for years and it’s clearly our fault,” he held responsible everybody. “We were slaves but that never meant we would give up, we succumbed to occupiers pressure,” he added.

Qayoom said that Kashmiris have to identify themselves first and later ascertain what they stand for. “We can’t afford to be with congress and with separatists simultaneously.”

Other speakers including Dr Altaf and Dr Mubarik brought to light the indelible role of Akhter Mohi-ud-din and Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar in the freedom movement of Kashmir.

Gautam Naulakha, a Delhi based social activist while referring to the presence of huge number of army personnel in Kashmir, said every oppressor tries to distort the history of the land it occupies. “They (Indian politicians) might say the resistance is dwindling, but the presence of .7 million troops in Kashmir proves the fact that the struggle is continuing and stiff.”

He said Kashmiris need to persist in their resistance till they achieve the needful.
“It’s people of the land who create history not the tyrant.” He said.



It’s worthwhile to mention that the Robert Thorpe award of 2003 was given to Patrica Gosman, an American human right activist, who wrote several articles on Kashmir issue. One of them titled “India’s secret army in Kashmir” irked Delhi government to such an extent that she was banned to come to India.

Robert Thorpe award of 2004 was given to Asia Jeelani, who in the same year died in a landmine blast while covering assembly elections.
Robert Thorpe award of 2005 was conferred to advocate Jaleel Andrabi and Justice S.M Rizvi.
Robert Thorpe award of 2006 was given to Abdul Rouf Wani who was killed at Gaw Kadal massacre, while taking all the bullets on his chest in order to save other protesters.

Fast Food vs. Footpath Food

Baba Umar
RISNG KASHMIR
Srinagar, Dec. 12


With the fast food items like Chicken Manchurian, Butter Chicken, Chow Mein, Chicken Rolls, Fish Rolls and fried rice increasingly finding their place in the Kashmiri market and attracting well-off foodies, there are those who find the indigenous cooking dished out at roadside stalls much better than their foreign matches.

Just a close glance near city’s Clock Tower (Ghanta Gher), you would stumble upon two men who from decades are se
rving traditional wazwaan to the passers-by. Tariq Ahmed Dar, 50 and Ghulam Hassan, 28—bracing icy winds and drizzling rain are both witness to political changes that took place in the heart of city during years of conflict. However, they say, the taste buds of valleyities are still intact.

“I didn’t find any change in the food habits of my customers. They like wazwaan at roadside stands,” says Tariq Ahmed Dar, who is done with the first customer of the day. “Thank God,” he sighs.

The container is full of ristas and gushtabas (mashed meat balls), a plate from each for 80 Rs. Bulky pots are to be relieved by evening. The mercury is constantly dipping. Both vendors are expecting a good catch as it’s finally started raining after a long spell of dry winter. However, a roofless stall is a no-good sign. And the carnage gets doubled with the municipal committee’s surprise raids.

“We might have to close our stands,” as Hassan predicts a downpour.

And as the showers slow down till permanent halt, both stalls are visible again followed by the customers who drop in two’s and three’s. But what about the municipal committee hounds?

“Actually this space is meant for footpath, and that irks Municipal authorities,” says Dar. “Whatelse can we do? It’s through this place only that we have managed to earn our living for decades.”
Both the vendors love to read Kashmir related news from newspapers, however they hate scribes. The reasons being couple of wazwaan related stories on FrontPage days back and the subsequent authorities’ wrath.

“They (scribes) interview us and click our pictures,” says Dar. “And that catches municipal committee’s attention towards us. “ We want to work while hidden from their view.”

Tell them the foreign food stuff has invaded the valley. The information turns them red but unmoved. “Every one is not loaded with money,” Tariq puts up in a wee bit of fury. “We cater to middle class of Kashmir.”

And this statement gets proved when two young guys order two plates of gushtabas. Shivering with cold, they put their hands near the stove on which the container is laid.

“Having rista or gushtaba here on pavement is a real fun,” says Mukhtar Ahmed an auto rickshaw driver, barely 20. “I relish it.”

Ask them about fish rolls and chicken Manchurian, their curved lips answer back.
“I can’t afford those foreign dishes,” says one of them while ridiculing the fast food outlets. “Would they serve us ‘patre’ ( footpath) ristas and gushtabas?,” he laughs.

Firefighters

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
SRINAGAR, Dec. 14

Hundreds of would-be firefighters these days are trying their luck to get into the rolls of Department of Fire and Emergency Services. The first phase of selection is being conducted in the city’s Polo Ground where a large number of comrades and relatives of the aspirants are spectator to the selection process.

“I am hopeful that my brother would get through the first phase,” says Imran Ahmad, whose brother Majid just finished the first lap. “Come on--seven more,” shouts Imran on toes as Majid overtakes another runner.

Unending columns of candidates that stretch up to the entrance of the ground have come for the grill. The temperature is dipping further down and the crowd seated along the circumference of ground is clapping for their favorites. However, the filtration procedure to select worthy candidates is tough and only the tough would get a break.

“Get the ambulance,” calls a panel member as a boy while finishing his fifth lap of two and half kilometer race faints. “This is how we choose men who never give up,” the panelist says.

Over 53,500 candidates from across the state are vying for the 361 placements. The eligibility criterion for the posts is 8th pass out. However, department officials say they have received applications from the candidates who are graduates or post graduates.

“They will get the preference, but they have to face all the rounds of the first phase,” says Director General of Fire and Emergency Department, G.A Bhat.

By ‘all the rounds’ he means: Two and half kilometer race that is to be covered in twelve minutes; Beam test, where a person has to kiss the steel rod that is placed some 8 feet above the ground; Balance test, in which a person has to shoulder a hosepipe followed by 100 metre race and finally the Firemen’s Test, wherein a person would lift an assumed dead person on his shoulder followed by a 100 metre race.
“After this stage we will be conducting viva and written tests in the second phase of interview,” says the official.

National Taekwondo Championship in Kolkata

Baba Umar
Srinagar, Dec 18


The 18-day coaching camp for the final selection of Taekwondo players who would represent the state in 22nd National Taekwondo Championship in Kolkata from December 27-30, today concluded here at the city’s Rangteng High School, Nawa Kadal.

The J&K Taekwondo Association has organised the camp.

More than 50 boys and girls of different categories who participated in the coaching camp were imparted number of techniques by the Chief Instructor Abdul Qayoom Khan and instructor Ruksana Jabeen, a black belt.

Both the coaches expressed their optimism about the team’s performance.

“J&K was ranked 6th in the 21st championship and we hope this year we will make in the top two teams,” Chief Instructor Abdul Qayoom Khan said. “They (players) are well-equipped with the new techniques since they are talented.”

The selected players in the Sub-Junior group are, Sumera, Afreen, Mujtaba, Aqib, Ather, Mohasin, Arsalan and Sazim. In the Junior group, Junaid, Umar, Danish were selected. And in the senior group, Dr. Ishfaq and Muzaffar will be participating in the event.

In the First Don Black belt category, Chief Instructor Abdul Qayoom Khan and instructor Ruksana Jabeen would be vying for the title.

Chief instructor while talking to media said, “last year 65 students participated in the National Taekwondo Championship and we brought home two gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals.” This year, he said, “the students practiced all through the year and we are expecting much better performance than last year.”

Khan said there has been so far no help from Sports Council and they were not allowed to organise coaching camps in the city’s indoor stadium.

“Taekwondo is the indoor game but we are not allowed to organise such coaching camps in the indoor stadiums by the Indian army who have occupied the stadium.”

Kashmir set to hold Santosh Trophy

Kashmir set to hold Santosh Trophy
AIFF team satisfied with the overall improvement

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR


Srinagar, Dec. 18: Football lovers will finally have a sigh of relief as the official team of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), today inspected the infrastructure necessary for granting the 62nd edition of Santosh trophy to the state, confirmed their satisfaction with the arrangements.

The two member inspection team that included AIFF vice president, Subrotta Dutta and member Nasir Ali said that they will send a “favourable report” to AIFF, which on Dec. 22 will declare its final decision. “We are convinced with the arrangements and we hope to get a positive nod from AIFF,” said AIFF vice president Subrotta Dutta. “I am confident that AIFF will give its green signal to carry on the tournament here in J&K.” The 2006 edition of the tournament was shifted to Haryana at the last moment after AIFF expressed uncertainty over the infrastructural limitations of the state. However, with all the venues fully upgraded now, the inspection team wished to make the event a big success. “We want to make football popular here as I believe that it is the only state where football is more popular than cricket.” Dutta said. “We will give financial help to Jammu Kashmir Football Association (JKFA), so that we could organise it in a big way.”

The inspection team visited Bakshi Stadium and Polo ground, and declared the pending work as completely upgraded. “We are glad to see the ground conditions in Bakshi stadium and even at polo ground; the dressing rooms fully upgraded.” Dutta, who led the two member official team said. The inspection team was accompanied by Director Youth services and Sports, Ravinder Gupta, Joint Secretary Sports Council, Abdul Rouf and other sports officials.

Dutta said the AIFF would take a final call on the venue for hosting the 62nd Santosh trophy in its crucial executive meeting in New Delhi on December 22. The mood is positive and J&K this time is certain to hold the coveted soccer trophy after more than three decades.

SmSing On Eid

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
Srinagar, Dec 11


“Have a blessed day--Eid Mubarak.” This might be the sms text that will felicitate you on this eid, probably sent by one of your acquaintances. But is it enough?

“It will look good if the person utters the same message before your presence” says a noted Kashmiri poet Zarief Ahmed Zarief. “If the person really intends to wish you, he should rather join you on this special occasion.”

Visiting one’s relatives on the eve of eid was the tradition followed with full fervor in Kashmir; however, many believe the induction of mobile phones in the valley has punctured this age old practice.

“Where a brotherly embrace on Eid was obligatory part of celebration and interpersonal contact a norm, SMS’, I guess, are widening the gaps,” he adds.

e-card as a substitute of customary paper card

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
SRINGAR, DEC. 15:

Come eid, and the time for internet aficionados of the valley to swap greeting cards on internet kicks off. The trend isn’t new; however, trading electronic cards (e-cards) is gaining a rapid pace as the festival draws near.

“I’m done with sheep buying. Now it’s the time to log in,” says Izhar Ahmed, an internet freak and a businessman, who is all set to visit a net café.

Ask him why he chose e-card as a substitute of customary paper card to reach his relatives and friends; the answer comes in a shrewd businessmen way.

Purchasing a conventional greeting card, he says, “would cost me around 40 to 50 bucks.” “Plus the charges and poor postal service involved in sending it,” he puts in.

E-cards come in sundry varieties. And as the process of electronic mailing is instant, safe and hassle free, young people of the Kashmir are finding it quite handy to get their distant friends and relatives greeted on the celebration.

“Trading e-cards is a real fun, we do it in a click, that too with a confirmation message that our card has been delivered to the recipient,” Izhar’s friend, Amir, chips in.
About the choice available in the market, he says, “We don’t need to stalk through shops where we are offered cards with inadequate schema.”

The GenY of Kashmir seems to believe in versatility of things and e-cards have this edge over stereotypical greeting cards. These cards involve “custom imprinting” facility and also come in different formats: videos, audios and html tags by some sites like myspace.com gives your mail a new look.

“I prefer to mail e-cards on eid,” says Tasim Zahid, a media student of the Kashmir University and a hard net-surfer. “These cards are chicly tailored for users, we can easily personalise them.” “Besides appearing flashy and sprinkling on the screens,” Zahid says, “e-cards are free from the hackneyed notes and messages that are etched on the ordinary greeting cards.”

Says Shafia Gulzar: “To me ‘Archies’ and ‘Expressions’ are things of bygone eon. In the age of bloggers and orkutians, who would bother to visit card galleries followed by lengthy postal work. We do it online.”

And for the Kashimiris who are working outside the state and can’t make it to home this eid, e-cards are getting the distances look small and shorter.

“I can’t be home this eid, so I have decided to drop an e-card for my family and friends,” Tamim Ahmad, who is studying MBA in a Pune College, says in an email interview. “I’ll greet them the electronic way.”

“This is the best possible alternative to wish my family and pals,” says Farooq Ahmed, who hails from Sopur and presently works as Content Editor in Bangloru for Yahoo.com. “And because we're such a large family I find it timesaving and cheaper to bulk send e-cards,” says the techie.

Farooq’s father, Abdul Rashid Khan, who runs a textile shop in Sopore, is also expecting an electronic felicitation from his son’s side on this eid.

“He (Farooq) had mailed an e-card last eid too and this eid the whole family is hopeful to have again from him,” Khan says.

With the new age group bent on getting things to be solved within no time, electronic mailing has given a back seat to accustomed paper cards in Kashmir.

Traders say along with mobile phone sms’, the facility of devising eid cards on computers and swapping them via internet has led people avoid buying pricey paper cards.

Says Ajaz: “We were doing a good business a year ago, now e-cards are chipping in as a replacement of traditional eid greeting cards.” Ajaz who runs a whole sale gift shop in Gojwara says the business next year too might go trailing.

“Shall we launch a net café?” was the Ajaz’s poser to his brother, who was sitting just next to him.