JAN 26: Green absent from Indian ‘flag’

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The Indian flag comprises of three colours; Saffron, White and Green. But here the troops let the ‘green’ disappear from the array.Any answer why?

Baba Umar

No country is complete without its sense of loyalty which comes with symbols like the Country’s flag and it is only fearless who bear the flag’s commitment on their sleeves.
But this commitment seemed to be missing in a group of special troopers as well as their wardrobe selectors. On January 26, when the whole of India was celebrating its 59th Republic Day, in Bakshi stadium a section of troops in three main rows were supposed to wear clothes to form a tri-colour, but it all went haywire. Instead of spotting all the three colours only two colours were visible. There are many who smell a rat in this whole affair. They say troopers donned in saffron and white clothes had deliberately kicked the “green” out of the tri-colour flag.
“Clearly saffron stands for ‘Hinduism’ and green represents ‘Islam’, but they want to make it look something else,” said an elderly person who had come all the way from Islamabad to witness January 26 celebrations in Bakshi Stadium. Bracing snow and chill, he had come early in the winter morning to celebrate the day; however, he said, he was taken aback to see the waywardness of these troopers.
“Does it make any impression of Indian flag when looked from a distance?” he quips, while pointing to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent that stood on the spectators stand forming a bi-colour flag. “Where is the green?” he asked.
When contacted on the issue, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of CRPF, Prabhakar Tripathi said he has no idea who had made the CRPF personnel to dress up in the two colours only.
“The Department of Information and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has made all the Republic day arrangements,” he said. “May be they had asked the troops to wear in only two colours.”
However, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Mehboob Iqbal, was busy in a meeting when tried to contact several times and the Director Information, Zafar Bhat, was also not available for his comments.

Had to go Hazratbal, landed at Congress Hqts

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It is a story of ten-year-old boy whose father asked him to accompany for Friday prayers at Hazratbal but found himself sloganeering in favour of Sonia Gandhi and ‘some’ Azad at State Congress headquarters.

Baba Umar

As the Minister of State for Power, Babu Singh and the Minister for Social Welfare, Abdul Gani Vakil were addressing the party workers in the Congress headquarter, a little boy of ten-years-old was observing the whole seen from a corner of the lawn where the Congress workers had gathered.
Standing against the wall, the red cheeked, Rouf Ahmad seemed not interested in the affair. He was fetched by his father (a loyal congress worker) from home on the pretext that it was Friday and the duo would offer prayers in Hazratbal Shrine.
“I was conned by my father, and here he wanted me to raise pro-Congress slogans to appease the visiting ministers,” says Rouf, who was in his reading room when father asked him to come alongside him. “Come with me, we will go to Dargah”, my father insisted.
His father is a priest and among the top workers of the Congress party. Though Rouf has no interest in politics, he has been unreasonably, according to him, brought to a place against his wishes. In the crowd he doesn’t wish to join other party workers in sloganeering and clapping before the Congress party leaders. But coming here was against his wishes which he couldn’t resist due to the intense pressure from father.
“I do not know Sonia Ghandi, yet I raised slogans in her favour!” he says. “I even chanted few slogans in some Azad Sahib’s favour, but I have never seen him!”
While the Minister for power speaks at length on the power crisis he is going to overcome during his tenure, the kid keeps on thinking about the line of work and dreams he has knit. Like the Minister he does wish to solve Kashmir’s electricity problems, but he doesn’t want to be a politician. He has thought of becoming something else.
“I want to become an Electric Engineer,” say Rouf. “And then there won’t be any power cuts in my locality.”
Ask about his presence that has made him the youngest sloganeer among the crowd, he says, he wished to do winter homework rather than joining this congregation, where everyone is alien to him.
“Em khute chu gari parun behtar (It is better to study at home),” he says.
And as the party leaders finish their speech; Rouf scuds into the crowd to locate his father who is in the front row near the podium; hoping that his father might take him home before evening so that he can finish his winter work.
“Bye—Do pray for me,” he smiles and waves at me before he finally disappears into the swarm of party loyals’.

Former Mr Kashmir says no scope in Body Building

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Baba Umar

He is a five time Mr. Kashmir title holder, has three national certificates in hand and two Mr. Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) titles under his credit, but he thinks himself at the bottom rung of the ladder. Ask him about his career and the scope of body building in Kashmir; he has a woeful saga to put forth.
Born in a middle class family and nourished at the time when militancy was at its apex, Mudasir Aziz opted to lift iron plates, when other friends of his same age opted for guns.
“It was in 1997 when I started body building as a career,” says Mudasir Aziz. Aziz says it was his father’s continuous support that he finished runner-up in the 1999 Mr. Kashmir championship and the next year he was successful in making it to the Mr. Kashmir title. “My parents were very much supportive,” he says. “In fact they wanted me to make a career out of this activity.Aziz says he would continue his studies besides sticking to his obsession. And the year 2000 turned out to be promising. “I qualified my 12th class examinations and I won Mr. Kashmir title in that year,” recollects the strongly built Aziz.The next year too bore good results as Aziz defended his title and also finished Mr. J&K Junior. He had the two big titles in a single year and that made him feel on the sky.“I received so many best wishes and compliments from my relatives and friends,” says he. And then the quandaries started to bulge. He needed a government job on the basis of his performance. But, he got tangled in the false promises.
Aziz remembers when he was promised civil service by the then ministers for his achievements, but those promises turned out to be a ‘prank’. Aziz says, he would visit the ministers for a job but to of no benefit.
“Body building was proving to be an expensive game for me and what I needed was a job to help continue my passion,” says Aziz. “They (Ministers) did nothing for me when I was representing their state in several events outside the State.”
Even though, Aziz continued with his passion and he again won the title of Mr. Kashmir in 2002 and Mr. J&K senior in the same year. And again he was promised a government job by the high profile people who had come to witness the championship.“I was again guaranteed a government services for my performance by Mangat Ram Sharma who was the chief guest in that competition,” he recalls.
Aziz who played for Mr. India title in 2004 was ranked among the top ten contenders. In the same year he played in North India competition and won the gold medal. And in the same year he was again declared as Mr. Kashmir. However, medals and trophies, he says, did not satisfy him.
“What I needed was a government job,” say he. “The state could have provided me a simple clerk’s post,” asks he.
Aziz says that the then Minister for Youth Service and Sports Haji Nissar sent a letter to Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma for his appointment who later referred that letter to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Sports Officer, Police. But that too didn’t work in his favour.“I was shocked to learn that there is no sports category quota in police particularly for body builders,” Aziz says. He says he also visited the then Minister of State (MoS) for youth services and sports, Manoj Panth, who only collected his certificates but did nothing substantial.“While playing in North India competition, I was offered jobs by Northern Railway and Air force, they guaranteed me a job, but I opted to represent my state,” says Aziz. “My fault was that I was playing for my sate but at the stake of my career.”
On seeing Aziz’s pathetic situation, his parents, he says, changed their stance and wished him to start doing something else. And he decided to quit playing the game and rather start coaching young people.
“Now I am earning Rs. 1800 a month,” say he. “I am coaching the valley’s budding body builders in the ‘Muscle Free Gym’.”Aziz says some of his friends used to play football and many of them got jobs in The J&K Bank and State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC).Aziz foresees ‘no- career’ in this game if people are not influential or well-off. “I do not want to discourage my juniors, but if they are middle class or poor then there is no scope in this game,” suggests he.

And they started their preparation

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Baba Umar

With January 26 just around the corner, people in the city, mostly who are put up in the vicinity of Bakshi Stadium, where the parade is scheduled to come about, have started their preparation. Even if there won’t be any separatists’ call for the complete shutdown, people won’t be indulging themselves out in the streets at least for the moment when the troops will be manning the roads.
“I will be visiting my uncle at Nishat,” says Sheikh Irfan of Magarmal Bagh. Irfan has been visiting his relatives every year on January 25 because this day has snatched a life of one of his family members.
“My brother was dragged out from house and shot dead next day (Jan 26),” recalls Irfan, whose brother Sheikh Yasir was picked up by Rashtriya Rifles in 1993. And till date, the males in the family have developed a practice of leaving their house empty on every Jan 26. “We cannot afford to lose another member,” Irfan says.
And so is the case with other household who are located in the vicinity of Bakshi Stadium. They fear militants might attack on the troops in the stadium and they could be sandwiched in between.
“Even if there won’t be any Hartal call, I won’t open my shop,” Tariq Ahmad says. Ahmad runs a shop in Solina and has been keeping his shutters down since 1989 on these days. “Let them (troops) celebrate their republic day.”
However, there are others who have planned something unusual on the date.“I have bought a new book and I will try to finish it on Jan 26,” says Asiya Khan (name changed on request). “I have heard people telling that ‘In search of Future’ is a nice book, so I will be busy for the day,” adds she.
Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, owner of Oriental modern sweets says that it has become a trend in Kashmir not to be visible in markets on this day and he too won’t take any risk. “I will go with the people,” he says. And what will masses do? “They will likely remain in their homes till January 27th morning.”

Caught Off guard

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They say two is company three is crowd and when you are in Iqbal Park never think you are alone. You are being watched and every action of yours is monitored.

Baba Umar

If you are among the couples who visit the city’s Iqbal Park any time of the day, watch out, you are being observed! Your activities are being monitored from a tiny camera, installed by the police years back. “It is sheer interference in our privacy,” says a visibly disappointed boy. “What on the earth are they doing that for?” he questions, while referring to the police’s policy of having Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTVs).
A middle rung police source, however, backs the intention of the department. He says the park falls in the vicinity of highly guarded Bakshi Stadium, Air Cargo and Indoor stadium and is the strategic location with regards to security of the city.“Yes we can trace any movement in that area and in the Park too,” he confirms. He says that closed circuit TV cameras were installed in the whole of India and these gadgets have helped the police in curbing the anti-social activities. He further says that it is also a new way of ‘moral policing’.But the ‘love birds’ find it hard to gulp down.“I am shocked to see them (Police) maintaining security at the cost of my privacy,” says Ajaz Ahmad. Ajaz studies engineering in a Chandigarh College and had come to Srinagar on a ten day leave. But after coming to know that he and his would-be wife is under scanner he finds himself in a tight spot.“I am engaged to a girl and I have come to meet her here in Iqbal Park,” he says. “But I guess I must change the place and timing,” he says, as he phones his ‘better half’ not to come for the rendezvous.Some even believe that on the name of moral policing, sitting somewhere in the screening department of Police Control Room, the cops might be having their part of entertainment out of it.“You don’t know on what they will be fixing these cameras?” quips Sarwar, a student.Even the park caretakers are coming to the rescue of the visitors. They say the visitors need to be protected and the park is manned by guards who are on the prowl if any thing of ‘such kind’ happens here.“The guards in civvies keep on checking for any trangresional acts,” says Altaf Ahmad, who is the in charge of Iqbal Park. “I guess we don’t need cameras to trace anything.”Most of the visitors, mostly couples, are not happy with the move. They feel such an act would cut the income of the park. Though families throng to Iqbal Park but unfortunately for the last couple of days no one was visible in the park. It would have been interesting to get their reaction on the said issue.

If crime is there where is law!

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BABA UMAR

How many times do we log on to the net and share happily our information with others? Never ever suspecting of any foul play. Even sometimes we casually logout from our email account without checking whether we logged out successfully or not.
Meet Feroze Ahmed, State Project Manager, Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), several months back he got a mail from Google.inc directing him to send his email ID along with the password and other credentials. He mailed the details to the sender without consulting anybody. And he was in for nightmare. His password got hacked and the hacker now had full control over his e-mail ID.Taking advantage from his mail the hacker misinformed his acquaintances that he has gone to Nigeria where he lost his bag and money. The hacker impersonating one Ahmed sought $3,400 from all the friends and pledged to pay them back once he returns to Kashmir.The next day, Ahmed got a call from one of his colleagues from Hyderabad verifying when he had gone to Nigeria. His friend also mailed him the letter seeking money to be deposited in some bank account. Ahmed got suspicious and checked his email. Fortunately he had second email account too and from that mail he mailed to one and all about the fraud and the hacking of his official mail address. He had saved himself and his friends from getting duped, but he didn’t inform police about the incident. “They (Police) don’t have a cyber crime cell here in Kashmir,” he says. “It would have been a futile exercise to report in the police station.”In Kashmir, there has been a sudden increase in the cyber crimes since the escalating use of computers and internet. Cyber sins like making fake certificates, pirated DVD’s, password thefts of credit and debit cards, and pornography were reported several times in the past. Even there has been a case last year when hackers tricked a medico by hacking his password and the state police looked helplessly. Or when some miscreants morphed pictures of an Orkutain and posted the fake profile on the net. “We have a cyber crime cell here but it is not fully functional,” confesses a Srinagar Crime Branch official who wished not to be named as he was not authorised for any attribution. “Every case is inspected by the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), Jammu,” the official says.He says that the Jammu Crime Branch has got all the high-tech machinery and softwares and hence they are able to investigate such crimes in the area. Another official who wished not to be named said that the department is lacking the cyber crime related facilities and infrastructure. He said, in the past the higher officials have been making pledges to upgrade the department with latest gadgetry, but so far nothing substantial came forth.“We don’t have the hard disk mappers, recovery softwares and other necessary equipments,” he says.Even experts say that such a cell is essential in Srinagar too as the internet and computer usage has been on surge. They say that every district should have a cyber crime related cell.“Local police doesn’t have the know-how on cyber crimes, so there is obviously an urgent need for a high-tech cyber cops here in Kashmir,” says Muheet Ahmad, a software engineer working in the University of Kashmir. “Cyber crimes are those unlawful acts wherein computer is a tool or target or both. So it is necessary to have techno’s in the police department and total up-gradation of the present cyber crime cell in the city.”Some sections also fear the helplessness of the police due to the non applicability of Indian Penal Code here in the State and the cyber laws that fall under Information Technology ACT 2000 of India. However, Mohammed Ashraf, Additional Secretary Law, says that the IT acts are applicable anywhere in India including the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “Yes all the cyber laws are valid in the State,” the official says.It is unbelievable that valley has got cyber boom but without any law to check the menace and stop the cyber crime. However one thing that remains certain is that till a crime of high magnitude happens via cyber no one will bother to ask the police why they don’t have effective and working cyber law

Yeh dil mange more Chinese mobile

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Baba Umar

In a bid to flood consumers with a myriad of features on their cell phones, several mobile companies have been vying to hit the valley with phones of different features, sizes and colours. And the fresh contestant in the mobile phone market is Chinese made mobiles. Popularly known here as ‘Chinie mobile’, they are quite inexpensive when compared to their counterparts and are selling like anything.

“It’s just the 15th day here and we are running short of stock,” says effusive Muneer Qureshi, owner of World Vision Mobile centre, where the customers are regularly pouring in.

It seems the ‘Chinese dragon’ is pushing back the ‘Holy cows’ in the mobile sector here as the customers are going crazy about these flashy cell phones with official company statement imprinted on the boxes they come with.

“These phones are economical to the pocket and have similar features one can have in the highest series of Nokia cell phones,” says Jahangir Ahmad, a computer engineer, who has just bought a Chinese CECT model.

Among the different models available CECT, H-King, D-328, A8+, N-Series and BAIZHAD are the much sought after cell phones. They are priced between rupees 3000- 6100 range and some of them come with dual SIM features, 80 percent screen space, GPRS, voice recorder and almost 2GB memory card. One of the models that cost 6100 includes a touch screen and one can also watch television on it. The customers say they are happy with the ‘reverse technology’.

“Its sound system is without comparison and the imaging is quite nice,” a young boy says, while displaying the gadget he has purchased. “Now the television is in my pocket and the joy stick is there to stroll over the big screen.” The owner is waiting for the fancy items that will cater to the teenagers, mostly college going boys and girls. “We have ordered for the showy mobile sets,” says Qureshi.

Though these China-made gadgets come with double battery and all other special features and accessories, there is no guarantee or exchange scheme. However so far, the sellers say that they have not received any complaints.

So next time anyone displays a flashy and expensive looking mobile don’t get befogged, he may have just bought a Chinese mobile.

Job war: Govt versus Private!

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BABA UMAR

Ever wondered on the attitude of your relatives who shower blessings to your brother on getting a government job and never utter a word of compliment when you got a placement in a private firm where your salary is more than your brother!

And what about the trend ( popularly known as ‘Vartav’ in Kashmiri) when your relatives come with loads of fruits and present a gold chain to your sibling who had made into the government services, while at the same time you are completely ignored? Boy, no need to be envious, blame the custom here.

“We carry this baggage from our forefathers and such people have limited vision and a narrow channel to think,” says Tashif Ayaz, working as a Knowledge Management Publisher in a Multi National Company (MNC), Hyderabad. Ayaz, a victim of this ‘negative tradition’ says such well-wishers believe in being happy with little or no risks. “People in Kashmir”, he says, “always see the government service as a permanent solution to all financial and other problems which is not factual.”

“I remember when my cousin got a government job and people thronged him in herds to congratulate and present ‘Vartav’ and all that…and when I got selected in an MNC, my relatives seldom appreciated it,” recollects Ayaz.

There was a time when an 8th pass student would easily get into government services.

“Even if you earn lakhs per month in a private sector, it is played down and negated,” says Qayoom Ahmad. “People here in Kashmir have limited vision regarding the benefits of private services and I guess youngsters need to put it on permanent halt.”

Even the marriages proposals are being decided on the nature of service one is involved in. The better match is one who is in a government service regardless of the salary he is drawing. And there are anecdotes that cause one to simply accept disappointment at times. Ahmad’s brother is one such case.

“My brother got master’s in finance from a reputed University in Delhi and when he came back to valley he started the profession of Auditing ( in various government and non- government organisations) and he was doing well,” says Ahmad. “But when our parents put forward a marriage proposal to a girl’s family, we were shell-shocked on the reaction.”“The boy should be a government employer, no matter if he is a Rehbar-e- taleem (government teacher who earns Rs. 1500 a month),” was the reply from the bride’s mother.

However, Ayaz opines that things can change once the private sector booms in the valley. He says that private organisations are not much visible in the valley that could otherwise make people change their attitude.“Government jobs are still visible in the valley and how come people believe on something which they have never seen”, says Ayaz. “ But once the private industry overtakes the government, everything will change.”

Looking for a suitable boy

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BABA UMAR

Ayesha, a 45-year-old home maker and a mother of four bachelorette daughters, finally decided to discover the unconventional method of finding a match for her siblings. She had asked her relatives and some older women of her neighbourhood to help her search for a better match. She had also approached the conventional matchmakers (manzimyoer in Kashmiri). After years of futile search, however, she landed up in the city’s Seerat Marriage Bureau (Matrimonial agency). But she was in for a surprise.

“We are winding up this bureau,” tells the bureau owner to Ayesha.

Disappointed Ayesha says she has paid almost 20,000 to several traditional matchmakers, but all of them never turned up after making few visits to Ayesha’s house in the city outskirts. The matchmakers, she consulted, rather weakened her case and it is four years since she went in the quest of a match for her elder daughter.

“They (Manzimyoer) play pranks that is the reason why I have come here (matrimonial agency),” she says. “Now this matrimonial agency too is giving me the cold response.”

The owner of the bureau (who wished not to be named) cites many reasons as why he is pulling down the shutters of his matrimonial agency. And that activates a lengthy dialogue between the proprietor of the marriage bureau and Ayesha.

Seerat Marriage Bureau was established a year back to help people find matches without any hassles free from irritant manzimyoers that drive one mad. The owner says that his was the only marriage bureau in the city that was meant only for a ‘social cause’.

“I used to charge only ten rupees for this,” says the owner, displaying a three-page-long registration form. The owner says that he wished to get the society out of the clutches of the traditional match makers, but failed. Reasons, “lack of feeling towards their own betterment,” is how he puts up.The bureau so far, he says, registered some 200 odd bachelors. However, only three couples could tie up the nuptial knot. The rest of hopefuls got jammed in the caste, looks of the counterparts and status. They couldn’t find their partners in almost two hundred young people.

“If our religion (Islam) permits inter-caste marriages, then why this ‘sick attitude’,” he says. “I am disappointed with the thinking of the people here.”This time Ayesha nods to the words of the man whom she thought would help her.

Of the 200 bachelors, he says, most of them are highly educated but the rich versus poor, caste dissimilarity and the mind-set to have lavish marriages has ultimately resulted in no-marriages from the pile he had registered in a year. And that is the reason why he is closing his agency.“Is anybody worried about the thousands of girls who are over-aged now and close to infertility,” he poses.Unfortunately his poser has no immediate answer.

You have a new message

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Baba Umar

Next time you get an e-mail in your inbox with the title “Congrats- you have won the UK online national lottery £250,000.00”- don’t reply to it as it is simply a spam mail. However, there are those who easily get tricked on the first time and they are left with nothing but utter disappointment.

“I thought I really made it to the treasure, however, the disappointment was instant when I replied to that message and gave all of my credentials,” says Suhail Gulzar Wani, a computer wizard. “Now I know that it is a spam, but on the very first time I was excited and waited for the easy money.”

These mails are basically unsolicited, often commercial messages transmitted through the Internet as a mass mailing to a large number of recipients. These often include your lottery number which you never bought and the mailing address of the agent who is supposedly going to dispatch money in your account! And one is supposed to write back one’s name and full address immediately in the reply message.

Says Fazal Mehmood, “I remember my friend who has almost 7 years of experience in IT, received similar kind of e-mail from someone in London. The e-mail contained telephone number as well as mail ID, and after looking at it, he called on the same number and asked for the detail, not just once but many times, however, they asked him to send $100 in some account and then they will transfer money in his account.” He further adds, “My friend cursed them and was very upset.”

Some of the latest unwelcome spam includes jokes and puns, probably an attempt to lessen the irritation of recipients. However, experts suggest that one should install spam guards and other software that could protect you from becoming the victim of lottery pranks.

“I would say simply delete those message and save your time,” recommends Muheet Ahmad, a software engineer.

He also divulges the benefit and the modus operandi employed by such spam senders. “They basically use ‘Sniffer software’ which sniffs into the server and reads all the mail addresses. Later they send the mails to different users,” he says. “And after that, the users are advised to reply along with their complete addresses and credentials on a separate e-mail id.”He says (as happened with Mehmood’s friend), the users are then asked to deposit certain dollars into some bank account and hence they easily rob gullible aspirants.

First Salary

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BABA UMAR
The ‘first’ has always something special about it. Be it first love, first venture outside, or meeting your spouse first time. And to top it all whenever anyone gets his first salary he feels elated and over the top of the world. There is nothing like having your first salary.

For the staff it is always exciting as they finally get the bucks to execute the plans they knit in a month’s long time. “Once my salary arrives, I pay my bills, spend some money on buying clothes and books,” says Shafia Gulzar, a computer instructor. “And by the time I spend all the money I realise it is already middle of the month and just keep wondering when will the month get over so that I get the month’s salary again,” she laughs.

The sheer excitement and the thrill of getting first salary is immense and equally a great experience. “It is actually a huge happiness—your first salary. I am delighted and want to dance at the top of my energy,” says Bashraat Ahmad, who just encashed his cheque from JK Bank. “It is the day I will never forget in my life.”

And when the pocket bulges for the first time, you recollect that your friends had asked for a treat the day when you got selected for the job.
“Yes, after couple of days I want to throw a party,” says Abid Hussain, who got selected in a Mumbai-based IT firm. “And I am also thinking for a Mobile phone, may be I will buy it on the next payday,” he says.

And there are some who think the first salary belongs to their parents.

“First salary is always special, it goes to your parents and some part of it goes as alms to poor,” says a woman, who wished not to be named. “You buy gifts for your family and like to remember first payday that sets the era of your financial independence.”The money, she says, which one gives to one’s parents doesn’t make any difference, nor do parents call for it, but it is parent’s hope that matters.

The first salary is joy which one remembers for long and it is the same salary which gives us the feel of independence.

No no its Nano

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BABA UMAR goes round the city and finds out that middle class people are dying to buy the least expensive car.

It might have taken a long time for Indian Automobile giant Ratan Tata to conjure up an idea of coming up with a low budget car ‘ Nano’, but it took almost no time for the people here to reach a decision of buying it. The denizens both young and old seem to have got completely smitten by the Nano car. “I watched ‘Nano’s launch on a Hindi news Channel and on that time I decided to buy one,” says Hilal Ahmad, a book seller. “Who won’t wish to buy it?” chips an effusive, Saqib Parvaiz. “Two wheelers are the things of bygone era, now it is the time to rule these roads via Nano,” he yells.

The middle class families have hailed the innovation here and they are quite excited that they too will be counted among the car owners.
“Now I too will be called for Barat, because in our society only car owners can accompany groom to the bride’s house,” laughs Ajaz Hafiz, a private employee who wants to buy the car instantly. “One lakh is no big deal,” says Nayeem Bilal. “It is within our reach.”

The launch has even caused sensation among the kids and students. They no longer want bikes and Scooty’s, but vroom their ‘Nano’ in colleges and Varsity. “Imagine how it would be like, when I enter the college gates with my silver colour Nano,” shouts Amir Zargar in delight. “Ask your dad to gift it on your birthday?” quips Amir’s friend.

Even the rickshaw drivers are planning to sell their vehicles just to buy the stylish and hot Nano. They say one can’t resist this car which can prove to be a good replacement of traditional auto rickshaws. “A brand new auto rickshaw would cost you more than one lakh rupees and if you are getting a sophisticated car in the same price range, why not to go for it?” opines Mohammad Younus, an auto rickshaw driver.

“And then they (drivers) would stuff in half-a-dozen passengers at two fold rates,” jokes a passenger seated in the auto, who says he too would love to own this small wonder-- Nano.

Hoax abduction drama shocks police

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Baba Umar

Srinagar, Jan 13: An abduction drama of a minor which started Sunday morning in Batamaloo area ended in the evening when the alleged kidnapper, also a minor, visited the police station, claiming he was not involved in any abduction.
Suhail Ahmad Wani, 12, claimed to have managed to run away way from a 16-year-old rag picker Bashir Ahmad who allegedly abducted him Thursday evening from Batamaloo bus stand.“He took me to his rented room and locked me there for three days,” said Wani, who is currently with the Police.“I gave him a slip when I left at 9 am and reached my aunt’s place in Eidgah at 11 am,” Wani said.

Wani’s relatives said that they filed a missing report of the boy at Safakadal Police Station.“We gave him money to buy eatables from the market but he didn’t return,” said one of Wani’s uncles.Wani’s relatives, who were outside the police station for hours kept demanding the immediate arrest of Bashir Ahmed.

However, Bashir Ahmed along with the owner of the house he is putting up in also arrived at the Police Station in the evening. Ahmad claimed that he took pity on Wani after who lost his way in the area and brought him to his room.“He was crying and I thought he had gone astray,” said Ahmad. “He wished to work with me and even accompanied me for two days when I went to collect rags.”

Coming to Ahmed’s rescue, the house owner said that Wani was lying and he had been staying in his house with Ahmed for the last four days.“One a day back, Wani told me that Ahmed was his relative,” Bashir Ahmad Gilkar, the house owner said. “He even played cricket with the children outside. He never complained that he had been abducted.”

Meanwhile, police officials who are examining the case said they are investigating and it might be the case of mix-up from both sides. They said the boy will be handed over to his relatives after proper investigation.

Back to press conference

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Attending PC is not merely reporting but having to bear the side talks, giggles and rushing with other scribes to get the free meals.

BABA UMAR

The city’s Ahdoos Hotel, many believe, is turning out a sweetheart of pro-independence politicians these days. It has seen ‘cream of the crop,’ who air their beliefs from its cosy hall, meant for meets and other gatherings. Today it was Shabir Shah—once portrayed as the 'Nelson Mandela of Jammu and Kashmir; founder, Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), who was back to press conference podiums after a gap of three-and-half-years. The separatist leader after several years came to public only to declare that he has realised the benefits of the ‘Unity in Diversity’—a comment many failed to swallow. Perhaps he was talking about the reunion of APHC (M) and APHC (G). But what about his place in any of the two parties? He refused to comment. His speech no doubt started on time, however, some of the scribes and lensemen seemed to have forgotten their lessons. Organisers of such meets often complain of distractions caused by the latecomers. And the side talk during the press conferences, which is a hobby of some latecomers, also irks the leaders who are supposed to be heard first. And as the separatist leader talked about the oppression and the magnitude of sufferings a common Kashmiri endures, one of the scribe’s mobile phone confirmed his statement, “Dil mein meray hai Dard-e-Disco”—the sing tone, as the cell phone buzzed. The song, actually a Bollywood hit, synchronized with the leader’s words.The press conference ended as usual. The moment one of the escorts of Shah announced the house open for freebie (Tea and Kebabs), the news gatherers in huff gathered around the long embellished table for the plates and forks. Meanwhile, a scribe joked to his fellow member, what would happen if there will be no freebies? “No news-gathering,” pat came the reply and they both laughed. Just after they stepped down the stairs, one of the scribes had an SMS, which read: Shabir Shah is floating the third APHC called APHC (S).

Imported sweets, indigenous eaters

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Talk of sweets and our mouth waters. How strange is the fact that we love sweets but when it comes to make them we just avoid them.

BABA UMAR

There was a time when indigenous sweets like ‘Busrukh, Khand-e-gazer’ used to be the essentials in marriage
and engagement ceremonies. However, the present times presents a different picture. Sweets like ladoo, burfi, gulab jamun,kolkata sweets, etc, have deeply penetrated into our culture and society. And the outside labourers are taking a full advantage of it. Many believe that local workers are themselves responsible for it. They say, workers here are talented but they have an ego problem that needs to be shelved. “Probably the outsiders are not willing to share their trade secret here,” opines Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, who is running a confectionery shop in the Lal Chowk. Bhat also says the local bakers do not like learning this art and that is the reason why this work is being operated here by outsiders only. “My workers are all from Delhi and Jammu,” he says.
“Outsiders don’t feel shy,” says Ghulam Mohammad, who orders a kilo of sweets in one of the famous sweet shops of the city. “Our local workers are sitting idle in their homes while the outsiders collect wealth here.” He says Kashmiri workers have already lost their jobs to outside masons, carpenters, labourers and this line of work is no exception. “Even we have an attitude problem,” says the Manager of Modern Sweets, Irfan Ahmad. He says people here are not willing to change. “We can see how many Punjabi’s and Bihari’s are eating up our jobs,” he says. “Sweets played no role in our Kashmiri culture; however, they (outsiders) brought this thing in our society,” he further adds. “And we gave up.”

Are you logged on

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BABA UMAR

There is a whole new class of enthusiasts cropping up in the valley whose lives revolve around social networking sites (Orkut, Facebook) these days. And they may be better called as ‘Kashmir’s Orkutians’. Young people who would earlier make friends in the school corridors or college canteens are now befriending people out in the open on the net. “It’s a mania! And I love it,” says Farooq Ahmad, a 25-year-old Copy Editor, who has become addicted to Orkut over the last two year.The social networking sites like Orkut, Netlog, Tagged, Zorpia, Wayn, MySpace and Facebook, are websites where you can place your picture, profile, videos and hook up with the friends online. You can send requests and reject requests. These online networking sites are the much loved things for the present generation of internet freaks. And it’s a growing trend among the youths here.
“I have made friends in middle east and Europe,” says Tamim Ahmad, who has built up a network of more than five dozen friends. “It’s an eon of multi-tasking and this is the least time-consuming way to keep in contact with friends.” The 'friends' — a blend of a few real pals, many temporary acquaintances, foreigners, and even people he hates in the real world.

In some cases, the addiction goes to such an extent that users feel locked in whenever the server crashes. “I get very disappointed when all of a sudden the internet stops responding,” Ali Malik pursuing Bachelors Degree in Computers says. “Then I keep on waiting till it starts again.” No matter how much the net café charges, these freaks stay till the connection is back. “Internet shops around Lal Chowk,” Malik says, “charge us 20 rupees an hour, and sometimes it stretches to three hours.”
And as for the so-called fairer sex, they have also started to show their panache in the art of scrap (Orkut term) and making friends online. They declare they would overtake their counterparts very quickly. “We would outnumber boys in Orkut very soon,” chuckles Nadia Khan, a post graduate student in the Kashmir University. “Orkutting is my time pass where I hook up with my e-friends.”
Then there are more than 800 communities moderated by these users, wherein they discuss sundry issues mostly about Kashmir and their political opinions.Among the top ranked community moderated by any Kashmiri Orkutians is ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ having 4555 members followed by ‘Kashmir India and Pakistan’ signed in by 1526 members. ‘I love Kashmir’ is having almost 1441 members and the list goes on. Even there is separate community meant for Kashmiri scribes called ‘Kashmir journalists’ with 125 members in it.
But what is making such websites popular in Kashmir?
“People are stressing more and more on individualism, and the other reason might be the lack of time and space in a place ridden with conflict where people scarcely hang out with friends, discuss problems, and, give vent to their miseries,” opines, Dr Arshad Ahmed, a Psychiatrist.
About the communities created by Orkutians, he says, “these communities are the ingredients of modern societies and a part of neo culture run on the internet.”

(S)Now White Gold

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Baba Umar

As a 2008 starter, the weather Gods finally sent down the much needed white gold (Snow). However, it was only after several years that valley received snowfall in ‘Chillai Kalan’-- the 40-day long phase when the probability of snowfall is highest and recurrent as well. The last couple of years saw snowfall only after the Chillai Kalan and somewhere around the onset of spring season. Director, Meteorological Department, T S Zutshi, calls the early snowing ‘a miracle of God’. “We didn’t see this thing happening during past several years.” He says it had snowed heavily in the past, but that was not a timely snow.

Zarief Ahmad Zarief, 64, a Kashmiri poet, says the snow has brought smile on the every face. “People like me keep on waiting for this blessing,” he says. “Now we can expect a good summer with a plenty of water and greenery.” Zarief recalls the time when people would stock oil, rice, salt, and other necessary household items before the onset of winters.“The snow level used to reach our first floor,” he recollects. “Even walnut shells, cow dung, twigs and plant shoots were maintained and used in the winters.” When he was a kid, he says, the winters were harsh and equally bone chilling. “But we used to enjoy those days. We would make snow man, snow dogs and several other figures, that would later freeze rock solid.”
He says present generation lacks those creative things.“First it hardly snows now and if it does, it is untimely, says Zarief. “Today kids remain glued to the video games and satellite channels. They lack the real fun of snow.”Chillai kalan used to be a treasure for Kashmiri literature and folk. Even the snow clad trees, heavy snowfall and chill of this period would provide content for many folk songs and poems. “Now it’s all over. Our jungles are being plundered; there is no eye on the looters, the Dal is drying up and the air is being polluted, I guess the time is coming when we have to create artificial rain and snow,” he laments.

Bhutto killed at CIA’s behest: War

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Baba Umar

Srinagar, Jan 3: The Peoples Political party (PPP) chairman, Hilal Ahmad War alleged that former Pakistan premier, Benazir Bhutto was killed at the behest of CIA.“It was a CIA led assassination,” War said while addressing a press conference here.He alleged that both Benazir Bhutto and her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were killed at the behest of CIA as the two leaders opposed US policy of making Pakistan a satellite state for carrying out its future plans in South Asia".War further alleged that assassination of Bhutto is part of US policy to disintegrate Pakistan. “US is creating conditions to justify its takeover of Pakistani’s nuclear arsenal," he claimed.Terming the British government’s offer to help conduct investigation in Bhutto murder case as “non –sense”, he said, “The proxy offer resembles the CIA association with the inquiry regarding the murder of first prime minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan. All the culprits, CIA agents, were saved from being exposed by the American agency,” War claimed.
He asserted that Pakistani police and intelligence agencies were capable enough to conduct investigation into the Bhutto murder case. “They (Pakistani police) are able to scrutinize Bhutto’s case, but US and British are poking their nose to save the real culprits,” he said.“US game plan worked well when they exploited the religious sentiments of Islamic countries against the philosophy of Communist ideology. They are now anxiously working to take control of nuclear warheads in Muslim countries”, he added Calling himself the fan of Taliban and Al-Qaida, the separatist leader claimed that US workers have even infiltrated into the Al-Qaida and Taliban ranks and were destabilising Pakistan secretly and fomenting another military intervention in the Muslim country. On Benazir Bhutto’s father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, War said, “He is a sort of inspiration to Kashmiris and our organization. It was only Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who dreamt of nuclear Pakistan and also gave the Kashmiris’ voice an international platform.”PPP chairman also announced to establish a trust ‘Bhutto Memorial Trust’ in memory and honour of several martyred members of Bhutto family. He said the trust’s objectives are being discussed in the meetings of Central Executive Committee of PPP.

War on neo –imperialism

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BABA UMAR

Kashmir might break a world record soon for its devotion to observe unlimited number of shut downs and press conferences. The most recent strike was observed on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and the latest Press Conference was held in the city’s Ahdoos hotel, to announce the formation of ‘Bhutto Memorial Trust’, by People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War.
Scribes from all corner of the valley were actually waiting for something new. This being the winter month means it is considered dry season for the news and activity. PPP Chairman concentrated his topic on the evil designs of US and its Allies. War took everyone present in the hall into the era of Cold war and the subsequent fall of Communism. Tagging America as the ‘Monk of Global miseries’, he declared that if the present people of the sub-continent failed to notice America’s wicked ambitions, the next generation would curse their ancestors. To a larger extent the speech was meant to warn people about American neo-imperialism, however, after the press conference concluded, it was the time to throw freebie to people who stayed there and whom David Barsamian, a well-known author of America, christens ‘Hotel Journalists’. They had Kebabs and Vegetable rolls in stylish sets. No one used their hands directly and as a replacement, forks, spoons and the tissue papers were engaged. “The tea is awesome,” one gentleman said, as his mouth bulged with overdose of tea and veg rolls. The tea was served in American made cups and saucers. The round tables in the vicinity seemed as if to be used by White men. One of the scribes from a local channel called the party as ‘Grand Feast’ because last time in a Press Conference, he had only a cup of ‘Kashmiri Kehwa’ and ‘Bagir khwani’. Poor chap!! While guzzling down the freebie stuff, scribes too discussed the perils of foreign neo-imperialism and one even vowed not to collapse under anybody’s cultural imperialism. “Do you want another Veg Roll’? The waiter asked him. “Why not,” he nodded. And the talk of American monopoly rolled on over the Veg rolls!

Valley gets third Cotton County retail outlet

BABA UMAR

Srinagar, Jan 01:

Players in the retail apparel section are constantly vying for the lucrative Kashmiri market — and it was ‘Cotton County’, a men’s wear brand, which increased their brand presence by opening their third outlet in the Valley.

Pic by: Abid Khan

The outlet was inaugurated here in the city’s Court Road and the chief guest on the occasion was Member Legislative Council, Syed Basharat Bukhari.Bukhari who was also the first customer of the day said, he wishes to see more brands launching their outlets in the valley.“Everybody would love to have on branded clothes,” he said. “And yes we are waiting for other brands to establish their outlets here.”About the discount and rates Cotton County is offering, he said “the rates are genuine.” “I bought a branded track suit which is not expensive,” said he. Cotton County’s winter collection includes pullovers, woolens, tracksuits, sweat shirts, thermals and jackets. Cotton County offers complete product range in men’s wear like shirts, t-shirts, trousers, cargos and covers formals, semi formals and casuals.Cotton County is a part of Ludhiana-based multi-crore Nahar Group and is emerging as one of the leading men’s wear brand in India.Raman Sonie, Cotton County’s Area Field Manager said he was ecstatic to see the response from people who visited the outlet on the very first day. “We might do well till late afternoon,” he said as the customers started pouring in swarms.

However, many believe brand understanding among potential customers is an essential ingredient for these outlets to become successful in non-metro areas. Said Niyaz Ahmad, a lawyer, “I shopped for 3000 rupees here, but the thing is how many people know about the existence of such brands here.” He said it again depends on the brand conscience of the customers. In the wake of the winter season and New Year, Cotton County -the name synonymous with quality cotton apparels had come up with up to 70 percent discount on its complete range of apparels. “It will last for two months and the company might put on ‘Buy two get two free or 50 + 50’ offer,” said the outlet’s franchisee, Shabir Ahmad.

He said it is cheaper and more successful to adopt a discount option rather than appointing expensive brand ambassadors. Ahmad said the brand might open another outlet in South Kashmir’s Islamabad in the coming days.

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J&K Bank dates 2008 for Kashmir enterprise

BABA UMAR

Srinagar, Jan 01: It’s a calendar choreographed anew on Kashmir. With ‘Kashmir Everywhere’ as its catchphrase, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank has come out with its latest calendar. What’s more is that it is an “upgrade” of what the bank has been bringing out from the past several years.This time the lens has been shifted away from the pictures of Kashmir’s flora and fauna, shrines, brides, landscape etc to a new spectrum. The new look is a portrayal of the Kashmiris with their merchandise clicked in the sundry markets of India. It’s all about Kashmiris slogging there in the plains of India and bringing home a new experience plus affluence. Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank Haseeb Drabu describes the schema of this year’s calendar as a move to “re-ascertain Kashmir’s cultural legacy”. “This is basically a new cultural proliferation and something what we can say an attempt to restore Kashmir’s rich heritage,” Drabu says.

The May page reads a beautiful one-liner of a Kashmiri shawl vendor in Kolkatta, “We don’t just sell shawls, we sell stories.”The January page comes with a one liner of three Kashmiri boys who are engaging a Delhite on a roadside deal: “Every customer is a new experience.” These quotes apart from the images of Kashmiri entrepreneurs which depict their fortitude are carried till the last month of 2008.And many deem it wise to agree on the distinctiveness of this year’s calendar. They say it is one of the best ever calendar the bank has ever brought out.“It simply shows the life and struggle of Kashmiris who are out there beyond our borders,” says Imran, a student of photojournalism. “I feel encouraged while looking at its all leafs.”

The New Year calendar provokes the onlooker to seek for the mastermind who has taken adequate care while finalisation of the artefact from its enduring themes and images, aesthetic designs to selection of fonts, finest quality paper and the best statements of the home grown entrepreneurs.“The idea,” says Drabu, “is to demonstrate how our common Kashmiris have gone ahead.” He says this year’s calendar is a tribute to such entrepreneurs and their fortitude. “I salute them as they are my idols,” says he.And about the bank’s New Year resolution, he says it is “to contribute utmost in a short span of time”. The calendar seems not just a bundle of leaflets meant for hanging there on walls but it’s being seen as an eternal sort of spirit to Kashmiris through their own culture.Moreover it syncs with the mission statement of the bank to empower the promising entrepreneurs of the Valley.

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One media versus another

Pitted against one other, both trying to outsmart, it was spectators who emerged real winners as they enjoyed the match between local and national media, comments

BABA UMAR

In Kashmir, the local press and the national media have always been at loggerheads with each other. And on 29 December they opened up a new battle. Both parties took the clash out of their print and broadcast desks into the city’s SP College turf. They had earlier traded rhetoric of defeating each other in cricket and on the D Day: ‘Play or perish’ was the chant of the day. After the arch rivals are done with the hurdle, and, it is time to toss up a coin to fix on who will bat first.
“Get the coin,” shouts a lenseman working for local press. One of the players from the other camp takes out a dime (Canadian coin) and hands over it to the umpires, as if his salary is deposited in the foreign currency. “Scribes are running short of coins,” mumbles one of the umpire. Within five minutes the umpires are done with their first job of the day.
“Put on the pads,” orders the national media captain to his openers. Everyone knows that each side is playing less for the trophy and more for the pride. “We defeated them in the last match, and today we will teach them a new lesson,” says the local’s team guru confidently, who later doned the commentary cap. The burly long-bearded man, a lenseman by profession, is seen as a sort of spiritual leader in the opposite camp.
“They respect him,” says a National media player. “He’s their mentor.” The national side too has their adviser. They would also seek his blessings before running out there on the pitch. The opening pair is ready in the gears and it’s the time to have a word with their guru who offers dates to his opening players. “Have it and do well there,” he tells them. “We can’t afford to lose today’s game. Mind it,” he warns.
The national media is proud of their voice that transcends across all Indian States. However, the local press team calls themselves as the true voice of Kashmir. And on the cricket pitch both sides would settle scores, using services of their eleven players who would score runs by hitting a small hard leather-covered ball with a bat, and running between two sets of wickets. Both the balls and bats are English made. “Who won’t love to play with English willow?” quips one of the openers while leaving the makeshift dressing room.
It’s the bowling side which dominates the first inning. Scribes from the national side posed a mild score. Though there middle order showed some character in the middle overs but the score was not daunting. Now the first stipulated overs are completed it’s the time to hurdle and discuss strategies. Twenty four men, two separate circles including two gurus, and a swarm of crowd clapping and getting pleasure out of the game. The cricketers disperse and the second inning begins. The ‘spiritual guru’ starts commentary surprisingly after his team’s innings. And the kids would surround him to listen his teasers. “Aur yeh hamara batsman out –nahi huwa!” he taunts the other team as the first catch of the second inning has been dropped. The crowd enjoys and kids around the guru giggle.
The local press openers made it an easygoing. The mild score is chased in 14 overs. The national team loses the match to their counterparts and the crowd is on their toes. Meanwhile VADI channel’s (a regional TV channel) reporting team emerges out from nowhere and starts demanding the score cards from each side. The national side is bruised and equally loath to show their score card. But the local press doesn’t hesitate; after all they have retained the pride. The winning team had her revenge. And VADI got a sports story.

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Paint me

Behind every banner and placard is a hand that lends life to words and mind which makes them easy to read, BABA UMAR meets one such person who has become a household name in political circles.
Talk of the city’s Miasuma market (the area christened by many as ‘the Gaza strip of Kashmir’) what comes in mind is the furious demonstrators, walking in the streets, waving banners, placards and shouting angrily.

Among the congested houses situated on the edge of the market and just past the Gaw Kadal is a shop of the city’s famous painter and banner designer ‘Do Bhai’—means Two Brothers (surprisingly the shop was established by two close friends!). ‘Do Bhai’ are famous for there banner designing. And political parties all through the Kashmir conflict have been employing their services via banners and placards to register protests and demonstrations.

“I am into this business from the last 30 years, and people particularly from this area have been using my banners to mark their complaints,” says Shakeel Ahmad, 42, one of the proprietors. Ahmad recalls the days of 90s when “armed resistance” was at its peak. He says that period was full of enthusiasm and obsession.

“It was a burning desire everywhere and people would seek “Do Bhai” for making banners on which pro-freedom slogans were imprinted.” Ahmad recollects. “Even I have made Pakistani flags too that were hoisted on roof tops and electric poles on 14 August.” Ask him about his reaction when his banners were clicked by scribes and telecast on several news channels. “I would feel ecstatic,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see your creation going on air. I would tell my parents about the banners written and designed by me when they watched any protests on the TV screens.”


While sharing his past and the political changes he had gone through, when the whole market was coloured with green colour and every day would begin with a mammoth protests. “Even bill boards and other advertisement objects were painted green. Painters and artists were having a good time those days,” he laughs. Currently Ahmed with his staff is busy in preparing a big advertisement banner. “It might take us four days to finish,” he says.
And what about his favourite line on any banner he so far designed.

“Hai haq hamara Azadi (Freedom is our right),” he says. He latter rolls out several banners with similar slogans penned on them which he has managed to retrieve after the protest ended. Ahmad calls his profession as good as any other job. He says through his work, he, in a way, augmented the mass view about liberation. “I contributed to Kashmir cause by means of my work. Even today I design banners for pro-independence political parties.”

Persistence is the key, never give up your resistance: David Barsamian

BABA UMAR

RISING KASHMIR
Srinagar Dec 25


World renowned American Journalist, author, and broadcaster, David Barsamian today at a lecture here in city’s Grand Mumtaz Hotel, said when the oppressor chokes all the channels of justice, the oppressed need not to surrender. He said, “Persistence is the key in all forms of resistances.”

Delivering a lecture on “State, Media and Resistance”, organised by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies, Barsamian said he realises the plight of Kashmiri’s and would appreciate all sorts of resistance by the people.

“You can’t ask me what to do; it would be a “colonial thinking”, it’s your soil and you are the ultimate decision makers on how to resist.” He said.

India, he added, has been successful in projecting the Kashmir as a case of terror hit state to the outside world. “Nobody in America knows what’s really happening in Kashmir, and the Indian media has been quite instrumental in protecting the Indian interests.” He said. “This is how “Hotel Journalism” goes.”

Recollecting the events of 1948 in Iran, he appraised the huge audience about how U.S bribed Irani journalists then, who would latter write articles about the inability of the anti-American President Musadiq to rule the country and the dire consequences of the growing Iran- Russia nexus on Iran.

“Actually Musadiq raised his voice against the oil and gas extraction from his country by the foreigners and that irked Americans. The scribes lied for money and in 1953; this democracy was overthrown only to pave way for the ad hoc government of Shah, who was flown from Rome to Tehran in a CIA plane,” said Barsamian.

Barsamian is also the director of Colorado-based Alternative Radio and has authored scores of books among which the famous are Propaganda and Public mind, Confronting Empires, Cultural resistance, Louder than bombs and the upcoming Targeting Iran.

On U.S president Bush’s remarks just before the Iraq’s invasion, that ‘God has told him to annihilate Iraq and Iran’, Barsamian called it the “neo-U.S arrogance” and “theological imperialism”.

“I can’t still understand how he (Bush) got the God’s cell number,” he ridiculed.

Known for his staunch criticism of U.S policies across the globe, Barsamian said the Iraq and Afghanistan war was all based on lies and sheer hypocrisy.

“Ordinary Americans were scared and won over with the thoughts that Iraq, Taliban and other anti-American states would destroy America soon. And I am embarrassed to say that not many Americans till date are not resisting these propagandas and bogus claims.” He said. “Iran annually spends only 5 billion dollars on its military and U.S spends some 750 billion dollars, so how come Iran becomes a threat to global peace?” he argued.
“They (Iran) have no military bases outside their country, and on the contrary, U.S has more than 700 military bases across the world.”

Iraq of Saddam era, he said, was much better than the present Iraq. Quoting the figures from OXFAM and Coalition of Iraqi Civil Society, he said, “ One million Iraqi’s have been killed so far, more than 2 million are wounded, one-fourth of Iraq’s total population are living the lives of refugees, eight million Iraqi’s need immediate aid and eighty percent of Iraqi’s have no access to pure drinking water,” said Barsamian.

“In the whole Arab world,” he said, “Iraq had the best education system, women had access to higher education, Iraq had the finest hospitals and inflation was low. After U.S invasion everything buckled.”

He said people like Noam Chomsky and him would call for an International tribunal to accuse U.S for its war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We hold U.S responsible for the war crimes and we would also demand that U.S pay reparation for the damage done to Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

Whether Iran would be the next victim of U.S arrogance, he didn’t overrule the possibility. However, he said, such an attack would be “catastrophic” for the whole world and all the parties involved in the confrontation.

“The attack would leave serious consequences on the whole world. Already the oil prices per barrel is hanging between 90-100 dollars, it might double or triple.”

Iran’s military might, he said, “is much better than the other mid-east states, along with the 70 million strong population, who would resist any sort of mis-adventurism from U.S.” He said Iran has its allies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria who would contain U.S army for Iran in the event of war.

Speaking on the Kashmir issue, he said Kashmiri’s need to rise above their approach of resistance and something out of the box should be tried. He said drama, theatre, films and blogging play a vital role in shaping the resistance.

“Jashne-Azadi (a film by Sanjay Kak about the freedom celebrations in Kashmir) is an amazing film, which reflects the plight of Kashmiri’s and it has not come from the perspective of people who are sitting somewhere in the New Delhi skyscrapers or somewhere else.”

“I will talk to people of America about the film and the agonies meted out to every Kashmiri.” Barsamian promised to the gathering.

Taekwondo- The next big game

Rising Kashmir
Baba Umar
Srinagar, Dec 24


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 organised the camp.

More than 50 boys and girls of different categories who participated in the coaching camp were instructed 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 Dan 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.”

SmSing On Eid

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
Srinagar, Dec 23

“Have a blessed day--Eid Mubarak.” This might have been the SMS text that felicitated you on this Eid, probably sent by one of your acquaintances. But was it enough?

“It would have been better to show up on Eid,” says a noted Kashmiri poet and social activist Zarief Ahmed Zarief. “If the person really intended to wish you, he should have joined you on this special occasion rather than drop SMS’.”

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.

On the other hand, interpersonal communication has obtained a new meaning with technology opening up new channels of communication. SMSes on cell phones have become extremely popular modes of communication. Perhaps it's easier to text a ‘salaam’ over SMS rather than travel across town to greet a friend. But with so much of cell phone technology, the essence of interpersonal communication takes a back seat.

Dr Sabeha Mufti, a communication expert and lecturer in Media department of Kashmir University, says “Accepted SMS and email may be very easy, and it facilitates communication. But somehow, there is a failure of the personal touch as the people are not exchanging views face to face.”

Likewise, a Kashmiri software professional, Suhail Gulzar Wani, who is currently working in San Mateo CA, US, says in an e-mail interview, “I guess it takes you away form your relatives and friends. You think you have done you part by SMSing, but the reality is something else.”

Younger people of the valley seem to be more disposed towards modern gadgetry. They want to solve their problems within a jiffy. And here interpersonal communication becomes a tragedy, which otherwise, Zarief believe, is holistic.

“Face-to-face interpersonal communication is holistic, reliable and helps us comprehend the message completely.” says Zarief. “Using SMSes is good, but the days of Eid, people should try visit their relatives and friends rather than greet them via SMSes, provided they are not staying at longer distances.”

Sounds like an interesting opinion. But how many of us actually want that to take place next Eid?

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.