“Engineering institute turns CRPF bunker” for months; education suffers

"Sometimes, I thought of dragging them [CRPF personnel] out of the campus when they follow us if we visit inside. Their actions and treatment is forcing us to take negative steps.”

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“Engineering institute turns CRPF bunker” for months; education suffer

"Sometimes, I thought of dragging them [CRPF personnel] out of the campus when they follow us if we visit inside. Their actions and treatment is forcing us to take negative steps.”

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Kashmir’s rotten season of apples

“From 2008 till now, farmers who are dependent on this economy find themselves in darkness. Our hopes shattered when we did not receive the expected amount from our annual production.”

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Kashmir’s orphanages forsaken: The story of an escape and a promise

A midnight rumour – that came true at dawn on 5 August 2019 – knocked on the doors of the Baitul Banat Hostel in Srinagar, a girl’s orphanage under the Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Trust (JKYT), striking a collective gasp of shock. One girl among the wide-eyed faces of the orphans stood up and pleaded, “Please take […]

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Authorities’ negligence puts a neighborhood in hospital

"This is the mercy of the government – it’s their gift for us. They made us drink dirty water; Mehraj fell ill because of it.”

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How young Kashmiris are losing jobs due to Internet gag?

"I saw the lay-offs coming in the shutdown as the operations of Internet-based businesses lost its mode of survival - Internet.”

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In Kashmir clampdown, trans women face new challenges

Every wedding season, at an average, Shabnam Subhan would earn about 60-70 thousand in six months and would rely on it for the rest of the year. This season, she hasn’t earned even 10 per cent of it.

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Cold childhood, begging meals, and weighing odds

“At first, I was really ashamed. But now, I have accepted that I’m doing this. I'm begging. It is for my children.”

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The portrait of a family under lockdown: “We will die of hunger”

On the outskirts of downtown Srinagar, in Zaldagar, Waseem Ahmad Balla’s family of five lives in one room and a kitchen. Sitting at the doorway of his house, cleaning a bowl of red-chili powder, he wonders, “If the shutdown continues, how long will we sustain?” Since the abrogation of the Article 370 and Article 35A […]

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Inside Kashmir’s Education Crisis

Inside the wrecked education setup, The Kashmir Walla report on children's uncertain future, distressed minds, and broken dreams in Kashmir.

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Kashmir’s artisans lose work in months long internet ban

For the last hundred days, Mohammad Nasir, 34, a paper machie artist from Srinagar’s Lal Bazar area has been in a conundrum – his concerns stem from the fact that he has not been able to fulfill the demands of his customers, living inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), and abroad. He is the […]

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In Kashmir, Internet gag is crushing scholars’ dreams

Ifshana Maqbool, 29, would daily open her laptop – neatly placed in a corner of her room in Natipora, Srinagar – and scroll through her months-old research work in the field of Electronics and Communication (E-C) Department [under Information Technology], and shut it. Spending the rest of the day, without any concrete idea, Ms. Maqbool, […]

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Kashmir’s rotten season of apple

September had just started. Mohammad Syed, 51, an apple-grower from Deeri area of Pulwama, south Kashmir, was despondent; Kuloo (a type of apple) had ripened on his about 5 kanal orchard and he couldn’t find any buyer or a transport facility to trade his product. “I dumped them into a nearby stream,” he said. “They […]

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Of BJP and Its Politics in Kashmir

On the morning of 5 August, Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir, 48, realized that his decades-old dream had come true. When he saw Union Home Minister Amit Shah on television, he convinced himself that the moment of the “New Kashmir”, which he had waited since the day he joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in March 1995, […]

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Editorial: A new beginning or the same old school?

The region of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) has come a long way in its history of territory and governance; from a divided kingdom to a Union Territory (UT) – a king, a Prime Minister, a Chief Minister to a Lieutenant Governor (LG). This Friday, 31 October 2019, a new history began in the troubled history […]

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A day in the Union’s Territory: Jammu and Kashmir

A paramilitary forces’ personnel stands on guard outside the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Photograph by Sanna Irshad Mattoo for The Kashmir Walla Sitting on a well maintained blue seat in an airline facility bus in Delhi’s Indira International Airport, a 3-year-old girl is uneasy and throwing tantrums at her parents. Wearing a red frock, while […]

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Scope of Trade: “They ruined our economy”

Eighty-five days past the abrogation of the article 370 and article 35-A of the constitution – Kashmir Valley stays silent, and the unorganised civil disobedience continues to run in pieces and parts of the Valley. With the economy on halt and movement of currency visibly blocked, the big and small time traders and businessman from […]

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Editorial | Ambiguous Future of Reorganised Kashmir

Prior to 5 August 2019 – in the newspapers, invitations cancelled notification would hold the courtesy to Article 35-A and Article 370; appealing to safeguard the duo, which granted Jammu and Kashmir its special place in the constitution. Post 5 August, the government of J-K – via front-page advertisements – propagated the benefit of the […]

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What Reorganisation Act Changes in Kashmir?

On the intervening night of 4 and 5 August, the government snapped all lines of communication, including landline services, and eight million people of Kashmir Valley were put under restrictions. “Restrictions have been imposed. We request everyone to not assemble outside and return inside their homes,” were the announcements made from the speaker mounted government […]

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Bar Association on strike, petitioners wear black gown to secure justice

Photograph by Sanna Irshad Mattoo Inside the well-maintained premises of Srinagar wing of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, 62-year-old Mohammad Ashraf Sofi is sitting outside the court number 2 – despondently. “How can I fight this case on my own?” he wonders. “The lawyers, and the whole judiciary system, are flawed. They push the hearing […]

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Editorial: Kashmir’s imbalanced political space

The followers of the mainstream electoral political parties in Kashmir wouldn’t have expected that the leaders they had faith in will be put under detention. For years, these politicians used detention and stringent laws like Public Safety Act (PSA) to crush any dissent against their rule. Today, they find themselves in subsidiary jails – for […]

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Is there space for Kashmiri politicians?

Photograph by Sanna Irshad Mattoo On the late evening of 4 August, when Kashmir was filled with rumours and apprehensions, all the premiers of Jammu and Kashmir’s political parties came together and sat over in the house of Farooq Abdullah, the president of Kashmir’s oldest political party – Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), in […]

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Life inside hospitals under restrictions in Kashmir

Note: Due to the ongoing communication blockade in Kashmir, where the government has snapped all internet and mobile services, The Kashmir Walla is being updated from New Delhi. Srinagar: On the morning of 5 August 2019, Dr. Irtifa Kanth, a 28-year-old resident of Soura area of Srinagar was sitting at his home, watching satellite television. […]

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Kashmir Clampdown: Through the eyes of women

Note: Due to the ongoing communication blockade in Kashmir, where the government has snapped all internet and mobile services, The Kashmir Walla is being updated from New Delhi. Walking on the Amira Kadal Bridge in Srinagar, a 65-year-old woman was dodging concertina wire barricades and government forces’ checkpoints, while negligible vehicles passed by. Sweeping sweat […]

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Kargil Dispatch: Streets Sulk in Sense of Betrayal

Note: Due to the ongoing communication blockade in Kashmir, where the government has snapped all internet and mobile services, The Kashmir Walla is being updated from New Delhi. Kargil: On 5 August 2019, when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government announced the abrogation of special status of the state of […]

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Amid speculations, education falls flat in Kashmir

After centre’s approved deployment reaches Kashmir valley, and a never-ending thread of administrative orders make their way into the public domain—Kashmir and Kashmiris are left alone in the Valley to shiver with speculation. While the population of more than a crore is left with mere speculations and calculations on their own, the students—locals and non-locals—and […]

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Yasin Malik safe; advocate refutes rumors

Srinagar: Amid rumours which are circulating around the social media,Raja Tufail, the advocate defending Yasin Malik on Sunday said that the jail authorities at Tihar have confirmed to him on Saturday that the incarcerated JKLF leader was okay. Speaking to a local newspaper, he said that any rumours regarding Yasin Malik were not true as […]

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Kashmir University postpones all exams scheduled from 5-10 Aug

Srinagar: All Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held from August 5 to August 10, 2019 are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later. (more…)

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Cluster University postpones all scheduled exams

Srinagar: In a continuous thread of educational institutes postponing exams, the Cluster University, Srinagar also followed it, pushing all the exams scheduled next week till further notice. It is notified for the information of the students that all the examination scheduled on 5th August 2019 are hereby postponed undersigned by controller of examination. (more…)
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Internet services snapped in Kashmir

Srinagar: In wake of ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, mobile internet services have been snapped in many parts of the Valley. Earlier, in an order isssued by Government of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat Home Department it is mentioned that in the interest of safety and security of tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is […]

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Omar, Mehbooba, Sajad to be put under house arrest

Srinagar: In the wake of ongoing situation in Kashmir, three mainstream leaders – Omar Abullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone are placed under house arrest, reports NDTV. Mufti, from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Abdullah, from National Conference (NC) have been chief ministers of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, while People’s Conference Chairman Sajad […]
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Section 144 imposed in Srinagar

Srinagar: Restrictions have been imposed across the Kashmir Valley from early Monday. Government has imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPC in summer captial of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from 1200 Hrs on 5th August 2019 which shall remain in force till further orders. As per the order, there shall be no movement of public […]
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After Srinagar, Section 144 imposed in Jammu; internet snapped

After Kashmir valley, the mobile internet services have also been snapped in Jammu and the Section 144, which restricts unlawful assembly of more than four people in an area, will be imposed on the city from 6:00 am on Monday. On 4 August, just before midnight, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah […]

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Editorial | Think of Kashmiris, not just Kashmir

Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014 at the Centre, there have been calls by party ideologues to scrap Article 35A of the constitution of India. In 1949, Article 370 was included in the constitution after deliberations between Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, an essential figure in Kashmir politics, and Nehru. This […]
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Communication blackout in Kashmir: Cellular services snapped

Srinagar: There is a total communication blackout in Kashmir valley. All mobile data internet services, cellular networks, and SMS services have been cut by the state authorities. After initial reports of internet snapping at 11 pm on 4 August 2019, the cellular services were snapped after midnight across Kashmir valley, soon followed by SMS services. […]
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Facts on Article 370 and accession of Kashmir

Article 370 / autonomy was not in exchange of Accession.
In certain situations as a student of history, it is important to understand the sequence of events and decisions. If the sequence is lost, the essence of history is lost.Some people do it unknowingly others do it deliberately to further their agenda.
The history of Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh goes back to more than 5000 years of Sanatan Dharam, Kashmir Shaivism, Bhuddism and Islam. The aboriginal Kashmiri Hindus and Buddhists have been going through simmering #Genocide, induced displacement and migration since the religious fundamentalists have adopted violent ways of killing and converting people from other faiths. The language used in Kashmir till 1300’s was Sanskrit with Devnagri and Shaarda Script. It was changed to Persian because of the invading rulers. After the beginning of Dogra rule the official language was changed to Urdu.
Before Anglo Sikh war Raja Gulab Singh was heading Jammu region for Lahore Government. In this war, the Lahore government was defeated by britishers and was supposed to pay an indemnity of one and half crore to britishers. Since Lahore government was not in a position to pay full amount and britishers were not in a position to go for another war with Dogra ruler, an amount of 750000 Nanakshahis was paid by Raja Gulab Singh, where after britishers ceded the region of Jammu and Kashmir to Gulab Singh. Some people are hell bent to suggest Kashmir was sold to Maharaja where as fact of the matter is – The State of Jammu and Kashmir was ceded to Maharaja Gulab Singh by virtue of Treaty of Lahore in 1846.
Maharaja Hari Singh did not wish to join either pakistan or India, although he ultimately acceded with India; it was to protect his subjects and the state from invasion led by pakistan in violation of the Standstill Agreement signed between state of J&K and pakistan before 15thAugust 1947. As a consequence of his wish he probably wanted to have some kind of autonomy to govern his state Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 in some ways could have been a consequence of Maharaja’s wishes, but the governance after accession was rapidly moving out of his hands to National Conference. In 1932 Muslim Conference was established which was later renamed as National Conference and was led by Sheikh Abdullah. In 1953 Jawahar Lal Nehru realised his mistake of supporting and promoting Sheikh Abdullah and ultimately he detained Sheikh Abdullah for 11years.
Partition of British India happened on the basis of religion – two nation theory. As an extension of this concept, founders of pakistan desired to have as many pakistans within the geographical boundary of Indian Dominion, which for obvious reasons was not allowed by Sardar Patel / India. Every thing that pakistan has been trying since 15thAugust 1947, has been in pursuance of their desire to illegally annex Kashmir. As a consequence pakistan has always considered India / J&K as its enemy no.1.
Pakistan in violation of standstill agreement with J&K -a land locked state- stopped its trade routes, which were till then historically used for movement of essential commodities like fuel, wheat, cloth ammunition etc. to the state, it also blocked posts and telegraph links to J&K.
Over and above, pakistan attacked and killed thousands of kashmiri hindus, muslims, sikhs and christians to annex J&K .
Article 370 was a mechanism of allowing a separatist state by not allowing many fundamental rights to millions of people – Kashmiri Hindus, Dalits, Refugees from pakistan,Valmikis, Gorkhas, women who married outside the state of J&K and was also damaging India from within.
In a Secular Democratic Republic of India the constitution of India is very liberal towards minorities and hence there was no need to actually have a separate constitution for a state adjoining pakistan. But J&K was allowed to have a separate constitution which did not allow unconditional free flow of laws for the subjects of J&K, even though they were applicable for the remaining states of India. Over and above, the article 35A was inducted via presidential order without approval of Indian Parliament, which allowed government of J&K to define citizens of the state – effectively we had citizens of India who were not citizens of J&K and the constitution of J&K was biased against citizens of India.
In the mean time punjabes from west pakistan which dominated the military establishment of pakistan started discriminatory tactics with the people of east pakistan mostly bengali, who were culturally different. East pakistan revolted against west pakistan which culminated in formation of Bangladesh as a separate country after 1971 IndoPak war even though both parts of pakistan had been established on the policy of same religion.
After defeat in the war of 1971, former military head of pakistan Zia ul haq in 80s devised a strategy known as operation TOPAC.Basic objective of this strategy was to annex Kashmir with pakistan and to destabilise India. Even today this is the foundational strategy used in one or the other form. Due to lack of political will the parties heading J&K and Indian government till now were knowingly or unknowingly allowing pakistan to make deeper inroads in Kashmiri and Indian civil society. The effects of this prolonged self imposed servitude shown by then governments of J&K and India has now necessitated an unprecedented Government lock down in Jammu and Kashmir, even though unofficial continuous lock downs have lasted at least 13 days in past which were called as hartal or Civil Curfew; effectively making the paradise of Kashmir a living hell for common masses living across the province.
The fact that whole J&K including PoJ&K, Ladakh and Gilgit Baltistan acceded with India. The territory which is in control of countries other than India is the disputed territory not the area within the current geographical boundaries of India.
The misconception created by vested interests to suggest a freedom movement by the some people gets defeated by the fact that genocide and massacre of Hindus and Sikhs was being perpetrated in the name of religious fundamentalism as driven by pakistan agenda to annex J&K.
By:Ravin
Reference:My frozen turbulences in Kashmir- Sh.Jagmohan
A History of Kashmir-Sh.PNK Bamzai


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