Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog
Vijay K. Sazawal, Ph.D.
I launched the website and the Blog after undertaking a thorough search of literature dealing with Kashmir. Finding existing choices that varied from harsh zealotry as expressed by multiple political antagonists and religious bigots, I undertook multiple visits to the valley to make a first hand assessment of the situation as well as seek input from those on the ground – common people, civic and academic leaders of both genders, minorities, and bureaucrats both in Srinagar and New Delhi. After having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents, it became clear to me that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of prior-
-ities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity to all the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir. Above all, it is incomprehensive how violence can lead to any political closure or human justice when it simply impedes any healing, development or normalcy.
We encourage hearing from the disfranchised “silent majority” in Jammu and Kashmir. Please send your comments by contacting us. Thank you.
Nothing to be proud of
83% women in Kashmir have vitamin-D deficiency: Study ARSHAD BHAT (Greater Kashmir)Srinagar: About 83 per cent of the women in Valley are suffering from Vitamin-D deficiency which can cause bone disorder Osteomalacia that in turn can cause generalized weakness,...
How Effective is Excessive Use of Strikes?
Utility of strikes as a means of political protest may hardly be contested, but the over use of it has left it bereft of any impact. Shafi A Athar gives expression to a popular sense of unease over the excessive use of strikesThey say 'Child is the father of man'. I...
Forest loot unabated in Budgam’s Raithan Range
Forest Officer Pleads Helplessness DFO admits, says it’s vulnerable areaGOWHAR BHAT (Greater kashmir)Raithan: The wanton loot of forests is unabated in this forest range of central Kashmir as timber smugglers chop off the green trees with impunity and ferry it...
Ancient Greeks in Kashmir
Iqbal's scholarly research answers some important questions about our heritage. If archaeological discoveries have thrown valuable light on the history of Kashmir, no less fruitful results have followed the close and systematic study of its old coins, gold, silver,...
Is the Civil Society Really Civil?
In our world of trickeries and jungle law, disagreeing is just not possible. Tajamul responds to Syeda Afshana’s column, “learn to dissent” (Posted on the Blog on 29 September 2008)Averting Costs of DisagreementTajamul HussainWhile pointing to the basketful of...
Storm over Land, Apathy for Dal
Ashraf asks the obvious(Mr. Mohammad Ashraf, 65, was born and raised in Srinagar. He attended the S.P. High School and the S.P College before joining the Regional Engineering College at Naseem Bagh in Civil Engineering. However, he changed his career to adventure...
Land of Milk and Honey
It is a great day out in the country!Record milk production in KashmirSrinagar: Annual milk production in Kashmir Valley has touched a record mark of 8.78 lakhs of metric tonnes, an increase of 28,000 metric tonnes over the previous year, courtesy the formation of new...
How the Beast Took Over the Beauty
Mix easy money with public indiscipline and what you get is uglyUnplanned commercial complexes deface Srinagar; SMC expresses helplessnessZeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)Srinagar: Gone are the days when there was some demarcation between commercial and...
Shifting the Blame
In confessing to follies, though in the wrong order, is a rare admission by the author who usually specializes in shifting the blame south of the border(Mr. Arjimand Hussain Talib, 33, is from Srinagar and matriculated from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial School in 1991. He...
An Endless Journey Where the End is Worse Than the Beginning
Afshana confronts reality that comes to each generation as it becomes wiser and grows older(Ms. Syeda Afshana, 34, was born in Srinagar. She attended the Vishwa Bharti High School in Rainawari, Srinagar, and the Government Women's College in Srinagar where she...