“There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there’s only narrative” – Edger Doctorow

“No word matters. But man forgets reality and remembers words.” – Roger Zelazny

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.

Drass

Yusuf promotes Drass as an adventure tourist destination(Mr. Mohammad Yusuf, 57, was born in the Dalgate area of Srinagar. He attended Government Schools in Drugjan, Sonawar, and Batwara, all in Srinagar, and completed his college studies at the Sri Partap College,...

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Kashmir’s Heritage is Slowly Disappearing

An editorial in the Greater Kashmir takes a notice of the vanishing legacyVandalizing HeritageSad that Kashmir has no a rich legacy of monuments. During its five thousand years of recorded history many civilization that were born in this land have had their glory but...

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Passing Personal Political Baggage to Youngsters

Manzoor censures Prof. Noor Bhat for mixing academic sanctity with his personal politics and wonders how the University approved such an examination paperWorshiping false heroesManzoor AnjumPoint is not that whether posing a question in the examination that are stone...

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Tackling Corruption in Kashmir

Abid conducts a thorough diagnosis of Kashmir's principal malady, and suggestive prescriptive measures to remedy the situation(Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, 29, was born in Srinagar. He completed his schooling from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial School, and his pre-medical...

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Abusing RTI

Fida finds the institutionasl resistance to the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Kashmir distressing based on his personal experience(Mr. Fida Iqbal, 47, was born in Sopore. He attended the D.A.V. School in Nayadyaar, Rainawari, and the Government Higher Secondary...

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Nothing Worthwhile Here

Javid says that WikiLeaks has all but ignored Kashmir(Dr. Javid Iqbal, 64, was born in Srinagar. He attended the D.A.V. School, Srinagar, and graduated in Medicine from the Government Medical College (GMC). His professional service in medicine includes work in the...

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Exploitive Politics

Riyaz says that Kashmir’s victimhood should not be exploited as a political weapon within India(Mr. Riyaz Masroor, 39, was born and raised in Srinagar. He is a Srinagar based journalist who writes in English, Urdu and Kashmiri. Besides working in the local press, his...

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The Giant Parking Lot

Mix habitual public indiscipline with chaotic driving in a city with no traffic lights, and you get?Srinagar - The city of Traffic JamsEqbal AhmadTraffic Jams, nowadays, have come to hit the masses in a real bad way with each route and every Crossing getting chocked...

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Nepotism Unlimited

Zeenat exposes a clear case of nepotism at the University of KashmirKU Registrar's Son Gifted Job on ‘Fake’ DocumentsZeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)Srinagar: Even as ‘people of power and influence’ bending and breaking rules to facilitate their kin is a norm in...

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