Srinagar: Veteran Kashmiri journalist Mohammad Saeed Malik, alongside Manzoor Ahmad Mir, Head of Commercials Legal & Regulatory Affairs at Khyber Cement, on Saturday formally inaugurated the first episode of Kashmir Life’s History Series titled Kashmir’s Architecture Tales: Qabal Masseh Say 20wain Sadi Tak.
The series, the outcome of nearly two years of work, will stream every Saturday on Kashmir Life’s digital platforms.
Malik praised both Kashmir Life and Khyber Cement for their initiative in preserving and reshaping the narrative of history. “In the present times, preserving history is the most important task. Bringing it to digital platforms will make it easily accessible to the younger generation,” he said. Commending Khyber Cement’s contribution, he described the company as progressive, adding, “Kashmir Life today is producing incredible content. On the programme itself, you can compete with anybody across the globe.”
He also singled out presenter Iqra Akhoon for her skill and confidence. “Her presentation is par excellence. The belief she had in herself made it vibrant. The whole team is amazing. This is what we look for, it gives us hope that we are in for better times,” he remarked.
Umar Tramboo, Director Corporate & Strategy at Khyber Cement, in his message, said the partnership with Kashmir Life reflected the company’s longstanding commitment to society. “Partnering with Kashmir Life on Kashmir Architecture is a re-emphasis on Khyber Cement’s core focus,” he said.
Wasim Ahmed Khan Chief sales & customer relations at Khyber Cement called the project “a historic moment in the history of Kashmir, born of a candid conversation.” He credited the collaboration between Editor Masood Hussain’s vision of documenting architecture and Umar Tramboo’s vision of contributing to society for making the series possible.
“We never imagined it would be such a tedious task. Initially, we planned to finish in two to three months, but great credit goes to the Kashmir Life team, who travelled to areas with serious accessibility challenges,” Khan said. “I witnessed the hardships they faced in reaching different corners of Kashmir. The team had to dig deep into the roots from where society evolves. Kashmir Life has left a remarkable mark in writing Kashmir’s history.”
Masood Hussain said, “Architecture is the easiest medium to tell the story of changing times. The team worked day and night for months. What you see today is just the beginning of a new journey.” He added that the project sought to present Kashmir’s history in a more engaging way, also highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in the series.
Presenter and producer Iqra Akhoon reflected on her personal journey: “I have witnessed Kashmir Life growing and changing over the years, and alongside it, I too have grown. In these years, I saw Kashmir Life evolve, I saw Masood Hussain evolve, and I saw myself evolve. Along the way, Khyber Cement too evolved.” She emphasised that the series was about history and origins, not just buildings. “Often, I felt like we were time-travelling. The work was exciting but also stressful. I only hope that when my family sees this, they are proud of me.”
Director Humaira Nabi, in her virtual message from South Africa, called the project “a full-fledged history lesson.” She said, “We were lucky to document and witness things that had never been recorded before. People were unaware of the treasures they were living right beside. It felt like a time machine, becoming aware of three thousand years of history.”
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Umaima Reshi, who extended gratitude to Chief Guest Mohammad Saeed Malik, to Khyber Cement for its support, and to the Kashmir Life team for their tireless dedication. She thanked the guests, media, and participants, closing with the wish: “May knowledge, truth, and progress guide the team in the days ahead.”
