Waiting For Moderators
Kashmiri youth are no longer amenable to sagacious advice
Three instances point to a crisis in Kashmir—the death of two militants Zubair Ahmed Turay and Rouf Khanday in Shopian and Aanantnag, respectively on 1 April; and Junaid, the son of Ashraf Sehrai the new chief of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) taking up arms days after the father replaced Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Each one demonstrates that […]
The exalted, the wisest!
How Prophet (SAW) preached co-existence, harmony
There is a common confusion amongst many that Islam does not tolerate the existence of other religions and instead commands faith by hook or crook. This article discusses some of the foundations that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) laid down in dealing with people of other faiths, with practical examples from his lifetime. The dealings of the […]
Southern flames may scald the nation
Post-1991, every state could take advantage of a more open economy, less control and state-specific strategies. States that were once regarded as having low potential now claim to have achieved high growth rates.
The Constitution of India obliges the President (i.e. the central government) to appoint, every five years, a Finance Commission (Article 280). Its foremost duty is “to make recommendations to the President as to the distribution between the Union and the states of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be… divided between them… and […]
Stopping of Ambulances from Reaching Hospitals – A violation of Medical Neutrality
“Healthcare for all is a human right.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders
Medical neutrality is the principle of non-interference with medical services in times of armed conflict and civil unrest. Medical neutrality requires: The protection of medical personnel, patients, facilities, and transport from attack or interference; 2. Unhindered access to medical care and treatment; 3. The humane treatment of all civilians; and 4. Non-discriminatory treatment of the […]
Breaking the ‘Kashmir Struggle’ Stereotype
Kashmir is once again on the boil which is not good news at all. And what makes the current situation more worrisome is that it has an uncanny similarity with the summer unrest of 2016 that saw a humungous loss of life and property. For one, the initial ‘trigger’ is the same-while it was Hizbul […]
Hijab: a very French obsession
Why is a piece of fabric causing such virulent and irrational reactions in France?
By: Rokhaya Diallo An angelic voice emanating from millions of television screens captivated audiences across France on February 4. A contestant on the popular talent show, The Voice was singing Leonard Cohen’s cult anthem, Hallelujah. The spellbinding performance caused all four members of the show’s jury to turn their chairs around in a mark of […]
Agony of the marginalised
The marginalisation of Muslims began soon after Partition and has since been institutionalised by political parties and governments. Doing away the burka and skull-cap will not end it.
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched/ With rainy marching in the painful field. — Shakespeare, Henry the Fifth Harsh Mander is right: Muslims are being relentlessly marginalised in this country. I would like to add that marginalisation of Muslims has been an ongoing project since shortly after Partition, though not with such venomous […]
The pawns in international disputes
Among the many diplomatic devices countries possess to express outrage, expulsion is the least disruptive
Among the many hazards that diplomats face today, the most ancient one is expulsion, also known as declaration of a diplomat as persona non grata. It is the most effective bloodless punishment as the person concerned is removed lock, stock, and barrel from the scene, never to return. The diplomat concerned may not be […]
And the ‘Vicious’ Cycle of death continues!!
On the First day of the very new month when I was preparing to start a bright and a beautiful sunny spring day with multiple things in mind, destiny had something brutal and tragic written already. Suddenly the scenes of joy and happiness which were witnessed as people thronged the various places including ‘Badam Vaer’and […]
Stop the disastrous gun game!
The people inhabiting 8,000 square miles of earth in Kashmir have been living under the shadow, fear and diktat of the gun for last three decades. A hundred thousand of Kashmiris are said to have lost their lives in this gun game and thousands have reportedly disappeared. The gun brought the sickening gift of orphan-hood […]
