|
|
|
|
Sale of machine-made goods as Kashmiri art
It’s time to party
New Year revellers flock Patnitop
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Terrorist victim needing urgent surgery looks up to govt
Som Raj shows his injured leg at his rented house in Jammu. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Urdu academy fails to see light of day
Chouhan highlights contribution of Kashmir
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan (attired in a white pheran) and veteran Kashmiri Pandit leader Amar Nath
Vaishnavi at a function organised by the Panun Kashmir in Jammu. Photo by the
writer
Nusrat Jahan Ara receives the TATA TiE Stree Shakti Award in Mumbai. Tribune photo
VC: Need to improve social affairs reporting in valley
Resolutions or no resolutions is the question
Jammu diary
|
|
Sale of machine-made goods as Kashmiri art Afsana Rashid
Srinagar, December 29 Khan added that the artisans brought into notice that machine-made products from China were being exported to the Middle-East in huge quantities. “These products are being misbranded and sold as handmade Kashmiri products.” The chamber, during its recent meeting, discussed measures to curb the sale of machine-made embroidered shawls and suits branded as Kashmiri handmade products. A delegation of shawl workers union, representatives from the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium, leading exporters and KCCI representatives attended the meeting. Abdul Majid Matoo, a former president of the KCCI presided. According to the KCCI, the issue would be taken up with the government and legislation to bar the misbranding of products is the need of hour. “It was decided to organise a meeting of leading exporters to make them aware of loss being caused to artisans and the Kashmir art industry due to misbranding,” said the secretary general, adding, “Awareness is being provided to the artists to make high quality products that would offer tough competition to machine-made products.” Khan added that need to make consumers aware of difference in quality between original Kashmiri art and machine-made products was also felt. “Accordingly, measures required to distinguish between the two were also discussed.”
|
|
It’s time to party
Jammu, December 29 Comedians like Sudesh lehri and Bharti “Lalli”, who have become a household name after the success of TV show Comedy Circus, would ensure people usher in the New Year with guffaws. Famous DJs and singers roped in by others would offer a musical treat on the New Year Eve. The only hiccup is that most of the parties are open to couples only, barring one or two places where singles are also welcome. But the positive side of couple entry would be that “stags” would be there on the roads presenting the best spirit of the festivity. Following are some of the main programmes one can look forward to on the New Year Eve. Jhelum Resort: Couple entry: Rs 1799; Special attraction: Best dancing couple, best dressed couple, and best old couple. 17 miles: Moroccan style party, famous DJ, sizzling food and dance; Ticket holders win a trip to Dubai or Rs 20,000 in cash. KK Resorts: Rejouir 2010; Shame-e-Ghazal by Darmesh Nagotra; Rs 1,500 per couple, Rs 2,000 per couple plus two kids. Jammu Club: Harish Moyal (Indian Idol finalist) and Bollywood Singer Prerna; Couple entry. Amar Singh Club: Sanober Kabir of “Beri ka Ber fame”, comedian Sudesh Lehri. Ritz Manor: Dance troupes; Couple entry: Rs 3,500. City Farms: Bharti Singh Lalli, rock band of Manipur, Moll Raj Misher (singer); Rs 1,200 for single entry and Rs 2,200 for couple entry. Hari Palace: Rs 2700 per couple, kids under 12 free, buffet and DJ.
|
|
Terrorist victim needing urgent surgery looks up to govt
Jammu, December 29 Since that nightmarish incident the family has never been to its village. He is putting up in a hostel at DBN School, Panjtirthi, along with three children and wife. His wife stitches dresses for hostellers to eke out a living. His fourth (eldest) child resides in an orphanage for militancy-hit children. Eleven years fail to make him forget the black Friday morning of June 19, 1998. A baraat in which he was participating was targeted by militants at Chapnari village, about 12 km from Doda district. The carnage left 26 dead on the spot, besides several others injured seriously. “The militants swooped down on the baraat as it was proceeding through a mountainous rift. No sooner did they open fire, a burst of bullets went off piercing my right thigh. Before I could make out what had happened, another burst of gunshots hit the left shin and I was on the ground with my face sunk in dust. To protect my head, I placed my left arm on my head which was soon flung aside by another gunshot. Again I pulled the arm around my head and yet again it was hit by bullets,” he recounted. “Then another gunshot pierced through my chin and went out from the upper lip breaking four teeth. Before I could get more gunshots, I got buried in a heap of bullet-riddled bodies.” Since then he has been in and out of hospital. He has officially been declared invalid. All he got from the government was Rs 70,000 two years after the incident and Rs 1600 per month coupled with 9 kg ration as monthly relief. “The government has put me in the category of border migrants instead of treating me on a par with the militancy-affected Kashmir-based migrants,” he rued. “During a surgery of the right leg, a vein got cut restricting blood circulation. Doctors at the local GMC hospital have been asking for Rs 40000 for surgery but I am penniless,” he rued, adding that “doctors say that if surgery was not conducted within a specified time, the limb will have to be amputated.” The divisional commissioner has already forwarded his case to the Chief Minister’s principal secretary, demanding financial assistance from the CM’s Relief Fund. However, the bureaucratic delays are giving sleepless nights to the wounded soul.
|
|
New Year revellers flock Patnitop
Patnitop, December 29 Tourists are hoping to see snowfall from the top of a mountainous point, Natha Top. Though there has been no major snowfall this year and the skiing point also lacks snow cover, tourists and hoteliers are hopeful of snowfall on the New Year eve. With an increase in the number of tourists, room tariffs have been increased to almost double in the past 15 days. According to local hoteliers, a large number of tourists from Delhi and Punjab have already reserved their rooms in hotels to celebrate New Year on the hilltop. “Most of the hotels have been completely booked. Till December 22, room tariff on an average basis was Rs 600-800 for two persons and now the same room is available for Rs 1,400-1,600,” said Swaran Singh, owner of a famous hotel. “This is the peak time for our business, as tourists from across the country come to see the natural beauty of this area. Whatever we earn during the season sustains our living all through the year since in rest of the seasons, the place remains deserted,” said Gulshan Kumar, a hotel manager, who hopes for snowfall in the coming days. He further added they had instructed their staff that how to deal with the tourists because last year some incidents of verbal arguments were reported. The hill station these days wears a festive look with most of the hotels decorated with lights and other things. However, the tourist rush has also led to traffic chaos since most of the parking lots are packed to capacity. “Earlier, we were collecting an entry fee of Rs 1,000 per day, but now due to high tourist inflow we are collecting almost three times money,” said Raman Kumar, manager of toll tax counter of the Patnitop Development Authority. A group of college students from Delhi, who arrived here on the eve of Christmas, New Year revellers flock Patnitop said, “This place is awesome. Its mountainous beauty attracts a large number of tourists, especially newlywed couples”. They said they had run short of money and had to go back to Delhi for celebrating the New Year. “I was not aware about the room tariff here, which is definitely not pocket friendly. We had to spend a lot on that,” said Anamika Gupta, a student. Taxi drivers are also making hay, ferrying people to famous tourist spots. Besides, roadside vendors and tea stall owners are also doing brisk business. They have also raised the prices of their commodities. Some minor cases of cheating and pickpockets have also been reported during these days. “Now, everything depends on the weather. If there is timely snowfall, more tourists are expected, which would further give a boost to the local tourism industry,” said local traders.
|
|
Urdu academy fails to see light of day
Jammu, December 29 The state, which has Urdu as its official language, could not get an Urdu academy. Despite demand being raised by writers and poets here, the academy remains a distant dream. Dr Liaqat Jafri, an Urdu poet and joint secretary of the Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu Hind (J&K), said people of state would continue to demand an Urdu academy till it was established in the Jammu region. “All prominent writers and poets of the language visit Kashmir and Jammu is facing discrimination so far as literary functions are concerned. Poets like Gulzar and Nida Fazli should frequently visit our state, but there is a lack of initiative on the part of the authorities,” he rued. “Kul Hind Mushaira is held annually, but it was not organised this year,” he complained, but expressed satisfaction that new faces were emerging in the literary world of Urdu in the region despite odds. Among them are Khalid Karaar, Mohtashim Ahtsham, Shabih-ul-Hasan, Ghulam Nabi Hasil, Anwar Khan, Imtiyaz Naseem Hashmi, Alamdaar Adam Poonch, Ghulam Nabi Gafil Kishtwar, Sibte Raza, Tariq Raza and Varun Wakif, he added. “This year the Department of Urdu, University of Jammu, took an initiative to connect with the common masses by organising civil society extension lectures and mushairas,” he said and added that literary organisations like Dabastaan-e-Himala, Rajouri, were doing a great job in the promotion of the language. Dr Jafri also stressed upon the corporate sector to patronage poetic congregations in the city as was the trend in other states. Prof Lalit Magotra, president of Dogri Sanstha, Jammu, opined that the year was fairly good for Dogri. “A number of quality books were produced this year, surpassing the collective number of Dogri books written in any year,” he said. “Another important development is that candidates preparing for the civil services examination have started opting for Dogri as one of their subjects. The Dogri Sanstha also held free coaching classes for the aspiring students”. “For the first time, a play in Dogri, 'Ghumahee’, directed by Balwant Thakur, was staged in Russia, Germany, Poland and Hungary whereas Pradhuman Singh Jindhrahia won the Sahitya Akademi award for his poetic work,” he added. Prof Magotra demanded that Dogri must be introduced in the schools as a compulsory subject and Dogri teachers should be appointed at the secondary and senior secondary levels. However, Magotra welcomed one of the recommendations of controversial Justice Sagir’s report on center-state relations that endorses a Dogri channel for the Jammu region. Dr Amandeep Singh, deputy secretary, Academy for Art Culture and Languages, Jammu, opined the year was fruitful as the academy held plethora of functions for the promotion of cultural and literary activities. “We organised a national-level Hindi conference, besides more than 100 poetic congregations of different languages across the region,” he said and added, “To promote budding artists, the academy started a talent hunt programme through which more than 250 artists were selected and workshops were organised to hone their skills”.
|
|
Chouhan highlights contribution of Kashmir
Jammu, December 29 But Chouhan proudly traces his roots in Kashmir. At a function organised here recently by the Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of Kashmiri Pandits (KP), Chouhan publicly said he was one amongst the community. The Panun Kashmir has been fighting for a separate homeland with a Union Territory status within Kashmir for the displaced
community.
“My gotra is Kashyap and I belong to the clan of Kashyap Rishi who had founded Kashmir thousands of years ago. So, I have definitely a well-connected link,” Chouhan said amidst a thunderous applause from Kashmiri Pandits audience. Attired in a typical Kashmiri pheran, a sort of a long uncut robe that was presented to him by the organisers, the Chief Minister said there was a famous and revered Sharda Temple in his state located in the holy town of Maihar in Satna district. “Goddess Sharda is a deity of Kashmir and since ages, the people of the country have been seeking her blessings for knowledge and wisdom,” he said. Chouhan said: “Kashmir has remained the highest seat of knowledge and even people from the south used to visit Kashmir for pursuing spiritual and other education”. “Kashmir has contributed immensely to Sanskrit literature, religion, aesthetics and philosophy,” Chouhan said while reciting Sanskrit verses on the occasion. Practically, most of the races can be traced to Kashmir, the plausible explanation being that people in the past migrated from mainland India and outside to Kashmir in search of knowledge and spirituality. “Its historical link with the country is for all to see,” he added. Incidentally, Kashyap gotra finds mention in the gotra list of Kashmiri Pandits as enunciated by KP almanac, which was also released on the occasion. Chouhan is not in fact the only politician who links his ancestry to Kashmir. Well-known southern politician Subramaniamswamy and scores of others proudly proclaim themselves as “Sarasvat Brahamans,” a majority of whom resided in Kashmir. The ancestors of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the Independent India, also belonged to Kashmir. They had migrated to UP but their love for Kashmir never vanished.
|
|
Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award
Srinagar, December 29 This award is given to outstanding women entrepreneurs across the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise). These awards are given to recognise the growing aspiring role of Indian women in business and comprise a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, each. “It is great to receive the award. It is encouraging for entrepreneurship. I joined the field that was new, but my family supported me throughout. Without their support I may not have succeeded in getting this position,” said Nusrat. Nusrat (petals agritech) received the award under the small enterprise category at a function in Mumbai recently. Her work was highly appreciated. Thirtyfour-year-old Nusrat is regarded as the founder of cut flower industry in the state. She entered cut flower business in 2000 with literally no financial support. Now, she is recognised as the most successful women entrepreneur in the Valley. With her determination, she has established herself as a successful businesswoman with the annual turnover of her business unit touching Rs 2 crore. She now owns the state franchise of the country’s largest chain of fresh flower stores ‘Petals n Ferns’. “As a Pan India initiative, the programme aims at connecting women entrepreneurs from different socio-economic strata and celebrate inspiring women entrepreneurs in the country,” believe the organisers. A graduate in computer applications, Nusrat comes from Dadoora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. She broke all odds and went on to set out an example. She started a business that was unheard in Kashmir. “I wanted to start a business that was new. Cut flower was the best option”. The Grassroot Entrepreurship Monitor (GEM), commissioned and conducted by Indian consulting group, identified the needs of women entrepreneurs across three segments that is, aspiring, grassroots and mid rung across the country. According to a press release, the conference is part of a larger platform. “The Tata TIE Stree Shakti seeks to reflect the growing role of women in Indian entrepreneurial eco-system and enabling aspiring businesswomen to realise their dream of running own enterprise successfully through educational programmes”. |
|
VC: Need to improve social affairs reporting in valley
Srinagar, December 29 Media products, both print and electronic, produced by students, who participated in the workshop, were put on display during a dissemination event at the university recently. “Output from trainees gives an impression that two-year project has been successful,” said Prof Riyaz Punjabi, vice-chancellor. The programme was organised by the BBCWST in collaboration with the EMMRC and the Media Education Research Centre (MERC), University of Kashmir. “The project aimed at improving coverage of media reports on social affairs and making them more effective by enhancing skills of faculty and students,” said Prof Punjabi. The vice-chancellor said social affairs reporting in this part of the country had been ignored for long, but with such workshops it was brought to the fore. Altaf Hussain, a senior journalist, said, “Social affairs reporting is not a new phenomenon here, but perhaps the conflict related issues take up most of space that social reporting takes a back seat”. Mirza Waheed from the BBC said commitment was important for good journalism. “We should follow up on stories that we have done earlier, besides moving to new ones”. Dr Shahid Rasool, director, MERC and EMMRC, said the aim of the project was to improve and encourage social affairs reporting in the media in Kashmir. Harpeet Kaur, project manager, said during training, students were divided into groups, each headed by a trainer. “The stories focused on the impact of earthquake on health, education, livelihood, constructions, gender and role played by NGOs during earthquake in Uri and Tangdhar. Fieldwork was also organised for first-year students who covered stories on issues related to environment and ecology, agriculture and transport facilities”. The project funded by Ford Foundation was initially meant for senior students of the university, but the BBCWST extended its reach to junior batches of the MERC and graduate students of Baramulla Degree College. The participants were also offered hostile environment training. The workshop was subdivided into various programmes like “train the trainers programme”, followed by training offered to students. “We have managed to introduce and develop some core journalistic skills among students,” said Stephen Hall, an international trainer. Participants said skills imparted to them would guide them throughout their career. “It has been an enriching experience and we would love to have more such workshops,” they add. |
|
Resolutions or no resolutions is the question
Jammu, December 29 As the world is saying adieu to 2009, The Tribune interacted with some youths here. They were differently opinionated about New Year resolutions. To some, resolutions keep them from detracting, while others say such resolutions prove short-lived as being prompted by impulse. Ravinder Singh, an engineering student, feels regretful over his emotional dependence on friends as his feelings got a cold shoulder. From now onwards, he has decided not to expect anything from anyone. “Any sort of dependence on other person is a sign of weak personality. Everyone is bound to his own compulsions and priorities. So, priorities or interests seldom make a match,” he opines and adds: “Now I will keep a tap on my expectations from people. Unfulfilled expectations leave your heart aching and conscience troubled”. Mohammad Sagir feels different. Any person who embraces resolutions suffers from one weakness or the other at the individual level. “Such weakness is just because the person concerned does not feel comfortable with the self and is always vulnerable to the external world,” he believes, and adds: “In 99 per cent of the cases resolutions do not workout. So, making any resolutions on the eve of the New Year is out of question”. Contradicting the theory, Dinesh Sharma strongly believes that resolutions shape our life and discipline our daily activities. “Making resolutions is a part of evolving yourself at the societal and personal level. Whether your resolution is right or wrong, it proves successful or failure, it all depends on your sense of judgement and willpower”. “In the coming year, I will devote more time to studies to get through civil services examination,” said Sharma, who wants a clean system through administrative channels. Voicing similar view, Abrar Khan, a student of the University of Jammu, feels that if one wants to make the existence meaningful, there should be a set of unshakeable resolutions made after the meticulous analysis of things. “I shall visit my village in Poonch during summer and spare time for educating tribal children. If others also follow the suit, manpower of this country can become more productive,” he maintains. But a newly appointed lecturer Ranjeet Singh deems ‘resolution-making’ a tardy and painstaking exercise and he finds the execution of the same even more excruciating. “I am a footloose, so I don’t put bindings on my liberty,” he says. On the fillip side, psychologists consider that people adopting resolutions carry ‘passive-aggressive’ personality. “They are always over conscious of their actions. After committing some mistake, they develop a sense of guilt and yearn for undoing the same. They endeavour to live without previous faults and aim for not repeating the same,” said Dr JR Thapa, a senior psychiatrist. |
|
Christmas fervour all over
Information Dept ‘knocks out’ BJP MLA
The Information Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government was in quagmire over mentioning the names of all leaders present in the function organised to observe the 20th death anniversary of Prem Nath Bhat. Minister of Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed presided over the function in which NC Lok Sabha member Mehbooba Beig and BJP MLA from Nagrota Jugal Kishore Sharma were also present. Being deputy leader of the BJP legislative party, Information Department officials did not want to mention the name of the BJP MLA. The officials were in a dilemma either to totally black out the presence of the BJP MLA or wrongly mention his name. Ultimately, they mentioned the names of the minister and the Lok Sabha member who belongs to ruling the National Conference but at the end of the official handout they mentioned that the Nagrota MLA was also present on the occasion, without mentioning his name. A rare feast
It was a gala time for the residents of Manyari village, who were seeking their share of the dead wild boar from the police and officials of the Animal Husbandry Department. When officials of the department concerned were burying the animal, villagers demanded that instead of cremating the beast, it should be handed over to them. The boar was killed in a hunting expedition recently by hunters. When one of their guides was accidentally killed in a fire, the poachers had to flee from the spot, leaving behind the dead animal. In this border belt pork is one of the favourite dishes among the people. And the villagers did not want to miss the opportunity to partake meat of the boar killed by poachers. Not only the villagers, police and officials of the Animal Husbandry Department also shared the rarely found animal. Wadali brothers
Wadali brothers — Puranchand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali— were unpredictably witty when they reached the stage after the scheduled time at a concert here this week. The sufi singers after taking to the stage complained about the poor sound arrangements in the auditorium. While they were directing the sound technicians to make adjustments of all mikes, the humming of mikes came handy to them for making the desperate audience to break into giggles. “Eh jet jahaaz ki saari raat chalde rehan ge” quipped the elder Wadali. (Contributed by Jupinderjit Singh, Dinesh Manhotra, Archit Watts and
Ashutosh Sharma) |
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Jammu, December 29
Jammu, December 29
The state has probably all kinds of communities but Christians are surely fewer. Still Christmas fervour was spread all around. India, true to its culture, has lapped up the festivals of all communities who live here. But in Jammu and Kashmir, where community and regional divide is the most marked, the celebrations were quite surpising. Santa Claus was visible everywhere. Children, young and old people were all dressed as Santa offering love hugs and gifts. Children dressed in red and white dresses with caps and white beard were seen stopping passersby for offering them sweets. But the most touching scene was surely salesmen (see picture) at a fuel station filling fuel. That day they surely must not have pilfered a single drop.