Srinagar, February 12
The University of Kashmir has made available research contributions of three academic and research institutions online in the form of an “open access repository.” With this, research contributions of faculties, scholars and scientists in the University of Kashmir, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, have been put on the website.

The initiative, which was launched recently, aims at harvesting voluntarily research papers, ETD (electronic thesis and dissertations) and conference proceedings in the three institutions and aggregating them in the repository for making them visible to interested scholarly community at the global level.

The repository, known as Knowledge Repository Open Network (KNOOR), is being developed, maintained and regulated by the Department of Library and Information Science in collaboration with the Directorate of IT&SS of the University of Kashmir, a spokesman for the university said.

The multilingual repository, which will help save vital documents for posterity and ensure their preservation, easy access, dissemination and transparency, is user-friendly which will be accessible under indicators like ‘subject, author or paper title.’ Its broad categories include conference proceedings and research papers, both pre-print and post-print. The optimised search facility would make it easy for anybody to find any item within a short span of time. Users can also access at the advance level using more than one indicator to have more precision at different levels such as subject or author level, the spokesman said.

Riyaz Punjabi, vice-chancellor of Kashmir University, while reviewing the exercise, has urged the administrator to extend the facility to all other universities and educational institutions in the state. “We have already kick-started the initiative and it will automatically expand with the passage of time,” the vice-chancellor said.

The university has already put the abstract and full text of open access papers online. The contributors can upload their research contributions (after completion of all formalities) from time to time. Every academic faculty, scientist, research scholar of the participating institutions in the repository network can submit research papers either directly by visiting the website or indirectly by mailing, the spokesman stated.

Jammu, February 12
The state government will constitute a separate board for other backward classes to help accelerate the pace of their development.

The state is fast moving on the track of development and it is essential that the government takes care of all sections of society so that they are benefited through the process, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here yesterday.

OBCs have a key role to play in the all-round development of the state, he said, adding that the government was serious to ameliorate the lot of this category.

Earlier, the OBCs were clubbed with SC and ST (SC/ST) boards.

A separate Kisan Welfare Board had already been set up for the welfare of farmers, he said. — PTI 

The statue of Gen Bikram Singh installed at Bikram Chowk gave me much satisfaction. I am also emotionally attached with it. I got recognition of hat work as many admired the exact resemblance the statue has with the great warrior.

Ashutosh Sharma: You have set up a foundry in Birpur, far away from the city. It could have been easier for people to see your works if it were closer to city.

RSJ: Where is so much land available in the city? Moreover, there is no peace in an urban area. My family and villagers are always there to support me in every possible way.

But yes, sometimes, it becomes a painstaking job when the statues are to be commissioned in the city like the shifting of Zorawar Singh’s statue.

Akriti Bhat (student): But Sir, doesn’t living in small town affects your career prospects?

RSJ: Absolutely not. Rather one is more attached to the grassroots and reality of life.

DM: Birpur, as the name suggests is a land of warriors and it has rich history of Army officers. How was an artist born there?

RSJ: That is quite an interesting. My father too fought in Vietnam and foreign countries and the village has a rich history. Perhaps, art or artist is born at such places only where life unfolds in all colours.

Charu Mahajan (student): Your sculptures are more in the open places and not in the galleries.

RSJ: I believe sculptures and art work is not meant to be kept in galleries. How many people visit galleries? I prefer my sculptures to be put in open places where common people like me can see it any time. There are many who come and ask me what I have made, what is the meaning? I try to explain as I love the feeling that at least they have seen and asked which would not have been the case, if the works were indoors.

AS: Would you please elaborate on the process of metal statue making?

RSJ: As a first step, the desired model is made in clay. Then, we prepare detachable moulds of plaster of Paris. Thereupon, the same moulds are given a fine coat of wax from inside and runners are placed for pouring molten metal in them. The same moulds are then put in furnace for melting wax and casting. It takes three days and several quintals of wood in the furnace.

Metal casting is the most daring part of the entire process. We are supposed to put the molten metal in the cast within two minutes and the job requires a lot of muscle power and fine craftsmanship amidst soaring temperature near the furnace. Even the onlookers get frighten looking at the scene.

Archit Watts (AW): After the installation, statues are not taken care of. Don’t you feel bad?

RSJ: I feel that the statute becomes a part of nature. Birds sit on it as they do on a tree. But still, the authorities can take care and clean it regularly and repair, if required.

AS: The spectacles on the statue of Gandhi don’t seem to be the one he used to wear. Visibly, the spectacles being large in size cover the entire face. Your comments.

RSJ: My statue did not have those spectacles. I too find them awkward. I was told to make the statue without spectacles and I did it, but later a section of press reported that the spectacles have gone missing from the statue. Subsequently, someone put the glasses.

AS: The statue of freedom fighter Com Dhanwantri is lying with you for the past several years. Why it has not been installed?

RSJ: The Jammu Development Authority commissioned the project to me 10 years ago. I made it within weeks. But they couldn’t find a place for it. I spent nearly Rs 90,000 on the project and havn’t got a single penny for it. It is pathetic that the statue of a freedom fighter of the stature of Dhanwantri could not find any space in his home state.

AS: Which human expression you use the most?

RSJ: Earlier it was sadness; I tried to bring this sentiment apparent on the face of most of my statues. Subsequently, it was militancy, especially violence-hit migrants. I have highlighted their plight in my own way from time to time.

Akriti: How should a youngster pursue a career in Art? Where should he start from?

RSJ: Sketching is basic. Every painter or sculptor should start from sketching. And that does not mean you should start copying paintings or pictures. That is mere copying and a camera can do it better. Artists should practice sketching landscapes, humans or anything that inspires them and keep practicing.

Sunaina Kaul (SK): What is the scope of this art as a profession in this state?

RSJ: Earlier, there was no scope for sculptor art to be adopted as a profession in this state, but now more people are adopting it as a profession. Like paintings, sculptor artifacts are also sold in lakhs and crores in national and international markets.

Those who do hard work with dedication definitely get success in this profession.

Money does helps, for instance, former Governor Jagmohan and senior IAS officer Chakravarthy gave me many orders and persons like them help in mushrooming of artists.

JJS: Generally, a woman or a love affair becomes the base, the real inspiration of an artist?

RSJ: Everyone has certain experiences in life, good or bad. There are always something which remain in one’s heart and can’t be shared.

AW: Why does every artist have a different look, like you have long beard?

RSJ: An artist sees the world with his own eye and he or she thinks that they must look different from the people belonging to other walks of society. I keep long beard and I am comfortable with it. Moreover, our teachers were also like this. I continue wearing jeans even though people say it doesn’t suit my age. But I am like that only.

Srinagar, February 12
The weekly bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was suspended yesterday after incessant snowfall and rain over the past few days triggered landslides at several places blocking the road in the Uri sector.

“Carvan-e-Aman” could not operate as per schedule yesterday as the 170-km road was blocked by landslides between Red Bridge and Kaman Post in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, official sources said.

However, the bus is expected to resume normal operations from the next week if weather permits, the sources said.

High altitude areas in Kashmir received heavy snowfall while the plains were lashed by incessant rains in the past few days, resulting in closure of most of the roads leading to bordervillages.

The bus service was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in April 2005, as part of confidence building measures between India and Pakistan.

Initially, the bus was a fortnightly affair, but later it was made a weekly service.

The bus usually starts from Srinagar and carry passengers to Kaman post, the last point on this side, and return with the passengers who reach there from the other side. — PTI

Srinagar, February 12
Residents of the Kashmir valley finally had a sigh of relief after the end of strike and violent protests that had erupted following the alleged killing of two teenaged boys by security forces.

The valley saw violent protests and shutdown for more than one week. Now, with the opening of markets, life seems to be returning to normal. Abdul Rashid, a resident of Srinagar city, said, “The common man had to face a shortage of essential commodities. Adding to their miseries was the fact that the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only surface link between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country, remained closed for almost five days following heavy snowfall”.

He said most shopkeepers tried to cash in on the conditions and jacked up prices of commodities of daily need.

“They (shopkeepers) had increased the prices of items of daily use. Every time the highway closes, the shopkeepers start charging exorbitant prices and the government remains a mute spectator to this exploitation by the shopkeepers,” said Rashid.

However, with the end of the strike and the opening of the national highway, the residents hope that their miseries would end as fresh stock would arrive in the valley, bridging the gap between the demand and supply.

“Due to the closure of the road, we could not find poultry products and mutton. Even fresh vegetables were not available. We had to depend on pulses and dried vegetables. But now the stranded vehicles carrying these items have been allowed to move with the opening of the highway. We are hopeful that we would get fresh vegetables soon,” said Preetam Singh, a resident of the Jawahar Nagar locality.

Meanwhile, tall claims of the government regarding adequate stock of essential commodities got exposed with the closure of the highway for five days.

“Claims of the authorities were exposed in just five days. When the government is aware that the closure of the highway is a perennial problem, it should come out with a foolproof plan so that people don’t face any hardships,” said Khalid Bashir, a local businessman.

Srinagar, February 12
For the past many days, the family of Mohammad Sayeed in Anantnag has been eager to send gifts and greetings to the family members of Sohan Lal on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, which once the two families used to celebrate together.

The Pandit family from the south Kashmir is now settled in Punjab for the past 22 years. Sohan Lal from a Kulgam village in south Kashmir was then posted in Anantnag and living there as a tenant. “They had left this place much before the onset of militancy,” said the family members and it was after a long time that the two families got in touch about four years ago.

Since then, they not only exchange good wishes but also gifts on religious occasions. While many others here conveyed good wishes to their Pandit brethren telephonically, it was a different festivity for the two families.

Only about two weeks back, the family of Mohammad Sayeed returned after visiting their Pandit friends in a Punjab town, after offering various gifts, particularly Kashmir walnuts. And when the Pandit family was celebrating, their friends in Kashmir exchanged each and every moment related to the festivities recalling good old days spent together, with little children not fully aware of the traditional relationship between the two families.

The festival, which marks the consumption of fish food and walnuts, always marked the beginning of a new year in Kashmir after a harsh winter. After the migration of over two lakh Pandits with the eruption of militancy, the traditional festivity and gaiety is not so abundantly in sight.

For nearly 3,000 Pandits living in the valley, the festival is being celebrated with religious fervour and exchange of traditional amity and brotherhood. The festival is popularly known among Kashmiris as “Heyrath”, while the greetings are exchanged on the occasion of Maha Shivratri after nightlong prayers.

“Relatives, friends and Muslim brethren exchange greetings on this occasion,” said Sanjay K Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandits Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS).

He, however, lamented the tall claims of the government on the availability and prices of essential commodities, mainly vegetables and fish on the occasion. “Vegetables have been costly, there was no power, and no fish was available in the market,” he said, adding that such a situation was witnessed on this main festival after a gap of 10 years. He also ridiculed the government’s claim of having distributed 3.9 quintals of trout fish at the doorsteps of Pandit families for Maha Shivratri.