The dawn of spring

M Aamir Khan

There was a time when Kashmir was green and beautiful. There was a time when tall pine trees, gushing streams, splendid houseboats and films stars romancing on shikaras made up for strokes on Kashmir’s canvas. That was the time before 1990. Then, the time line changed and so did the narrative. Shutdowns, crackdowns, curfews, unrest, militancy, exodus…found way into the Kashmir’s story.   

It’s now after 28 years that some perceptible change is being seen and experienced. Its harbingers are not politicians or bureaucrats, but youngsters and their heartening success stories. When Dr Shah Faesal topped the Civil Services Examination in 2009, he became a youth icon. Later, many others followed the example to become IAS and KAS officers.

Parvez Rasool, a cricketer from the Valley, inspired youth in his own way. Kashmir erupted in joy when he played at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also became a part of Team India. Women too made a mark for themselves, especially Bilquis Mir, the first woman from the valley to coach the national kayaking and canoeing team. After Akber Khan, another cyclist Bilal Ahmad brought laurels to the state. It has almost become a routine now to read about youngsters from the Valley excelling in the field of sports. 

Tajamul Islam made everybody proud when she won the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy in 2016. In football, Merajuddin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad won their share of applause like the veteran Abdul Majeed Kakroo, who was the first Kashmiri to captain the Indian squad in 1986-87.

Art suffers the maximum during turbulent times. It is still a state without cinema halls. Yet, you celebrate a local boy’s entry in Bollywood. Mir Sarwar bagged himself some roles in movies. By winning the national award, teenage-actor Zaira Wasim proved why Kashmiri youth deserve their chance. And the recent country-wide release of a made-in-Kashmir film, Kashmir Daily, brought cheer to cinema lovers in the Valley. Social media too is buzzing with videos of young Kashmiri singers and bands like Alif, Aabha Hanjura and Pragnya Wakhlu and many others. Musicians and singers like the trio of Irfan-Bilal-Mehmeet and Abhay Sopori are taking Kashmiri music to international audiences.

The list is long. Here are profiles of a few to inspire many more in the queue. 

Parvez Rasool: Cricketer

Batting for a better future 

In 2013, when Parvez Rasool, a 24-year-old cricketer from Bijbehara in South Kashmir, (hotbed of new-age militancy) was included in the Indian team of Zimbabwe tour, the entire valley celebrated his success. The joy, however, was short lived as he was made to sit on the bench throughout the tournament.

Nevertheless,  Kashmir found its hero in Parvez, who was representing the Valley at the national level. Later, when Parvez arrived at the Srinagar Airport on his first visit home after bagging an IPL contract, he was given a rousing welcome. “I feel proud to be a part of the J&K cricket team. My performance at the Ranji was also appreciated. But the achievement I place at the top is getting to wear the cap of the Indian cricket team,” said Parvez. He finally made his one-day debut against Bangladesh in 2014.

The all-rounder continues to play in the India A team, besides the J&K state team as its captain. His rise  has inspired many aspiring cricketers to chase their dream of playing international cricket tournaments.

Abhay Rustum Sopori: Musician 

Taking the legacy forward

Abhay Rustum Sopori, son of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, had to move his base from the Valley in 1990. But that did not cast its shadow on Abhay’s love for Kashmiri music. He rather took Kashmiri notes and musical legacy left behind by his Sufiana Gharana family, with its roots spanning over nine generations and over three centuries, across the globe. 

Recipient of several awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s first Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and J&K State Award (highest civilian award in J&K state), Abhay is the only Indian contemporary composer, whose composition Haftrang – A Tribute to Kashmir was conducted by the legendary maestro Zubin Mehta.

His has collaborated with several international musicians like Austrian Vienna Boys Choir, Moroccan Lute maestro Haj Younis, Iranian santoor player Dr. Darius Saghafi... and has participated in prestigious music festivals. He is also striving to introduce music as a curriculum subject in J&K. Through charity concerts, he raised Rs 1 crore after the 2005 earthquake and Rs 80 lakh after the September-2014 floods.

Danish Renzu: Filmmaker 

Taking Kashmir to the world

Growing up in strife-torn Kashmir was not easy. However, Danish Renzu did not let that hamper his aspirations. His first short film, In Search of America Inshallah shot in Los Angeles, was well received throughout the world. It won critical acclaim at the Cannes, CAAM, and Noor Iranian Film Festival.

His second short film First Love, was about a South Asian woman finding her muse, premiered at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival in 2015. His Half Widow (2016) is the story of a Kashmiri woman in search of her disappeared husband and is set in the conflict-torn valley of Kashmir. Pashmina, another project is also set in the Valley.

A graduate from University of California, Danish’s only regret is that he cannot show his work to his audience in Kashmir, as there are no functional cinema halls. He has lived through, “frequent bombings, shutdowns and abuse of human rights”, and that made him realise, “early in life that true solution lies in investing our energies toward personal development, education and community growth.”

Amir Hussain Lone: Para-cricketer

Facing the odds to even it out

Tragedy struck Amir Hussain Lone some 20 years ago. In an accident he lost both his arms and he was only seven then. While he lost his limbs, he gained the will to survive and succeed. Today, he is an inspiration not only to the para-athletes, but all sportspersons. Amir went on to become the captain of the J&K para-cricket team.

He holds the bat between his chin and shoulder and plays some beautiful shots. To bowl and field, he uses his feet. In 2016, when the video of the para-cricketer playing the sport went viral, he caught the attention of the entire world. Amir also made it to the national para-cricket team. If he is popular for his strokes on the field, off it, he creates magic with his strokes on the canvas. 

Amir says, “I draw inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar while playing cricket. As for painting, MF Hussain is my role model.” He is often invited by schools and colleges to motivate students. Also an agile swimmer, he adds that if ducks can swim without arms, so can he. 

Afshan Ashiq: Footballer

Goals within reach

Last year in April a photograph of Afshan Ashiq, along with other college girls, pelting stones at the security forces went viral. But now she is the captain of the J&K women football team and also plays for a club in Mumbai. On her agenda, next is playing for the national team. Her journey has even inspired a Bollywood biopic. “I want to be known as a footballer. Police had used harsh language against us.... we picked up stones to defend ourselves then,” Afshan explains.

That episode is history now. Today, she is giving hope to hundreds of girls who aim to make a career in sports. “People in Kashmir have a conservative mindset. They don’t believe that a woman can excel in sports. I am happy that I have been able to convince my parents,” she says.

She is glad about her stint in Mumbai, but rues lack of similar professional set up, especially for women, back in Kashmir. “It is completely a new world in Mumbai. There is competition and exposure, which Kashmiris are deprived of,” she says. 

Bilal Ahmad Dar: Cyclist

Riding for a bright tomorrow

Cycling is not a very popular sport in the country but those who follow it know the worth of the Valley’s teenage-cyclist Bilal Ahmad Dar. Lovers of the sport were awestruck by his performance last year. His accomplishments were noticed by former cricketer VVS Laxman, who tweeted, “Congratulations Bilal Ahmad Dar from Budgam, Kashmir for achieving the milestone of winning four gold medals in a single championship. Proud !” The tweet won Bilal attention and appreciation of those who were not aware of his feats. 

He also won two golds and a bronze in a national cycling championship. He is currently training at the National Cycling Academy, New Delhi, after getting selected in trails held in Srinagar and is hoping to make it to the Asian championship to be held in China in March.

Bilal lost his father in a road accident. He has always rued lack of support from the state government and the J&K State Sports Council.  “He can win medals at international events for India. But, unfortunately, he has never got the support he deserved,” says a member of the council.

meanwhile... 

A hope for cinema lovers

For the first time ever, a film made entirely by a local crew hit screens across the country earlier this month. Kashmir Daily, a two-and-a-half-hour-long film  revolving around a journalist’s struggle to expose a drug mafia, brought some cheer to people, even when there are no big screens. 

“This is for the first time that any film, which is entirely made in Kashmir and by its people released in several cities,” says lead actor of the film Mir Sarwar, a well-known Bollywood actor of Kashmiri origin, who has acted in films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Phantom, Dishoom and Jolly LLB-2. Sarwar says though he has worked in several Bollywood films, but Kashmir Daily is very close to his heart, “It is our contribution to the dormant Kashmir film industry. I hope more independent filmmakers will come forward and make films.” Shot in Urdu and Kashmiri, the film was completed over a period of three years. “There was no help from the government. We shot the movie on our own,” says Hussein Khan. Due to financial constraints, the film was shot in small schedules of two to four days for around a total of 50-60 days. But it took them almost three years to finish the shooting. Now that it has been done, Hussein says, “It is a dream come true to make a film in Kashmir and nourish the industry here.”