Monday, May 7, 2001		The world of  dot.com

J&K—the beauty and the mess

Jammu and Kashmir, a land that was once known for its legendry beauty and splendour, is today in the grip of a tearing feud that has touched the lives of many, within and without the state. Any reference to it, whether in the print or on the Web, finally comes round to the turmoil, and that’s what we realise when we go a surfing tour on sites related to the state. One just needs to be alive to the fact that a lot on the Web can be highly motivated or biased.

The site provides complete knowledge about the beautiful state of Jammu and Kashmir. You can get information about state politicians and senior officials posted in various capacities. The tourism section provides information on the famous tourist spots, hotels, pilgrimages and tourism-related organisations. You will also find news, history of the state, district-wise details like demographic data, climate, crop, industries, human rights, etc.

There is also a description of the Vaishno Devi shrine, the most popular temple in the region. To plan a visit, you can find information on the rest houses and hotels on the way to the shrine. The site also provides a link for bookings in hotels, rest houses and houseboats, etc.

This is the official Web site of the Jammu and Kashmir Government (India). It clarifies in its name that it refers to the Indian part of the state! A well-made site, it has links to pages on government departments, cultural heritage of the state, and the industrial scenario. On the page for the history of Jammu and Kashmir, you can learn about events like the constitution of the J&K Assembly on May 1, 1951, Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the Delhi Agreement, 1952, or the Simla Agreement. A photo gallery of historical moments like Jawaharlal Nehru delivering a speech and many more events is also there. Cultural background, including textile and handicrafts and fairs and festivals, can be found on the site in detail. Adventure sports in J&K, places to visit and tourism are covered under one section. Given the turmoil in the state, no site can ignore referring to it. Efforts of the Indian Government towards achieving normalcy and progress also find place on the site.

Latest Kashmir updates, documentation, and ‘fact sheets’ on militancy-related incidents are the main content of the site. One, of course, has to take care to apply one’s judgement as to the veracity of content when reading anything on such sensitive subjects. The site also contains news, special reports, comments and views on the political situation. Important historical documents related to J&K are also included in the site. A well-organised archive contains news since February 1997.