Ahead of elections in India, a series of films that promote the ruling party’s right-wing ideology are seeking to influence voters. An art historian explains how the trend started. By Preminda Jacob, University of Maryland, Baltimore County As the largest electorate in history goes to the polls in India from April 19 to […]
On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir and revoked its statehood. This was followed by the longest forced lockdown of the entire valley, detention of all mainstream political leaders, suspension of 4G internet and a blanket ban on political dissent in any form by […]
As Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi addressed the UN General Assembly on September 27th, claiming ‘normalcy’ in Kashmir, about 500 individuals and organisations of feminists, women’s rights activists, peace, civil and democratic rights’ activists, lawyers, academics, students, journalists, scientists, artists, writers, and others, raised their voices in salute and solidarity with the women of […]
“At best, it’s a noble attempt to move the situation forward by making the smallest demand one can. At worst, it reflects a delusional belief about the relative nobility of academia as a pursuit that is rooted both in a certain mythology prevalent among academics everywhere as well as casteism in Indian culture.” Ronak Soni […]
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh invited 40 Kashmiri students from Aligarh Muslim University, as part of an initiative to purportedly create awareness about the Centre’s decision to remove Article 370 and address any misconceptions. Since the Abrogation of Article 370 Kashmir has been under complete lockdown. Kashmiris staying in India are unable to contact […]
A team of 5 women visited Kashmir from September 17th-21st 2019. They wanted to see with their own eyes how this 43 day lockdown had affected the people, particularly women and children. Here is their fact finding report. [Kindly note. To protect the identity of the people we met, all names in the Report […]
কাশ্মীর বন্দী। প্রায় এক মাস হতে চলল উপত্যকার সওয়া এক কোটি মানুষের উপর বন্দুকের নলের জোরে চাপিয়ে দেওয়া ভারতীয় ‘লক ডাউন’-এর। বন্ধ যাতায়াত, ফোন এবং ইন্টারনেট পরিষেবা, স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা, বাণিজ্য, ঈদের নামাজ, রেশন এবং অন্যান্য নিত্যপ্রয়োজনীয় সরবরাহ ব্যবস্থা। বন্ধ সাংবাদিকতা। কারাবন্দী অথবা গৃহবন্দী কাশ্মীরের সমস্ত রাজনৈতিক নেতা – বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদী এবং ভারত সমর্থক নির্বিশেষে। বিশেষজ্ঞদের মতে […]
In a 2-part series, Bilal Majid writes about the politics around Article 370, and the Hindutva design of capturing Kashmir. In this part, the author discusses the history of Hindutva vis-a-vis Kashmir as a whole. The first part dealt with the politics around Article 370 and can be read here. Lies, deception, distortions, and […]
In a 2-part series, Bilal Majid writes about the politics around Article 370, and the Hindutva design of capturing Kashmir. This first part deals with the politics around Article 370. In a subsequent account, the author goes into the history of Hindutva vis-a-vis Kashmir as a whole. William James (1842-1910) once remarked, “Whenever you’re […]
Recently, student activists in HCU faced police harassment and threat for organising a screening of national award winning documentary Ram Ke Naam. Students alleged that almost all such events and programs organised by them, now had to face administrative and police hassles. This has become a new normal in the Central University campus. A GroundXero […]
Yesterday, several health activists, practitioners, networks, academics and other individuals issued an open statement on health crisis currently in Kashmir, following abrogation of Article 370, and the clamp down on transport and all means of communications. “The purpose of this statement is to highlight the health situation and to demand the immediate restoration of […]
“The siege is a waiting period Waiting on the tilted ladder In the middle of the storm” -Mahmoud Darwish কাশ্মীর উপত্যকায় রাষ্ট্র-প্রবর্তিত গণ-শ্বাসরোধী স্তব্ধতাকে স্বাভাবিক অবস্থা বলে ভুয়ো প্রচার করে চলেছে সংবাদমাধ্যম। কাশ্মীরের মানুষ গলা চড়িয়ে যন্ত্রণায় আর্তনাদ করে উঠতে চায়। এক দমবন্ধ করা ভয়ে তারা নিশ্চুপ। সারা কাশ্মীর যেন এক তীব্র শোকের […]
একটি রাজ্যকে তার সাংবিধানিক অধিকার কেড়ে নিয়ে কেন্দ্রশাসিত অঞ্চলে নামিয়ে আনা হল, ভেঙে দু’টুকরো করে দেওয়া হল, এমনকী অন্যতম অংশ লাদাখে কোনও বিধানসভা থাকবে না অর্থাৎ দেশের মধ্যে লাদাখের মানুষের কোনও নির্বাচিত জনপ্রতিনিধি থাকবে না— নেওয়া হল এমনও সিদ্ধান্ত। কিন্তু, সে বিষয়ে মতামত প্রকাশের অধিকারই নেই কাশ্মীরের, কাশ্মীরি আমজনতা থেকে বিদ্বজ্জনদের, সংবাদমাধ্যমের। লিখছেন দেবাশিস আইচ। […]
On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had announced that Rs 1 lakh each has been given to designated liaison officers “for organising Eid festivities for students from the state who are studying in other states” and are unable to come home on the occasion of Eid amid military clampdown in the Valley. […]
Right wing forces in Patna have attacked a peaceful protest organised against the abrogation of Article 370, which until recently accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir. A GroundXero report. On 5 July, a protest meeting was organised at Kargil Chowk, Gandhi Maidan at 5 PM under the banner of Nagrik Pahal, consisting of […]