SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s leading tertiary care hospital, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, has registered over 4,000 cases of cancer this year so far, while over 44,000 have been registered at the institute since 2014.
According to details available with news agency KNO, SKIMS Soura has registered 4,095 new cases of cancer as of September of this year. From 2014 till September 2023, 44,112 cases of cancer were reported to the institute.
As per details, 3,940 cases were registered in 2014, followed by 4,417 in 2015, 4,320 in 2016, 4,352 in 2017, 4,816 in 2018, 4,337 in 2019, 3,814 in 2020, 4,727 in 2021, 5,294 in 2022, and 4,095 in the ongoing year till September.
Officials said that cancer cases have shown a steep rise in Kashmir, adding that in men, lung cancer is the most prominent one, while women are fast falling prey to breast cancer.
“Smoking is one of the primary reasons for cancer among males, besides family history, obesity, and age, among other factors, responsible for the cancer cases,” they said, adding that early detection of the disease helps provide timely treatment, which ultimately can help save precious lives.
According to data from the Union Health Ministry, 51,577 cases of cancer were reported in JK in the last four years (2019-2022), with 12,396 in 2019, 12,726 cases in 2020, 13,060 cases in 2021, and 13,395 cases in 2022.
A total of 35,623 people in J&K died of cancer between 2018 and 2022, with 6,824 cancer patients reported to have died in 2018, 7,003 deaths reported in 2019, 7,189 deaths reported in 2020, 7,211 deaths reported in 2021, and 7,396 cancer patient fatalities reported in 2022.
Pertinently, a 2012 study of SKIMS attributed the rising cancer incidence to “dietary practices and lifestyle choices” as well as the intake of foods with high salt content—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir administration announced on Thursday the appointment of commissioners from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) as administrators.
The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) formally assigned the role of administrators to the Commissioners of SMC and JMC, effective for a term of two years or until the establishment of the Corporation, whichever occurs first. This decision arose due to the conclusion of the five-year term of the elected representatives on November 05 and November 14, respectively.
According to a notification obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the H&UDD directed that the commissioners shall carry out the functions and duties of the Corporation(s) as outlined in the Municipal Corporation Act-2000.
To address challenges in implementing the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act after the expiration of the elected representatives’ five-year term, the government issued the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2023. This measure aims to facilitate smooth administration and enhance public services.
Empowered by section 427 of the Municipal Corporation Act, the government can issue such orders to overcome difficulties in implementing the Act or due to conflicts with other existing enactments.
On Wednesday, the government also designated deputy commissioners and additional district development commissioners as administrators for municipal councils and committees, respectively
In an operation that lasted many days, five soldiers including two Captain rank officers were killed by militants in upper Rajouri areas. Though the two militants were eventually killed, the events indicate that militancy is gradually shifting base, reportsFaiqa Masoodi
Rajouri Gunfight: Wreath Laying Ceremony. LG Manoj Sinha laying floral wreaths on the coffin of soldiers who fell in the line of duty in Rajouri in November 2023.
In Rajouri’s Bajimaal area, two army officers were among five soldiers who lost their lives in a two-day gun battle with militants last week. Subsequently, two Pakistani militants were killed after which the operation was successfully called off. The soldiers who fell in the line of duty include Captain MV Pranjal of Mangalore (Karnataka), Captain Shubham Gupta of Agra (UP), Havaldar Abdul Majid of Ajote (Poonch), Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht of Nainital (Uttarakhand) and para-trooper Sachin Laur of Nagaliya Giurola in UP’s Aligarh.
According to Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, Defence PRO Jammu, the army was monitoring the movements of the militants after receiving information about their presence for the last month.
“A month prior, search efforts were conducted, and on Wednesday, communication was established with the terrorists who were hiding. All intelligence agencies were working to eliminate this threat. After the terrorists were successfully eliminated, we concluded the operation yesterday,” PRO said. Recoveries include a sizable quantity of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. The searches of the area are still ongoing.
The operation began on November 17, after a militant was killed in an encounter in the Behrote Budhal area of Rajouri where two to three militants were believed to be trapped.
“One terrorist neutralised, huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site Behrot in Budhal of Rajouri District. The identity of the terrorist is being ascertained. Search operation underway,” Jammu and Kashmir Police had said.
In the aftermath of the skirmish, militants were spotted traversing the neighbouring villages, foraging for sustenance among the local populace. The Wire reported that security personnel received at least two tips regarding the presence of militants in the area on November 19.
Following the tips, a joint team of security forces comprising the Army and JK Police among other central paramilitary forces launched search operations in Ziarat, Mal, Gulabgarh forest, and the Solaki area of Kalakote in Rajouri district where militants were believed to be hiding.
The Hindustan Times reported that the two militants were first spotted at a house in Kalakote asking for food. “They had visited the house on Sunday where they were seen talking to women for food. A video of the duo is being shared widely on social media.”
The contact with the militants was established on November 22 when the security forces were laying a cordon around the area. The militants with heavy weapons were firmly established on the hillsides of Solki, resulting in a bloody gunfight in the district’s Baajimal neighbourhood.
The Wire reported that the intensity of the fire was so high that the joint team had to retreat, leaving some of the injured behind, and regroup, before taking on the militants.
On day one of operation four army personnel, including two captains, were killed. Another soldier succumbed to his injuries on day two of the operation. The forces were able to neutralise two militants on the same day.
Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Northern Command visited the injured in army hospital on November 24, 2023. The soldiers were injured in the Rajouri encounter.
In a post on X, the White Knight Corps of the Army said that based on specific intelligence, joint operations were launched in the Kalakote area of Gulabgarh forest in Rajouri on Sunday. “Contact was established on 22 November and an intense firefight ensued. The terrorists have been injured and surrounded and operations are in progress, amidst acts of valour and sacrifice by their own brave hearts in trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,” it said.
Qurai, one of the militants killed in the encounter is believed to have been the mastermind behind the twin attacks on Dangri and Kandi in Rajouri in June 2023, in which six people were killed. A well-trained sniper and an explosives expert, Qurai, a top LeT commander, was a Pakistani national, who was an expert sniper and well-trained in guerrilla warfare and improvised explosive devices (IED). He had been active in Rajouri for over a year.
“Quari was known to be the mastermind behind #Dangri incident, in which six innocent civilians were killed on Jan 23, as well as #Kandi attacks in the #rajouri #poonch areas. He was instrumental in the revival of terrorism in these districts,” Army’s 16 Corps wrote on X.
The Dangri Attack is a key link to a series of gun battles that rocked the Pir Panchal Valley comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts.
On first January 2023, gunmen in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) drove up to Dangri village in Pir Panchal, nearly 7 km from Rajouri, and attacked, killing four civilians and injuring six more. The incident made headlines around the world. According to the police, the individuals who vanished in the nearby forests under the cover of darkness were militants.
The attack occurred shortly after former Police Chief Dilbagh Singh declared the Jammu division “almost” free of militancy in November 2022.
Bhata Dhurian: On April 20, militants at Bhata Dhurian in Poonch killed five soldiers from the Army’s counterinsurgency wing, the Rashtriya Rifles. The soldiers were en route to Sangiote with a truck full of fruits and other provisions for an iftar party. Locals said that invitations to the 7 pm event had been sent to a number of people in the village and that the Rashtriya Rifles unit was in charge of making the arrangements. Around 3 pm, the attack happened. There was barely time for the soldiers to respond as two or three foreign militants threw grenades and fired bullets into the truck. Locals and Army personnel flocked to the scene as soon as they heard about the attack. They found the charred bodies of five soldiers and a sixth in critical condition
Kandi Kotranka Attack: In May five Army personnel were killed and a Major (Special Forces) wounded in an explosion triggered by militants during a gunfight in the thickly forested Kandi Kotrankai area of Kotranka sub-division area of Rajouri district where troops had engaged terrorists hiding in a cave.
Surankote Poonch: In July 2023, the first major successful operation against militants in the area after multiple attacks in Rajouri and Poonch since January led to the killing of four militants in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.
Alpha Gate (Rajouri): In December 2022, bullet-riddled bodies were recovered outside an Army camp in Rajouri district on the morning of December 16.
Kotranka Explosions in March-April 2022 four consecutive blats in 28 days in areas of Kotranka sub division in Rajouri district put security forces on tenterhooks.
In addition to these assaults, gun battles periodically rocked the twin districts in the Pir Panchal Range with most of them ending in less than 24 hours.
According to media reports, 46 deaths have been recorded in militancy-related incidents in Rajouri and Poonch and nearby Reasi district since January 2023. While 23 people, including seven militants and nine security personnel, were killed in Rajouri, 15 militants and five security personnel were killed in Poonch district.
= The area saw peace in 2000 after being a hub of insurgency in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nonetheless, officials report that despite a discernible decline in local recruitment, the border districts have seen a relative spike in militancy-related incidents over the past few years due to a rise in militant infiltration and drone weapon drops.
Historically, Rajouri and Poonch were a part of the erstwhile Poonch estate, a part of which lies on the other side of LoC Post-Partition. Rajouri, with an area of 2,630 square kilometres, has Poonch district to the north, Reasi district to the east, Kotli district on the other side of LoC to the west and Jammu district to the south.
Poonch, another district in the Jammu region, lies to the north of Rajouri. With an area of 1,674 square kilometres, it is bordered by Kulgam, Shopian, and Budgam districts to the east, Rajouri district to the south, Baramulla and Haveli districts on the other side of LoC to the north, and a part of Poonch district on other side of LoC to the west.
Both districts share a long border of more than 200 kilometres with Pakistan
Administered Kashmir in the form of the Line of Control (LoC), which gives
infiltrators access to the area. The entire belt is predominantly hilly, rocky, and mountainous terrain, making it easy for infiltrators to thrive there in safety.
By navigating Pir Panchal’s hilly terrain and thick vegetation, the militants are said to be utilising it strategically, and because of the strategic advantages of height and dense forest cover, encounters in the area often last for several days.
Several of the main passes in the Pir Panjal range, including Banihal, Haji Pir, and Pir Panjal Pass, provide simple access to infiltrators given their proximity to LoC.
Furthermore, foreign militants operate in the region without drawing suspicion because of their shared ethnic and religious backgrounds with the locals. Also, the practice of operating in dense forest areas instead of villages or far-flung habitations makes the Pir Panjal terrain an effective hideout.
Former DGP of JK Police, Dilbag Singh on September 9, 2023, stated that the resurgence of militancy in Jammu’s Pir Panjal region was being overseen by former local militants based in Pakistan.
“We aim to send a strong message to the local militants who have crossed the border and are attempting to resurrect terrorism that they cannot live in peace. We’re going to get to them, and those who are helping them from here are going to get a rough time,” he said.
SRINAGAR: Mughal road, connecting Kashmir Valley’s Shopian district with twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch, was closed due to fresh snowfall on Thursday, officials said.
They said that there was fresh snowfall at several places along the road including ‘Pir Ki Gali’, leading to the closure of the thoroughfare.
DySP PC Surankote Hamid Ali Bandey confirmed to GNS the closure of the road.
Earlier this year, the road, considered as alternative to Jammu-Srinagar Highway, was closed on several occasions due to snowfall, particularly in ‘Pir KiGali’ and its adjoining areas.(GNS)
SRINAGAR: In separate orders, the General Administration Department (GAD) of the JK Government on Tuesday announced the promotion of thirteen Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers.
Six JKAS officers have been promoted to the Selection Grade and one to the Special Scale besides the release of a non-functional Special Scale and Selection Grade in favour of six officers.
Kapil Sharma has been accorded JKAS Selection Grade (Level 12) with effect from September 4, 2014 while Sushil Kesar, Pawan Kumar, Anshuman Singh, Manpreet Kour and Swarn Singh have been promoted to the Selection Grade notionally with effect from 07-04-2021 and on regular basis from 10-10-2023.
Parveez Ahmad Raina has been promoted to the Special Scale of JKAS (Pay Level 13 with effect from 10-10-2023.
Selection Grade (Non-functional ) has been released in the favour of Akhtar Hussain Qazi and Anil Kumar Thakur while Special Scale (Non-functional) has been released in favour of Akhtar Hussain Qazi, Sushil Kesar, Hamida Akhter and Anil Kumar Thakur.
SRINAGAR: The Centre has appointed senior IAS officer Atal Dulloo as the new chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir following the superannuation of incumbent chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta.
According to an order, Dulloo will assume the charge as chief secretary from December 01.
“Consequent upon superannuation of Arun Kumar Mehta, IAS (AGMUT:1988) on 30.11.2023 and on repatriation from Central Deputation, Atal Dulloo, IAS (AGMUT: 1988) is hereby appointed as Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir w.e.f.01.12.2023 or from date of assumption of charge, whichever is later and until further orders,” reads the order.
SRINAGAR: Anticipating an improvement in foggy weather conditions and rising minimum temperatures across the Valley, the meteorological department in Kashmir has forecasted a two-day wet spell. Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that light rains and snowfall are expected at various places starting Wednesday.
When snowfall is going on, it is very difficult to see the people who are working, A view of municipal workers on the job after February 23, 2022 snowfall jammed Kashmir. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)
“While no major rains or snowfall are predicted, we anticipate light precipitation on November 29-30,” stated Dr Mukhtar Ahmad. The wet spell is attributed to a weak Western Disturbance, and the weather is expected to remain predominantly dry from December 01 to December 08, with an improvement in foggy conditions.
However, the local Meteorological department issued an advisory cautioning about possible disruptions to surface transportation over hilly areas and key passes, including Zojila, Sinthan Pass, Mughal Road, and others on November 29th & 30th.
On Tuesday, occasional sunshine graced the region, accompanied by an improvement in minimum temperatures.
Year End 2022: Tourists playing with the famous powder snow in Gulmarg – the only place outside the Alps, at the year-end of 2022. The entire picnic spot is booked as visitors are enjoying parties and musical events. The year marks the historical tourist year given the record arrivals. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
Gulmarg, the renowned ski resort in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.2 degrees Celsius. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, saw temperatures settle at 3.9 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded 3.8 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam settled at 1.2 degrees Celsius. In Kupwara and Kokernag, temperatures were 3.0 degrees Celsius and 2.8 degrees Celsius, respectively. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Search operations by Army, Police, SOG and paramilitary forces continued in different areas of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch as troops intensified efforts to eliminate the hiding militants amid reports that they may have fled to upper reaches of the region.
There are currently 14 to 15 search operations ongoing in the two districts and the operations will begin at other locations after these areas secured. The operations will guarantee that the militants are eliminated, and no more strikes are carried out by them in the twin districts, The Excelsior reported.
SRINAGAR: While the minimum temperature has improved throughout the valley, widespread rain and snowfall are predicted in the Union Territory on November 29 due to a weak Western Disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir.
A view of Lal Chowk during snowfall on Monday January 4,2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
“The rains and snowfall are expected tomorrow at isolated places amidst the possibility of generally cloudy weather conditions,” Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said.
He said a two-day wet spell is expected on November 29 and 30, adding that the weather would remain generally cloudy while light to moderate rain and snowfall was expected at fairly widespread places with possibility of thunderstorm and lightning at few places as well.
The two-day wet-spell as per Director MeT is expected under the influence of a weak western disturbance, which will affect JK on November 29.
For the first six days of December, Dr Mukhtar said the weather would remain partly to generally cloudy.
Pertinently, the minimum temperatures have recorded a significant improvement as the mercury settled above freezing point at multiple places across Kashmir.
Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort and Konibal in Pulwama recorded sub-zero temperatures at minus 1.2 degree Celsius and minus 2.0 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, settled at 3.5 degree Celsius while in Qazigund, the mercury settled at 2.6 degree Celsius.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 1.5 degree Celsius while in Kupwara and Kokernag, the mercury settled at 1.8 degree Celsius and 2.8 degree Celsius respectively.
Moreover, the shallow to moderate fog conditions are expected to continue till tomorrow over many places of Kashmir division—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Saturday, gave the green light to a proposal for acquiring land to construct a new building for the Jammu and Kashmir Guest House in New Delhi.
The Administrative Council (AC) meeting, chaired by LG Sinha, approved the Hospitality & Protocol Department’s proposal to purchase land for the construction of the new J&K Guest House building in the National Capital. The estimated cost for the project stands at Rs 26 crore.
LG’s Advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, and IAS Principal Secretary to LG D Mandeep Kumar Bhandari were among the attendees at the meeting.
Following the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, a considerable portion of the J&K Guest House at Chanakyapuri (CPGH), New Delhi, was allocated to the Union Territory of Ladakh. Consequently, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir retained only 10 staff quarters and Block-C of CPGH.
“The additional building will optimise accommodation for common citizens and patients of UT of J&K who frequent the National Capital City, enhancing the overall availability of lodging facilities,” said an official spokesperson.
SRINAGAR: The Administrative Council (AC) approved the purchase of 500 MW of additional firm power from the Ministry of Power (MOP) in order to meet the UT’s base load power requirement.
In the land-scarce Srinagar, the new graveyards are emerging under the high power transmission lines. Since constructing homes is prohibited under law, the people have been utilising these spaces for graveyards. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The council met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, while Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary and Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor were also present.
“The AC assents for allocation of an additional 500 MW of firm power from MOP in B(v) mode (procurement being done by PFC) to meet base Load power requirement essentially required to meet the winter demand,” reads the statement issued to the press.
The availability in winter reduces due to the high proportion of hydropower in the UT. In order to bridge this gap between demand and availability of power during winter months AC approved signing of fresh Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)by J&K Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL) with NTPC regarding run by NTPC, it said.
“This will subside the energy demand in which is increasing at a CAGR of 10%. Singrauli-II being an athermal power station is a must-run station, due to which its power supports J&K’s power requirement during winter when the generation from hydro generators of ISGS reduces to150-300 MW only i.e. a reduction of 70-90% of summer generation,” it adds.
As such, it will increase its availability by signing a new Power Purchase Agreement of JKPCL with NTPC regarding Singrauli-III which would help the UT in tiding over the power shortage faced by it during the lean winter season, reads the statement.
SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has forecasted the likelihood of light rain or snow in Jammu and Kashmir on November 29 and 30.
A view of famous tourist resort Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. (KL Image- Bilal Bahadur)
The weather is expected to remain generally cloudy, with isolated instances of light rain or snow on November 27 and 28, followed by more widespread precipitation from November 29 to 30.
From December 1 to 5, the weather is predicted to be partly cloudy, according to the Meteorological Office.
A thick layer of fog enveloped Kashmir valley today morning, including summer capital Srinagar. (KL image- Bilal Bahadur)
Despite a slight improvement in temperatures, cold conditions persisted in the Kashmir Valley, with fog affecting isolated areas, including Dal Lake in Srinagar, on Sunday.
The minimum temperature increased in several stations across Kashmir Division due to cloud cover.
The Meteorological forecast suggests that the weather will remain generally cloudy and dry in the next 24 hours. However, shallow to moderate fog is expected to persist until November 28 in many places in Kashmir Division, causing disruptions in normal activities.
SRINAGAR: A non-local laborer from Nepal died and another has been hospitalised after they fell unconscious due to suffocation in the Nowgam area of Srinagar on Sunday, officials said.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that soon after receiving information about the incident, a team rushed to the spot and evacuated the individuals were shifted to SMHS hospital.
He said that one of the individuals was however, pronounced dead at the hospital, while another is undergoing treatment.
The deceased has been identified as Mani Kumar Raj (48), son of Ashok Kumar Raj, and the other laborer who is being treated has been identified as Bano (37), son of Jam Bahadhur. Both are residents of Nepal.
Police have taken cognizance of the incident and investigation has been taken up.
SRINAGAR: The cold conditions continue to prevail across the Valley as night temperatures continue to settle below freezing point. Meanwhile, the weatherman predicted that the shallow to moderate fog would continue till November 28.
A view of Dal Lake after Srinagar receives season’s first snowfall.
Barring Kokernag, all the stations of Kashmir have recorded sub-zero temperatures while Shopian and Pahalgam were coldest at minus 3.7 degrees Celsius and 3.4 degrees Celsius respectively.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, the mercury settled at minus 1.0 degrees Celsius, the data reads, adding that Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Qazigund settled at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded a minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In Gulmarg, the mercury settled at minus 1.0 degrees Celsius while Baramulla recorded a low of minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the weatherman here has predicted dry weather conditions, saying that the weather as per the forecast would remain partly to generally cloudy tomorrow.
On November 27 and 28, the weather as per a local Meteorological department would remain generally cloudy but stated that there is a possibility of light rain and snow at isolated places during the period as well.
On November 29 & 30, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with the possibility of light rain and snow at isolated to scattered higher reaches.
However, from December 1 to December 05, the weather would remain partly to generally cloudy.
The weatherman, however, said that the shallow to moderate fog would likely continue till November 28 over many places of the Kashmir division.
Nonetheless, with no forecast of any wet spell, the data prepared by MeT reveals that J&K in the months of October and November so far has recorded large excess rainfall as against the normal precipitation of 57.5 mm, a rainfall of 115.0 mm was recorded in the Union Territory—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Two Kashmiri youths were detained in Nagpur for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a 15-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir.
The suspects, identified as Mohd Muddasir Hussain, 19, and his cousin Mohd Yasir Hussain Shaheen, 19, were arrested by a joint team of police from Jammu and Kashmir and Nagpur. The minor girl, a Class 10 student, was said to be in a relationship with Muddasir, who reportedly promised marriage and a job in Hyderabad.
The trio embarked on a journey from Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi before finally arriving in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district via train.
The arrest was made at the Nagpur railway station by the collaborative efforts of Jammu and Kashmir police and their Nagpur counterparts. Muddasir hails from Kishtwar district, while Yasir is a resident of Doda district in J&K. The minor girl has been relocated to a government hostel in Nagpur, with ongoing investigations by J&K police.
At a time when efforts are underway to request the search giant Google to add Kashmiri to its translation services,Khalid Bashir Guramet a number of young men who are creating content in Kashmiri in order to help the mother tongue survive in tune with the trends that new technologies and the media are dictating
Touqeer Ashraf reads the works of the pioneers of Kashmiri literature and later uploaded their work on his social media platforms. KL Image
When Touqeer Ashraf, 22, a resident of Pulwama, came to Srinagar for higher education at the university level, he felt bothered at the treatment his mother tongue met especially in the social sphere. He felt, that people were ashamed or battled an inferiority complex while speaking in their mother tongue. Even elders, he said, discouraged kids from speaking.
This led him to think about the “crisis” and he wondered about how to promote and preserve the language which is essential to one’s identity. Now, Touqeer belongs to a generation of young men and women who are taking the language to millions of people using social media.
The Virtual World
Spoken by more than seven million people in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the 2011 census, like him, a handful of language enthusiasts are using social media to rekindle the love, and essence of language and draw the younger generation towards Kashmiri language and culture. This helps the new generation to rediscover their roots, reconnect with their culture and, in a way, reclaim their status.
Prof Shad Ramzan’s 17th book on critique was formally released at Tagore Hall in Srinagar during the day-long yearly conclave of the Adbi Markaz Kamraz. A KL Image
At their yearly conference, Adbi Markaz Kamraz, Kashmir’s frontline cultural organisation announced that they are approaching Google, to request the search giant, to add the Kashmiri language to its translation services. They have already made a beginning by sending emails. The service once rolled out will help users to convert any content into Kashmiri and vice versa.
“They may do it on their own someday but our campaign is aimed at creating urgency so that we do not lose more time,” a functionary of the Markaz said. “There are smaller languages which have the translation facility and we are slightly a bigger one.”
Once this happens, tons of content in audio-visual or text format will get a service and make the content global in a single click. That is expected to be a game-changer as non-natives can read, watch and listen to Kashmiri in their own language. This will help the new generation have a global audience.
A New Generation
Even though Touqeer has not formally learned Kashmiri at any institution, he has studied Kashmiri till the eighth standard. “My love for my mother tongue never diminished,” he said. “I kept reading language luminaries. But their wisdom and words were not accessible to common people as everyone cannot read and write Kashmir.” That is why, he said, he thought of harnessing the power of social media.
Touqeer started reading the works of the pioneers of Kashmiri literature and later uploaded their work selectively on his social media platforms, under the social media handle KeashurPraw.
“Initially I was apprehensive about the response but as content was appreciated and acknowledged, I felt the urge to work more. I also translate to make it comprehensible to those who do not understand it,” he said.
Laced with the poetry of Kashmir’s fourteenth-century Sufi mystic, Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani, stalwarts of Kashmiri literature and mysticism like Mahmood Gami, Rasul Mir, Lal Ded and Mehjoor, in 2021, he started his YouTube channel. Overlaid with his voice, some background music and pictures and places, he started uploading short videos, reels which soon became viral and garnered him lakhs of followers on other social media platforms.
By now, his collective viewership of all his videos has crossed thirty lakh views on YouTube. On Instagram, KeashurPraw has more than 100 thousand subscribers. “The response is extremely good,” he said. “Kashmiris based outside India and even non-Kashmiris reach out to me and encourage me to do more.”
Since the Kashmiri language has been influenced by other languages and has accommodated hundreds of non-Kashmiri words, Tauqeer lays emphasis on, promoting the “purer” form of Kashmiri to the new generation. Apart from research and uploading, his focus on pronunciation is vital.
It is not just the language which influenced him to promote it but the rich Kashmiri literature has been alluring. The present education system and societal perception of language are responsible for the deteriorating status of language, he believes. That is key to his efforts and the interventions.
A Teacher’s Initiative
Unlike Touqeer, Afaq Ahmad Paddar, a resident of Qazigund, is a postgraduate in the Kashmiri language and has qualified SET examination. He is teaching in a private school in his village. He also started promoting Kashmiri language through social media platforms @sozkmr where he uploads audio poems of different Kashmiri renowned poets.
Personally, he also writes poetry in his mother tongue. He provides rich descriptions of the poems and poets at the time of uploading audio-visual content. However, he does not translate the Kashmiri poetry like other content makers which makes it difficult to comprehend the verses.
After completing master’s, he could not get a job as Kashmiri lacks employment opportunities in the government sector. Later, he switched to English literature. “Now, I am now teaching both languages in a private school,” he said.
His failure to get a job on the basis of his mother tongue skills did not diminish his love for poetry as he continued to write and was acknowledged by his peers and teachers. “I am more inspired by the poetry of Rehman Rahi, Aga Shahid Ali, and Amin Kamil,” he said. “The social media audiences’ especially the young generation love listening to Kashmiri poetry on social media despite limitations of not being able to read or write.” As his social media followers are not many, but it has not de-motivated or prevented him from contributing towards the popularisation of his mother tongue. He does it every time he has the spare time.
Visual Archive
During Covid19, the verses of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani, on the wall calendar of a Masjid caught the attention of Muneer Ahmad Dar, a resident of Budgam. He recalls his struggle to give voice to his thoughts in his mother tongue.
A postgraduate in economics and mass communication, he had acquired some experience working in the field of media. It was within the praying space of the mosque that he got an idea about translating these rich verses and uploading them on social media to help them reach a wider audience. The ideation of the project coming within the four walls of the mosque gave it some sanctity in his own mind.
“Earlier I had bought the book of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani but I used to read the translation part of it as I could not comprehend pure Kashmiri, Muneer admitted. “I would photograph the verses, and their translations and WhatsApp to Kashmiri language researchers in the University to learn more.” Soon, he started forwarding the same to people on social media who reciprocated enthusiastically to the verses full of wisdom.
During Covid19, when everyone was confined to homes, he harnessed the true power of social media. “I was stunned by the response. The videos garnered millions of views and it encouraged us to come up with more creative, diverse content,” he said.
Muneer Ahmad who is telling interesting Kashmir culture stories and taking his audience to vital heritage and cultural spots using social media platforms.
His content is in “pure” Kashmiri and aims to shed light on the traditional and cultural objects of Kashmir – from the rich variety of furnishings used in Kashmir in the past or the origins of certain Kashmiri idioms to old heritage houses, life style to information about people and places.
To have a glimpse of the past, Muneer said he wants to build a visual archive of Kashmir’s traditional culture for the future generations and terms it as his legacy.
Muneer’s Facebook page Muneer Speaks has more than 3.50 lakh followers. On YouTube, his content goes under the banner of a channel, @MuneerSpeaks “Mr Koshur”, which has more than 43 thousand followers.
“We uploaded content where we compared our past with the present-day life,” Muneer said, insisting his work involves a lot of research. He admitted the larger reality that people have stopped, by and large, to study and they use audio-visual content to consume knowledge. “Not many people read books now,” he said.
“It is the passion which keeps us going. Our Rate per Minute (RPM) is very low because of geographical and language limitations and whatever money we earn, is not enough for the projects,” he said. Despite this monetary loss, he said he did not want to switch language as it is the USP of his content creation.
His single video according to him, takes at least a week’s time to brainstorm an idea, research correct information, scripting, shooting and editing, and uploading he said.
To give a global touch to his videos, he ensures subtitling in other languages so that non-natives can also understand the content better. “This is not my business or source of my survival he said, but passion,” he said.
Muneer’s focus on cultural aspects of Kashmir in his native language has won him fans from across the globe. One section which has ardently praised his work is the Kashmiri diaspora which views his videos as a way medium to stay connected to roots.
His team compromises of his wife and a researcher who digs details from different sources for his videos.
Online Tutor and Novelist
The online supporters of the Kashmiri language are not content creators alone. It is a huge basket of people, who deliver different services for the popularisation of the language or making its foundations strong on the internet, the virtual world.
Asif Tariq Bhat teaches Kashmiri language online and has many offshore students. KL Image
Asif Tariq Bhat, 25, a recent postgraduate in Kashmiri language is teaching his fifteenth batch of students in online mode from different parts of the world. Most of them are not Kashmiri but are interested in pursuing the language for different reasons.
“Not all of my students have Kashmir origins,” Asif said. “I have an offshore student who is marrying here and she is also learning the language. There are tourists who do not want to be fleeced while travelling in Kashmir. Similarly, there are researchers, travellers, journalists, who learn Kashmiri for their own individual reasons.”
Similarly, there are families who have Kashmiri origins and want the new generation to learn their mother tongue to stay connected to their roots. There are people in his class who wish to remain anonymous while learning but learn language.
“I charge Rs 5000 for teaching reading and writing Kashmiri. If someone is interested in speaking only, I charge Rs 3000 for four classes a week,” he said.
Besides his teaching, at a time when Kashmiris are experiencing linguistic handicaps in reading and writing their own mother tongue, Asif has written a novel in the Kashmiri language. As is the trend, the youth usually self-publish in other languages to taste fame with no contribution to any language or literature.
He published his first novel in July 2022 after a lot of struggle as every publisher turned him down. The publishers he approached told him they do not publish Kashmiri books as nobody is interested in reading them. These experiences were the signs of the status of language in society.
“I wrote my synopsis for the Kashmiri language novel Khwaban Khayalan Manz, in English. One publisher agreed to publish after learning that the draft was praised by illustrious writers of the Kashmiri language,” he said.
Asif struggled to find a novel in the Kashmir language. The abundance of literature in other languages in the market hurt him. “I was surprised to learn that we are mostly taught the translation of other global writers,” he regretted, questioning why students of the language cannot be taught the Kashmiri literature itself.
Now, Asif has decided to take his novel to a wider audience in a different form. “I am in talks with some social media platforms where I can publish an audiobook of my novel so that Kashmiris who are unable to read the script, can grasp it,” Asif said. “I feel if you listen to something in your native language, it seeps into your heart,” Asif said the youth who are promoting language on social media platforms are doing a wonderful job. “But they should not complicate the language,” he suggested. “The language survives as long as it adapts and updates itself. They must know that the Kashmiri language has survived Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu and now English influence. It is still here.” He disagrees with certain linguistic crusaders that they cannot retain the purity of the language.
Teacher
According to Sajid Reshi, who teaches in one of the leading private schools, language should be caught not taught. He has a YouTube channel, @paninzyavpaninkath as he enjoys thousands of subscribers which he has dedicated to learning and promoting Kashmiri language, script, literature, folk stories, Kashmiri history and culture.
Representational image of a woman teaching Kashmiri language.
“Kashmiri content lacks digital presence,” Reshi regrets. “I am trying to take it to that space. Also, through digital storytelling, it caters to wider audiences including the Kashmiri diaspora.” He gets demands from parents to create content. He appreciates those who do not have a language background but are passionately promoting the language but are disillusioned with organisations that claim to be its guardians.
Pertinent to mention that, the National Education Policy 2020 advocates that “wherever possible, the medium of education will be the mother tongue, local language, regional language until at least Grade 5, but preferably until Grade 8 and beyond”, both in public and private schools.
The essence of language is also essential for communication. “If someone becomes a doctor but does not know the language of common folks, how can he connect with the patient? Irrespective of the profession one aspires to find oneself in, language is the medium to connect,” Reshi stressed.
Kashmiri Dictionary
When Asiya Hassan, a graphic designer, confronted the challenge of teaching Kashmiri to her nephew, she searched the internet. She felt a lack of online resources to teach the language. The idea of setting up the page, Kashmiri Dictionary on social media came out of the lack of online resources about our language.
Kashmiri language expert, Prof Shad Ramzan said the academia must encourage the digital conversion of the Kashmiri literature but he had a rider. “For years, a very well respected group of researchers at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages worked on Kashmir dictionary and it is complete,” Shad said. “People who wish to use the Kashmir dictionary must use this only and not add to the confusion.”
Charity Begins at Home
The Kashmiri language is not endangered as long as people speak it. Dr Nazar Ali, who heads the Kashmiri department at the Central University of Kashmir said the private schools also do not encourage students to speak in their mother tongue. “We need to assess who teaches Kashmiri at a basic level as in many schools the situation seems to be serious,” he said. “Have schools recruited expert teachers like other subjects specifically for teaching this language?”
As we teach at the post-graduation level, many students have weak comprehension of their own language.
“Even if I speak in Kashmiri at home with kids in Kashmiri, we feel left out of race,” he said as the initiative to learn and promote language should be started at home.
SRINAGAR: Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday visited the Kalakote area of the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed the operational situation in the area,
“Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander Northern Command, visited the Kalakote area in Rajouri and reviewed the operational situation. He was briefed on the recently conducted operation in which two hardcore terrorists were neutralized. The Army Commander complimented & felicitated the #gallant troops and Army Dog ‘Domino’ for successful #Operation in the most difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions,” Army’s Northern Command wrote on X.
#OPSOLKI#LtGenUpendraDwivedi#ArmyCdr, Northern Command visited #Kalakote area in #Rajouri and reviewed the operational situation. He was briefed on the recently conducted operation in which two hardcore terrorists were neutralised.
— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) November 24, 2023
The visit came a day after two foreign militants of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, were killed gunfight with security forces in Bajimaal area of Rajouri.
Army’s Northern Command in another post on X wrote: “Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi visited Command Hospital, #Udhampur to interact with injured soldiers in Op SOLKI, #Kalakote, #Rajouri.”
SRINAGAR: In an effort to curb power theft and maintain a stable curtailment plan, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) disconnected 1048 defaulting consumers for pending arrears, collecting Rs 6.63 crore against energy dues on Thursday.
The corporation’s inspections to combat power pilferage exceeded 1000, with penalties totalling Rs 7.95 lakh imposed on Thursday.
Providing details, a KPDCL spokesperson stated that out of 1017 inspections in Kashmir Division, 161 were conducted in Circle I Srinagar, 182 in Circle II Srinagar, 301 in Circle Ganderbal, 147 in Circle Pulwama, 66 in Circle Bijbehara, and 160 in Circle Sopore. Approximately 245 KW load was added across 6 Circles during the drives.
A penalty of Rs 7.95 lakh was imposed across all 19 Electric Divisions on individuals found tampering with wires on bare conductors and bypassing meters. Additionally, 52 Domestic Transformers (DTs) were reported damaged on Thursday due to overloading, down from 64 reported on Wednesday.
The spokesperson mentioned that 1048 domestic, commercial, and industrial connections were disconnected for non-payment of energy dues pending for over three months. This includes 731 domestic, 266 commercial, and 31 industrial consumers.
The inspection and disconnection drives against power theft and defaulting consumers respectively are aimed at helping the Corporation adhere to the curtailment schedule.
While KPDCL received 52 damaged DTs in its various workshops on Thursday, 61 transformers were repaired for replacement, aligning with government-fixed timelines. “As many as 74 transformers are in different stages of repair, with 27 others in ovens at Central Workshop Pampore,” the spokesperson added, quoting Executive Engineer, CWS, Pampore.
Expressing concern over repeat damage to repaired transformers, the spokesperson urged consumers to use power judiciously within their agreed load, emphasizing that repeat damage would affect replacement timelines set by the government.
KPDCL advised all domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers to settle their pending energy dues promptly to avoid permanent disconnection. With the corporation intensifying its efforts, revenue realization figures are expected to rise in the coming weeks.
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has intensified its inspection drives across all districts of the Kashmir division to curb incidents of hooking and power theft, which are primarily responsible for power outages and distress cuts.
A total of 566 drives were conducted across all 19 Electric Divisions, resulting in a penalty of Rs 7.84 lakh imposed on those found hooking wires on bare conductors and bypassing meters. Additionally, 64 Domestic Transformers (DTs) were reported damaged on Wednesday due to overloading.
Providing details about the inspections, a KPDCL spokesperson stated that 183 drives were conducted in Circle II Srinagar, 60 in Circle I Srinagar, 123 in Circle Ganderbal, 71 in Circle Pulwama, 35 in Circle Bijbehara, and 94 in Circle Sopore.
The spokesperson further mentioned that 1,082 domestic, commercial, and industrial connections were disconnected for non-payment of energy dues for more than three months, including 371 domestic, 549 commercial, and 157 industrial consumers.
Encouraging consumers to consider DTs as their own assets, the KPDCL spokesman mentioned that 64 DTs were reported damaged across all Electric Divisions. “While those fully damaged are being transported to the Central Workshop at Pampore, the rest are being repaired at divisional-level workshops,” he said, adding that KPDCL is committed to replacing the damaged transformers within stipulated timelines.
KPDCL has also urged all domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers to settle their long-pending energy dues promptly or face disconnection. “The Corporation is actively pursuing the recovery of pending arrears, and Rs 8.00 crore was collected on Wednesday alone from consumers,” he said, emphasising that KPDCL will make all-out efforts to achieve the revenue realization target set by the government.
SRINAGAR: Former minister Lal Singh, who was arrested earlier this month by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, was granted interim bail by a special court in Jammu on Thursday. Singh, who is also the chairman of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP), was welcomed by his supporters upon his release from the Jammu district jail.
The arrest took place on November 7 after a judge dismissed his anticipatory bail application. The ED is investigating Singh in connection with a case involving an educational trust run by his wife, Kanta Andotra.
The court granted interim bail on conditions, including a surety of Rs 2 lakh and cooperation with the investigation. The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 14.
The money laundering charges stem from a CBI chargesheet filed in October 2021, alleging irregularities in land transactions in 2011. The court emphasized Singh’s presumed innocence until proven guilty and noted his role as an attorney in the matter.
SRINAGAR: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued an official request to China for detailed information following a surge in respiratory illnesses, including reported clusters of pneumonia in children. Chinese authorities had earlier attributed the increase to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2.
The situation escalated on November 21, with media and ProMED reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. The WHO, in response, urgently requested additional epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory information on these reported clusters through the International Health Regulations mechanism.
As of mid-October, northern China has reported a notable increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years. China, equipped with systems to monitor trends in respiratory diseases, reports to global platforms like the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.
However, reports from hospitals in northern China suggest a strain on healthcare facilities, with long lines at registration and waiting rooms filled with parents and children seeking medical attention. The surge in respiratory diseases coincides with the end of China’s National Day holiday week, a period associated with increased travel.
Despite the alarming situation, experts, including virologist Jin Dong-yan from the University of Hong Kong, have indicated that there is no evidence of a major unknown disease or a hidden threat. Jin highlighted similarities with other countries that experienced surges in respiratory diseases after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
In response to the situation, WHO has recommended that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, including vaccination, maintaining distance from the ill, staying home when unwell, testing and seeking medical care when necessary, wearing masks as appropriate, ensuring good ventilation, and practicing regular hand-washing.
While concerns persist among parents, the WHO and experts emphasise the need for transparency and timely information from relevant government departments to address public anxiety. As the situation unfolds, the WHO has committed to providing regular updates on the evolving respiratory illness situation in China.
SRINAGAR: A day after experiencing the coldest night of the season, with a temperature drop to minus 1.8°C, JK’s summer capital had another sub-zero night, officials said on Thursday.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that there was a slight increase in minimum temperature across the Valley including Srinagar which recorded a low of minus 0.8°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night. “The temperature was minus 0.9°C below normal for this time of the year in the capital city.”
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 0.5°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was minus 0.5°C below normal for the place, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.8°C against minus 3.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C above normal for the place.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 0.7°C which was above normal for the place by around 0.1°C, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 0.2°C which was 0.7°C above normal, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.4°C and it was above 2.5°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir, the official said.
Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, recorded a minimum of 11.6°C which was above normal by 0.1°C for the place, he said.
Regarding the forecast, he said, generally cloudy weather is expected with light rain/snow at isolated higher reaches in next 24 hours. From 24th-26th November, he said, generally dry weather is expected. From 27th-30th November, he said, generally cloudy weather with light rain and snow at isolated higher reaches is expected. “From 1st-3rd December, he said partly to generally cloudy weather is expected.”
The MeT official said that shallow to moderate fog is likely to continue till November 28 over many places of Kashmir division.
SRINAGAR: In a recent forecast, the IMD anticipates light snowfall and rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, courtesy of a western disturbance at 55 degrees. Additionally, central India is bracing for thunderstorms and hailstorms until November 26-27, all attributed to an oncoming western disturbance.
Understanding the role of western disturbances, which are extratropical storms originating from the Mediterranean or Caspian Sea, is crucial. These disturbances bring non-monsoonal rainfall to northwest India and usher in sudden winter rain in the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, often accompanied by snow and fog.
Looking ahead to November 24-25, dark clouds are expected to gather over Northwest India, indicating a dynamic weather scenario in the region.
SRINAGAR: A gunfight between the security forces and militants broke out in the Baji Maal area of Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said.
Quoting officials, KNO reported that on Wednesday morning, a team of security forces was on a search operation in the Baji Maal forest area of Rajouri when contact was established with militants and firefight erupted.
The firing in the area was going on when the report was filed.
They said that reinforcement of Army and Police has been rushed to the area. More details awaited
With power load shedding a routine in water-abundant Kashmir, the people still require alternatives to keep their homes well-lit and warm. This is offering Kashmir a seasonal business, reportsSyed Shadab Ali Gillani
The leaves will finally fall to the ground and become the chief source of charcoal for the locals who collect it from half-burnt chinar leaves and fill their ‘kangris’ (earthen firepots woven in willow wicker).
Come winter Kashmir’s priorities shift. It is the home light and a warm house that becomes basic to Kashmir’s chilling winter months. Ideally, electricity is the only solution.
In water-abundant Kashmir, however, electricity is in short supply and the load shedding is routine. Despite the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) issuing a winter schedule for metered and non-metered areas, unforeseen and prolonged power outages are the new norm.
This has pushed people to hunt for alternatives. Over the years, Kashmir has developed various coping techniques and mechanisms to manage its ‘fading light’ syndrome. This has emerged as a good business.
The Alternatives
Storing energy with the use of inverters is very common across Kashmir. Farooq Ahmed Bhat, who promotes Sunshine Lights in Srinagar, said the demand for inverters has surged, with an average sale of around 1000 pieces per season at his outlet. Buyers, predominantly from areas outside Srinagar, seek refuge in inverters to navigate the blackouts caused by frequent load shedding.
An electronics dealer from Srinagar reports a steady growth in inverter sales, particularly in 2023, surpassing the figures from the previous year.
Off late, Farooq notes a growing shift towards solar panels, highlighting a substantial increase in demand. In 2013, solar panels made their debut in Kashmir, and now, their demand surpasses that of inverters and generators. To cater to areas experiencing heavy snowfall, a larger panel is recommended for enhanced backup. “If you have two batteries in your house, and you install a 600-watt panel, it will be more successful,” Farooq suggests.
The government’s role in promoting solar energy is acknowledged, albeit with a clarification on subsidies. While the government provides a subsidy of around 40 per cent for solar rooftop installations; it is specifically for the panel and not the battery. The Deputy CEO of Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), MA Malik, underscores the government’s subsidy scheme for residential purposes under the grid-connected solar rooftop initiative.
Kashmiri vendors selling “Kangris” or traditional firepots walk on a street on a cold morning on Thursday November 24, 2016. Kashmiri people use Kangris to keep themselves warm during the winter. A Kangri fuelled with charcoal can release heat for six to eight hours..
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
“As far as power generators go,” Fazl Shafi, a Srinagar-based dealer, explained, “there is a seasonal boost in sales during the winter months, averaging around 150 pieces a month. However, I have observed a gradual decline over the years. It appears to be linked to a decrease in customers’ purchasing power, with most opting for financing over cash transactions.”
Srinagar resident, Inayat Ahmed highlights the affordability challenges faced by lower-income families, leading them to resort to lantern lights or bulbs during power cuts. The market for lantern lights and bulbs is substantial, with claims of sales reaching around 5 lakh rupees and 2 lakh rupees, respectively.
A lot of families and the hospitality sector use smart electric blankets, which reportedly consume less power. Unlike electricity-powered room heaters, the blanket market is better. A trader who used to sell room heaters said against a sale of Rs 15 lakh in 2022, his heater turnover has fallen to less than five lakh rupees. The nosedive is linked to the mass metering of consumer points and a harsh campaign to seize the tolls that consume too much electricity.
The Hammam
Interestingly, however, the electric Hammam is gaining popularity. Shahid Rashid, the manager at Pro-Warm India, a company specialising in installing electric Hammam admitted that people are accepting the technology. “If we put on electric Hammam for two hours, it provides a substantial heat backup of six hours on average,” explained Rashid. “It consumes power at 15-18 watts per square foot.”
Rashid said making society accept the technology it was unfamiliar with took a bit of time. Now, he said sales are on a positive trajectory. Through a referral system and offering free Hammams initially, the company has now reached a point where they receive around fifteen orders daily.
In a harsh winter, a group of elderly Kashmiris warming up in Hamam. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
Mohammad Shafi, who installed such a Hammam in Srinagar, said he did this because it was convenient, and saved time compared to the traditional Hammam construction, as his ailing father required it on an urgent basis.
Since this peculiar Hammam is also dependent on the electricity supply, most people go with the traditional system. “It is in your control, you have the fuel wood, we have everything,” a doctor explained. “This year, I removed all the geysers in my six bathrooms. I installed a huge boiler and it is powered by Hammam hearth that keeps my bathak warm and supplies hot water to all washrooms, kitchen and laundry.”
Owning a traditional Hammam was expensive because the builders would use peculiar stone slabs for different purposes and it was a huge amount. Things seem, to have changed now. “I hired a small start-up that gave me a Hammam within a fortnight at less than half of the cost the traditional Hammam would require,” a senior professor said. “They use stone sheets of different thicknesses and it is working fine. The stone is local.”
Most of the new homes that come up in Srinagar essentially have inbuilt heating systems that do not require electricity. Hammam is a new must now.
Kangri Power
Despite technological advancements, traditional methods continue to remain the priority. Pulwama resident, Abdul Hameed expressed the indispensability of the Kangri (Portable Fire Pot) in Kashmir. “Kangri is superior to even the most advanced weather-fighting equipment,” he asserted.
“Despite the prevalence of modern heating devices, the Kangri holds a unique charm for many Kashmiris,” explained Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Baramulla. “The Kangri-Pheran combination, in particular, is effective and affordable.” There are quite a few homes, mostly in Srinagar, where Kangri may not be around.
Pheran Party
Pheran has emerged as a fashion statement so the people who do not use it at home, wear it when they are at work. Ahsan Farooq, owner of A2Zee Readymade garment shop, noted the consistent demand for modern coat-type Pherans, with an average sale of 100 to 200 pieces per season, each priced between Rs 1500 to Rs 2000. The blend of innovation and tradition reflects the dynamic ways in which Kashmiris navigate the winter cold, ensuring warmth and cultural continuity.
Power Dynamics
All these interventions would co-exist with the electricity. Officials attribute the mess to Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which are highest for Jammu and Kashmir. Against the national average of 19.73 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir’s AT&C losses surpass 50 per cent.
Besides, they point out that energy consumption within Jammu and Kashmir, goes up by 8-10 per cent over the previous year, every season. Additionally, they believe that the amplified energy needs of Jammu and Kashmir are a result of improving living standards and the escalated utilisation of electrical and electronic appliances.
The Frustration
With commoners facing the music, it is political and business talking about the mess almost on a daily basis. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry linked the power crisis with “unreliable and contradictory policies” adopted by the administration. It even wrote a letter to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha urging personal intervention to ensure a stable power supply to crucial business sectors. Similar statements were issued by other trade bodies including the Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) and CCIK.
Political leaders continue to talk about the issue every time they speak their minds. “One of the worst power crises in Kashmir has left the residents upset with power outages of 8-10 hours per day across Kashmir,” JKNC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said. “The gravity of the situation demands swift and effective measures to alleviate the distress caused by the power crisis in Kashmir.”
Hopes and Hoaxes
Last time the officials said the metering would improve the situation and there would be no power cuts as is the case outside Jammu and Kashmir. Now, KPDCL officials insist they see hope in later 2025 when the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is fully operational. RDSS is a centrally sponsored financial help that the Government of India is providing to distribution companies for strengthening supply infrastructure. The twin distribution companies in Kashmir and Jammu are entitled to get Rs 2300 crore and ensure the AT&C losses reach the national average.
Insiders in the government said they are making plans to ensure they stick to a 4-hour halt in the supplies but it will take some time.
Education is a sacred responsibility. It requires a special dedication and innate enthusiasm from our educators.
It is disgusting that the educational landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has undergone such a drastic transformation. The days of passionate and enthusiastic educators leading from the front are gone. The emergence of new challenges in the classroom demands that we rejuvenate the enthusiasm within our teachers.
Gone are the days when headmasters, Zonal Education Officers, principals and DIET principals were not just administrative figures, but true inspirational leaders. They would personally dedicate their time to teaching and interacting with students, igniting a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Gone are the days when DIET faculties were known for their innovative strategies to confront emerging challenges head-on. Their commitment to excellence and their unwavering dedication to their craft set them apart. They were the educators par excellence, constantly working out new ways to improve and impact their “students” – the teachers.
However, it is disheartening that a circular had to be issued, “forcing” headmasters, lecturers, and principals to teach a minimum of two classes at different levels. One would hope that the directive would provide a stimulus to our school teachers and administrators to follow their illustrious ancestors to leave behind remarkable legacies now. One could hope the “directive” will ignite the flames of curiosity among our esteemed educators. The change is within our grasp.
As we stand at the precipice of a new era, it is up to us to follow the legacy of our great ancestors to transfer the rich legacy to our successors. It seems that some of our individual teachers and administrators have lost sight of the noble purpose of their profession. This unfortunate trend needs to be arrested as soon as possible.
Nonetheless, it is encouraging that institutions have taken steps to ensure compliance by sharing timetables on designated web portals. Such measures are necessary to ensure that the order is followed both in letter and in spirit. Our students deserve nothing less than a committed and passionate teaching community. There are reports that some of the institutions have come up with the timetables following the official directive but a good number of “educators” are reluctant to follow the same on this or that pretext.
We must strive for a return to the roots of education, where not the heads of the institutions but leaders actively engage with students, mentor teachers and create an environment that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking and creativity. By stoking a fire of enthusiasm and passion for learning among the young teachers, lecturers and other stakeholders thereby transforming the spark to the students, fostering a vibrant educational community that thrives on mutual and collective growth and development.
Celebrating and emulating the ancestors, the leaders of the past, we can inspire a new generation of educators who will not be just administrators but mentors and guides to our youth. Let schools, higher secondary and colleges promote and prioritise the initiatives that lead to the holistic development of students, nurturing their minds, bodies and souls. Together we can rekindle the flame of passion and enthusiasm within our educational institutions creating a brighter future for generations to come.
Education is a sacred responsibility. It requires a special dedication and innate enthusiasm from our educators. Let us hope that this reminder and rejuvenation will spark a renewed sense of dedication within the teaching community. Together, we can create a brighter and more inspiring educational future for all.
In my journey through education, I had the privilege to learn from remarkable individuals who left a lasting impact on my life. At High School Bagh in Bandipora, I was fortunate to have Late Ghulam Nabi Hakeem as our headmaster, who also taught us mathematics in tenth class 10. His passion for teaching and his dedication to his students were truly inspiring.
Microscope donation at Government Middle School Onagam, Bandipore (Author (right) receiving the donation)
At Nadim Memorial, we were blessed with the guidance of Principal Late Ghulam Mohiuddin Ganie, who not only led the school but also taught classes from the ninth to the twelfth class. His multifaceted approach to education enriched our learning experience. Finally, at High School Mantrigam in Bandipora, I had the opportunity to work under the capable leadership of Headmaster Inamur Rehman Fazili. His expertise in teaching English grammar to all three sections of the tenth class had a profound impact on my own teaching journey. I am grateful for the invaluable lessons and mentorship I received from these exceptional educators.
(The author heads the Government Middle School Onagam (Bandipora). Ideas are personal.)
It is disgusting that the educational landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has undergone such a drastic transformation. The days of passionate and enthusiastic educators leading from the front are gone. The emergence of new challenges in the classroom demands that we rejuvenate the enthusiasm within our teachers.