SRINAGAR: In 1904, celebrated WG Wells penned a story with Nunez, the main character, who goes on to discover the hidden valley of Andean which is dominantly inhabited by blind people. Nunez however, can see and falls in love with Medina Sarote, a member of the blind community.
Rahhat Shah Kazmi, Hina Khan, Mir Sarwar, Hussein Khan, Shoib Nikash Shah, Ahmer Haider, and Namita Lal in 2003 film Country of Blind.
Medina’s father rejects Nunez because of his sight, which was considered a kind of disability in the country of the blind. This left him confused between two worlds, whether he should stay for his love or go back to his world.
Now a film based on this story is in the news.
Shot in Kashmir and after being praised for its storyline, characters and performances, the movie Country of Blind, is now in the coveted race for the Oscars.
The movie was previously screened at the Cinelounge in Los Angeles and the screenplay previously found itself a spot in the Permanent Core Collection of the Oscars in October earlier this year.
The film’s storyline and performances has now left different people demanding the movie’s coveted Oscar nomination.
Interestingly, the movie was shot entirely in Kashmir, with limited finances and even most of the characters in the movie have been played by Kashmiri artists like Hina Khan, Shoib Nikash Shah, Ahmer Haider, Mir Sarwar, and Hussain Khan.
This movie has been directed by Rahat Kazmi and co-produced by Tariq Khan.
This one hour and 42 minutes movie was released in the United States of America on the sixth of October and was well received by the audiences.
TV Actress Hina Khan
Hina Khan, who leads the movie took to her social media to show her gratitude. “In a world of awards, to be in the running for the most prestigious of all, The Oscars is special,” she wrote. “We are still far but we are inching closer and fingers crossed that we reach the nominations and slowly inch towards our dreams! Keep the good wishes coming because together all our wishes can make dreams come true!”
The Director of the movie Rahat Kazmi, who also wrote its screenplay, also took to his social media and said, “Gratitude and proud as a writer and director that the script of our film ‘Country of Blind ‘is acquired by Oscars library to keep in the library and to use it for study purpose!”
The story of the movie takes place in the 18th century in the Indian Himalayas, and centres around a mountain climber named Abhimanyu who, while assisting a group of European climbers in ascending an unclimbed peak, tumbles over a cliff and plummets 1,000 feet to the bottom. Although the group believes he is dead, he manages to escape and finds himself in an odd valley where the locals have been blind for generations and have no concept of vision. When a man with exceptional sight fails to demonstrate his abilities in the land of the blind, he is deemed incapacitated. Through Abhimanyu’s trip, the movie subtly addresses several socioeconomic issues.
After watching the screening of the movie, Golden Globe winner and filmmaker Siddiq Barmak praised Country of Blind as an “enchanting” cinematic experience.
“Country of Blind is an enchanting film,” Barmak was quoted as having said. “It emerges as a battleground where love contends with freedom, where the decision to stay or depart teeters on the precipice, and the relentless struggle between blindness and sight reaches its zenith.”
The movie will soon make it to the theatres in India for the audiences to watch. “This is an interesting period adventure film that is also a romance, a fish-out-of-water story and a journey of self-discovery,” film critic Jason Knight wrote. “It centres around a place hidden from the world, where life is happy and simple. The main messages appear to be that it is the simple things in life that matter and that some things should remain unchanged.”
New Year celebrations were alien to Kashmir and Kashmiris before Nedou’s Hotel began holding them on December 31, of each year
Gulmarg on the new year 2022 eve. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Michael Adam Nedou was an Italian architect. Basically from the erstwhile Italian city of Ragusa, he had come to India to build the palace of Gujarat (of United Punjab) Ruler.
Nedou laid out the first modern hotel in Lahore in 1880 in his name as Nedou’s Hotel. In 1888, he opened the second wing of Nedou’s Hotel in Gulmarg Kashmir and in 1900 he set up the third unit of the chain of Nedou’s Hotels at Srinagar on North East of the road that was lined with poplars from Budshah Chowk to Qazi Kadal, (now called Gur Dav Kadal and also known as Dugjan Kadal), Srinagar.
All the poplars that lined the road were planted from the Afghan time. With the establishment of Nedou’s Hotel adjoining Chinar Bagh, Holy Family Catholic Church and Sir Lawrence’s Settlement building (Bandobast i Qanooni), the road came to be called Hotel Road. This road was later renamed as Moulana Azad Road in October 1950. The Gur Dav Kadal has been recently rechristened as Moulana Azad Bridge.
Michael Adam Nedou’s son, Micheal Harry Nedous, successfully ran the Hotel at Srinagar. He was in his twenties when Srinagar branch of the Hotel was opened in April 1900. Micheal Harry Nedous was the father of the late Begum Akbar Jahan wife of the late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. She was married to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1933. It was the Nedous and Sheikh’s family who were owners of this magnificent hotel of those days.
Well, Nedou’s Hotel Srinagar with its billiard room was inaugurated in April 1900 by the hotel owners through an American traveller. Nedou’s Hotel principally catered to the needs of foreign visitors who stayed mostly by this time in houseboats and Dunga-boats of the Jhelum and the Dal Lake. The hotel was destroyed by fire in the early years of Maharaja Hari Singh’s period and then it was rebuilt soon.
Nedou’s was the most comfortable hotel by the standards of the time and it had a large room for musical concerts, dance and European entertainment. The Capri dance was offered seven days a week in the Nedou’s Hotel. It has to be noticed that Capri and such dance and musical concerts by then had no presence anywhere in Kashmir. The Hotel was booked for Christmas and New Year parties too.
At the Nedou’s Hotel, several lavish dance parties, called balls, where guests wore fancy dresses and masks were held and prizes were given for the best dress or costume. The Nedou’s Hotel had a fine stage where amateur dancers and cabarets had fun and entertainment. These were new trends set in Kashmir’s old traditions.
New Year celebrations were alien to Kashmir and Kashmiris before Nedou’s Hotel began holding it on December 31, of each year and, obviously, the Europeans and “elite” Indian-visitors and some neo-rich Kashmiris too participated in it.
But, iterating, as common Kashmiris were invariably poor and illiterate those days, these celebrations were only going to be the trendsetters for future generations of Kashmiris. No doubt, the European travellers and the British dignitaries used to visit the valley mostly during the summers and stayed at Nedous Gulmarg. But, New Year celebrations which fall on the last day of each year could not be held there and as such Srinagar wing of Nedous was the convenient place with all the related facilities mentioned above for organising and holding New Year celebrations.
MJ Aslam
Those days herdsmen in companies from villages would travel by foot to bring milk in copper containers (Na’ith) tied to their backs for the city dwellers. However, the owner of Nedou’s Hotel initially kept a fine herd of cows from which he provided pure milk for his hotel guests and a large number of his personal friends and patrons who stayed in the houseboats.
Nedou even supplied them with fresh vegetables on asking against payment. Till the 1940s, Nedou was the chief European Hotel of Kashmir. Between May and October each year, the Nedou’s Hotel had a footfall of tourists. Then, in critical times of 1947, all foreign correspondents were kept by the Emergency Administration in the Nedou’s Hotel for reporting on Baramullah, according to Andrew Whitehead. Major General Hiralal Atal in his memoirs Nehru’s Emissary in Kashmir, has also made references to the Nedous Hotel during the emergency and war times of 1947.
(MJ Aslam is a published author and a columnist. Ideas are personal.)
SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the second Vande Bharat Train for the Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to New Delhi route.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State, PMO, participated in the flag-off ceremony at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station.
During the event, the Lt Governor expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating the new Vande Bharat Train to the Union Territory.
“Today is a historic day for J&K. The second Vande Bharat Train for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to New Delhi route will provide ease of travel to devotees and greater comfort for the citizens,” he remarked.
Sinha noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K is witnessing fast-paced quality infrastructure development. Last-mile connectivity for inclusive development has enhanced the ease of living for citizens in far-flung areas, and increased economic activities, and livelihood opportunities.
“The UT of J&K has made impressive strides in socio-economic development in the last four years. We have undertaken unprecedented road and railway infrastructure projects, implemented at an unprecedented speed. It is also a symbol of our unshakable commitment to the all-round progress of the Union Territory,” the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor also highlighted the growth in the tourism sector and shared the administration’s efforts to strengthen the religious tourism circuit in the region.
“Several incredible tourist destinations in the Jammu division are witnessing a huge tourist influx, boosting the local economy of far-off locations. The Shiv Khori Shrine Board is committed to developing the Shiv Khori Shrine. I hope the Heli service from Katra to Shiv Khori will start in the coming days,” Sinha added.
SRINAGAR: MD and CEO of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Baldev Prakash Friday unveiled the J&K Bank’s Wall Calendar for the year 2024 in the presence of Executive Director Sudhir Gupta amid rounds of applause from General Managers and other senior officers at the corporate headquarters.
With a theme of ‘Timeless Treasures’, the Bank has showcased the fast-emerging scenic spots on the tourist maps of J&K and Ladakh UTs in its Wall Calendar -2024. He also launched the Bank’s e-Calendar – 2024 on the occasion.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, MD & CEO Baldev Prakash said, “J&K Bank Calendar continues to be the most sought-after thing in J&K and Ladakh during this time of the year, for people consider it as a prized souvenir worth round the year presence in their homes and offices across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Besides being a great tool of brand promotion for the Bank during the last many decades, our calendars have showcased Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh along with their diversity to exhibit nature’s charming beauty weaving different cultures and varied geographies together into a uniquely beautiful tapestry.”
While acknowledging the overwhelming public sentiment as validation of the love and trust for the Bank in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, he said, “With annual tourist arrival numbers burgeoning to over 2 crores, the theme of ‘Timeless Treasure’ for Calendar 2024 is also an attempt to further showcase and popularise some of the fast-emerging tourist destinations in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
“Being significant stakeholders in the development of tourism and its allied industry, the idea also is to leverage the brand appeal of the Bank to engage the larger public attention towards these fast emerging destinations so that these places also get important spots in the itinerary of major tour and travel companies across the country and abroad,” he said, adding further that the e-Calendar has also been continued to mark our presence on every digital platform and ensure that the people have access to our calendar on the go.
Wishing the people of J&K and Ladakh well for the upcoming year in general and the Bank’s customers across the country in particular, the MD & CEO asserted, “On this occasion, I also extend my best New Year wishes to the people and pray that the year 2024 finds them happy and healthy with peace and prosperity.”
Earlier, the Bank’s General Manager Syed Shafat Hussain Rufai briefed the MD about the process that resulted in the making of Calendar -2024. He said, “Wall calendar has an iconic place in J&K and Ladakh and people crave it at the onset of a new year. It has served as a great tool of brand promotion for the Bank as well as J&K and Ladakh. Its presence in peoples’ homes also acts as an effective medium of brand recall.”
Notably, the fast-emerging tourist spots on the scenic map of J&K and Ladakh covered in the Calendar are Tulip Garden in Sanasar Jammu, Hanle Village in Ladakh, Bangus Valley in Kupwara Kashmir, Botapathri in Gulmarg Kashmir, Tso Moriri Lake in Ladakh and Jai Valley in Bhaderwah Jammu.
Various courts in a series of petitions involving divorces and maintenance laid down norms for situations, in which the relations break down, Syed Shadab Ali Gillanireports
High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (KL Image- Raashid Andrabi)
The Domestic Violence Act of 2005 (the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act), is a crucial legal framework in the fight against domestic abuse. This comprehensive legislation defines domestic violence and establishes provisions to protect and empower survivors.
The act identifies domestic violence as any act causing harm to the aggrieved person, encompassing their health, safety, life, dignity, or overall well-being. It serves as a vital instrument in India’s efforts to combat and eliminate domestic abuse, providing a legal basis to ensure the safety and rights of women who are victims of such violence. Statistical insights highlight its continued relevance in addressing the complex challenges associated with domestic abuse nationwide.
According to 2022 data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the Jammu and Kashmir police recorded 3716 cases of crimes against women. These included 1606 cases of attempts to outrage modesty, 287 cases of rape, 500 cases of cruelty by the husband or his relatives, and 886 cases of kidnappings and abductions of women.
Regional Breakdown
Of the 500 cases of cruelty by husbands and their relatives, specific regions witnessed varying levels of reported cases. Notably, Srinagar recorded the highest with 70 cases, followed by Jammu with 60, Rajouri with 58, Kupwara with 38, Poonch with 25, and Doda with 49. Other regions reported cases ranging from 6 to 24, reflecting the diverse geographic distribution of domestic violence incidents.
In Delhi’s busy legal scene, advocate Fizah Baba, a matrimonial law specialist in the Delhi High Court, recently highlighted changes in maintenance cases. Recent landmark judgments, like the Supreme Court’s Rajneesh vs. Neha case, shifted away from fixed percentage approaches. The court stressed the need for both parties to provide income affidavits, rejecting rigid formulas like 25 per cent of the gross salary. Another Supreme Court ruling in November reinforced considering the husband’s actual income before deciding on maintenance.
Couple tend to fight more in a section of the families during the ongoing lock-down restrictions
In a ground-breaking November judgment, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court clarified maintenance and divorce intricacies. The court firmly stated that denying maintenance to a wife is not allowed unless divorce is conclusively proven. This ruling clarified that mere claims of divorce without proper evidence are insufficient to justify withholding spousal support.
Recent cases like Zahoor Ahmad Dar vs. Jamila Banu and Mehroz Akhtar vs. Dr Azmat Gauhar expanded legal discussions into divorce proceedings. The conversation also delved into domestic violence cases, revealing challenges for men in countering false accusations and exploring legal intricacies.
The dialogue examined the consequences of domestic violence convictions, with penalties varying by severity. Details of the appeal process, including higher court appeals, were discussed. Advocate Fizah Baba highlighted a key point from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court: A Muslim wife cannot be denied maintenance without properly establishing the fact of divorce.
Recent Rulings
In a significant ruling, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court clarified the nuanced application of The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act). The court, in a decision on December 1, established a crucial precedent, emphasising the importance of substantial evidence before a woman can claim compensation or maintenance under the DV Act.
The court highlighted the DV Act’s primary goal of providing swift aid to distressed women while cautioning against undeserved advantages. It underscored that the legislation doesn’t automatically guarantee windfall gains, like maintenance or compensation, without careful judicial discretion.
Children whe are caught between the conjugal disputes between mother and father live a life of orphans and in certain cases, land in orphanages as well. KL illustration: Malik Qaisar
In essence, the ruling aims to balance protecting women from domestic violence with preventing misuse of the DV Act. It emphasises the need for judicious consideration of each case’s specific circumstances and discourages exploiting the Act for personal gain.
This legal landmark reinforces the commitment to upholding the spirit of the DV Act while discouraging opportunistic claims that may compromise the integrity of the legislation. The court’s decision reflects a thoughtful approach to justice, promoting fairness and equity in the application of laws designed to protect vulnerable individuals.
Alumni Regulations
In a recent legal dispute involving a woman’s claim of domestic violence, Justice Puneet Gupta overturned a trial court order mandating joint payment of Rs 5 lakh as interim maintenance by the husband and his brother. The trial court had instructed the husband to allocate 25 per cent of his monthly salary, and the brother-in-law to share the financial burden, leading to a contested legal battle.
A young couple meeting under the shades of Chinar in a Srinagar park. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The appellate court partially granted the respondents’ appeal, annulling the trial court’s interim compensation mandate. It argued that such relief should be considered post-trial due to the absence of evidence justifying compensation at the current stage. This decision prompted the aggrieved woman to elevate the matter to the High Court, seeking a more nuanced examination of her claims.
However, the High Court, with a measured perspective, asserted that the mere relationship of the respondents as husband and in-laws did not automatically entitle the petitioner to compensation. The court insisted on the presence of compelling evidence on record before such financial relief could be granted. “The beneficial legislation does not contemplate windfall provisions for the aggrieved,” observed the Court, setting the tone for a thorough scrutiny of the case.
Upon meticulous examination, the High Court observed that the trial court had issued directives for interim maintenance payments without a proper assessment of the husband’s actual salary. Considering this, the High Court upheld the appellate court’s modification of the trial court order, stressing the need for a more informed decision.
“The Court cannot arbitrarily allocate 25 per cent of the gross salary to the wife without knowledge of the husband’s actual income. The trial Court must ascertain the husband’s income and then make a maintenance order commensurate with his financial circumstances,” clarified the High Court, putting a spotlight on the importance of precision in legal proceedings.
In a move that extended beyond mere financial considerations, the High Court also directed the respondent-husband to ensure the petitioner’s accommodation in a secure and safe place, taking note of the husband’s commitment to providing the same. It was a recognition of the holistic nature of justice, acknowledging that the right to a safe environment is as crucial as financial support.
Under these conditions, the Court ruled that the petitioner was entitled to interim maintenance from the respondent’s husband. However, it underscored the importance of due diligence, stating, “The trial Court must gather necessary information about respondent No 1’s salary before determining a reasonable amount for interim maintenance in favour of the petitioner-applicant.”
Omar Divorce Plea
In an unrelated but similar legal development, the Delhi High Court has dismissed the divorce plea filed by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, marking a critical chapter in his prolonged legal battle with his estranged wife, Payal. The court upheld the family court’s decision, asserting that Omar’s allegations of cruelty lacked substantiation and were deemed “vague and unacceptable.”
Omar Abdullah with his estranged wife, Payal.
A division bench comprising Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan echoed the family court’s findings, stating, “We find no infirmity with the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable.” The ruling emphasised the appellant’s failure to establish acts qualifying as cruelty, either physical or mental, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.
Omar and Payal Abdullah’s marital saga began in September 1994, but the couple has been living separately for an extended period. The family court’s initial rejection of Abdullah’s divorce plea in 2016 cited a lack of evidence supporting the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” It underscored his inability to substantiate claims of “cruelty” or “desertion” and the failure to provide circumstances justifying the breakdown of the relationship.
Undeterred by the family court’s decision, Omar sought recourse in the High Court in September 2016, contending that the marriage had irretrievably broken down since 2009. The recent ruling, affirming the family court’s stance, dealt a blow to Abdullah’s efforts to legally dissolve the union.
In a parallel judgment, a single-judge bench of the high court increased the maintenance amount payable by Omar Abdullah to Payal Abdullah. Justice Subramonium Prasad mandated a monthly maintenance payment of Rs 1.5 lakh to Payal and Rs 60,000 each to their two sons during their enrolment in law school.
While enhancing the maintenance amount, the judge noted that, though fathers are not legally responsible for the college education of major children, Abdullah was still deemed liable to pay Rs 60,000 for the education of his son. This decision marked a departure from previous proceedings under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), where the trial court had granted interim maintenance of Rs 75,000 per month to Payal Abdullah and Rs 25,000 to their son until he reached the age of 18.
SRINAGAR: An elderly man, reportedly missing since Thursday morning, was found dead, allegedly killed in a hit-and-run incident in the Nowgam area of Srinagar outskirts.
An official said that Ghulam Rasool Sofi, an elderly man from Ganderpora Iddgah Srinagar, went missing from his residence on Thursday morning. He added that a missing report was filed at Safa Kadal Police Station.
However, authorities from Nowgam Police Station recovered his body near Tengan Crossing earlier this morning.
“Preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased had been fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle during the intervening night,” the official said.
Moreover, police have filed a case, while the investigation into the matter has been started. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Friday called upon the graduating students to set clear goals in their professional careers, identify problems, and face them courageously to build Viksit Bharat.
The Lieutenant Governor was addressing the 9th convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, in Katra today. Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest on the occasion.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister congratulated the students for starting their new journey.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has emphasized on giving priority to competency over degree. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is a research and design-centric university. I have full confidence that the students of the prestigious institution will lead this technology-based era, and become a major contributor to the progress of the society, nation and the world in the times to come,” the Union Minister said.
In his address, the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha asked the students to be patient, pursue their dreams with passion and capitalize the opportunity to learn new skills.
“In the journey of Amrit Kaal, the country needs young consciousness and youthful thinking. Youth will shape the future. The world is changing faster than ever before and youth need patience to capitalize the opportunity to learn new skills. Never stop chasing your dreams and keep walking until you achieve your mission in life,” the Lt Governor said.
He said learning how to learn in real world is one of the greatest skills and not to be afraid of failures in the journey of life.
“My advice to graduates entering professional career is never stop learning. If you want to start a business then go ahead & do it, those interested in start-ups with new ideas must pursue it with passion. Don’t be afraid of failures. A person learns best from failures in his life,” the Lt Governor observed.
Talking about the future beyond the campus, the Lt Governor said the contemporary areas today offer many opportunities and graduating students should evaluate their skills to execute the goals.
“The journey of life beyond campus is like a mirror. Students get an opportunity to see their ideal self, explore their passion, evaluate their unique skills and talents and prepare themselves to contribute to growth of the nation in multiple fields,” the Lt Governor said.
SRINAGAR: The mercury continued to settle below freezing point across the Valley on Friday while Ganderbal, Budgam in Central Kashmir and Bandipora in north Kashmir recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 6.7 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam in South Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.4 degree Celsius.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir shivered at minus 3.3 degree Celsius while Qazigund in South Kashmir has recorded a low of minus 4.2 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort, has recorded a low of minus 2.5 degree Celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir has recorded a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius while Kokernag recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.6 degree Celsius—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: The John Thompson Scholarship for the academic year 2024-25 is a partially funded opportunity available for international students. The deadline for the application process is July 30, 2024.
The scholarship is provided by Dublin City University Business School, Ireland and is specifically designed for individuals pursuing a master’s degree in digital marketing. The duration of the programme is up to two years.
The John Thompson Scholarship grants a complete waiver of tuition fees. Participants gain valuable insights through a blend of exposure to cutting-edge research, academic rigour, industry practices, and applied workshops and projects. Lectures are conducted by seasoned international and Irish experts in various areas, including data analytics and visualization, digital advertising and communication, and digital marketing strategy.
Students from across the globe are eligible for the scholarship. Applicants must hold a First Class Honors Degree. They should be fluent in English.
Furthermore, individuals seeking the John Thompson Scholarship should demonstrate an interest in and understanding of media, marketing, business, and journalism. Likewise, students must fulfill the academic and other entry criteria for the MSc programme.
For application purposes, following guidelines should be followed:
• Submissions should be sent to the Group Head for Marketing at DCU Business School Professor Edgar Morgenroth via email at businessscholarships@dcu.ie before deadline.
• A copy of academic transcript/proof of final degree.
• A statement of motivation and suitability for the scholarship in at most 250 words.
To apply and know more about the scholarship, go on to www.dcu.ie
In search of the text and practices of his faith, Chinese Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang spent two years in Kashmir somewhere around 630 AD. Though his narrative is centred on the state of religion and its importance in the region, his brief description of society and geography is one of the foremost records from the distant past. However, Kashmir’s desperation to relocate the copper cannons buried somewhere in Kundalwan after the Great Fourth Council continues to remain a challenge, writesMuhammad Nadeem
A July 2012 photograph showing Dalai Lama with a group of Kashmir origin Tibetan Muslim women in Srinagar who left Tibet for ever in 1959, along with him when China occupied the territory.
The Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang also known as Hiuen Tsang (c. 602-664 CE) is renowned for his pilgrimage from China to India in search of Buddhist scriptures, which took him through many lands including the kingdom of Kashmir. Xuanzang left extensive records of his travels, including observations on the geography, culture, and state of Buddhism in the regions he passed through. His writings provide a unique window into seventh-century Kashmir and India and the cultures surrounding it.
The Capital City
Xuanzang entered Kashmir from the west; passing through a treacherous rocky pass, which he recorded, formed a natural barrier to the kingdom. He describes Kashmir as surrounded by high mountains with narrow passes, making it difficult to access and naturally defensible. He estimates the kingdom to be about 1400 miles in circumference. The capital city was about fifteen miles in diameter, located a day’s travel from the western entrance.
Xuanzang notes the city had a large river on its west side, likely the modern Jhelum River. He describes Kashmir as agriculturally fertile, yielding fruits, flowers, lentils, medicinal herbs, and horses. The climate was cold with heavy snow. The inhabitants wore silk and cotton garments and were described as volatile, timid, and deceitful. Kashmiris, then, followed both Buddhist and non-Buddhist religions. He counted 100 Buddhist monasteries in the kingdom and over 5000 monks. There were also four stupas, each containing a relic of the Buddha.
Making of Kashmir
His records recount a legend about the founding of Kashmir involving the Buddhist saint Madhyantika. In the story, Kashmir was originally a lake inhabited by nagas (water spirits). After subduing a troublesome naga in Udyana, the Buddha flew over Kashmir and predicted to his disciple Ananda that an arhat (enlightened saint) named Madhyantika would come there, turn the lake into land, and establish Buddhism after Buddha’s death.
Photograph of a Buddhist stupa mound near Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, taken by John Burke in 1868. Buddhism was established in Kashmir from the third century BC but declined by the 8th century AD, eclipsed by Hindu Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Two of the most important sites for Buddhist remains in the Kashmir valley are Harwan near Srinagar and Ushkur near Baramulla.
This came to pass 300 years later when Madhyantika came and sat by the lake. The naga king offered to provide him with enough dry land to sit cross-legged. As the naga drained the lake, Madhyantika kept magically expanding his body until all the water was gone. The naga then relocated to a smaller lake, while Madhyantika built 500 monasteries in Kashmir with his magical powers. He subsequently purchased foreign slaves to serve the monasteries. The slaves later became the rulers of Kashmir but were looked down upon by neighbouring kingdoms for their foreign ancestry.
Buddhist Sites
Xuanzang mentions several Buddhist sites around Kashmir, though he does not specify their locations precisely. One monastery housed over 300 monks and contained a stupa holding a tooth relic of Buddha.
Another held a standing image of the bodhisattva Guanyin which would miraculously make its golden body emerge from the statue.
On a mountainside was the monastery where the Buddhist scholar Sanghabhadra composed his treatise. At another hermitage, the scholar Skandhila wrote his commentary on the Abhidharma. Xuanzang states that Buddhist monks and wild animals would make flower offerings at the mountainside shrines as if acting under instruction.
Continuing his journey, Xuanzang travelled southwest from Kashmir through smaller kingdoms like Punach, Rajapura, and Takka. He provides brief descriptions of their geography, people, culture, and state of Buddhism, which he finds to be in decline in these frontier regions. After Takka, he turned eastward and encountered a kingdom called Chinabhukti which had been given its name because a Chinese hostage resided there during Kanishka’s reign. Xuanzang saw this as evidence of Kashmir’s former glory and influence. In the monastery, he studied with the scholar Vinītaprabha.
Famous Buddhist Council
Xuanzang’s writings then shift to the story of Kanishka’s fourth-century council of Kashmir. He relates that the diversity of Buddhist doctrines prompted Kanishka to gather 499 arhats to compile authoritative commentaries on the Buddhist canon. However, the learned monk Vasumitra was initially barred from the council for not having attained arhathood. A challenge led the council to recognise Vasumitra’s superior wisdom and install him as president, accepting his decisions on disputed points. The council compiled 300,000 verses of doctrinal expositions, which were inscribed on copper plates and enshrined in a stupa, guarded by yakshas. Xuanzang states Kanishka bequeathed Kashmir to the Buddhist sangha after this event.
The image of a Stupa is part of Harwan’s excavations. The site belongs to Kashmir’s Buddhist era.
From Kashmir, Xuanzang continued east to the kingdom of Jalandhara. He notes that Buddhist monasteries flourished there, with over 2000 monks studying both Mahayana and Theravada doctrines. This reflects Kashmir’s role as a centre of Buddhist learning with both major schools present. Xuanzang also recounts a legend about a past king of Jalandhara who was appointed by a king of Madhyadesa (central India) to govern Buddhism throughout India after converting from paganism to Buddhism.
Xuanzang spent two years studying and travelling in Kashmir. His writings provide a unique glimpse into Kashmir at that time, just before the rise of Islam. They reveal a prosperous Buddhist civilisation centred around the Valley of Kashmir. Xuanzang’s perspective is that of a devout Buddhist pilgrim marvelling at the Buddhist sites and relics he discovers.
Royal Welcome
When Xuanzang arrives outside the Kashmir capital, he receives a royal escort sent by the king. The king’s relatives greet him with ceremony, providing conveyances to bring him into the city. Xuanzang was housed in the royal monastery upon entering the capital. He depicts the king as a great patron of Buddhism, generously supporting Xuanzang’s studies by appointing monks to attend to him. The king also gave him materials and scribes to copy manuscripts during his two-year stay. Xuanzang portrays the reception in Kashmir’s capital as an extravagant honour, reflecting the kingdom’s prosperity and Buddhist orientation.
While staying in the capital, Xuanzang writes of diligently studying Buddhist doctrines under the tutelage of aged, learned monks. His teacher Sanghavasas is described as seventy years old but highly intelligent and strict in his religious observation. Xuanzang admires Sanghavasas for instructing him thoroughly in various philosophical perspectives and Sanskrit grammar. He presents Kashmir as home to many wise and skilled Buddhist teachers, whose expertise he wishes to absorb through study and debate. Xuanzang highlights himself as gaining a broader understanding of Buddhist thought from Kashmir’s scholars, who possess teachings unavailable in China.
Site of Kanishka’s Council
Buddhism flourished in Kashmir for over a millennium, from 400-300 BC to 500-600 CE. Kashmir was an important centre for spreading Buddhism to Central Asia, East Asia, and beyond.
Hiuen Tsang, a bronze statute at the Hiuen Tsang (Nalanda)
Xuanzang recounts the legend of King Kanishka convening a momentous Buddhist council in Kashmir. He describes Kanishka as a powerful, learned king ruling a vast realm from Gandhara to Central Asia. Disturbed by disunity among Buddhist doctrines, Kanishka gathers 499 enlightened arhats to Kashmir. They labour to compile an authoritative Buddhist canon and commentaries. Xuanzang depicts Kashmir as the site of this definitive gathering that produced an orthodox version of the Buddhist scriptures for posterity. While details of the council can be debated, Xuanzang projects Kashmir as the kingdom where Kanishka chose to assemble Buddhist sages and establish doctrinal unity.
The fourth Buddhist council was convened by King Kanishka to resolve disputes over Buddhist doctrines and produce an authoritative compilation of texts known as the Tripitaka. This council, held at Kundalwan in Kashmir and attended by Buddhist scholars from across Asia, was highly significant in Buddhist history. The Tripitaka texts were inscribed on copper plates that were buried at the Kundalwan site. The decline of Buddhism in Kashmir began after this, as Hindu kings gained power. The location of the buried copper plates has been lost over time.
Almost a decade ago, Kashmir’s cultural historian Muhammad Yusuf Taing argued they are likely buried near the present-day village of Dalwan, based on linguistic evidence and the accounts of historians like Taranath. He also urged authorities to use modern technology to excavate the Kundalwan site and uncover this lost treasure that would be of immense value to Buddhism globally. Taing expressed hope that unearthing the copper plates will lead to a revival of interest in Kashmir’s Buddhist past and heritage.
Hub of Buddhism
Xuanzang’s writings catalogue numerous Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and relics he encountered in the Kashmir region. He describes sites connected to Buddhist luminaries like Upagupta and Ashoka. Xuanzang mentions a monastery sheltering a tooth relic of the Buddha, brought from India. He visits a shrine with a standing image of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion. On a monastery veranda, Xuanzang marvels at the mountain scenery while monks compose Buddhist treatises nearby. He is awed by the cave relics of innumerable enlightened arhats who meditated and passed away in Kashmir’s mountains. Xuanzang portrays himself as a pilgrim discovering relics and locations tied to Buddhism’s origins, underscoring Kashmir’s sanctity.
Xuanzang’s wistful tone describing Kashmir’s lost Buddhist past reflects the declining fortunes of Buddhism by his time. He pointedly notes rulers who destroyed stupas and persecuted Buddhism in Kashmir’s history. Xuanzang presents many Buddhist sites already abandoned and decaying. While honouring Kashmir’s significance in Buddhist history, he laments the damage and disappearance of its once vibrant Buddhist culture. Xuanzang represents himself as a pilgrim gathering the last traces of Kashmir’s Buddhist glory before its final erosion. His detailed record immortalises Kashmir as a pivotal domain in transmitting and nurturing Buddhism during its classical florescence in India.
Beyond Buddhist sites, Xuanzang provides snapshots of everyday life and culture in seventh-century Kashmir. He notes the verdant mango groves and orchards surrounding homes. Xuanzang observes both indigenous and foreign elements, remarking on the Central Asian features of people depicted in a Buddhist fresco. He mentions followers of various schools of Buddhist and non-Buddhist thought living together in Kashmir’s cities. Xuanzang describes a blend of faiths, cultural influences, and diverse peoples, hidden away in Kashmir’s mountain basin. His account captures Kashmir’s atmosphere before its conversion to Islam as an oasis of Buddhism still open to wider currents.
Lord Buddha
Preface to Change
Within a century of Xuanzang’s visit, Kashmir saw the rise of Hindu kings and gradual inroads from Muslim preachers and migrants. By the fourteenth century, most of Kashmir adopted Islam, supplanting its Buddhist past. Xuanzang witnessed Kashmir at the apex of its classical period but also during its decline from those heights. His meticulous record preserves the lost Buddhist civilisation of Kashmir at its twilight.
Xuanzang portrays its lingering richness and recalls its previous grandeur. But there are omens of Kashmir’s coming eclipse in his descriptions of abandoned temples and transient relics. Xuanzang’s account memorialises the vanished world of Kashmir’s Buddhist age, even as change encroached on its horizon.
Beyond the Buddhist Lens
While Xuanzang’s perspective offers an image of seventh-century Kashmir, his Buddhist pilgrim outlook has inherent limits. He focuses on cataloguing Buddhist sites and relics, providing less insight into everyday life. Xuanzang filters Kashmir through the lens of his faith – a richly Buddhist realm honouring his journey. But this was also a period of coexistence with Hindu and other beliefs, which received short shrift. Xuanzang’s visits to monasteries and temples likely provide only glimpses of the complete picture. We must fill out his selectively religious panorama with other sources and perspectives.
Though steered by Buddhist reverence, Xuanzang maintains an explorer’s observational spirit and adaptability. At times, his keen geographical and cultural details go beyond Buddhist matters. He analyses landforms, climate, dress, agriculture, language, and social norms in his descriptions. Xuanzang displays courage and persistence in reaching Kashmir through dangerous mountain terrain. His learned, investigative nature emerges alongside religious motivations. While not an unbiased account, Xuanzang’s record has fundamental value for the period in portraying Kashmir as a land, not just a Buddhist relic.
As an invested pilgrim, Xuanzang often transmits Buddhist legends about Kashmir’s past. Many serve to connect Kashmir to Buddha’s life and the origins of Buddhism. Xuanzang reports tales of Buddha prophesying Kashmir’s significance before his death. Other legends feature arhats and kings establishing Buddhism in Kashmir in line with the Buddha’s wishes. Xuanzang draws on myths crediting Kashmir with events like Madhyantika defeating the naga spirit of the lake. Through legends, Xuanzang casts Kashmir as playing an important role in early Buddhist history following the Buddha’s Parinirvana. While legends reflect imagination and ideology more than fact, they convey Kashmir’s perceived centrality and reputation among Buddhists.
Xuanzang’s account follows conventions of medieval travel writing by blending observation with myth and legend. He adapts the theoretical framework that Buddhist authorities foretold Kashmir’s prominence. Xuanzang structures his account around visits to sacred Buddhist sites across the land. He mixes miraculous tales with local colour and empirical details. While today’s scholars differentiate history from legend, Xuanzang integrates them fluidly as equally meaningful. His religious worldview and narrative style must be appreciated to contextualise his portrayal of Kashmir. Xuanzang aims not merely to record but to celebrate Kashmir’s Buddhist heritage through literary travelogue devices.
Ancient Buddhist Site at Harwan in Srinagar outskirts
Biography of a Vanished Realm
Xuanzang’s account of Kashmir stands as the biography of a disappeared world. His chronicle preserves key memories and contours, accrued through Kashmir’s pivotal early role in nurturing Buddhism. Xuanzang keeps alive figures like Madhyantika and Kanishka who shaped Kashmir’s trajectory and identity. He memorialises the learned monks and the culture that flourished behind the ring of mountains. Xuanzang pays homage to Kashmir’s stupas, monasteries, and relics that embodied its spirit. His meticulous record immortalises Kashmir’s essential character as a hidden Buddhist land in the final centuries before sweeping change triggered a shift. For this irreplaceable glimpse into Kashmir’s past, Xuanzang remains an invaluable guide.
Xuanzang’s record established Kashmir as a prosperous Buddhist kingdom in the seventh century and a centre of Buddhist learning. It was semi-isolated by its mountainous geography but occupied an important position linking India to Central Asia. Xuanzang highlights Kashmir’s prestige through legends about figures like Madhyantika and Kanishka. He values Kashmir’s production of Buddhist texts but shows that it was not the sole centre. Xuanzang portrays himself as accessing Kashmiri Buddhist wisdom to bring back to China, reflecting his pilgrimage’s mission. While limited in his travels through Kashmir, Xuanzang provides glimpses of Buddhism thriving in Kashmir alongside indigenous faiths before the rise of Islam. His account is an invaluable record of a pivotal but little-known period in Kashmir’s religious history.
Tail End
In the centuries after his death, Xuanzang’s journey to India took on mythic proportions in the popular imagination. Tales arose of the monk confronting demons and monsters along the way, aided by fantastical companions like a monkey and pig. Xuanzang became a supernatural figure associated with magic and spiritual powers beyond his historical role as pilgrim and scholar. His accurate record of places and cultures gave way to allegorical legends that have become better known than the man himself.
Yet, while Xuanzang did document exotic lands and peoples seemingly at the edge of the known world, his account is restrained and empirical at the core. He writes to enlighten readers on real regions little understood in China, not to regale with bizarre tales or exaggerate dangers faced. Xuanzang portrays himself as a humble seeker of wisdom, not a hero battling supernatural foes. His matter-of-fact relation of the landscapes, cities, faiths, and histories along the Silk Road reveals Xuanzang as an intrepid explorer but also a meticulous, rational observer.
Above all, Xuanzang’s monumental record preserves for posterity a detailed eyewitness view of cultures and kingdoms that have long since vanished. His text documents the existence of past peoples and places that would otherwise remain obscure. While legends transform Xuanzang into a mystical figure, his account is fundamentally one of history, geography, and ethnography. It provides an indispensable record of Central and South Asia when Buddhism still thrived, free of the hyperbole and magic later associated with the pilgrim monk of legend. For all the wondrous myths that now envelop him, Xuanzang’s accomplishment remains his factual chronicle of a medieval world in transition.
On Shahid Yaqoob Khan’s birthday, Srinagar-born Hina Bashir was looking for something special to gift her husband. She is a programme coordinator at IMT University Dubai and Khan is a mechanical engineer and professional Photographer. She “purchased” a piece of land and surprised her space-loving spouse.
Moonsighting at the beginning and conclusion of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting, is quite an elaborate affair. This photograph shows the modern equipment in place in Saudi Arabia for locating the Shawaal crescent.
Only last week, a medical doctor in Kashmir claimed to become the first Kashmiri to own a piece of land on the moon. The race to purchase the lunar space started days after Chandriyan-III landed on the dark side of the moon. Jammu businessman Rupesh Masson purchased a plot on the celestial body and became a major news in print, TV and digital space. Jealousy apart, this triggered a lot of debate in Kashmir families that while they are desperate to own proper burial spaces, people are so rich that they have staked a claim on the moon.
No Ownership
Be sure, they own nothing on the moon. They only have purchased a certificate of owning a plot that the seller does not own himself. These certificates are merely decorative wall hangings in nature. “Your Lunar Land Claim and ownership package includes a beautifully engraved personalized deed, a satellite photograph of your property on the Moon and an information sheet detailing the geography of your selected area,” the seller declares on his website.
A supermoon rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
The scam is rooted in the United States of America and it is the story of Dennis Hope who was fighting joblessness after his separation from his partner when he discovered a “hope” in selling the celestial bodies. He claims to be the owner of almost everything in the universe except the sun and the earth.
A Dream Seller
In the early 1980s, Hope was gazing out of his window, he saw unclaimed property on a cosmic scale. Recalling titbits from a college political science course about the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty, which prohibited nations from claiming the moon but remained silent on individual ownership, Hope saw an opportunity.
Hope went to his local US Governmental Office for claim registries, the San Francisco County Seat, and claimed the entire lunar surface, as well as the surface of all the other eight planets of the solar system and their moons (except Earth and the sun). Initially, he was taken for a crackpot but five hours later the main supervisor accepted and registered his claim of ownership.
Later, he sent a letter to the United Nations, staking a claim to the moon and daring them to refute his legal standing. To his surprise, there was no response, setting the stage for his audacious lunar enterprise.
Founded in 1980, Hope’s Lunar Embassy Corporation claims to have sold more than 611 million acres of lunar land, and the sales extend beyond the moon to include Mars, Venus, Mercury, and even Pluto. Operating on the premise that the UN Treaty does not apply to individuals, Hope sells lunar plots for US $19.95 per acre, complete with additional charges for a “lunar tax” and shipping for the deed. Larger plots and entire celestial bodies are also available, with purported buyers including three former US presidents – George HW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and nearly 700 well-known celebrities. Reports appearing in the media suggest that he once sold a “country-sized” plot of land – 2.66 million acres, for US$ 250,000.
A Scam
While Hope’s lunar real estate business thrives, legal experts challenge the interpretation of the UN Outer Space Treaty. According to these experts, the treaty applies not only to nations but also to their citizens, making individual lunar ownership untenable. Despite this, Hope remains steadfast in his claims, exploiting what he perceives as a legal loophole that supports his celestial enterprise.
Jammu based businessman, Rupesh Masson bought land on the Moon on August 25.
Owning is slightly different from a wall hanging. In most countries, if one owns a piece of land, he or she exercises exclusive control over it and no one can use it without permission. The government recognises ownership and helps owners enforce it. That is not the case of the moon land-owning.
Yet, Hope envisions a future where lunar landowners, represented by the Galactic Government he presides over, can leverage their lunar properties. With Helium-3 reserves valued at over $6 quadrillion, Hope underscores the economic potential of his claimed lunar territory, adding an intriguing dimension to the ongoing cosmic drama. Helium-3 is used in nuclear fusion research on Earth and trades for about $125,000 an ounce.
Nobody contested his claim – neither the US government nor the UN or any of the powerful five nations. Encouraged, he once threatened China which had said they would set up a station on the moon. Instead, the hugely moneyed man has been adopted by the Republicans.
A photograph showing Moon Dog (halo), Mars, Saturn, Jupiter milkyway and the summer triangle at the Hanle observatory in Ladakh. Pic: Dorje Angchuk
But Hope, who has sold almost 7.5 per cent of the moon’s surface for US $ 12 million so far, is not the first claimant to the ownership of the moon. In 1996, German citizen Martin Juergens declared that the Moon belonged to his family, claiming that it had been presented to his ancestors in 1756 by Prussian King Frederick the Great as a gift of service. Juergens petitioned the German government to take the matter to the US. Not surprisingly, no action has been taken by either government.
Private companies have been ‘selling’ plots of land on the Moon since at least the 1950s. An acre on the moon goes for US $19.99, while the same size plot on Mars will set you back the US $22.49, plus tax and shipping and handling. It amounts to less than Rs 4000 an acre, something that cannot get a person his grave in Srinagar.
SRINAGAR: Severe cold wave and foggy weather conditions continued to prevail in Kashmir Valley with minimum temperatures continuing to dip at night in most parts of Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.
A man rows his boat on a foggy morning in Srinagar.KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.6°C against minus 3.0°C on previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for the summer capital of JK for this time of the year.
Most parts of the Valley including Srinagar again saw fog, reducing visibility and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.2°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 0.9°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against minus 4.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 2.2°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 0.5°C for the place, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 44.2°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C below normal there, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night and the temperature was 3.4°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 7.6°C against 7.4°C on previous night, and it was above normal by 0.2°C for the winter capital of J&K.
Banihal recorded a low of 1.2°C, Batote 4.7°C and Bhaderwah 1.8°C, he said.
Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter which will end on January 30. However it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
Weatherman has predicted generally cloudy weather with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches during 24 hours.
“Generally dry weather with moderate to dense fog over Central Kashmir, Plains of Baramulla, Ganderbal, and Pulwama is expected till December 31,” the MeT official said.
He said from January 1-2, weather is expected to be generally cloudy with “light rain” at isolated places.” Generally, cloudy weather with light rain/snow at scattered places has been forecast on January 3-4. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2023, which allows the nomination of two members from Kashmiri migrants and one member from displaced persons from PoK, came into force on Tuesday.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, which seeks to amend the term ‘weak and under-privileged classes’ to OBC, also came into force.
According to two separate official notifications, the Ministry of Home Affairs has fixed December 26 as the date from which the two laws have come into effect in Jammu and Kashmir.
In exercise of the powers conferred sub section (2) of section 1 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act 2023 (34 of 2023), the central government hereby appoints the 26th day of December 2023 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” One of the official notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.
The other notification said: “In exercise of the powers conferred sub section (2) of section 1 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act 2023 (35 of 2023), the central government hereby appoints the 26th day of December 2023 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2023 provides for nominating two members, including a woman, from the Kashmiri migrant community and one member from the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Regardless of the robust security and surveillance systems in place, Kashmir has emerged as a fraud-abundant territory. Almost every season, frauds innovate their style of cheating. The latest, nicknamed Paisa Double scam, involved a Chennai duo whose now-blocked company took money from people with a promise of impressive returns and then silently fled, reportsMasood Hussain
Kashmir is nothing new to fraud. Annually, it incurs significant financial losses due to both online and offline fraudulent activities. However, the one that hit the Vale last week is perhaps the mother of all frauds that were reported from Kashmir in the last few years.
Two Tamil Nadu residents registered a private limited company in Jammu on July 20, 2023. The year is yet to close and they have reportedly raised Rs 69 crore, closed its offices and fled. Police investigating the case have located Rs 14 crore transactions, so far. They expect the figure will change once the people come up with details. Interestingly, the whistle-blower was not the tech-savvy system in place or a hyperactive governance structure but a blogger operating from a distant south Kashmir village. Strangely, the shady company had its footprints in north Kashmir and parts of Srinagar.
“I presume the fraudsters had a proper plan to make a specific amount within a year or maybe less but the leak led them to escape,” one company affairs expert, said. “Seemingly they have fled in such a haste that they left telltale traces of their crime behind, which now police are looking into.”
A Survey Company
Registered at Channi Himmat in Jammu, as a private non-government company with a paid-up capital of Rs 10 lakh, it has two directors – Ramesh Keerthi and Manickam Mariyadoss. A resident of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Mariyadoss’s Facebook page – that has very scant information, claims he has studied at IIT Madras, went to Delhi Charter School, married in April and lives in Srinagar. It has a photograph of a devta that he has uploaded as his feature image.
Ramesh Keerthi, the other director lives in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and has not left any information on any of his social media handles.
Open-source information suggests the company was “involved in activities such as architecture and engineering activities, technical testing and analysis.” However, Haamid Bukahri, who is the Registrar of Companies in Jammu and Kashmir said, the purpose was differently stated in the records his office has.
“They had submitted their area of activities as renting of machinery and equipment without operators and personal and house-holding goods,” Bukhari said. “The details that are appearing in the media about their activities are not mentioned anywhere. It is nowhere written that they will be seeking funds and paying people better returns. It is completely illegal.”
Interestingly, Curative Survey was incorporated as a proprietorship firm on October 22, 2022, with its registered office located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The activity of this company was said to be “information service activities” and “other information service activities”.
Are the two entities the same is not known? There is no information about the Curative Service Chennai directors at all. However, employees who worked for the one that operated from Jammu said they were getting all directions from Chennai.
Interestingly, the website of the company stopped operating within hours after the Jammu and Kashmir Police sealed their office at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. Their cell phones also went dumb. They were operating three bank accounts within a range of two square kilometres in Jammu – Yes Bank Gandhi Nagar Jammu, HDFC Marble Market Jammu, and ICICI Channi Himmat Jammu. All three accounts have been seized by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. One banker said the amount that is left with them is Rs 55,000 only. “Most of the transactions were taking place with a particular one,” he said, offering no details. Sleuths investigating the scam said the company managers have kept very minimal accounts in the three bank accounts which stand frozen now.
The Modus Operandi
The company had a basic Ponzi-style operation. It would register members for Rs 5000 fee and give cuts from this amount to the older members and the chain was growing. The “employees” were supposed to do a basic “survey” to entitle them to fortnightly payouts.
As the senior members, who got into the chain early, started getting their payouts in time, they felt encouraged to reinvest and in certain cases open multiple accounts. Reports appearing in the media suggest that its employees would reinvest their salaries in the systems they were operating for their masters.
Some company members who protested against the fraud said they used to deposit Rs 5000 as a security deposit every 15 months. In response, the members used to review various products which would fetch them money. Against the deposited sum, people used to receive Rs 3000 in return per month. After many people made good money, those joining the chain last month started booking losses. The routine 15 questions they were getting every day stopped. As they visited the company offices, they found them locked and then the whistleblower Nafi Javed, a YouTuber gave the details that sent everybody in shock. The company was running offices in Jammu, Srinagar, Pattan, and Sangrama.
Survey Companies have mushroomed in the last few years. They are paying either for responding to some questions about a company or a product or they seek higher-star ranking for certain products to enable the manufacturer to improve its star ranking on social media. Tragically, it is not required that one knows the product or not.
Though the company was claiming that they were investing in making some wellness and cosmetic products, it is yet to be established. Interestingly, the company is also not a member of the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA), an association of product manufacturers who sell directly to the consumer.
Ponzi schemes are fraud money-minting tools envisaging the creation of a long chain of “members” whose entry fee is divided between the organising team and the members. It is a cheat taking his every victim as his partner. The fraud eventually is exposed when the new membership dries up.
What is enigmatic is that the company had no authorisation for doing what it was caught doing in Kashmir. “In the case of non-banking finance companies, the system requires additional compliances in comparison to non-banking companies,” one expert said. “Usually such schemes require formal permission from the banking regulator, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which did not exist in this case.”
“The police are investigating the case and they have registered the FIR,” Bukhari said. “We will be collaborating with them. We may even write to the financial intelligence unit for further investigations.” The Cyber Police in Srinagar have registered FIR 39/2023 under sections 66D of the IT Act and 429 of the IPC. They have raided various places as well. Police have summoned as many as 20 individuals for investigations and most of them are the company employees, some of whom have also been duped. It is not known if either of the two directors of the company has been located.
Interestingly, Bukhari pointed out that they might have gotten some inkling of the operations of the company once they would file their Income Tax returns. “Since it happened almost half a year ahead of the due date of return filing, we had no idea,” he admitted.
An expert in company affairs said that the silence of the three banks is also enigmatic. “Did they not see the documents and if they did not why did not they flag the issue when huge transactions were taking place,” the expert, who wishes not to be named, said. “The company did not park its funds either with the JK Bank or with the State Bank of India. It went to three private banks.” Reports appearing in the media said the company was filing its GST regularly.
Police have raided various places, seized the offices and claimed to have retrieved some gadgets and records. It is too early to offer an idea if they have succeeded in catching any of the directors of the company. Nobody knows where they are right now.
Ponzi Paradise: Cheats and frauds have mushroomed in Kashmir in the last few years. A KL art work by Kaisar Malik
Nothing New
Off late, Kashmir has remained a fraud-abundant space. On December 15, 2023, barely days before the paisa-double scam hit Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a 382-page charge sheet in court against two women constables, Nirmal Kour Saini and Arti Sharma, for orchestrating a chit fund scam amounting to Rs 1.87 crore.
The two ‘smart’ women had obtained one lakh rupees each from each complainant, falsely pledging a monthly interest of Rs 5,000. The accused, in collaboration with her husband and another woman constable, Arti Sharma, illicitly amassed cash and gold from various sources, depositing the funds with a finance company and the gold with a bank for personal use. The total misappropriation amounted to Rs 1.50 crore and approximately 300 grams of gold.
Besides, the accused had expanded their activities by engaging in the business of electronic gadgets and furniture items at the battalion headquarters to gain the trust of unsuspecting investors. The whistle blower in this case was the commandant of the particular battalion.
Chit funds are another financial tool envisaging members of a group contributing equal amounts for a specific time with all collections going to one member at a time. Once the circle completes, the chit-fund season concludes. Usually practised by businesses, this offers them interest-free capital at very low instalments (monthly or weekly or even daily membership fee). Normally, members of the group are known to each other and the deposits are small amounts.
Kashmir Valley Finance
Barely a month back the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Bashir Ahmed Mir of Kathpora, Kulgam, on the outskirts of Jammu city, who was evading his arrest for 22 years. His story is more interesting.
On November 26, 1990, he launched a Non-Banking Finance Company – Kashmir Valley Finance and Investment Ltd. With banks off the scene and the JK Bank still living in the shadows, the company opened a chain of offices across Kashmir and appointed several people as its employees.
It would accept savings with a promise of better returns. It continued for many years and when the investors started seeking their funds back, the crisis took off. By then the banks had resumed their operations and a network was around. Police registered a case and the investigations started. On November 17, 2003, the Crime Branch served challans against three top officials of the company including the Managing Director, Manzoor Ahmed Shah, and Directors Bashir Ahmed Mir and Munawar Mir. The challans were produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, with the Crime Branch accusing them of duping depositors of Rs 50 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir. The complaint, filed by Zarifa Parveen and Bharat Bhushan of Jammu, alleged that the company had promised a 24 per cent interest per annum, but upon maturity, officials were nowhere to be found, leading to a revelation during investigations that the company had duped innocent persons of Rs 49,48,881.
The current status of the case is that the High Court had passed orders as early as 2001 to take over the properties, which the company owns, sell them in the open market and pay the investors accordingly. The court direction remained unimplemented for all these years as the Ministry of Company Affairs lacked adequate staff in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have taken possession of the properties that the company had,” Haamid Bukhari revealed. “The Company has claimed that it has landed properties at Pahalgam, Shilvat in Sumbal and Kandi Kupwara. The property at Sumbal and Kupwara are in dispute but not the one in Pahalgam.”
However, the property is yet to be sold. “We have applied to the High Court for permission because we have to go for e-auctioning and anybody across the country can purchase slightly more than 10 kanals of land in Pahalgam,” Bukhari said. “The total liability of the company is six crore rupees and I believe we will sell it at a much better cost and pay the depositors accordingly.”
In Jammu, several people are busy in a protracted legal battle against Debabrata Ghatak, Mohit Sircor, and Chandra Kant Parasrampuria, all residents of West Bengal and Directors of Janpriya Finance Investment Company since 2014. The petitioners including Balkar Singh have alleged that the finance company duped innocent people of Rs 6.25 crore. Though the division bench has passed the direction of recovering the money from the company, it was not immediately known if it has been done or not.
