THE PLEASURE OF COLLECTING AUTOGRAPHS

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar/ April 12/
The leisure industry has revolutionized the mankind so warmly that he gets entertained and influenced by the people, who act for the public from different perspectives of life. Celebrities like film stars, sportspersons, politicians or artists become the idols in the minds of their thousands of fans. The fans try to imitate the style of their hero’s. The most successful of public figures become legends and live in the hearts of their admirers even after they are dead. Autographs of such legendary personalities are precious possessions for those who admire them. Believe it that one signature of one’s idol brings happiness to the fan of that idol.

People who collect autographs would go any distance to fetch a signature from their favorite star. For them an effort to collect an autograph from their favorite personalities is an effort to enrich themselves. In fact, some people collect autographs because they feel that they have an association with legends. It gives them an all time high happiness to acquire an autograph from a legendary personality. It also gives them pride and pleasure to be with their beloved celebrity for a few moments. To be nearer to someone like the famous Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan is considered a matter of pride and a memorable moment.
As a matter of fact, collectible autographs can fetch huge sums of money too. Some collections have been auctioned from time to time. In Western world there are people who collect the autographs as hobbyists and harvest a rich return when they sell them. Graphologists are the autograph scientists who spend time in studying autographs and their analysis ultimately help the biographers. Autographs of celebrities taken at different times indicate the inner qualities and outer achievements of those personalities
In our country mainly children pursue this hobby. It has been distinctly noticed that girls tend to seek autographs of male film stars and the boys would be after their favorite sportsperson. In India, the Cricket lovers are always looking for an opportunity to get a cricketer's signature. The collection of autographs need not always be something scribbled on paper. There are other surfaces on which the autographs are given by the stars. Then such objects like clothes, mugs etc. become the value added items for the collectors. For example, Cricketers place their prized signature on bats and stumps. And such autographed bats or stumps are craved items Today the class of autograph collectors is increasing in India. It is now considered to be a hobby of great educational value, which as per the analysts gives mental relief, broadens the mind and teaches the collector history of one's own country. This hobby not only brings the collector in contact with the great personalities who are making history, but also enlarges one's circle of friends having a common interest.
In 1993 Autograph Collectors Club of India was established in Kolkatta to promote this educational and interesting hobby in India and its neighboring countries.The Club got registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. “ It was like my unplanned thought, when I showed my collection to two very serious collectors of autographs and then a joint idea came to our mind to form an autograph collectors club which is the only club of its kind in India which now has about 20,000 addresses of prominent persons of India and abroad” says Santosh Kumar Lahoti, a 23 year old Company Secretary, who is the prime member of the Club.
“The main aims and objectives of the Club are, to promote and guide the study of Autographs, to co-operate with the Autograph Clubs/Societies of other countries by offering them information, advise and help about their collectors and to establish exchange relation with them, to organize exhibitions of Autographs in different cities of India. to check authenticity of Autographs by experts, to help collectors get addresses of celebrities. The Annual membership fee of the club is rupees one hundred and Life membership fee rupees one thousand” elaborates Mr. Lahoti.

No to Srinagar for hosting Santosh Trophy: AIFF JK Football Association blames Sports Council

Abid GowharSrinagar/ Aug 12/ Most awful for the valley football fraternity that All India Football Federation (AIFF) has of late decided not to hold the forthcoming 61st Santosh Trophy Football tournament in Srinagar as revealed in a letter addressed to J&K Football Association (JKFA) vide AIFF/Santosh/3730 dated Aug. 11,2006. The decision regarding the change of venue was taken in a Federation meeting yesterday after a month long uncertainty over the issue. The mega national football event is now allotted to Gurgaon Faridabad (Haryana) and is scheduled to start from Sept.14,2006.The AIFF General Secretary, Mr Alberto Colaco in the letter states that a final decision on the Santosh Trophy venue was taken after the AIFF president, Mr P R Dasmunshi discussed various matters with state Chief minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad concerning the lack of proper infrastructure and delay in the preparations for the same in Srinagar.Painful for thousands of valley football lovers and discouraging for JKFA to see AIFF reverting back on its decision of holding the mega National Football in Srinagar after 28 years.It had made blissful news for valley footballers in April this year when AIFF nominated Srinagar to host the prestigious mega event .JKFA was seen highly pleased to start their preparations and had several meetings with SSC authorities. Meanwhile the State Chief Minister had also shown his keen interest and commitment to allot Rs1.10 Crore for up gradation, repairs and renovation of all the football grounds in Srinagar. He had several meetings with State Sports Council (SSC) and JKFA in this regard. But all efforts to host the mega event lastly went futile due to many reasons behind. Lack of coordination between JKFA and SSC, delay in starting preparatory construction work, poor conviction of the concerned authorities, improper and unprofessional sports culture and prevailing security concerns of the valley. More than that AIFF had pressures from two football-rich states Goa and Begal, not to conduct the tournament in Srinagar due to several tourists attacks this summer.When asked to secretary JKFA, Mr. Bashir Malik that what and where went wrong in this matter, he put all blames in this regard to SSC stating that since April this year, we pursued them regularly with several demands and suggestions, but they were unmoved till last month. “We are very sorry that due to sheer negligence of SSC, thousands of football lovers of the valley will not be able to witness the mega football event this year for which they were anxiously waiting for” Mr. Malik added that although it is sad to lose a golden opportunity in hosting the event, JKFA is highly thankful to the Chief Minister Mr. Azad that he had showed his personal interests in the most popular game of the valley and allotted sufficient funds to SSC in order to meet all requirements including building of infrastructure for the same. Regarding lack of coordination with SSC, he stated that although we had several meetings with the Secretary SSC, but he could not convince us regarding his plans to deal with the situation. “His every initiative was in delay and without taking JKFA in to confidence, he allotted the construction work of changing rooms to an agency which is working in tortoise pace and that too with non-technicality” he added. Director youth Services and Sports Mr.Ravinder Gupta, who is also Secretary J&K Sports Council denied any misunderstanding or conflict with JKFA and said that the preparations were under process when an AIFF official made a visit here and we were optimistic about the completion of whole pending work till Sept. this year. However he says that we shall be better prepared to host the event next year. Pertinent Earlier Mr. Colaco had visited Srinagar to inspect the venues and submit a report to the federation for final declaration of the venue. The inspection report was tabled before a meeting and a copy of the same sent to JKFA. The report vide AIFF /santosh/3509 dated Aug. 2,2006 reveals that Bakshi Stadium, the main playing venue is not facilitated with sufficient changing rooms and lot of renovation is required for Stands and bothrooms. Amarsingh college ground requires lot of improvement, has no fencing and at least two dressing rooms and two referee rooms are required to conduct any National level tournament over there. Pertinent that Bakshi stadium Srinagar had hosted the 35th Santosh Trophy in 1978 when Goa lifted the trophy by beating Bengal by 2-0 and the same ground also witness Federation Cup in 1984. Santosh Trophy is considered to be as prestigious National level tournament in Football as Ranji or Dilip Trophy is for Cricket. Started in 1941 in the memory of late Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh (now in Bangladesh),it is being held every year in different parts of the country and carries a high craze in the whole football fraternity. Last year the trophy was played in Kochi when Goa beat Maharashtra in the finals.

“Adhocism and non-creativeness hampers our work culture”Says, a legend with golden ideas; Dr. Haseeb Drabu

By: Abid Gowhar

“Genius is the gold in the mine; talent is the Miner who works and brings it out”
.... Lady Blessington.
But, he is both genius and talented and such is the immense power of being Dr. Haseeb Ahmad Drabu, a Kashmiri young man, born in Rajpora village of district Pulwama, who’s worked as Editor “Business Standard” in Mumbai, was the member of 10th Planning Commission, serves as the economic advisor to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, an eminent economist, Chairman & CEO J&K Bank Ltd. and more…..
Unprofessional and Ad hoc work culture is the difference that makes efforts ineffective, hard work unproductive and blessings unexploited. This is what believes the legendary young man with extraordinary qualifications and abilities.
“We the Kashmiris, should get out of the subsidy concept, accept generation transaction, learn to work with sincerity, avoid Kaam Chalao type of working, try to be thoughtful and innovative and know to respect our living culture” spoke out Dr. Drabu in an exclusive interview with Mr.Bashir Arif Director Commercial Broadcasting Service, Radio Kashmir Srinagar in a programme titled “ Shakhsiyat”.
Speaking in fluent Kashmiri about his journey from failure in Chemistry to become a highly appreciated and eminent Economist of the country, Dr. Drabu said “I joined Amar Singh college in 1979 in medical stream. But I got compartment in Chemistry which induced me to take Arts subjects and in that period certain subjects were available in the college in Arts stream, so I opted for Economics, Geography and Political Science besides literature. I got distinctive marks in political Science and Economics and then had a dream to become a teacher in Political Economy.
I got Masters in Economics from Kashmir University with first position and gold medal. When I went for M. Phil, my teachers M.L.Misri and Qazi sahib find something shining in me and told me to go outside State for further studies. Getting encouragement from my teachers, I managed to get admission in JNU Delhi for five-year fellowship programme in ICSC, an advanced study center. I submitted my M. Phil thesis on the subject “Public investment in micro economic policy”, which was appreciated all around and I was directly awarded Ph. D.
In 1991, I joined Planning Commission, where I had to share higher responsibilities on younger shoulders. There occurred an abrupt transaction in my career. My first boss in Planning Commission was Dr. Vydenathan followed by Dr. Krishnamurti , Dr. Rangarajan, Dr. Bimal Jalan and Dr. Reddy all of them great and enlightened men to work with, which all became RBI Governors”.
He is also fond of listening Kashmiri music. Ghulam Hassan Sofi and Vijay Kumar Malla, his favorite singers besides like Qawalis of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as revealed to Mr. Bashir Arif.
About importance of cultural preservation, Drabu seems more concerned about its deterioration. “We are not culturally aware nor do we know how to respect it. I feel we are culturally bankrupt” He said on radio microphone.
About manpower abilities in the State, he commented that time has come to accept a generation transaction. “We should share our responsibilities with youngsters, who are more talented, enthusiastic and energetic to carry forward any mission successfully. My advice to the seniors is that; let younger generation come forward to turn the heavy tables around. Once we keep faith on them, they become more responsible and persistent of doing new things. I am surprised, why we are not acceptable to changes and innovations” he revealed.
Drabu is of the opinion that efficient professionals are leaving the valley because they do not find suitable work environment here.
He believes that everybody has to be a socially responsible and every institution has to be socially responsible institution. “An organization working in any culture has to take care of the cultural heritage to become socially acceptable to the people. Our State is culturally so rich that we can create new economic resources out of it” he further added
About J&K Bank, the 43-year-old chairman said, “We have taken several steps to make J&K Bank a socially responsible institution. I’m bringing out a programme called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). We’ve been doing it on an adhoc manner but soon it will be institutionalized”.
The Bank chairman said that natural resources of the state haven’t been fully tapped and there is a vast potential to exploit the unexposed resources.
Commenting on other crises in the State like electricity, Drabu said that we’ve lot of potential to generate hydro electricity. Being member of Board of Directors of Power Development Corporation I have put some ideas to make the state self-sufficient in electricity and am optimistic that if the project is implemented, the power crisis in the state will end within two years period.
Dr.Drabu being gripped with so many high profile affairs at a very young age, his immense ideas and versatility of thoughts could change the destiny of mishaps prevailing in the poorness of many areas in the J&K State. ######

“Adhocism and non-creativeness hampers our work culture”Says, a legend with golden ideas; Dr. Haseeb Drabu

By: Abid Gowhar

“Genius is the gold in the mine; talent is the Miner who works and brings it out”
.... Lady Blessington.
But, he is both genius and talented and such is the immense power of being Dr. Haseeb Ahmad Drabu, a Kashmiri young man, born in Rajpora village of district Pulwama, who’s worked as Editor “Business Standard” in Mumbai, was the member of 10th Planning Commission, serves as the economic advisor to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, an eminent economist, Chairman & CEO J&K Bank Ltd. and more…..
Unprofessional and Ad hoc work culture is the difference that makes efforts ineffective, hard work unproductive and blessings unexploited. This is what believes the legendary young man with extraordinary qualifications and abilities.
“We the Kashmiris, should get out of the subsidy concept, accept generation transaction, learn to work with sincerity, avoid Kaam Chalao type of working, try to be thoughtful and innovative and know to respect our living culture” spoke out Dr. Drabu in an exclusive interview with Mr.Bashir Arif Director Commercial Broadcasting Service, Radio Kashmir Srinagar in a programme titled “ Shakhsiyat”.
Speaking in fluent Kashmiri about his journey from failure in Chemistry to become a highly appreciated and eminent Economist of the country, Dr. Drabu said “I joined Amar Singh college in 1979 in medical stream. But I got compartment in Chemistry which induced me to take Arts subjects and in that period certain subjects were available in the college in Arts stream, so I opted for Economics, Geography and Political Science besides literature. I got distinctive marks in political Science and Economics and then had a dream to become a teacher in Political Economy.
I got Masters in Economics from Kashmir University with first position and gold medal. When I went for M. Phil, my teachers M.L.Misri and Qazi sahib find something shining in me and told me to go outside State for further studies. Getting encouragement from my teachers, I managed to get admission in JNU Delhi for five-year fellowship programme in ICSC, an advanced study center. I submitted my M. Phil thesis on the subject “Public investment in micro economic policy”, which was appreciated all around and I was directly awarded Ph. D.
In 1991, I joined Planning Commission, where I had to share higher responsibilities on younger shoulders. There occurred an abrupt transaction in my career. My first boss in Planning Commission was Dr. Vydenathan followed by Dr. Krishnamurti , Dr. Rangarajan, Dr. Bimal Jalan and Dr. Reddy all of them great and enlightened men to work with, which all became RBI Governors”.
He is also fond of listening Kashmiri music. Ghulam Hassan Sofi and Vijay Kumar Malla, his favorite singers besides like Qawalis of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as revealed to Mr. Bashir Arif.
About importance of cultural preservation, Drabu seems more concerned about its deterioration. “We are not culturally aware nor do we know how to respect it. I feel we are culturally bankrupt” He said on radio microphone.
About manpower abilities in the State, he commented that time has come to accept a generation transaction. “We should share our responsibilities with youngsters, who are more talented, enthusiastic and energetic to carry forward any mission successfully. My advice to the seniors is that; let younger generation come forward to turn the heavy tables around. Once we keep faith on them, they become more responsible and persistent of doing new things. I am surprised, why we are not acceptable to changes and innovations” he revealed.
Drabu is of the opinion that efficient professionals are leaving the valley because they do not find suitable work environment here.
He believes that everybody has to be a socially responsible and every institution has to be socially responsible institution. “An organization working in any culture has to take care of the cultural heritage to become socially acceptable to the people. Our State is culturally so rich that we can create new economic resources out of it” he further added
About J&K Bank, the 43-year-old chairman said, “We have taken several steps to make J&K Bank a socially responsible institution. I’m bringing out a programme called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). We’ve been doing it on an adhoc manner but soon it will be institutionalized”.
The Bank chairman said that natural resources of the state haven’t been fully tapped and there is a vast potential to exploit the unexposed resources.
Commenting on other crises in the State like electricity, Drabu said that we’ve lot of potential to generate hydro electricity. Being member of Board of Directors of Power Development Corporation I have put some ideas to make the state self-sufficient in electricity and am optimistic that if the project is implemented, the power crisis in the state will end within two years period.
Dr.Drabu being gripped with so many high profile affairs at a very young age, his immense ideas and versatility of thoughts could change the destiny of mishaps prevailing in the poorness of many areas in the J&K State. ######

Banking beyond “door-to-door” concept; a service there, where one stands.

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar/ June 30 / Well before the Indian banking system could imagine a door-to-door banking concept, a virtual of its kind is going-on during a mission called “Reaching-out-to-all” launched by J&K Bank in Ganderbal rural block in district Srinagar. A real and practical banking, one could imagine in all difficult circumstances is being experienced during the mission and banking services are being provided beyond its boundaries, there, where one stands.
The programme has giving JK bank marketing officials a unique and unforgettable experience while putting severe efforts to visit every nook and corner of the villages of the block in order to educate, involve and motivate those people towards general banking who are uneducated, unaware, underprivileged rather unattended in our rural society.
One can see high paid bank officials sitting not on the revolving sophisticated chairs but……. officially doing banking sitting among the villagers, rural artisans and farmers on the rough surfaces, on any raised block, on the naked clay, uncouthly stones, door steps or on the handmade grassy mats.
The villagers at first sight would neither believe nor offer you a good place to sit on. Not like the villagers for whom the services are rendered are not hospitable or ill-cultured but they are made to think thousand times before they hear or respond any stranger or persons who call themselves as bank officials. They are really most hospitable, supportive and well-mannered but they have got a bitter experience in the past during late nineties when they have been cheated, misinformed and mislead by many people calling themselves as employees of so called banks / financers like Kashmir Valley Finance and Sunrise Investment Ltd.
Both these private companies (which were later banned) had their offices in length and breadth of the valley and they had engaged local youth in collecting money with the hollow words that their money will be doubled in just three years period of time while the money in other banks in those days was being doubled in not less than six years period.
Shaheena Akhtor a 27 year old girl, resident of village Ladhwina tullamulla couldn’t stop her tears when she showed a Recurring Deposit Passbook of Kashmir Valley finance and Investment (KVFI) Branch Tullamulla under account No. 149 to one of the officials of the JK Bank team. Her father had expired in 1996 and since the period is doing Aari knitting work along with her three sisters at her home.
“On Sept. 6, 1997 a well dressed young man came to our home stating that KVFI will you good returns if you will deposit rupees three hundred monthly. We three sisters were earning Rs1000/ per month at that time. We trusted the persons and agreed to open the account and deposited Rs5400/- in 18 months but later it proved all fraud and we could not get our hard earned money back” revealed Shaheena.
There are so many cases like this due to which the campaigners had to pull their all socks up to convince and educate the villagers about the crux of the project. Most of the innocent people of Kachan, Hakim-Gund, Gund-e-Rehman, Bagoo-Rampur, Ladwina villagers had been cheated like anything and huge sum of hard-earned money was gripped by some young men who were working for those fraud companies.

They deserve more care and confidence.

The ongoing mission in the villages of block Ganderbal reveal that rural artisans and farmers deserve more banking care and confidence while involving them with the basic fundamentals of financial inclusion. In a door-to-door canvassing of banking products and schemes some surprising chronicles came out from the villagers which put the campaigners under a hard test.
“I feel some doubt in your campaign because when we intend to attend your Branches, you are having very less time to attend us and today when we are busy with our work, you have got enough time to attend and motivate us”. At one point of time this was the statement of Mohammad Ramzan, resident of village Kachan, a willow wicker artisan, but after a detailed conversation he has something different to say. “Ok then but….how come we believe your authenticity and if you are not cheating us like many others have by collecting huge sum of money from our village with the promise that you will get your money doubled in just three years period”.
Both these statements carry a message to the Bank officials that innocent and illiterate villagers have been robbed baldy by many mischievous elements in the past and also they do not get enough time for awareness and extra customer care at the JK bank branches to whom they have their trust alive.
Chief Coordinator of the JK Bank’s ensuing project and bank’s public relations officer Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Pandit seems philosophical in saying that just like easily and more available food tastes less; easy earned money feels of less cost; a low cost luxury never looks a brand item, our great purpose of reaching out to all perhaps looks imaginary to the concerned rural masses. “Despite different type of hardships being faced in going village to village and door-to-door, we have been able to convince the people to a greater extant. Our marketing team has reached to twenty one villages of block Ganderbal so far during which more than nine hindered fresh accounts have been opened in these villages” says Khurshid A Pandit.
JK Bank’s Executive President Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad, who had inaugurated the project in Gutlibagh village on May 10, 2006 states that it is the ultimate success of our mission that people have responded overwhelmingly and it is also a fact that rural masses particularly the uneducated and rural artisans deserve more attention, care and confidence from our front line officials at the branches.

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Banking-reach to the unreached society

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar /June 13/ In the on-going “reaching-out-to-all” mission launched by Jammu & Kashmir Bank ltd. some interesting and fascinating things become unfold so for as covering the un-banked areas and unexposed people under the modern day banking shadows. While analyzing the livelihood, cultural set-up, demographic profile, financial offerings and needs of the villagers living in two rural blocks i.e. Ranbhir Singh Pora of district Jammu and Ganderbal block of district Srinagar, there comes out a project for the bank with treasure of information and innovative things that is going to play a pivotal role in the overall economic development of the State and which can built a strong platform for the bank to strengthen its customer base also.
For last more than a month, J&K Bank’s six-member special marketing team is visiting village to village and going door-to-door in Ganderbal block to make people aware of the banking facilities and conversing with the villagers about their trades, jobs and financial needs.
In order to involve maximum of the underprivileged, remote, unattended and un-banked areas in its business manifesto and social concern agenda, there seems the right selection of the two blocks because both have some uniqueness in their demography and potential for financial inclusion.
It is Ganderbal block of district Srinagar that has got presence of willow trees in abundance and obviously the dominance in the art and trade related to it. Kashmir handicraft has so much modesty and craze in the world that the bestowed natural beauty of the valley gets enriched by the craftsmanship of the people over here. Apart from other art and crafts, hand-made willow-wicker products mark a special mention in our sacred history. The Ganderbal Block has more than fourteen villages in its custody, which fall under two topographic zones. One in the north-east of the Block headquarter, the mountainous or slanting zone situated alongside of Harmukh hills, and the other a plain zone with different geographical set up. The former being rich in fruits and the later rich in wet lands and willow trees. The area is fertile with enough rice cultivation but also flood prone.
Villages like Saloora, Kachan, Hakim Gund, Hatbara, Harran, Gund-e-Rehman and Shallabugh are famous for quality willow trees called Yeer in Kashmiri and Poplar trees called Frest. While Horse-plying and Cherry fruit trees of Gutlibagh and its adjacent villages are exemplary on one side, the willow wood and willow wicker trade is unique and unmatched on the other side in the plains of Ganderbal. Elsemore there is a difference in social set up of the people living in these two areas like mixture of Gujjar, Pushtoo and contemporary Kashmiris residing in altitudes of Harmukh hills and people with pure Kashmiri rural set-up living on the other side in plains .
In the first phase seven villages of Harmukh hills like Gutli Bagh, Chanhar, Wayil Wudder, BabaWayil, Wurpash and Banjar were reached out by the Bank during which more than three hundred fifty new accounts were opened during and a big portion was being made aware of the banking facilities and products.
In the second and ensuing phase of the programme, an exclusive reach, study and survey is being done in the land of willow-wicker experts. Despite a JK bank branch exists in Chundina village, only a small portion of the population has got sufficient knowledge about banking services and facilities. A vast section of this artisan society still waits for the government aid and subsidy to come in their way. With more than six hundred households, Shallabugh village is eight kilometers from its Tehsil headquarter Ganderbal and is under a government plan to be constituted as a model village. Bankers found a good response to their call during the awareness campaign in shallabugh and its adjacent villages, seeing huge gathering thronging around, while giving brief about banking and banking products to the local shopkeepers. People were seen excited in reading the Urdu version of bank brochures containing brief details about JK bank’s different deposit schemes. Several complaints also poured in about poor customer service of the bank branch in the area but simultaneously around one hundred fresh accounts were opened in just two days in the area. People were seen enthusiastic in getting the information about the banking products and schemes, but many of them hardly get impressed by the credit or loan product offers. All the link roads joining the villages lead through the rice farms and are macadamized. Apart from willow artisans, professional wood-cutters, other businessmen including transporters are prevail in the area. Worthy to mention of Harran village, a rich business village comprising eighty households with literacy ratio of more than sixty per cent.
About Willow Wicker Trade:
Willow and white-wood trees are found in abundance in the area. Willow wicker is used by crafts man known as shaksaz or kainyal to make charmingly quaint objects, ranging from shopping baskets and lampshades to tables and chairs, all generally inexpensive. Most of the people are expert in making use of willow twigs to make Kangris, baskets and other durable items and this activity trade is considered to be a cultural handicraft art of the area.
Willow twigs are chiseled and frequently sprayed with water, particularly in dry climates, to prevent them from brittle. Because the plenty growth of willow, the willow/wicker craft is deeply rooted in local folk tradition. The product includes tokras, tokris, oval shaped containers with lids etc. ‘Kangri’ the handmade warming equipment is also designed here with an earthen bowl being wrapped in a frame of decoratively woven willow.
Green willow- twigs are kept in a big boiler pot for a night and then its upper surface is scratched. The colour of the twigs turns white and bright after it is completely dried down in sun shine. Commenting on the trade, an expert artisan, 45 year old Abdul Razak Khanday says that green willow- twigs cost around Rs250/40kg(Mann). It is kept in a big boiler pot for a night and then its upper surface is scratched. The colour of the twigs turns white and bright after it is completely dried down in sun shine. “There are five boiler pots in the village which cost a willow farmer Rs300/- per 35 Mann to boil the raw willow material. After bearing all the costs and labour work, net average earning of a willow wicker artisan is not more than rupees one hundred per day” said Khanday. There are different varieties of wicker being used to weave baskets, plates and other decorative items which include, kekas, red skin, pansuer, dhaisuer and stick.
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Banking-spread to the un-banked villages.

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar / June 4/ “Reach-out-to-all “is the latest slogan of finance minister P. Chitambram, voiced for all the Public and private sector banks in India. This idea of reaching to the un-banked rural masses was first floated during the mid-term review of monitory policy 2005-2006 in Oct.2005 wherein banks were urged to review their existing practices to align them with the objective of financial inclusion. With a view to achieving greater financial inclusion, all banks were asked to make available a basic banking ‘no frills’ account that would make such accounts accessible to vast and underprivileged sections of population.
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) pursued the importance of the National agenda to its member banks so strongly that many banks instantly formalized such “ No-frill” accounts with a special coverage and concessions. Introduction of such hassle free account produced another thought that unless country’s un-banked population is covered and reached by the banks, the mantra of financial inclusion could not be materialized.
About 72% of country’s population is still living in rural India. Nearly one third of that continues to be below the poverty line. Majority of them are marginal farmers and landless agriculture. What the economy experts feel that rural population holds a big portion of the money that remains stagnant for a longer period of time. Even rural people does not prefer to bank their money anywhere and so is called un-banked area / population. People in the rural areas prefer to keep their hard-earned money under lock with themselves and so a big portion of money becomes non-volatile and immobilized in the money-market which in a broader concept effects the overall economic development of the country.
The Jammu & Kashmir Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India with 516 branches and business turnover of Rs37,967.75crore as on March 2006 launched a special “Reach-out-to-all “programme in Jammu and Kashmir divisions separately. Two rural Blocks Ranbhir Singh Pora in district Jammu and Ganderbal in district Srinagar were selected for the programme to produce an extensive coverage for its products and services rather to cover the un-banked rural population beneath the banking and financial inclusion shadows.
Full awareness but hard motivation :
“Reach-out-to-all “ programme launched by J&K Bank on May 10,2006 in Kashmir region under the National policy of financial inclusion finds block Ganderbal in its target after R.S.Pora block. The Bank reached some remote village of the block like, Gotlibagh,Chanhar, Baba-wayil, Wayil-Wudder, Wurpash, Shaji-nag, Banjar and other adjacent Mohallas and isolated villages. A special team of JK bank officials visited door to door and make people aware of all banking products, services and schemes. “ It was very hard to motivate the remote villagers towards banking facilities, services and products because of low literacy ratio, poorness and ignorance of the people and of course a bitter experience of the people by those fraudulent and mischievous elements who have earlier victimized the innocent people by grabbing money through false propaganda of being private agents of so called financial companies or so called banks” said the marketing team leader Gulzar Ahmad. He stated that the door-to-door banking enabled the people to get rid of certain pre-requisite formalities which foremost needed for opening a fresh account in the Bank branch.
1. No need of photographs, as the team carries a digital camera for taking photographs of the new customers free of cost.
2. Minimum deposit of Rs50/- accepted on spot instead of minimum Rs500/- required for opening a Savings Bank Account and that too with physical presence at the Branch.
3. No need to produce identification or residential proof, as simple authentication of a person is taken from a Village Head.
4. No need to search for a account holder or person, who has to put signatures for introduction of a fresh customer as Bank officials does it on spot without putting the depositor in hassles.
Wayil-Wudder:
A remote village with population of around 1500 and around fifty per cent of which are living below the poverty line. The village is situated in the laps of Harmukh in the north-east of Tehsil/ Block headquarter, Ganderbal. Ten kilometers away from Ganderbal town and seven- kilometer uphill approach from the right side of Srinagar-Leh National highway.
During the campaign, out of 1050 adults in the area, counseling and awareness was given to almost 80% of the male population. The major crop in Rabi season is oats and Cherry and during Kharif farm season maize is the major crop but dependent on monsoon. The village is overlooked by the government authorities in providing basic necessities of life.
The people here believe that a Bank is meant for those who have sufficient or extra money. One who has Bank Loan is deemed to be depreciated and one who has money with the bank is deemed as rich and affluent. Fixed Deposit is the matter of doubling the money and Loan from a bank means overburden of liabilities due to add-up interest component.
A performer in the gloom:
Pathan Mohammad Saleem, a 24 year old young man is one exception in the village Wayil-Wudder with so many glitters that every habitant of the underprivileged society is feeling proud and head-high. The boy is reading in final year of Bachelors degree in Degree College Ganderbal and has represented J&K State in eleven Nationals in different sports events like, Thangta, Speaktkraw, Archary and Sqay. He is several times appreciated and honoured by J&K Sports Council.
Cherry-garden blooms:
As one enters into the Wayil-Wudder ,cherry gardens scintillate the craziness of the village. Mushroom of cherry gardens and its season of harvest (May-June) is as scenic as anything in the whole fruit industry of the valley. Most busy season of the village with almost everybody engaged in plucking process of the tiny and famous Kashmiri fruit. A rich cultivation of all types of the fruit (cherry) is done here and is the biggest source of income generation in the area. “Awal Number”, “Goal”, “Makhmali”, “Gogji Makhmali”, “Dubble” and “Missry” are famous six types of the cherry that are found in all the adjacent areas of the village also. A one and half kilogram cardboard packed box incurs a real costs of Rs25/-till it becomes ready for sale in the village and the same box is sold in the retail market for Rs100/- or more in Srinagar city. Five Kanals of orchard land with Cherry trees not older than 10 years is sold for Rs60- 80 thousand.
Wurpash:
Village wurpash is located seven kilometers away in the north-east south of tehsil/ block headquarter. It is a two kilometer uphill journey to the right of village Nunnar while an un-macadamized, isolated and rough road leads to the village. It also falls in the backward category of Government declarations. There are almost 150 households with population of around 5000. The Rabi season major crops are rice and cherry, while in Kharif season people are involved horticulture and allied fruit trades
Majority of the people in Wurpash are trained in horse-plying. Every household is the owner of at least couple of horses which give them a good earning during Yatra and tourist season.. Soon after the end of rice sapling, cultivation and Rabi crop season people go to Sonamarg and Baltal for providing Horse riding to the tourists.
More than fifty per cent of the population is engaged with agriculture and allied activities while many including young boya and girls are shawlbafi and pashmina trained artisans.
There are two government middle schools being clubbed in to one building with a roll of around 350 students. The school has good setup and sufficient infrastructure compared to a private primary school, which has roll of 42 students with shabby and un-maintained class rooms situated in the upper storey of a local house.
Shaji-Nag:
A village of gujjar tenants with population of around 1500 people. Five kilometers away from the Srinagar-Kangan roadside and only an uphill footpath of three kilometer distance is the way to approach the village from Wurpash. The area has abundance in fruits gardens like, Apple, walnut, cherry and pear. Unexposed and unexploited to the modern day happenings, the people have their own living standard and strongly maintain their cultural and social status. The people hardly get impressed with banking facilities on prosperous change to be made in their standard of living. Very brave men to see wild animals like snakes and bears grazing in their lawns. People have some astonishing and fearful tales to express their livelihood and unique expertness of handling with the wild animals. “what to do with interest based banking , when it is totally banned by Islam to give or take profits in the form of interest” says a Shaji-nag resident 80 year old Husain Khan. “We have our own standards and practices of dealing with money. We earn money in lakhs and know how to utilize it. When we give “Karz-e-Hasna” to any needy person in the village and use to go his/ her home but never drink or eat something in that home, because that becomes a form of interest or earning out of my lending, which is a great sin” added Khan. One can not motivate such people having strong belief in Islamic values and principles but tactful business guidance may help those who are running a completely untapped trade in the village.

Reach out to All ....JK Bank's Call

Exclusive report by
Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/May 12,2006/How many people across the globe have real access to the banking facilities? How many have the exact knowledge about banking products and schemes and how many get advantage or benefit of banking facilities? These questions really need answers (if not in exact terms) in present day circumstances, where banks / financial institutions face stiff competition for sustaining profits and of course for the survival. In fact whole banking fraternity feel like chewing a hard nut in coming up to the expectations of its customers. Let us ascertain and try to find a simple answer to these questions from our own lawn.
A recent survey made on every ten persons in different rural and urban areas of the Kashmir valley reveals that only 40 percent of rural population knows about bank’s deposit schemes, while as in urban areas this ratio figures 70 per cent. In rural areas only 20% of the population have knowledge about bank’s loan/ advance schemes and this ratio in urban areas is comparatively better as 50%. This survey is made irrespective of the literacy level of the people.

JK Bank’s initiative:

Realizing the National Policy of financial inclusions and to take a step forward for ensuring banking facilities for all, particularly to unearthen the less-banked areas, The Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd. launched a programme called “Reaching-out-to-all” on May 10, 2006 at Gutlibagh village of block Ganderbal. Hundreds of villagers and school children witness the inaugural function held at Government High School Gotlibagh. A similar kind of show was launched by the bank last month in Ranbhir Singh Pora block in Jammu district also for involving deprived class of the society in general banking and thereby helping the masses towards economic upliftment. Bank’s Executive President Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad and chief guest Additional Secretary Rural Development, Mr. Mohammad Ismail Bajii inaugurated the programme at a function held at Gutlibagh Srianagr. Bank’s two General Managers Mr. Shakir Ali Khan and Mr. N.D.Simnani were also present along with Deputy Director Rural Dev. Mr. Showkat A. Beigh and BDO Ganderbal Mr. Munawar Khan.

What Bankers Say:

“We are going to ensure that appropriate banking and credit products and services are available to meet the needs of financially excluded people-vast sections of the under privilege and low income groups. We are consciously positioning ourselves as a provider of services to the many unreached sections of the society in the State” said Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Bank’s Executive President while speaking on the occasion.
“Through this programme we shall be building a long-term relationship with the people living in far flung areas. We want to involve the people in the financial sector who have so far remained outside the purview of financial and banking world. Inclusion of more and more people in the financials and banking atmosphere remains our focal objective.” He further added.
“We are going to start mobile van services which shall be moving from village to village at least once a week. The van shall be rendering services to the people at their doorsteps. We are coming with basket of products which shall be suiting to small business, small entrepreneurs, shopkeepers and other customer segments, in the areas” He added.
Mr. Simnani said that this is the dream of our leadership, which we want to turn in to reality. In his speech, he emphasized on the importance of education and said that development to any society is possible only when there is education and vise versa.

“ATM card is a revolutionary gift to the people who need money at different corners of the world market. In this remote part of district Srinagar, we intend to facilitate underprivileged class of the society. People should come forward to pinpoint our weaknesses so that we should be able to take corrective measures. We have to develop habits for having monthly savings so as to secure our future plans” added Mr. Simanai.
He further stated that the Bank is going to provide a special concession regarding minimum deposit requirement while opening an account and photographs to the customers for opening any kind of account will be taken by the bank itself without any cost. Hassle free services and tailor-made products will be provided at the doorsteps during the mission, that will last for about one month.

Others applaud:

Additional Secretary Government Rural Deptt. Ismail Baji, speaking on the occasion said that while government jobs are more distant than ever, people should take advantage of different sponsored schemes for setting up their own profitable business. The nearest Bank branch of the village is a eight kilometers away, farmer and artisans could save a good time for reaching to the bank.
“Good relations could only sustain by honesty and commitment with the Bank. The people who do not utilize the funds properly will never prosper and that the main cause why people turn bank defaulters. This is the golden opportunity for the Gutli bagh people to take full advantage of JK bank’s project that will facilitate them with modern day services and products. “Himte Mardan Madaddi Khuda” (God helps those who helps themselves) told Bajji to the audience. Rural people are hardworking so they should themselves strive hard for the development and prosperity, then only others could come to help them also” said Ismail Baji.
Haji Mir Aalam, Pushtoo leader of the area welcome the gesture of JK bank and put his grievances and suggestions like concession in the banking formalities and installation of ATM in the area to bank authorities. The Executive president of the Bank latter promised on the dice that all genuine demands and suggestions will be redressed and as soon as suitable land will be provided, the Bank will install ATM machine in the area. While reacting to the demands of the locals he said that every complaint about the bank products and services would enable us to meet public expectations and necessities more effectively. We believe that it is not necessary that any scheme from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will suit the rural needs or requirement of the people of Gutlibagh. We are going for an in-depth survey and analysis to launch our products as per the local needs and scope.
One can imagine the lack of knowledge and ignorance about banking services and its usage from a mere literate resident of village Gultibagh Kh. Noor Mohammad ” We are mostly farmers and labourers. We hardly find any time or any purpose to visit to any branch or JK bank’s branch at Nunar, which is almost seven kilometers from our village. Mostly rural people like us do not have any financial plans or ideas neither we do carry any thought as how to save money for its purposeful use in future nor we have so for been able to know as how to get use of bank loans and deposit schemes”.
“Reaching out to all” a mission launched by JK bank may become a source for financial prosperity of the underprivileged class of the society and could tilt the economic set-up of the State, if the missioners could handle it with zeal and just manage to touch the feelings of the poor and ignorant people.

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Three State boys selected for MRF Cricket Pace Academy

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar/ May 3 / Two day open trials for talent hunt in the State for Fast bowling ended here today at Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium Srinagar. Hundreds of boys of 15-20 year of age were seen in action during two day trials organized by MRF pace foundation, Chennai under the supervision of India’s fast bowling legend Jawagal Srinath and MRF Pace foundation chief coach T.N. Shekhar. The two-day camp was supported by Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), with State’s few Ex-Cricket stalwarts like Abdula Rouf, Abdula Qayoom, Nissar Hussain etc. also present on the occasion.
While speaking to the media persons at the conclusion of two-day trials, Srinath named three boys, Mudasir Ali, Ram Dayal and Dilawar Singh, who will be immediately admitted in the MRF pace foundation. This will raise the toll of J&K boys in the Chennai based fast bowling camp to six after three others Abid Nabi, Samiullah and sameer Ali, who have already found place in the country’s most popular and high considered Fast bowling coaching camp.
“Our main focus was on the bowling Action because it is the basic of bowling art” said Srinath asked about the main focus of the main bowling art.
About the prospects of Abid Nabi, the 20 year fast bowler, who had impressed many technocrats of the game in India and was recently called by Indian coach Greg Chappell to bowl at the nets in Mohalli, Srinath said that he is grooming well in the pace academy and if luck favours him, he will go ahead.
Interestingly, today Abid Nabi was seen wearing glows and pads in the nets and facing upcoming fast bowlers while batting on the other end of the wickets and one got amazed to see him driving Srinath and all others and making good looking shots. Really looking an all-rounder !
Jawagal Srinath and T..N. Shekhar, had their first time visit to Kashmir and were impressed, the way boys have shown response and enthuse towards the camp.
“It is one of the most picturious cricket grounds I have ever seen in my life. The wicket is good and conducive for fast bowlers and the ground most beautiful with big Chinar trees all around. If it is maintained properly, there is no doubt that it will become one of the most lovable grounds for International matches” Said Srinath
“Satisfaction and a very good cricket impression will be the two things, which we will have with us while we return back from this beautiful city. We got a good support from JKCA and hope that will bring fruitful results for our pace search” Said T.N. Shekhar.
“ This is the first ever open camp organized in Srinagar and we are looking for more such camps, to be held by BCCI for other areas like spin bowling, batting and fielding in Kashmir” revealed JKCA General Secretary M. Saleem Khan. “It is good to see overwhelming response from all over the State that nearly four hundred boys attended this camp on a very short notice” he further said.
Thirty six year old Ex-Indian speedstar from Mysore Karnatka, Jawagal Srinath had 236 wickets in 67 test matches in his belt at an average of 30.49 runs and 315 wickets in 229 ODI’s at an average of 28.08 runs. He had played international cricket for almost 11 years from 1991 to 2002.
Arguably India’s fastest-ever bowler after Kapil Dev Srinath had fired popular imagination in Indian Cricket and when he retired from international cricket of 11 years in 2003, he was second only to Kapil in number of Test wickets by an Indian paceman.
On his day, Srinath was outstanding with a strong shoulder action. He used to hit the pitch with force, and mainly bowl incutter MRF pace foundation coach s and inswingers, though in the right conditions he could move it the other way., the finest demonstration of which was his 6 for 21 at Ahmedabad in 1996-97 to bowl out South Africa in the fourth innings.
On his two day visit to Srinagar, Srinath was seen in action on the nets in Sheri-Kashmir Cricket stadium with State’s under-20 boys in a talent-finding mission of BCCI.
T.A.Sekhar is associated with MRF pace foundation for last twenty years after playing International Cricket for India in 1983. He is presently the Chief Coach of Channai based camp headed by Australian legend Dennis Lillee. The man who helped Zaheer Khan out of the slump last year believes that J&K boys are full of energy, most needed for a fast bowler but lack proper guidance and exposure of matches.

MUTI YET TOO FAR FROM A COMMON MAN !

Abid Gowhar
Srinagar/Dec.2003
OH…those promises and sweat perceptions still hanging, which were made by the Mufti, lead coalition government in Nov.2002. Crossing all seasons of the year and still there is no sigh of relief for a common man in the State. It looks like that the healing touch policy is much lengthy or too slow to beat the impatience of the dejected class. No doubt, Muti is trying to act differently and he may be putting pressures on various departments to act and react quickly but it seems that he like his ancestor had forgotten the priorities to win the confidence of a common man.
It really was a big fortune for PDP and Congress that they were able to beat deep and strong rooted NC in the State. The advantage they took was that people wanted the change in virtuality and it was hatred towards Farooq regime not any love for PDP or Congress the people voted for. The healing touch was a soft slogan in the beginning to make people attentive of, but when it had to be practical the answer from the Sayeed came that “ meray pass koi allh din ka chirag nahin” I have no Allah-Din’s candle to give everything the people may ask for.

As stated by the Planning Commission in their State Development Report recently, there is lack of good governance and fiscal mismanagement, which is responsible of all distortion in the state. The report had identified that besides militancy, low productivity in agriculture, poor industrial infrastructure and poor investment, the lack of suitable strategy and good governance coupled with fiscal mismanagement are the major factors responsible for the poor economic growth of the State. This is quite unfortunate that Mufti lead coalition government is never realizing these factors to win the confedence of a common man and in contast the same old strategy of adhocism is being adopted. The common minimum Programme about which the present government was shouting in its beginning, to provide clean, healthy, efficient, transparent, accountable and responsive government seems shattering in the world of dreams. It all seems like fantasies as the people of the State are suffering right from the word go and the problems have increased manifold.
Surcharge on electricity was the first touch Mr. Muti gave to the people and made confusing statements in its clarification. The government claims that it had detected more than one Lac illegal connections but the fact lies that it increased the number of illegal customers by sending those line-men and inspectors for their identification who are habitual of taking money in their folded palms. It is not any bribe but a cup of tea of those employees. Yes the power cuts were reduced by alarming shift staff for punctuality but the voltage is as low as never before particularly in rural areas. What a fun to abolish the state Electricity Board. The drinking water crises are there in the rural areas. An example of village Nowgam in tehsil Sumbal(district Baramulla ) where the women are fetching drinking water from three kilometer distance. Village having a population of around Ten thousand is just five kilometer away from tehsil headquarter Sumbal and is facing this major problem for years together now. The question remains there that what is the domocile of those 69 water supply schemes the government is claiming that it had augmented.
The people living below the poverty line in the state are crying for the shortage of essential commodities like rice, kerosine oil, sugar and flour in the food & supplies depots but their pleas are falling flat on the deaf ears. Corruption has never been crumbled as promised in big words by Mufti a year before and it has its presence at every corner. Privatization has added to the efficiency as proven outside the valley but in J & K State this has worked other way around.

Every mean of transport in the state is in a mess and the more alarming factor is that nobody is attentive or careful about the same. The public transport plying on the roads in the state has become so laborious and hectic that it tires a man more than it should have by travelling the destination by foot. The private operators in the state have forgotten the sense of humanity and responsibility and nobody seems answerable. Reduction of fair has not helped the people and instead it has added to the woes of commuters. Fact is that the tranport department is inactive as far as its professional capability is concerned. Improper training to these police personals is making already- involved system more rubbish.
Handicraft industry in the State has its image by not taking any note of the artisans who have been in complete dilema for last thirteen years. A paper machie artisan is claiming that he is being tortured by big dealers by saying that his craft have no market to sell hence giving ten rupees to an item on which eight is expended. I was earning two-hundered decade ago but today it is only fifty rupess per day income for me to make the both ends meet in sorry gesture. We were expecting from present government to make the culprits accountable, but it proved as the same story, says a Paper Machie artisan in gloom. It all seems that Mufti government is too far from a common man, giving big statements and making useless claims as everything starts from the heart of common man who has no good perceptions about the present government.
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A derailed education system in J&K State!

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/May 2003

Few years back, educationists world over had revealed that by the year 2005, the world of education would be transformed. Today when we have stepped in to the New Year, the optimism of those education pundits seems guinuine. This transformation is also seen in our J&K State, but………. The present quality standard of education is just resulting in the growth of educational illeterates. “The true order of learning should be first, what is necessary; second what is useful; and third; what is ornamental” …says L.H. Signourney. Let us make counting, what our present generation is learning from the prevailing education system of the State. Perhaps none of the three factors in sequence find a place there. The present system of education has proved ineffective to meet the aspirations and needs of the people and reasons for could be many not to ignore these important aspects; It does not equipe with the skills of some vocations, absence of diversification of courses, incompletion of syllabus, lack of academic dedication in commitment among teachers and students, dilapidated condition of schools and insufficient accomodation facilities in schools and colleges, mashroom growth of private schools, fashion of tutors, mismanagement, red-tapism, wrong priorities and above all the lack of suffiecient attention from the state planners.
Historically we have been praised for being the most imaginative people in the world. Our treasures have been richly laid with masterpieces of art and culture such as writtings, paintings, handicrafts, music, caligraphic samples and what not. Temperamently, the State people have always been thinkers and promoters of new ideas, they have tried their hard virtually on everything. Amidist innumerable causes responsible for the deplorable quality of education in the state, the fourteen year long turmoil has been singularly taken responsible for blackwash of education in the state, particularly in the valley of Kashmir. No doubt, it suffered colossal loss during the period, but how long this execuse will defend the concerned authorities. If education is called an instrument for change, then what is the direction of the change we are adopting. Education itself needs serious changes and accordingly new roles are emerging for education to play.
It is rightly said, “If a doctor commits a mistake, it is buried; if an engineer commits a mistake it is cemented, if a lawyer commits a mistake it is files; but when if a teacher commits a mistake it is reflected on nation.” This offcourse speaks of vital role to be played by a teacher. There is a growing trend of commercialisation of education. This evil has eaten up the vitals of our socio-educational fabric, which needs to be eradicated. The vigillance and anticorruption agencies should be geared up to stop commercialisation of education. Education should result not only in material gains but also in intellectual, sprectual, and moral development of a person.Education is the great hope for survival of mankind and for the progress of civilization. That statement is very true and can be further amended by the avowal that" Education leads to upward evolution"
Not surprisingly, the French revolutionary Danton said more than two centuries ago, " After bread, education" , underlining the basic necessity after those that are vital to life viz. food, clothing, and shelter.
Education is critical because one's economic progress and character depend on it. Education is the essential ingredient for community development; its mission is to enable each of us, without exception, to develop all our talent to the full and to realize our creative potential. An individual's employment prospects and position depends on his/her educational attainments.
Human suffering stems from social injustice and inequality, which breed on illeteracy and ignorance. Founder fathers of this nation were cancious of their nation hence they emphasised the need to promote education. Accordingly, several communities and commissions constituted from time to time maintained that the quality of educations assumes crusial significance in the panaroma of education of system. However even after a lapse of long time the State of J&K is still pondering on the problem over the quality of education. Believe yourself, the system is not on the right track and we all must think over it that, has it not derailed?
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Kashmir valley calling its Pandits.

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar /Oct.2003

The recently developed friendly atmosphere between India and Pakistan with ceasefire at the borders and several steps of good-relation gesture has raised hopes that the issues related to the disturbed State might get resolved eventually. One big infront issue among is to decide the fate of migrated Kashmiri Pandits. When will the day come, when the Kashmiri Pandits will return to the valley? Infact Kashmiri Muslims are more anxiously waiting for, than the displaced Pandits. When this big issue will come across the table, there will be certain things for hot debate and it will always work that Pandits have to reshuffle to their motherland. However, it will be very hard and difficult to win the confidence of migrated families because the intra-conceptions among the people beyond the valley are not clear.
It will be crucial to examine why the community as a whole migrated. Yes of course, the overall environment of fear and terror made them insecure and consequently they decided to flee the Valley in the dark of night leaving behind their homes and hearths. Muslims of the valley feel like their body-parts gets detached from them. It was like Kashmiri Pandiths feel themselves on the Muslim-land particularly when the slogans shout like “yahan kiya chalega nizam-e- Mustafa” OH! Was not there every right for every human being to live under the shadow of Nizam-e- Mustafa? Pertinent to mention that the Teachings of Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.) have no space for any communal war or religious hatredness. If it was the slogan of freedom, was not it everybody’s game to struggle for? If it was to decide the fate of disputed land on earth, then every State-subject holder should have been the part of struggle or if for that matter it was to mix this part with Pakistan then, are not minorities or non-muslims residing in Muslim majority Pakistan? These are the questions, which might have certain answers from different point of view, but still having a big question mark in front of the reality that persists there.
Truly said that “when going gets wrong, wrong gets going” During the last forteen years, J&K State had a tough passage through several changes which put havocfull effects on every resident of it. Hardly any corner remained uneffected during the termiol period. Why not so when the Incriminated State remained without any public government for atleast eight years and every public utility remained paralysed. All the three regions of the state suffered heavily nevertheless the smoke flew from the valley as the old undiganosed cyst of 1947 start pouring badly in 1989. A big calamity in the bloodshed battle was the migration of Kashmiri Pandiths. It was really a "tragic painful event". 14 years ago,
It was the most unfortunate part the turmoil period when Pandiths started to leave their homes and patriotic homeland by which valley went frozen and tears went bundled.
Kashmiri Pandits claim that more than 300,000 people left the Valley in the late 80's and early 90's.
The valley lost dedicated teachers and professors, a big vacuum arise in government hospitals. Several engineers, Specialist doctors, lawyers left their motherland, thousands of houses got empty and some remained to watch their affectionate neighbors tagging their holdings to leave.
“ We just became orphans after our sincere and affectionate brothers departed from our locality. Amarnathji was the lone Gazetted officer in the entire locality and we were proud of him”, said Gh. Hassan resident of Wakura village. In fact, government High School Dab-Wakura had nine Pandith teachers out of 14. The school is suffering and never regroups after their departure, he added. I lost one of my best friends to whom I had an hours-long chat every evening. Same is the story of all those, who were having mixed Pandith-Muslim culture in their localities.
Now that All party Hurriyat Conference leaders have issued a joint appeal to "welcome" the return of all migrated Kashmiri Pandits. "It is our sincere desire that the Kashmiri Pandits return to their homes and hearths with dignity and respect," said Hurriyat Chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari, his colleagues Abdul Ghani Bhat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabbir Shah.
The leaders said "Our hearts bleed at their plight in which they are leading a homeless life in Jammu, Delhi and other cities, deprived of even the basic facilities." The appeal said Kashmiri Pandits were "a part of ourselves and we are incomplete without them" and "they deserve our sympathy in every way. Not only our houses, but also our hearts are open for them always. "Our compatriots and appeal to them to welcome the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley."
No doubt that there occurred the instances when Pandiths were torchered and threatned, but like that other Kashmiri Muslims and non-Muslims became the victim also. A government conspiracy was involved and definitely the bad rumor spread among Pundits due to which they were forced to flew from their homeland .The situation worsen due to discourage and bad intelligence from government agencies. If anybody was held responsible for massacres, It was government machinery that put security forces forward in the battlefield with the conception that their duty is over. It is still perceived as part of an engineered campaign to displace the Pandits out of the valley.
One must not forget that The Jammu and Kashmir Human Right Commission, while submitting its report to state government on the Wandhama massacre, hold Government and serious security lapse responsible for the incident and in this perspective Hurriat from the beginning was also recommending security cover for the Kashmiri Pandits, who live in the Valley.
Had their been close tie ups with the local police and every Kashmiri Muslim not being treated a militant or gunman the situation would have been different. “We were taught to gun down security forces, create harass and kill those who will not support the Mujahideens. Nothing was like that we were taught or asked to pressurise non-muslims or force Pandiths to vacate or kill their religious emotions”, Said an ex-militant who had had left gun and his entire thought about militancy in 1996 and is now running has business.
What will be answer to Panun Kashmir (PK), a Kashmir Pandit organisation that has a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in their demand. They also recommend statehood for Jammu and Union Territory status for Ladhakh. Hence it is time when All Party Hurriyat Conference and the Kashmiri Pandit community should sit together to have one more agenda to discuss the issue seriously in the next round of talks with the central government.

“Whenever there are communally motivated acts here, they are sponsored by outside elements” Says Prof C. L. Vishen, head of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Education and Technology (CASET), Srinagar. ‘‘In 1990,it was a sponsored wave; Pakistan’s games culminated in the migration of Pandits. The migration was not an outcome of a communal frenzy originating from Kashmiri Muslims. In the past 10 years of mayhem, Kashmiris have come to comprehend the dynamics; they know if there is communal violence, its players will never be indigenous.’’
Is Muslim-dominated Kashmir free of a communal backlash because there aren’t many Hindus left in the Valley? Vishen disagrees. ‘‘Communal violence is nothing but madness and when man turns mad, he manages to get targets. There are still more than 10,000 Hindus living in the Valley. There are hundreds of Hindu properties and places of worship. There is also a substantial Sikh population’’, he says. ‘‘Communal winds have always come from outside and then were restricted to the surface. The core of Kashmiri society has always been secular’’.
Like many others, well-known Kashmiri Pandit social activist Kumar Wanchoo believes there has been always vested interests behind communal violence. Incidentally, Wanchoo’s father H N Wanchoo, noted trade union leader and human rights activist, was murdered by militants during the turmoil period. Despite that, his son still lives in Srinagar. ‘‘In 1986, when Kashmir saw one of its few communal riots, there was a clear political motivation behind it. A few killings of Hindus, fear psychosis, communal slogans and then a chain reaction created the situation in which a majority of Kashmiri Hindus left the Valley in the early 1990s’’, he says.
Alas! It went wrong not only for Kashmiri Pandith who flew from Kashmir Valley but also for the Muslim residents. Can dishearted cumminity realise that their Kashmir is calling them back.
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Kashmir transportation in a complete mess!

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/ May 2004
In the modern fast changing world, one can not believe on the tales of yesteryears narrated by our elder one’s. In every field of life, the global revolution has changed the fortunes of livelihood. It is said that the only thing constant in the world is “Change”. Nobody can escape from the going change but the important thing remains there that how good the change can persist. Gone are the days when people were traveling hundreds of kilometers by foot and nobody claiming for anything! Horse or horse carts were considered to be the richest mode of transportation in ancient times and in the J&K State it is only four or five decades back ago when we were having very poor modes of transportation. In fact, people were thinking of just entering in to the new world while traveling from one place to another. Today’s five-minute journey was the talk of five hours in ancient days and like that it would have been out of imagination that a man could fly through skies. As the scientific mode of transportation took over people became increasingly luxurious to travel from one place to another. Yes the hi-tech revolution has changed the entire fate of livelihood in every aspect, but….. Are we comfortable with the change?
The present mode of transportation in J&K State is at par with the rest of the world, no matter at the cost of big worries. Alas! We got the mode, but not the system; we took the front to adopt the high cost machinery, but not the concept of its utility. We have accepted the change, not the manners. To equip with the developed and modern facilities is one’s right, but the manner in which the change is adapted needs elucidation.
It is a well-established fact that transportation serves as the backbone of any developing state or the society. Alas! It does not hold good for this vital industry in the J & K State. Every mean of transport in the state is in a mess and the more alarming factor is that nobody is attentive or careful about the same. The public transport plying on the roads in the state has become so laborious and hectic that it tires a man more than it should have by traveling the destination by foot. The private operators in the state have forgotten the sense of humanity and responsibility and nobody seems answerable. There is not a single factor revolving round the whole mess but lot more things are responsible for. Whether we are driving our own vehicle or riding a passenger bus, it is both ways the same look. The concerned Government authorities are most responsible for not developing roads to any plan and giving excessive permissions for different kind of vehicles to ply on. Every class of people have big sufferings on the roads like a five minute journey takes half and hour to travel and if travel is made on a passenger bus it is most tiring all the way. The maintenance of roads has nobody to look after at proper time and a roadway is repaired only when it reaches at its last dying stage.
Private operators providing the passenger transport facility without any consideration of time and plight of a commuter. Masses time and again have tried to apprise authorities about the sluggish services provided by these operators, but their pleas have fallen flat on the deaf ears. Privatization has added to the efficiency as proven outside the valley but in J & K State this has worked other way around. Private buses plying within the city take commuters as hostages for hours together, the drivers move according the their own sweat will. Overloading, and conductor misbehaving has become a routine. Reduction of fair has not helped the people and instead it has added to the woes of commuters. These service providers stuff in as many as possible passengers on the pretext of making their shoulders a tight meet. Traffic people meant for regulating the traffic and mitigating the sufferings of commuters seems to the totally inactive and a distant dream. Fact is that the department is inactive so for as their professional capabilities is concerned. Improper training to these police personals is making the already involved system more rubbish. Adding the fact that they (traffic police personals) have tied a knot with the drivers by which they receive money through folded palms. This being the reason that these cops while seeing an over crowded vehicle, close their eyes and act as if they haven’t seen anything. Once these buses leave from the stands, drivers without bothering how much time they will take to reach their destination, carry on with a snail’s pace. Passengers keep on urging the drivers to move but they hardly pay heeds towards their plea’s.

There is no one whom they (operators/ drivers) are answerable and that is why they are taking every thing in their stride.
In the cities like Srinagar and Jammu, it is all vulgar noise at high pitch inside matadors, which makes one as tense and boring as anything. Long route buses make commuters to sleep, as it has become the driver’s choice to run the bus at his will. Who says time is precious in this unfortunate part of world. Is anybody listening that our transport system is in a total mess?
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Winter in Kashmir- A season of worries!

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/ Jan. 2004

Snowfall an additional brand of beauty is cherished by many adventure lovers and perhaps this gift of nature has no longer been praised by Kashmir habitants now. “We see how others are facilitated, but sufferings are becoming our fate because nature bestowed this paradise on earth to us and we get birth on it”. Said one intellectual of Kashmir. “ You can’t believe, I am unable to send an e-mail message to a friend living in Chandigarh up 10 p.m. form my personal computer during the whole winter because it can’t run due to low power voltage, even a one-kilo watt Stablizer is attached with the system,” he said. This kind of misery is truly faced by all in the valley and deep pain get noticed by sufferer’s only, hence their crying should not be blamed of. As soon as, cold waves of winter starts here in the valley, problems to a common man seem to open doors through all corners and they gets manifolded, as the season progresses. One has to wait up to 10p.m. when electric lamps show their existence, that too in the Srinagar city, not to talk of far flung areas and villages where the situation is bad to worse. In villages, people glow candles every night during winter to take dinner, despite frequent power schedule already exist there. Concerned power department authorities too have few arguments and answers to their blame, but that all concludes at their mismanagement and fake estimate of daily power consumption. Electricity is the first and the foremost problem, the people in Kashmir face, not the only suffering of cumbersome people.
It is a sure good-bye for many things for many days when snow falls a bit heavier, be it electricity, water supply, transportation or daily-commodities. Several government departments get exposed in their performing potential and crises began to shower, when rain or snow make its appearance. Drainage system in towns and Srinagar city start crying due to inefficiency of the department as roads, streets and lanes get blocked.
The dilemma of Srinagar- Jammu National High Way always remain there in winters due to uncertain blockage of the road. Essential commodities coming by road to the valley stunt infiltration, resulting huge hike of prices on the available stock. No matter when an egg costs three rupee if available at any corner and onions costs 20-30 rupees per kg. leaving no reason to ask anybody. The story reveals its other side when Kashmir is detached from rest of the world, as both land and air roads jams. A big unemployment issue is already on the cards that had put educated youth of high percentage in to distress. In the season of worries, one has to compromise for hand to mouth earning and on the other-side meeting livelihood at high costs is very difficult. Extra arrangements of chilly cold weather, makes it harder for a common man, to buy warm clothing, woolen blankets, Kangris and bags of coal. Youth find no path of entertainment, as all-outdoor sports activities gets held up and the grooming talent had a long break of their passion against their will. Elder ones face several attacks of illness, bad cold, cough and headache become a common complaint in young ones. Blessings from God remain the only hope when village roads get blocked by snow and God forbid any exigency occurs among villagers.


It is all over here no matter bureaucrats change, political parties shuffle through, new ministers take over and their promises scatter fluently. All these responsibles carry the same myth to put cotton in their ears when somebody cries or any needy want some help. It is all the way a season of worries which kashmiri people are facing for long now.
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OTHERS ENVY, OWNERS PRIDE.

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/ Dec.2003
“A person is known by the company he keeps”. The modern world has changed the concept of this age-old saying. With the transformation of thoughts everywhere, the Word "Company" is no more fit in the phrase and perhaps need a proper replacement. Some might say it should be replaced by "the ability" because Joint venture thoughts being seen no where and instead it changed in to "individuality of all " concept. Some believe that every company itself has hatreds in the form of rivalries and the people becoming jealous of each other's getting. Yes of course there is increasing trend of envy and jealousy against each other in every corner of human livelihood in the present day atmosphere.
A bundle of thoughts on this subject erupt from my mind, once a colleague of mine was compiling and rearranging to make a compact book form of his write-ups which had year-long weekly appearance in an English Daily. I really was appreciating his accomplishment, knowing that how much difficult it is to have consistency and zeal for writing articles under one roof theme. Meanwhile this friend told me that his job has become neighbors envy. I recall that TV Advertisement of Onida brand to complete the slogan as " neighbors envy, owners pride". The conversation between us stopped there but the subject shook my mind deeply. Is it like that an owner really suffer due to envy of its neighbors? Or is it like, one gets stimulated by the jealousy of others?
The two emotions "Envy" and "jealousy" are as silent as one can imagine, but so noisy and destructive to be treated great sins in every school of thought and belief.

Envy called an emotion of discontents or ill will over others advantages. An attitude easily stirred up in a competitive materialistic society. For any developing society, it is not healthy attitudes that are often showed envious of each other. It is very destructive and self-devaluing emotion. Why people waste their energy by making comparisons between themselves and others, comparisons that result in somebody feeling inferior. There is one good example on, "how one gets benefited from the hate and envy of others “
"The most and big inspiration in my life, I got from those, who had hate or envy towards me. Every time they showed me their hate or ill-will, I got more strength and energy to fight”. Says great Boxing legend, Mohammed Ali clay in his autobiography.
Envy negates you, and what you have accomplished. It leads to begrudging others their achievements, and builds barriers between you and them. Envying what others posses blocks you from caring about them as persons and also blocks you from caring about yourself.. “People exaggerate the value of things they haven’t got” said George Bernard Shaw, An idea may be to analyze yourself honestly and ask yourself if there is a deeper, more positive drive beneath the specific focus of your envy. It is a passive, cutout phase, it burns up energy just
Looking, not moving, doing or creating. Remember when we indulge in envy, we are abandoning ourselves.
Indolence is a diligence but distressing State” said Mahatma Gandhi.
Action is no less necessary than thought to the instinctive tendencies of human frame. One who says glass is empty has his own perception of thought but one who says "glass is half full" is also right from his point of view.

Envy is treated as twin problem to jealousy. When jealousy has the meaning, wanting what someone else has, envy means when you don’t want somebody else to have, what you don’t have. We get jealous when we fear that a rival is taking away from us someone we count on for love, affection or even friendship. Jealousy is an acute sense of loss, defeat or rejection in which we focus on the real or imagined superior as enemy, who is in the cause of our pain.

Like love, jealousy is very much involuntary. We can not say as if “ I am going to be jealous”. It can be frightening in its intensity, its closest emotional relation is probably anger but it has more staying power than anger. It can provoke a passion to strike out in revenge, only with the jealousy the revenge sought is usually emotional. More often, it causes the jealous person to sulk and involve in self-pity. Sometimes we complaint openly of the direct cause but more often it is carefully disguised while we lash out at a baffled spouse, lover or relative about a dozen petty things for removed from the real cause of irritation.
Jealousy, like envy and greed is destructive and self-negating. It is an emotional combination of anger, dependency, hurt and self-devaluation when we feel jealousy. We focus on what we are not and compare ourselves fearfully to what our rival is. We are convinced that we can not be happy if someone we depend on for love, loves also someone else.
Actually, we must be honest with ourselves. Jealousy is two-edged sword. It lives upon doubts, it becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty. Remember when we feel envy to others we actually give them chance to become proud and confident.
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Kashmir- we don’t know !

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/ March 2005

Whole world is acquainted with the far framed beauty of Kashmir, still very few among the new generation know how Kashmir, once the heaven on earth, was in its past. Perhaps a few words of explanation may prove useful to upgrade the information about the land we listen so much, we read in bulks and we praise its beauty more than anything on the earth.
According to a popular legend which is mentioned in Kalhana's Rajtarangni Kashmir valley was a vast lake. Kashyap Rishi drained out the water and made it habitable. It is said that originally Yakshas, and Pisacas tribes inhabited the valley at the higher reaches and did not allow the inhabitants of the valley to live in peace. King Ashok brought Budhism to Kashmir which was strenthened by Kanishka. In 6th century Huns came to rule the valley and Mihirkul was one of the infamous Hun ruler. The area attained freedom in 530 AD which was short-lived. According to Sir Aurel Stein the famous interpretor of Kalhana the chronicler of Kashmir the city of Srinagar had big market and mansions made of wood touching the clouds. Hieun-tsang the famous Chinese traveler visited Srinagar and has described it his memoirs.
Various capitals were established by the latter kings but ultimately the city of Srinagar was destined to be the capital of the State. These capitals are now found only in ruins or history. Some of the famous capitals are Prvaerpora of Praversen, Prihaspora of Lalitaditya, Jayapida's Jayapora, Avantivarman's Avantipur and cities of Kanishkapura and Juskapura.
During muslim rule Sultan Sadar-ud-din founded Rinchenpur and Ala-ud-din founded Alauddinpura near Hariparbat Hill. ZainulAbideen founded Nowshera as the capital while Akbar founded Naagar Nagar and raised 28ft tall wall around it.
Coming closer the present status of Kashmir , let us undress its picture of early twentieth century.
On to the extreme north of India, up among the towering Himalayas: where three empires of Russia , China and India met, was feudatory state of Jammu and Kashmir ruled by Dogra clan of Jammu. Lying in among the high mountains, 5000 ft. above the see, was a flat-bottomed valley, about one hundred and sixty km long by sixty five km broad. This was the famed vale of Kashmir. A broad river, the river Jehlum meandered slowly through the length of valley, connecting up with numerous placid lakes; while all round the plain rose a ring of towering snowcapped peaks. Kashmir was an extraordinary mixture of Norfolk Broads and Switzerland.
The journey up to Kashmir from India was most marvelous contrast; for besides the scenery, the dresses , houses and boats were quite unlike anything a foreigner saw on the two-day train journey over plains of India, from Bombay(now a days called Mumbai) to Rawalpindi was the nearest railway station to Kashmir, and it was there necessary to hire a car and drive the 320 km in to Kashmir. The road wound through the most wonderful mountainous country: it climbed to 6000 feet, then it dropped down to about 2000 feet to join the gorge of River jhehlum. Thence it twisted and turned along sheer hillside, with Jhehlum foaming and roaring hundreds of feet below. Ever upwards went the road, till at last the gorge widened out into the broad smiling valley of Kashmir proper. The Jhehlum was now no longer a furious cauldron but became a placid river, the patient beast of burden for countless boats. For fifty km or so the road ran straight along magnificent avenues of popular trees, which still are standing there, passing picturesque Kashmiri villages, the thatched and sloping roofs of their houses peeping out among the clumps of Walnut and Chinar trees. At last , the long drive was over and one reached the Capital city of Srinagar, which was just about eighty km upstream from Baramulla, the town situated at the point where Jhehlum changed from peace to fury.
Srinagar as it is today, was the centre of the valley and its position could be located from many miles away by the Takh-I-Sulmiman hill or Shankaracharia hill as it is called today, when rose 1000 feet out the plain close to city. On top of the Takht, the ancient Hindu Temple, illuminated at night with floodlights so that even in darkness it was possible to guide one’s way to the city. Now although Kashmir such a marvelous paradise, this fact had been a curse to the inhabitants. Its far framed wonders had attracted conquerors from most of the neighbouring nations, who had ruthlessly harried and trampled upon the Kashmiris, till their sprits had been broken. Only with the spread of Brithish influence into the Punjab and Northern India, during the later part of 19th century, had the people of Kashmir had a respite. This no doubt accounts for the apathy with which the Kashmiris regarded the Home Rule Movement in India; the memory of terrible days of old was far too vivid even in the middle of twentieth century.

In order to try to raise up the hapless people of the vale, many church missionary societies opened their missions in the valley. The opposition of the Maharaja Government and its functionaries was excessive. The first missionary to Kashmir Rev. Robert Clark had face wrath at the hands of authorities. Apprehending the awakening of the people, every available means was used to stop him from educating people. Same was the case with other early missionaries. At first no European was allowed to stay in Kashmir during winters; then, when missionaries managed to get permission for permanent residence, the authorities prevented anyone from coming see them. With a great difficulty a plot of land was obtained, on which was built the beginnings of a hospital. The hospital grew with time and until today this hospital is working at Drugjan in Srinagar, with which the famous name of Neve brothers, the two missionaries will always be connected.
In 1880 educational work in Srinagar, with the foundation of a boy’s school by Rev. J.H. Knowels. It was of the growth and the development of this branch of the society’s work, for about a century that we see education flourishing here. To begin with the missionaries started a school in Srinagar and later opened four more branches to feed the central high school. At Anantnag fifty eight km away from Srinagar primary, middle and high schools were also opened, which functioned for a long time. Not only were the boys catered for, but a girl’s school was also started in Srinagar; by the untiring efforts of Miss. Voilet Firtz. Later under vigorous guidance of Miss. Mallinson , the school flourished, on whose name it is educating thousands of girls today. This school along with Tyndale Biscoe school are considered among the best schools in Srinagar, but one feels pained to notice the absence of the sprit of selfless service to humanity today, with which the missionaries had started them.####

An accompany to blind school Dehradhun.

Abid Gowhar

Srinagar/ Aug.2004
National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in Dehradun , Utranchal is an institute for visually handicapped treated one of the biggest blind educational cum training institutes in Asia. In the recent past I have a visit from Kashmir to the institute accompanying one closely related blind girl Hena (name changed) of 12 years age, to get her admitted in, for studies over there. It proved a Herculean task to get her parents motivated for the same. Tested heavily by Almighty, her parents were not been aware of anything, they could do for their elder daughter, born blind by birth . Father of Hena, M.Amin said “Once somebody a year back visited my home and confirmed about Hena that if she is blind of below 16 years of age, he will help us for her counseling and basic education and schooling at Regional Rehabilitation Center (CRC) Bemina Srinagar”. Hena was sent to CRC for which to and fro transport facility was provided by an NGO namely Human Efforts for Love and Peace (HELP), to which the man was associated as a field worker (her parents later came to know about the man).
I was aware of the fact that such kind of disabled children carry bundle of talent inside, particularly those who suffer from blindness has an extra edge of the memory, feelings and quick power of understanding as compared to the normal people. Amin confirmed my assumptions by saying, “I remember number of times my blind daughter taught me what I was unable to understand. She carries critic sense of every thing and sometimes advises me like I being her child and she my grand mother, but after joining CRC we saw a definite change in Hena, she was looking confident of sharing her mother’s domestic work, speaking Urdu, writing English and Hindi in Braille , enthusiastic to learn more and more, and an willingly for preparing herself in morning for going to CRC punctually”

Parents of Hena, though well qualified must not have the clear idea of her schooling facility till she told them that she will go to Dehradun Model School for studies and training. She was having a dream in her sightless eyes which was out of the imagination of her sighted and literate parents.
The day actually came when Hena had to leave for Dehradun, all in a smiling and willing mood. Parents prepare her to leave with tearful eyes and heart in their hands. Actually I insisted hard to accompany Hena for the journey, because her father and mother were too emotional with their melted hearts to leave her for years together in a boarding school. “Uncle tell my mom and dad that they will not weep or dishearten themselves after my departure, because I am leaving my lovely home to brighten my future by learning every thing through schooling”. Hena said to me in heavy mood while we departed from Srinagar in July this year.
It took us 28 hours in reaching Dehradun after a continuos hectic journey by bus from Srinagar and then by a train from Jammu to Saharanpur. Local buses ply between Saharanpur and Dehradun, the destination between the two being 85 kms. The road all along was ascending, so gaining height with all green farms on either side of the road. Reaching Dehradun we had to hire an auto for reaching NIVH at 116, Rajpur Road. The road leading towards Masoori ( a famous tourist resort of Utranchal) took us to the institute , 5 kms away from from Dehradun main city. Picturesque location of the institute, a broad-based campus in the backdrop of the Shivalik ranges gave me a sigh of relief and an imagination that all blind children really have a chance to build up their future prospects by getting admission in the highly facilitated Institute. Entering in the school premises one can see the words written in bold letters on the wall of model school“ The principal goals of education defined as, To create men who are capable of doing new things. Not simply repeating what other generations have done. Men who are creative, inventive and discoverers…… JEAN PAIGET .”
Mr. D.M. Gullati, Principal of the Model School, also a blind man told us to have lunch as soon as he confirmed our purpose. On the same day afternoon Hena was interviewed and medically checked up. She was given admission in 5th class and so I got engaged in getting some needful items for her permanent stay in the institute.

Meanwhile I met certain authorities of the Institute to know about its history and functioning. The main source of information was Director of the institute Dr. S.R.Shukla, a very polite and humble man, who while briefing about NIVH, revealed that the institute is giving special priority to J&K State because of huge sufferings in the disturbed state.

The institute has a well equipped health care dispensary also headed by Dr. J.P.N. Mishra. The man showed keen interest in confirming about the present Kashmir situation from me, when I accompanied Hena for medical check up in the dispensary. In the recreation cum sports centre situated in school premises, there seems scope for blinds to take part in different games like chess, cricket and athletics M. L.Mishra the sports incharge was very willing to share his views about the blind sports. He had remained the coach of National Blind cricket team that played the blind cricket world cup in the year 2002. Talking to various NIVH employees I got the brief about the institute as:

The origin of the national Institute of Visually handicapped is traced back to January 1, 1950. It was on that date the Government of India took over the St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the war blinded and renamed it as the training Center for the Adult Blind (men). Later on the activities in the field were further expanded and were amalgamated into national Center for the Blind in 1967.
“The year 1979 was a historic achievement in the growth and development of the services for the blind welfare when National center for the blind was elevated to the status of National Institute for the Visually handicapped. After two and half years, Ministry of Welfare granted full autonomy to the institute on 21st October 1982. The Institute is an apex body in the field of blind welfare in India and is considered to be the largest institute in Asia”. Revealed Dr. S.R.Shukla, Director NIVH.
He further stated that, “the objectives of the institute are :
1. Development of model services for visually handicapped.
2. Man power Development training.
3. Research and development.
4. Provision of consultancy service.
5. Education, Vocational Training and rehabilitation services.
6. Production of Educational and recreational aids appliances. and
7. Production and supply of Braille books and audiocassettes.

The Institution carries a model school for children below eight years of age and level of education in the school is from pre-schooling to XII standard with free boarding and lodging facilities. It also has a training centre for adult blinds of 18 to 40 years of age where both technical and non-technical courses of one year duration are offered. The Technical courses include light engineering, Electronics, computer operation and telephone operations, whereas non-technical wing disabled adults are taught, recaning of chairs, weaving, knitting, typing and Braille stenography. The aids and appliances in the institute carry educational aids like, Braille slate, Arithmetic slate, geometry kit, Abacus, Pocket frame, Braille scale and short hand machines. The recreational aids contain DraughtBoard, playing card, pegboard, chessboard and different puzzles.
Knowing all about the institute in just three days I was ready to depart from Dehradhun, leaving Hena for turning her dreams in to virtuality.
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