Freelance Writer / broadcaster

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Lalbazar Srinagar(Kashmir), Jammu and Kashmir, India
A freelance journalist /broadcaster /sports reporter and scriptwriter from Jammu&Kashmir (India), an Associate Member of ONA (Online News Association), Sports Keeda and Elance U.K

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

| Video | Visually challenged girl faces discrimination in J&K | India Videos | - India Today

| Video | Visually challenged girl faces discrimination in J&K | India Videos | - India Today

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Freelance journalist/Broadcaster: Kashmir University discriminates with visually challenged student : India, News - India Today

Freelance journalist/Broadcaster: Kashmir University discriminates with visually challenged student : India, News - India Today














Kashmir University discriminates with visually challenged student : India, News - India Today

Kashmir University discriminates with visually challenged student : India, News - India Today

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Kashmir University DENIES SERVICES OF A SCRIBE TO VISUALLY HANDICAPPED GIRL

July 4, 2012/ Authorities at Kashmir University today denied services of a scribe-of-choice to a visually handicapped girl appearing in entrance test for admission to 5-year integrated LLB course. When, Sanya Zehra, who was earlier allowed by authorities at Delhi University, Central University of Kashmir and CLAT to sit in exams along with her scribe, today went to appear for admission entrance test at Kashmir University’s linguistics department, she was disallowed by the authorities the services of the scribe of her choice.“Earlier when my daughter appeared for the test at the KU itself, she was allowed to appear with a scribe writing the exams for her”, said her father Syed Abid Hussain of Lal Bazar Srinagar. Authorities had cancelled the examination later. “However when the exams were re-conducted today, my daughter was not allowed the scribe and instead they asked some university official to write for her”, he said adding a visually handicapped girl cannot feel comfortable with a stranger. “How can she have faith in a person she doesn’t know? The university officials attitude is irresponsible and pathetic”, he lamented. Pertinently, the girl had earlier passed her 12th class examination from CBSE with 84% marks and stood first at National Institute of visually handicapped at Dehradun. However, the authorities seem to be ignorant about laws apart from been grossly insensitive. According to experts, the University was bound by a Supreme Court ruling to allow the visually challenged girl with a scribe of her choice. However the scribe should not be studying in the same class or a higher class than the girl appearing in exams, experts added. “I always wanted to become a lawyer, but I found people outside Kashmir much more understanding and sympathetic towards me”, a crying Sanya told KNS over phone. “They don’t know rules and on top of that they are heartless”, she added. The candidate Sanya Zehra who was appearing in the entrance exam under Roll No 430195 had earlier been allowed a scribe of her choice namely Qurat ul Ain a student of class XI, father of the candidate said. “I don’t know how rules changed within a period of 20 days”, Abid lamented. (KNS)

Monday, July 02, 2012

Kashmir's Great Football legend Mohammad Yousuf Dar forgotten for what?

At the age of 63, he still loves the game of Football with heart and mind and watches the big International matches of Football on television no matter how long they will go during nights. The veteran footballer of the valley is still highly remembered for his exuberant football skills during his playing days, a man who had retired from his active government service as Joint Managing Director of J&K SRTC five years ago, has the distinction of being the first international footballer of the J&K State and first from the valley of Kashmir to play professional club football in early 70’s. Football fraternity of the valley still loves him and highly acknowledges his contribution in the game of Football during 60’s and 70’s. As a Football coach he has produced many footballers for the State which include the famous International Footballers like Abdul Majid Kakroo, Mohd. Shafi Nari, Khursheed Ahmad Baba, Lateef Baba, Zahoor Ahmad, Syed Ahmad and Aslam Parvez Dar, who all have represented India in many international matches. Hailing from Dalgate Srinagar and born in a family where the game of Football has remained the first love in sports, Mohd. Yousuf Dar is presently engaged in his hotel business but he keenly and silently watches all the developments of the game around in the valley. Although football lovers of the valley would expect his active contribution in the State football, but he has been found of scene for many years now and till today does not want to comment over his long absence in administration or contribution in the field of Sports in general and his first love Football in particular. After many long years of his silence, Mohd. Yousuf Dar was pushed to break it when persons concerned with Sports programmes of Radio Kashmir Srinagar approached him with a recorder. In an exclusive interview aired on Radio Kashmir Srinagar on June 20, 2012 in Sports Magazine at 9.30PM, Mohammad Yousuf Dar spoke about his early football life, his contribution and representation in State football. Some unexceptional and angry feelings also came in place regarding due respect and recognition not been given to him over the past many years by the Jammu & Kashmir Football Association (JKFA). “When they (JKFA) don’t want me, why should I go to attend their meetings and activities” said Dar in an angry mood. “If they would have called me for any participation, suggestion or contribution i would have surely loved to be a part of that” He revealed. Reacting to the plea, one of the Executive members of JKFA, Fayaz Ahmad said that Mr. Dar had resigned as Chairman of the selection committee long back and has never looked back or attended any meeting of JKFA. “He was the direct member of the Association and as per the constitution, one who doesn’t attend three meeting in a row is disqualified from the membership of the executive Committee” added Mr. Fayaz. Pertinent that Mr. Dar has done diploma in coaching in Football from National Institute of sports Bangalore, represented India XI in the year 1977-78 and represented Mohammadan Sporting Club Kokatta in the year 1971-72 to become first footballer of the State to play professional football. He has also represented J&K State in Santosh Trophy for 15 years during the period 1964-78 and also captained State Football team twice in Santosh Trophy tournaments. It looks very unfortunate and unfair that a football legend of the past like Mohammad Yousuf Dar is not presently involved in the affairs of State Football.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Story of a stone-pelter

Here is an interesting story of a 26-year man from Kashmir...How I became a Stone-Pelter... I am from downtown Srinagar born in 1986. I was admitted to one of the best school of valley. As a child I had dream to become engineer. Whenever somebody used to ask me about my aim I would proudly say engineer. As I started to grow up I started to become familiar with many words which everyone used to talk about that among them few were “azadi” (freedom), “hartal” (shutdown) but I was unable to understand the meaning of these words. I loved the word hartal as it was holiday, so I always wished for hartal. As I grew up I came to know about mujahids. I used to listen to the stories of mujahids. I would often ask my elders to tell me about mujahids. They told me stories of many mujahids like Isaaqh, Ishfaq, and Jan Malik which I liked to share with my friends. ? Even I was named after a Shaheed Mujahid (martyr fighter) who was killed before few weeks I was born. Then Came the summer of 2007, I was passing by Nowhatta, It was month of Muharram. There was heavy stone pelting going on. I found it very interesting. I saw youth pelting stones and shouting freedom slogans. Initially I was afraid to go in front and pelt stones on Police and CRPF. I used to think they are some angels fighting on the front. Days passed. Now I too had gathered guts to pelt stones on the front line. It was now 2008 I was busy with my exams. I heard about Amarnath Land Row. Things started changing very fast I had never seen kind of hartals (shutdowns) before. I had never seen kind of stone pelting before. It was totally new experience to me. Now tear gas shell wasn’t shot anymore, now bullets were fired directly. I saw many boys hit by a bullet and dying on spot. I was disturbed by this. I asked my grandfather once why they directly shoot on us. His answer was “Tse chuk mangaan azadi” (u are asking for freedom). This answer changed my mind. I started realizing neither we are part of India nor India considers us their part. Now I started reading history about our freedom struggle. I came to know about many things about the Kashmir struggle. Now I started reading newspaper, magazines very keenly. I started observing everything about the political system. I wept when I read about Gawkadal, Zukura, Hawal, Bijbihara, Sopore, Kupwara massacres. I too wanted to became Mujahid. I once joked with my mother that I will become Mujahid, her answer was pain full, first give me poison then you will become Mujahid. Came 2009 I again started to remain busy with my studies but whenever there was stone pelting in Nowahatta I used go there and pelt stones. Stone pelting for me now, has become a reaction to the atrocities and d illegal occupation of India. I do it for a cause. I was once caught by police and was put in custody I was also beaten but that also couldn’t break me. When I was released I again started pelting stones. A policemen in custody told me why you pelt stones, do you think you will get freedom by pelting stones. If it is the case I am also ready to pelt stones, he said. But still it is the only thing which makes me feel that gun or bullet cannot suppress my thoughts my sentiments and to live in occupied I want to be free….. I am happy when I pelt stones because I want to take revenge for every innocent killing. I know my stone wont harm them but remember it is not stone it is my feelings. I pelt stones because we are oppressed. It was June 2009 Shopian rape had occurred. It was unbearable to hear rape and murder case of a girl and her sister in law. Tears rolled from my eyes when I read story of Asiya in newspaper. Once again hartals, stone pelting emerged with more boys felling to bullets to a response for protesting for justice from brutal Indian military. I watched a press conference of Omar Abdullah on news channel promising to bring culprits in front of people and punish them in 24 hors. Honestly I was happy with his promise I saw a hope in him in bringing justice to the duo. But nothing happened instead of justice their relatives were beaten. This made me more aggressive I wanted to take revenge, I wanted to punish murderers. More ever I considered cm for all this because his behaviour made me much aggressive much angry against India and their brutality here. After one month of continuous strikes life was back on track. Again we started to remain busy with our studies. But I always used to think why didn’t the duo got justice I once had seen news of a 14 year old girl from Delhi who was killed by unknown person in her bedroom. But Police wasn’t able to solve the case. It was then handed over to CBI who arrested the culprits in few weeks. But in case of Kashmir CBI solved the case differently they didn’t arrested the culprits but made a funny story of the victims that they died due to drowning in stream whose depth was hardly unto knees. This clearly showed policy of India in Kashmir. But whom could I ask these questions why didn’t they get justice? Why they shoot us if we protest for seeking justice? These questions always were in my mind. By pelting stones I dint got answer but I was happy I felt I am taking revenge by pelting stones but what else I could do who was their to listen me. I felt satisfaction by pelting stones by pelting stones I wanted to say them give us justice leave our Kashmir let us leave in peace let us live in place where no mother has fear that her son may return dead. These are not stones these are my feelings. Came 2010 it was January once I saw Wamiq Farooq, He was a neighbour of one of my relatives residing at Rainawari area of Srinagar. Wamiq was very good boy he used to offer my times prayers. He used to call me bhai (brother). After few weeks on one Friday evening I heard that a boy has been martyred after hitting by tear gas shell but I didn’t know unfortunately it was Wamiq the same guy whom I had seen before a day. When I woke up next morning I saw a picture of boy whose identity was yet to be revealed in newspaper. After few minutes I got call from my cousin that Wamiq has been martyred. For few minutes I totally froze I wasn’t able to speak. A boy hardly 13 was no more. You can understand how it feels when you hear death of person whom you know. Wamiq was like my little brother I had never thought an innocent young boy will fell prey to their brutality. Once again hartals (strikes) and stone pelting emerged with more boys getting injured and martyred. Indian occupational forces were responding with more brutality, they are occupational forces their cruelty and brutality is not a surprise to us but I was surprised by the role of Jammu and Kashmir police our local police they are playing absurd role. One fails to understand the cause of their cruelty and brutality, Is it they want to show more loyalty to India or they are killing their brothers for money. What ever the reason is but the way they behave with their own countrymen is painful. Maybe they have became blind because of power government has given to them. Wamiq’s death gave birth to a powerful revolution. The revolution shook the existence of Indian rule in Kashmir. Now India started to show their military power to unarmed civilians. The way they deal with protests is answer to those people who call India integral part of Kashmir. India has started to engage its every front to curb this revolution from politically to technically even media is being used to curb this revolution. Streets of Kashmir have become red with the blood of innocent people. Jhelum has become red with blood of innocent people. I know one day may be I will also fell to their bullets even I am mentally prepared for that because I have attained extreme limit of stone pelting. But remember my death will give birth to hundreds of kale kharab (hotheads). As I became kale kharab (hothead) after death of innocent boys from last three years. 65 deaths have already given birth to hundreds of kale kharab (hot head) who are ready to fight till their last breath. These kale kharab (hothead) are present at every corner of Kashmir. What ever will the future of