from Photographers Blog:
Born free
By Adnan Abidi
The joy of being born in a free country is a gift I received from those who sweat and bled in the struggle for Indian Independence. I accept the fact that I do very little to appreciate that gift. The most I do is fly a kite on August 15th, like many others. Quite a few of my fellow 'post-independence born' countrymen have little clue about the struggles our martyrs undertook to achieve what, today, we enjoy with much ingratitude. Freedom has been taken for granted.
The first struggle of Indian Independence was unknown to me, the second, as popular support named it, was the one I witnessed. It was when a 74-year-old Gandhinian, Anna, mobilized a crowd of over a million to crusade against corruption they say has infiltrated to the very roots of the Indian administration.
It was a much-watched movement that kept most of the country glued to their televisions for thirteen days. The media became a window for the 1.21 billion population. And I, as part of that window, got a chance to hold up Anna Hazare's campaign to the world. The call against corruption came on the same day that India achieved its independence back in 1947, and in the same month as Ramadan, which fell in August this year. Following tradition, I was celebrating my independence by flying a kite when I received two calls -- one from a fellow colleague, who informed me that Anna Hazare was praying at Rajghat, and the second from my Amma (mother), who asked me to get dates and fruits, traditionally eaten to end the day’s fast. I was at a crossroads and I had to choose my path.
Handing over the kite's string to my friend I rushed home, picked up my gear and headed to Rajghat, forgetting about the dates I was asked to bring. Mahatma Gandhi's memorial isn't a place I often visit unless on an assignment. So it was that day, when yet again I realized I was one of the last photographers to reach. I shot many frames from all possible angles.
Generations before me had witnessed the power of Indian media as it was instrumental in bringing about the required change. What follows is one such example.
The thin line between activism and hooliganism
Whether one supports the principles of Anna Hazare or not, there is no denying the movement has managed to strike a chord with people from almost every section of society.
The frustration with corruption has breached its maximum level, and that alone awakened the so-called political activism among Indians.
However, a few high profile incidents on the streets of New Delhi may damage the cause of the activists.
Several incidents have been reported across the city which show that for some people, support for the movement is a licence for hooliganism and drunken driving.
A group of Anna Hazare supporters, apparently drunk, clashed with police late on Thursday outside the Ramlila Maidan, after they tried to force their way through the VIP entrance, local media said.
This is the second such reported incident after drunken protesters picked a fight with members of the media on Monday, and police refused to take action against them, citing orders not to hurt Hazare’s supporters.
Every evening, the streets of Delhi are filled with some flag-waving Hazare supporters riding cars with their heads hanging out of the windows, speeding past buses and other vehicles. Also, bikers are seen recklessly riding around India Gate, without helmets.
In a country as populous as India some discrete incidents of hooliganism are unavoidable. But there was no mass rioting as many people had anticipated. It was very peaceful.
Much ado about Rahul Gandhi’s ash claim
By Annie Banerji
Days after Rahul Gandhi’s dramatic motorcycle pillion ride to twin villages in Uttar Pradesh to quell land acquisition agitations between police and farmers, the Congress general secretary told Indian media that he found a 70-foot pile of ashes with human remains inside.
He added that women had been raped, people had been beaten up and the police had torn down houses during the protests.
On questioning the villagers of Bhatta and Parsaul, the Indian Express found that not a single person backed Gandhi’s assertions. The main refrain was that of police beating up villagers and mistreating them.
Gandhi’s claims of unaccounted-for people seemed undermined with the Times of India reporting that the only officially “missing” person was traced to a hospital in New Delhi. Even those who have been staying away fearing police brutality are trickling back to their homes.
Even though Gandhi produced pictures to corroborate his claims, the startled expressions of villagers in reaction to the allegations and the ground reality of the situation hints at a political gimmick from his ruling Congress party in a state where it is trying to strengthen its base with assembly elections looming next year.
Congress had earlier chosen Gandhi, son of party chief Sonia Gandhi, to face the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the state and his focus has since been on Dalits, Muslims and the backward classes.
This Are Turbulent Times For Indian Politicians Across The Vast Spectrum Of Political Class.
Average Citizens With Strong Leadership Coming From Within The Civil Society And Along With Certain Media Supporting The Civil Society, Have Shown The Government What Can They Achieve If desired.
This Are The Times When One Person Can Take This As An Opportunity Of A Life Time And Take His Career To Greater Heights As A Politician…
With Narendra Modi Not So Keen To Get Into The Fold Of National Politics, Only One Man Has This Opportunity, As No One From The Opposition Parties Nor The Partners Of The UPA Have That One Person.
This One Person Is Non Other Than Rahul Gandhi, Who IS Doing A Miserable Job Of This Opportunity, This One Incident Has Proved Beyond Doubt That Mr. Rahul Baba Has Not Yet Grown As His Age Has.
The Reason For This Is… He Has To Build His Coterie Who Understand The Pulse Of The Nation And Are Willing To Put Their Ears To The Ground, But Incidentally He Follows Someone Who Is On His Own Trip… A Certain Mr. Digvijay Singh.
If At All, Rahul Baba Has To Grow To Be A Man… A Man Who Went On to Become The Prime Minister Of India… Then He Need To Rethink His Association With Digvijay Singh, Cause What Ever Happened In Bhatta Parsaul… Happened Cause Of Irrational Thinking Of Digvijay Singh, What Was He Thinking When He Instigated Rahul Baba To Say All Of The Nonsense About Human Ashes… Who Would Believe This… For God Sake… This Is Not Bosnia… This Is India…
Rahul Gandhi, If Cant Take His Own decisions, Will Be Better Off To Leave His Ambition Behind And Let His Sister, Priyanka Vadhera Take The Mantel Of India, She Is A Far Sensible Politician Than Rahul.
Kashmir seeks return of hanged separatist leader’s remains
Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, the pioneer of Kashmir’s separatist struggle, was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 11, 1984.
Bhat, also the founder of Kashmir’s influential separatist group Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was executed on the charge of killing an Indian intelligence officer. His body was buried in the jail.
Five years after Bhat’s hanging, Kashmiri militants including JKLF launched an insurgency against Indian rule in the Muslim-majority region and the bloodshed has continued ever since.
Each year on February 11, Kashmir goes on strike to mark the anniversary of the hanging of its leader, widely respected in the disputed region.
Life across the Kashmir valley was affected on Friday by a separatist shutdown called to observe the death anniversary of Bhat.
But JKLF, which declared a ceasefire with Indian forces in 1994 and is fighting politically for the independence of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan, says it will intensify its protests and demand the return of Bhat’s mortal remains.
“The denial of mortal remains of leader to his people is a grave human rights violation,” the JKLF said. “Bhat is the identity of Kashmiris and symbol of our unity.”
Its very surprising fact that what made maqbool bhat form JKLF in 1977???what was the motive behind it .There was no oppression of any kind on Kashmiris at that time.In any case with the kind of crimes committed by him(murdering an intelligence officer,bank manager and planning kidnaping of a diplomat) are unpardonable under any constitution in world.
Should forces responsible for over 100 killings be praised for restraint?
India’s Prime Minister praised the work of security forces in disputed Kashmir on Tuesday, in a show of support for troops that killed over 100 separatist protesters last year that risks angering those that resent India’s large military presence in the state.
The remarks represent a seal of approval for security forces that are cited by many Kashmiris as an element of the violence, rather than the preventers of it, and come as a team of interlocutors enters its fifth month of talks in the troubled region, and almost two months after Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said that a political solution to the troubles was likely to emerge “in the next few months.”
But can Manmohan Singh’s praise for the “tremendous restraint” of Indian forces in Kashmir be applauded considering they have been responsible for the death of over 100 separatist protesters in months of violent clashes since last summer?
“It is really unfortunate and sad that despite tremendous restraint shown by the security forces, many young people died,” Singh told a conference of state chief ministers in New Delhi on Tuesday. “As we meet today, the situation in the valley has improved.”
Such rhetoric — regularly trotted out by New Delhi and military leaders — is reviled by many in Kashmir by those who resent the perceived heavy-handed treatment by India’s security forces.
Last month, India appeared to be moving towards a reduction in ground forces in the state, while discussions roll on regarding the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act — much-maligned by Kashmiri citizens.
@Oppressed 1947
***I am curious why kidnapping and killing two teenage sisters by militants did not raise as much hue and cry as the rape and killing in Shopian case where people in the valley were protesting.
Why not protest like that now?
Kashmir calms down, but peace still distant
Winter has come to Kashmir, a scenic valley deep in the Himalayas, cooling tensions in the disputed region after months of violent anti-India demonstrations.
At least 110 people have been killed since June. Dozens were wounded, mostly by police bullets, during the protests – the biggest since a revolt against Indian rule broke out in 1989.
A separatist strike, curfew and security lock-down, that dragged on for over four months and closed much of the region, have ebbed away and the streets across Kashmir are abuzz with activity again.
Authorities say the arrest of some “hard-core” protest organisers and the onset of winter helped to calm the protests.
But there is no optimism across Kashmir valley that peace has returned.
Nayeem Akhtar, chief spokesman of the state’s main opposition People’s Democratic Party says the weakening of anti-India protests should not be mistaken for an end to the problem.
“You cannot expect Kashmiris to be in permanent agitation mode. People are exhausted, they have suffered deaths, injuries, financial losses,” Akhtar told The Hindu newspaper.
Arundhti Roy has talked about it, Pandit Nehru said the same, freedom for Kashmiris can be delayed, but it can not be stopped for ever.
India offers fresh peace talks to Kashmir
New Delhi has expressed its willingness to hold talks with ”any group” from Kashmir where protests against Indian rule have mounted in recent weeks and government forces have killed at least 65 people, mostly stone-throwing protesters.
The civilian deaths have fuelled anger in the disputed Himalayan region where anti-India sentiments run deep though militant violence has gone down.
“We hope to restart the dialogue process. We will talk to any group, any political party which is willing to talk to us,” Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said.
According to Hindustan Times, the government will soon come out with specific meaures to address some issues which may bring relief to the people of Kashmir.
A nearly three-month-long separatist strike, curfew and security lockdown has kept the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley on the boil, shutting down much of the scenic region.
“Few days means few days…government hopes that it will be able to re-start the process of dialogue in the near future,” Chidambaram said.
After several failed rounds of peace talks between moderate separatists and New Delhi in the past decade, locals say India is only buying time and is not serious about resolution of the dispute.
Mr. Sheikh Mushtaq,
The offer by India of talks and the reaction by Kashmiri leaders has left no doubt that Kashmiris should be ready for a long haul.
3 parties (the leaders) are equally responsible for the mess India-Pak-Kashmir are in.
**************************************** **
waleekamil said: “basic problem with Delhi is what to offer Kashmiris politically”
***Agreed. But do you believe there is a mature leader on Kashmir’s side who can hold his/her own and navigate Kashmir to peace.
U.N. concerned over Kashmir unrest
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed concern over the weeks of violent anti-government protests in Kashmir which have killed more than 30 people, dragged in more troops and locked down the disputed Himalayan region.
A separatist strike and security lockdown has dragged on for nearly a month-and-a-half in Muslim-majority Kashmir, a region at the core of a dispute between India and Pakistan.
“In relation to recent developments in Indian-administered Kashmir, the Secretary-General is concerned over the prevailing security situation there over the past month,” Farhan Haq, Ban Ki-Moon’s spokesperson said in a statement.
The Secretary-General has called on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully.
But security forces, to quell the daily street protests, have launched a major crackdown across Kashmir and detained at least 1,400 people. The arrests are fuelling more anger.
Most separatist leaders have been arrested or placed under house arrest.
The government has ordered a judicial probe into the deaths of 17 people, mostly protesters, in an attempt to end the crisis amid the biggest demonstrations against Indian rule in two years across the Valley.
kahsmiris who wnt independece arnt bloody traitors you idiots. kashmriis are apeopel and they consider themsleves differnt to idnians – and they wre independent before india shoved thier flag over them
theyre patriots. theyre fighting for ther people. they cnsider their peole kashmiris!
tell me is india fighting for pakistanis? no? why not after all we share blood, historyc, culture, lingusitics. becase we have drawn a line ebtween idnia and pakistan. so we conider our own different to paksitan.
does india fight for afghansitan and iran? no ? why not, go back far enough and we were all indo-iranians! because we do not parade under the idno-iranian banner. similiry kahsmiris dont parade under the idnian banner and they dont have to if they dont want to.
In Kashmir, India now struggles with “children of conflict”
Kashmir has been seething since early June. Life across the Muslim-majority valley has been completely disrupted by curfews and protest strikes since some of the biggest anti-India demonstrations in two years erupted a month ago.
Seventeen people, mostly teenage protesters, have been killed by security forces in near daily pro-freedom demonstrations fuelling anger across the disputed Himalayan region.
India blames Pakistan-based militants for the ongoing Kashmir protests but Kashmiris say the protests are spontaneous.
Who are these people organising freedom rallies and have discovered the power of mass protests that have dumbfounded the entire government?
They assemble in hundreds – and in some cases thousands, shouting, “Go India go”, “We want freedom” and take to the streets, pelting stones at police and paramilitary forces.
On Facebook, YouTube and other social networking sites, they are spreading creative ideas for civil disobedience to challenge Indian rule.
They are Kashmir’s new generation of radicalised separatists, a new generation that has grown up in the shadow of the two-decade-old violence between Indian troops and separatist guerrillas that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Ban Ki Moon criticises Indian atrocities
But its not only Ban Ki!
In recent UN statement, Ban Ki Mon has shown “concern over the prevailing security situation in Indian Kashmir” and “encouraged both sides (India and Pakistan) to rekindle the spirit of the composite…and make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir.” An article “KASHMIR: Cameron, Could You Not See Blood On Manmohan’s Hands?” dated 01 August 2010 states “David Cameron, the British Prime Minister was in Dehli completely blinded by the dollars that he wanted for his ailing economy back in the UK. He showed no concern for the daily falling bodies of the Kashmiris for their right for self determination.” On issue of additional troops deployment in Kashmir, Sumit Ganguly, an American Professor of Indian origin, wrote in an article published in the Wall Street Journal that” the Kashmir problem had no military solution. He said: “The army will resort to a colonial relic, the ‘flag march’, to display military might and cow the protesters off the streets“ Yet while this might work in the short term, the army’s deployment is no panacea,”. The desperate state resulting in desertion of Indian forces and police, number of troops and police officers are resigning. Hindustan Time wrote, “The situation in Kashmir seems to be spiraling out of control and no one seems in charge.” Kashmir has Gaza like state of affairs, height of atrocities can be witnessed during July when 33 Kashmiris were killed, eight of them were children, death toll in the valley sum up to 93,307 since 1989. Defence analyst, B.Raman states, “We are facing an Intifada of the Palestinian model in J & K for the first time. It is a spontaneous outburst of anger by sections of the youth over what they allege is the disproportionate use of force by the police and the CRPF ( Central Reserve Police Force). ”. I recently visited my relatives in Kashmir and realities forced me to think like a normal human for a minute and not just an Indian.
Krishna Das Pandit
Reactions from the common man
Opposition parties held a one-day general strike to protest a fuel price hike by the government. Reuters finds out its impact in New Delhi and whether Delhiites support the strike.
the pictures taken are really beautiful!!! they capture the feel of each situation!!! and beautiful write up too!!!