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Stop
The cause of the fire was not immediately government forces damaged houses and and all form entire Jammu & Kashmir and
known. other properties while to counter the action Azad Kashmir to J&K Assembly House at
Government Forces foiled Soibugh free- of the forces people took to roads in the Srinagar and attend First Resistance Assem- eschewed. Soldiers always remain in
dom march for which people had made all middle of the night and chanted pro-freedom bly on 27th of October, the fateful day of 1947 the forefront to defend sovereignty of the
the arrangements. slogans. Forces used tear-gas canisters to when Indian troops landed in Srinagar and nation and protect lives of people, he said
Witnesses sadi that all roads leading to disperse the protesters. Reports said that forcibly and illegally occupied Jammu & while asserting that they have been doing
Soibugh village in central Kashmirs Budgam during morning hours, a large number of Kashmir; so in the past and would continue to defend
district were sealed by the government people again hit to roads and organized a Joint Resistance Leadership also invites the national honour and dignity always. He
forces to prevent a pro-freedom march called massive anti-India protest. Forces rushed to President, Prime Minister and Members of said those indulging in jingoism were doing
by the resistance leadersip on Wednesday the village and used pellets and tear-smoke Azad Kashmir Assembly to attend this his- much dis-service to the nation.
morning. shells to disperse the protesters. Witnesses toric convention; The National Conference President ques-
Reports and witnesses said that all the and reports said that 7 people were injured Kashmiris and people advocating right tioned the claims of the coalition government
entry points to the village had been sealed in the clashes. to self-determination for the people of Jam- over near-normalcy dawning across the Val-
with army manning the barricades. Accord- 90 people, majority of them youths, have mu & Kashmir living in India and other parts ley, saying the situation in urban and rural
ing to eyewitnesses despite the restriction been killed and over 14,000 injured in the of world are also invited to attend this first areas, on the contrary, is quite reverse. He
people in large numbers assembled in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir since July 9, a day ever resistance assembly to be held in Srinagar; said Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented
main chowk to participate in the pro-freedom after the killing of top militant Burhan Wani Hoisting of black flags everywhere includ- crisis and if a solution is not found in right
rally. The rally was addressed by a number in a clash with security forces. (CNS) ing shops, roof tops and vehicles. earnest, it will be too late. In this context, he
Shutdown
of speakers who urged upon people to follow Thursday, October 27 (No Relaxation) referred to repeated pleas of National Confer-
protest calendar in letter and spirit. They Directions For All Days ence for initiating a credible and meaningful
appealed people to show loyalty and stead- After Friday prayer, march one and all 1. Protests be held across Jammu & Kash- dialogue with all the stakeholders in the
fastness towards the ongoing freedom towards the homes of MLAsin your area, mir. State. He recalled that this fact was brought
struggle. picket& protestfor 3 days outside their homes, 2. Shutdown across Jammu & Kashmir to the notice of the then Prime Minister Dr
Clashes erupted there after government for they: on all days except for the relaxation mentioned Manmohan Singh publicly in Anantnag by
forces resorted to aerial firing to put a stop providing a civilian mask to a brutal in the program. Omar Abdullah, emphasising that Kashmir
to the pro-freedom rally.Reports and wit- Indian military occupation 3. Relaxation period is forall including problem was not all about jobs and eco-
nesses said that the rally attended by over a continuing to perform shamelessly the Public and private transportas well as fac- nomic packages. Again, he said, the Opposi-
thousand people was nearing its end when role of covering up war crimes of Indian oc- tories and other industrial unit holders. tion parties led by Omar Abdullah apprised
forces raided the area. cupational forces 4. Lockdown all the routes entering your Prime Minister Narendra Modi about realities
They fired in air and used teargas shells being the most important obstruction Mohallas, Villages and Localities by every in the Valley, who in turn agreed the nature
to thwart the rally, said a witness. This in between us and our freedom form Indian means during night to protect people in of problems being political.
triggered clashes. Reports said that youth military occupation general and youth in particular from the If Modi really believes what he told to
responded with stones while the clashes left being important part of Indian war raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K the delegation from Jammu and Kashmir he
many people injured. machinery and directly involved and equal- Police. should walk the talk, Dr Abdullah said, add-
People of Warpora area of North Kashmirs ly responsible for killing, injuring, blinding, 5. Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas from ing that this will be in the larger interests of
Sopore town on Wednesday said that men maiming of Kashmiris Maghrib to Isha on all days. Kashmir and rest of the country.
in uniform on Tuesday night raided the village acting as informers in their areas, iden- 6. Paste this Protest Program Poster on The NC chief referred to border skir-
of and resorted to ransacking. The locals said tifying and preparing list of people and es- the entrance of every mosque and in Market mishes and the fear psychosis prevailing
that the forces came around 1:30 AM and pecially youth actively participating in pres- places, Mohallas & Local Chowks. (KNS) in forward areas due to shelling and ex-
CM
ransacked private property before arresting ent peoples uprising for referendum,for J&K pressed his partys solidarity with those
an 18-year-old youth. The detained youth Police and other Indian intelligence agencies required to abandon their homes and hearths
was identified as Masraf Majeed. He was justifying participation in elections in Development & Panchayati Raj, Agricul- quite frequently. He said the border dwell-
arrested from his bed. the name of sadak-pani-bijli with no bearing ture Production and YSS, Sunil Kumar Shar- ers were braving main brunt of the hos-
Soon after the raid, people came out on popular freedom movement and moti- ma and MLC Firdous Tak accompanied the tilities between two neighbouring countries
from their houses protesting against the raids vatingmany a gullible people amongus to Chief Minister on her visit to the area. and hoped the situation to normalize soon.
and highhandedness of forces, local said. vote, but in real deceiving and playing a As many as 126 families have been af- He exuded confidence that these skir-
Forces fired tear smoke shells indiscrimi- treacherous role of cementing and stabilizing fected due to the Saturday night blaze in mishes would not get converted into war,
nately. Indian military occupation both,by their which 80 residential houses and an equal which he said, is not in the interest of India
The locals said one tear gas shell landed words and actions for last 68 years number of cow sheds and other structures or Pakistan.
inside home of a lady who had given birth to On Saturday, October 22, Syed Ali Shah including shops, middle school, Masjid, An- National Conference General Secretary,
a baby a few days ago. A police official feigned Geelani will address to the nation at 11 am. ganwari Centres, Sub-Centre and over 400 Ali Mohammed Sagar and Additional
ignorance about the incident. Saturday, October 22 (Relaxation from cattle and sheep perished. General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustaffa
Agitated protesters smashed windowpanes 5 pm to 7 am) During her visit, the Chief Minister as- Kamal also spoke on the occasion and
of scores of private vehicles at Hajin Sonawari Sunday, October 23 (Relaxation from 5 sured the affected villagers of all possible exhorted party workers to meet the chal-
area of Bandipora district when government pm to 7 am) support from the Government for their wel- lenges faced to the state with courage
forces arrested a butcher whom locals iden- Monday, October 24 (Relaxation from 5 fare and rehabilitation. and fortitude.
tified as Ghulam Ahmed Dar. Earlier Batagund pm to 7 am) The Chief Minister announced various Sagar and Kamal said that National
village was cordoned off by the forces and Drugmulla, Sangrama, Arin, Parnewa, relief measures including free ration to every Conference has all along stood for religious
later on they picked up Dar from Gulshan Lar, Harwan, Shadimarg, Kaprin, Behibagh, family for a period of 6 months, Rs 9450000 amity and regional unity of the state, even
Abad area. The detention of butcher sparked Khoveripora Freedom March under IAY (Rs 75000 per household) in favour during most turbulent times, and hoped
violent protest while agitated youth resort- From 7 am, March one & all from Kupwara of all 126 affected families for reconstruction that the people will carry forward this
ed to massive stone-pelting damaging to Drugmulla, Baramulla to Sangrama, Ban- of individual houses, and 3 months rental legacy of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Moham-
window-panes of scores of private vehicles, dipora to Arin, Budgam to Parnewa, Gander- for accommodation during the winter months med Abdullah to maintain harmony across
said an eyewitness. bal to Lar, Srinagar to Harwan, Pulwama to at the rate of Rs 3000 per month per af- the state.
In an apparent reaction to those defying Shadimarg, Shopian to Kaprin, Kulgam to fected family. MLA Mendhar Javed Rana highlighted
shutdown call, a passenger vehicle was set Behibah and Islamabad to Khoveripora; The Chief Minister also announced Rs the problems faced to the border people,
ablaze in North Kashmir. Reports said that Post Zuhr prayer, hold Freedom Congre- 1.25 crore as relief under SDRF for the af- saying the PDP-BJP government has failed
unidentified persons torched the Scorpio gation at the place identified and agreed fected families, comprising Rs 101900 per in mitigating these. As a result of wrong
vehicle, bearing registration number upon locally and mutually; house in hilly area including damaged hous- policies and lack of political vision, the peo-
JK05:1031 in Delina area of Baramulla district. Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth es, Rs 1800 per family for loss of clothing, Rs ple of the border areas in particular are feel-
Reports from South Kashmirs Pulwama Volunteers of these Blocks coordinate and 2000 per family for loss of utensils/ household ing left in lurch, he added.
KashmirPenTHURSDAY | 20-October-2016
NEWS 03
Palestine Wins Victory Against Israel:
Jerusalem Holy Site Declared Muslim, Not
Jewish, In United Nations Resolution
? ? JOHN WALSH Sharif/Temple Mount," said State Hezekia, a stone etching of a
Department spokesman John Jewish menorah from the year
One of the world's most im- Kirby, referring to another Is- 66 CE found in Jerusalem and a
portant religious sites and Juda- lamic name for the site. "We picture of the Arch of Titus in
isms holiest site, Jerusalems strongly condemn all acts of Rome on which images of holy
Temple Mount and Western Wall, violence. It is absolutely critical artifacts that the Romans stole
was called an exclusively Muslim that all sides exercise restraint, from the Second Temple in Je-
shrine Thursday in a United Na- refrain from provocative actions rusalem are depicted, according
tions draft resolution that denies and rhetoric and preserve un- to a PressReader report.
Jewish connection to the site. changed the historic status quo If the Jews have no definite
The resolution, which con- on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple connection to the holy sites-
demns Israel for its activities in Mount." UNESCO and the United Nations
Jerusalem and the West Bank, The Palestinian Authority has no connection to history
asserts that Jerusalem is holy initiated the UNESCO campaign and reality, said Yuli-Yoel Edel-
to three monotheistic religions: to reclassify the Temple Mount stein, Israel's parliament speak-
Judaism, Islam and Christian- in 2015 and garnered support er, after the Thursday resolution.
ity. However, it includes a spe- being the location of its first and at the site. from Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Due to Israeli diplomatic ef-
cial section pertaining to the second temples. The Western Palestinian protesters have Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Su- forts before the vote, no Euro-
Temple Mount that says the site Wall, a remnant of the biblical fought back in recent months dan. Palestinians want the oc- pean country backed the motion.
is sacred only to Muslims and temple, is the holiest site where and clashed with Israeli police cupied West Bank and the Gaza Twenty-four countries voted in
fails to mention it as sacred to Jews can pray. The temple is outside the temple, with police Strip for a future state, with Arab favor of the decision, while six
Jews. The resolution from the also the third holiest site to the releasing tear gas and stun gre- East Jerusalem as its capital. voted against. Twenty-six ab-
United Nations Educational, Muslim faith as the place where nades and Palesintians throw- Israel regards all of Jerusalem stained while two were missing,
Scientific and Cultural Organi- the prophet Mohammed made ing rocks at officials. Meanwhile, as its capital, including the pre- according to a Haaretz report.
zation does not refer to the Al- the miraculous night journey between July 8 and Aug. 27, more dominately Arab east annexed The U.S., United Kingdom and
Aqsa mosque by either the to and from Mecca in order to than 2,100 Palestinians were in 1967, though the claim is not Germany were among those
Hebrew term for the siteHar ascend up to heaven. killed during a Israeli military recognized internationally. against the resolution. France,
Habayitor its English transla- The UNESCO resolution this operation in the Gaza strip, along Multiple efforts had been Sweden, Slovenia, Argentina,
tion, the Temple Mount, but only week coincided with interna- with 66 Israeli soldiers and made by the Israeli government Togo and India abstained from
by its Muslim name. tional efforts to calm violence seven civilians in Israel, accord- to try and prove the historical the vote.
"What's next? A UNESCO in the region after what Pales- ing to a BBC News report. Jewish connection to the holy Jordan has custodian rights
decision denying the connection tinians say are increasingly The U.S. State Department site before the historic vote. over the Al-Aqsa mosque com-
between peanut butter and frequent Jewish visits to the expressed concern in Septem- Israels Mission to UNESCO in pound after Israel seized East
jelly? Batman and Robin? Rock compound that is officially un- ber about violence at Temple Paris gave board members and Jerusalem from Jordan in the
and roll?" Prime Minister Ben- der Muslim administration. Mount. international diplomats a bro- 1967 Middle East War.
jamin Netanyahu tweeted after Under Israeli law, Jews are not "The United States is deep- chure that included a ninth- The Palestinian Authority
the decision. allowed to pray at the site to ly concerned by the increase in century BCE inscription referring initiated the UNESCO campaign
The complex is considered avoid potential violence, but violence and escalating tensions to the House of David, an eighth- to reclassify the Temple Mount
Judaisms holiest site due to it many Jewish activists still rally surrounding the (al-)Haram al- century BCE seal from King in 2015.
T
self. There was no doubt, held the apex court, that
military forces in the Valley hirteen years ago, Justice V.R. Krishna the Koran imposes an obligation on the Muslim
Iyer, pleaded in a piece titled Unifying husband to make provision for or to provide main-
was a compulsion and they will personal laws in The Hindu (Septem- tenance to the divorced wife. Besides, Section 125
be sent back to the barracks as ber 6, 2003): My powerful plea is that of the CrPC applies to all regardless of caste or creed.
the personal laws may be reformed So Shah Bano had the right to be given maintenance
soon as the situation returns to from within, without a quantum leap into a com- money, similar to alimony. The court also went on
normal. The presence of forces mon code. Remarkable changes in Islamic laws are to discuss the desirability of bringing a uniform
possible without violating the Quran but adopting civil code in India, holding that a common civil code
has to a large extent created a progressive hermeneutics. The issue described as would help the cause of national integration by
triple talaq has unnecessarily been confused with removing disparate loyalties to laws which have
sense of security among the the issue of a uniform civil code, thus thrusting conflicting ideologies.
people as miscreants have made Indias minority Muslim community into the de- The clergy backlash
fensive. But this dilemma is essentially a question This judgment was vigorously criticised by the
their life a hell and have become of whether the Supreme Court can pronounce on Muslim clergy. I was at the time a Director in the
vigilantes. The deployment in an issue of personal law. It is my case that it not Prime Ministers Office (PMO), dealing with matters
only can, but must. concerning the minorities. I found on my table a
view of vandalism by miscre- Ruling in the Shah Bano case slew of petitions and letters criticising the judgment
The last time that Supreme Court sought to rule and seeking government intervention to overturn
ants is one of the wise steps in a matter concerning personal law was in 1985 a ruling which in their view irreparably compro-
taken by the administration and resulting in what has come to be known as the Shah mised Muslim Personal Law. The principal spokes-
Bano amendment. Shah Bano was married to Mo- men for the clergy were Obaidullah Khan Azmi and
shouldnt be taken off until the hammed Ahmad Khan, an affluent and well-known Syed Kazi, founding members since 1973 of the
return of normalcy. Mostly, ve- advocate of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in 1932. The AIMPLB, which was set up to safeguard Muslim
couple had five children but after 14 years of mar- Personal Law as enacted. But on my table were
hicles are targeted apart from riage Khan took a younger second wife. For a time letters, petitions, and memoranda from organisations
he lived with both, but when Shah Bano was 62, of Muslim clerics from across the country.
vandalizing of public properties she was thrown out together with her five children. The source of Muslim Personal Law in India is the
which adds to the already woes In April 1978, Khan even stopped giving her the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937,
paltry Rs.200 per month that is said to have been a law that is a colonial anachronism enacted to win
of the people. The CM has even promised. over the Muslim clergy from what was, thanks to the
assured that once there is im- With no means to support herself and her chil- legacy of the war of 1857, a Muslim population large-
dren, Shah Bano petitioned a local court in Indore ly hostile to the British. As acknowledged in the State-
provement in situation, the van- against her husband citing Section 125 of the Code ment of Objects and Reasons of the Act, it was in fact
of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asking for maintenance moved by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, described in the
dalism decreases, the role of of Rs.500 for herself and her children. Khans response: Act as the greatest Moslem religious body.
security forces will decrease in November 1978 he pronounced an irrevocable In my note on the file, I had pointed out that the
talaq (divorce), taking the defence that hence Shah representations received were primarily from the
and they will go back to their Bano had ceased to be his wife and therefore he was clergy and seemed to arise from an apprehension
barracks. After all, the secu- under no obligation to provide maintenance for her that the ascendancy granted to them by the 1937
except as prescribed under the Islamic law, which Act in matters concerning social relations amongst
rity apprehensions are there. was her mehr, promised on marriage, Rs.5,400 in all. Muslims was under threat. And indeed the law does
While courts at different levels directed payment of state in Section 2 that in matters concerning in-
Moreover, more signs of fatigue different sums, all a mere pittance, holding that Sec- testate succession, special property of females,
over the prolonged shutdown tion 125 of the CrPC applies to Muslims, in 1980 Khan including personal property inherited or obtained
took the matter in appeal before the Supreme Court under contract or gift or any other provision of
in the Valley are witnessed as claiming that Shah Bano was no more his responsibil- Personal Law, marriage, dissolution of marriage,
more vehicles have started ply- ity because he had a second marriage, which was including talaq, ila, zihar, lian, khula and mubaraat,
permissible under Islamic law. maintenance, dower, guardianship, gifts, trusts and
ing on roads and shops in inte- The Supreme Court of India in a two-judge trust properties, and wakfs (other than charities
Bench of Justices Murtaza Fazal Ali and A. Varada- and charitable institutions and charitable and re-
rior areas opened in defiance rajan who first heard the matter held in light of ligious endowments) the rule of decision in cases
of the separatist call for strike. the earlier decisions of the court that Section 125 where the parties are Muslims shall be the Muslim
of the CrPC did indeed apply to Muslims, referred Personal Law. But I advised that the apex court had
This is a good development as Khans appeal to a larger Bench. Some Muslim arrived at its decision after due reference to the pro-
Valleys economy has been very quasi-religious bodies, namely the All India Muslim visions of the Koran. The government must respect
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema- the supreme character of that court and even if the
much crippled. Now, lets hope e-Hind, joined the case as intervener. arguments of the clergy in the matter are well found-
The matter was then heard by a five-judge Bench ed, it is for the court to judge on their application, not
the normalcy returns at the chaired by Chief Justice Y.V. Chandrachud and com- the government and not the clergy. I suggested that
earliest and Valley resumes its prising Justices Ranganath Mishra, D.A. Desai, O. a reply go to each of the petitions advising that the
Chinnappa Reddy and E.S. Venkataramiah. In a petitioners seek a review by the Supreme Court. The
life after the suffocating months unanimous decision of April 23, 1985 in Mohammed most that the government might do in this regard is
of enforced shutdowns. It only Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum and Ors. (1985 to agree not to contest the review.
SCR (3) 844), the Supreme Court dismissed Khans
needs a little wait. appeal and confirmed the judgment of the high Wajahat Habibullah, a retired civil servant,
court. It held unequivocally that there is no conflict has served as Chief Information Commissioner
between the provisions of Section 125 and those and Chairperson of the National Commission
of the Muslim Personal Law on the question of the for Minorities.
KashmirPen
THURSDAY | 20-October-2016
ART & CULTURE 05
GHULAM AHMAD
MEHJOOR (1885-1952)
M
ahjoor best known miri literature came to an end. Mahjoor Come, O Gardener - Poem by
as the Wordsworth has a place of honor among the poets
of Kashmir was un- of Kashmir. He is especially noted for Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor
doubtedly the great- two things. First, he introduced a new Come, O Gardener!
est and the most style into Kashmiri poetry. Second, he Come to create the glory of a new spring.
popular poet of Kashmir. Lived in the introduced a new thought into Kash- A spring in which
Kashmir valley in an era of bloodshed miri poetry. Mahjoor wrote poems of the gul will bloom,
and partition, his work was acknowl- freedom and progress in Kashmiri. These the bulbul will sing.
edged by his contemporaries, Rabin- songs awakened the sleeping Kashmiris. The garden is desolate;
dranath Tagore and Iqbal. With the death He came with a new voice and a new the dew is mourning.
of this popular romantic poet in the (literary) form. And the gul in torn robes
year 1952, the romantic era of Kash- His real name is Peerzada Ghulam looks perplexed.
Ahmad, born in Kashmir in the year Come, O Gardener!
1885 in Metragam, he adopted the pen To rekindle the gul
name 'Mahjoor'. To rejuvenate the bulbul.
His father was a scholar of Persian Come, O Gardener!
language. His village Mitrigam belonged Weed out the nettle from the flower-beds
O Saffron Flower! Sitting In Silent to Srinagar district. Once he happened
to visit the poet Shibli Namani at Pun-
And look at row after row of hyacinth,
Come and make a smiling garden.
J.M.RAY
The inner quest to be close to the mountains was one reason, besides the
hand of God, which resulted in not just a long stay in Kashmir, but also in
shaping the destiny of many young boys. Turning them into examples. John
Mead Ray, the former Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School, Srinagar,
Kashmir, is one person who can still bring out the spirit of the Biscoe Boys.
This became very evident during his visit in late 2012.
L
ast year, during his visit to over by some developers, the fences which was also the main building of the
Kashmir, as usual, he did particularly at Lal Chowk side were school. We were kind of shattered, but
not disappoint us and re- crumbling. One or two very slight intru- some of our Kashmiri friends told us that
membered his journey to sions were there, which we managed if your house burns down you build a
Kashmir. Some extracts because of the reputation of the school higher and a stronger house.
from a long conversation and old Biscoe boys, who were in theright This was counted as an accident and
of him with Rajesh Prothi. official positions. If my memory serves the insurance money helped us to build
me well , about nine heads of government a much stronger and higher building.
Q. You continue to be in the minds departments were Biscoe boys.
of all those who have been part of the Q. What was your biggest chal-
Tyndale Biscoe School. How did your Q. What are your happiest mem- lenge in the school?
association with this school and Kashmir ories of the school and Kashmir?qna31- JM Ray:The biggest challenge was to
happen? 12-2012-pic2 maintain the quality across all the ac-
JM Ray: To answer your question, I JM Ray: If you talk about the happiest tivities of the school. The best of the
will have to go much in the past and talk memories, we have over two decades to school boys would go beyond the call of
about my fascination with anything to talk about. Our children were born here duty and would put in an extra effort in
do with mountains. I was in one of the in Kashmir. We developed very healthy all they did. By the late 1960s and early
well known schools of Scotland, where relations with so many people from this 1970s, for the former school boys there
both mountaineering and seamanship place. Each year, we experienced Kash- were getting many professional oppor-
were a part of the curriculum. I was fas- mir at different locations when we used lenge. The spoken language was Kash- tunities. This started creating staffing
cinated by mountaineering and had hoped to go for the annual school camping trips. miri, the State language was Urdu, the issues for the school. We started taking
to experience the Himalayas. Destiny Each year, before the annual swimming National language was Hindi and beyond teachers from government schools and
took me to the Lawrence College, Ghora event, praying to God for the safety of that English was also part of the whole colleges. Master Amarnath and Master
Gali in Pakistan, where I worked as a the boys attempting a Dal Cross. While process it was a quite a task for the Kashinath took the burden of training
Senior House Master. My tenure there swimming across the Dal, Kulchas (a educationists. them so as to meet the standards of our
did not take me to the mountains as I variety of Kashmiri bread) was thrown There were two or three English me- school. The other challenge was the lo-
wanted. across to them so they could have the dium schools, DAV School being one of cation of the school. Being the middle of
During the late 1950s, I came across regular source of energy. Cross country them. However, ours was the only one Lal Chowk, we had to keep track of the
Dr.Phil Edmonds, a great educationist run, there are just so many happy mo- which had a right balance between aca- ongoing activities in and around this
of his time, who was also Principal of ments to talk about. I dont think there demics and outdoor activities. The vis- area, which at times resulted in strikes
Tyndale Biscoe School between 1945 is any school in the world with such a ible change in the education came about or hartals. But generally speaking, we
and 1955, he asked me if this school would range of activities, besides, maybe some during the time of Chief Minsiter Sadiq, enjoyed great cooperation from all.
interest me. The school attracted me very expensive school in Switzerland again an old school boy, when a serious
because of its outdoor activities, boating, if any. These were regular high points effort was made to increase the quality Source : www.thecherrytree.in
swimming, social service, mountaineer- for me. of the education in the State.
ing, besides the challenge which was I remember that the Government
awaiting me. During the same time I Q. What was the state of education College for Women was doing outstand-
met my wife. She was doctoring in a in Kashmir in the 1960s? ing work under the supervision of Ms
rural hospital, we got married in 1961 JM Ray: When I came to Kashmir, I Mehmoodh Ahmad Ali Shah, a former
and by August 1962 I was here in Kash- observed that the framework for free Ms Mellsion School student, was pioneer-
mir. education was already there. The local ing good quality education.
colleges which were earlier part of Pun-
Q. What initial challenges did you jab University were in quite a good order. Q. Any anecdote you remember
face when in Kashmir at School? The challenge however, was different. from the days gone by?
JM Ray: Oh! The first which I noticed Having a universal education across JM Ray: In 1965, we had a rather
was that the school was ready for a take- Kashmir would have been a huge chal- mysterious fire in the roadside building,
KashmirPen THURSDAY | 20-October-2016
SOCIETY 08
A Mysterious Girl
? ? Mohammad Aleem invited in the morning.
Shecouldnotholdherbreath.Howcould
CHAPTERTHREE: it happen? A man so pious and so close to
HusnBano was also sleeping in her room, alone. the king, could do such heinous act? She
Note: This is a story about a brave Suddenly, she opened her eyes with some disturbing asked to herself in sheer bewilderment.
girl, HusnBano. She is the only daughter commotion outside of her room. She frightfully ran When the thieves went away, she
of a rich merchant. Suddenly, her father gathered her strength and courage and
falls ill and dies. She loses all interest of
towards the window to look outside. She also feared opened the door to make her servants
living a life. But her wise maidservant for her own safety. But where were the servants and and guards awake.
saves her from falling in such harm. She guards of the mansion? She asked to herself. Who It was a great shock of her life to find
instigates her interest in life and finally that all men who were employed to guard
says to her that you can also find a worth were these intruders? and secure the mansion from every out-
preserving purpose of life with a dy- side threat and intruders were still fast
namic life partner. asleep as they were drugged. She tried
Her quest to finding a life partner of to make them awake by sprinkling wa-
her choice starts and she coins a strange ter. But, it did not help either.
way to achieve that goal. It was a moonlit night and all men who own safety, she pulled her feet back and She found out that all were given
When night approached, it was as were walking stealthily on the grass had did not dare to open the door. some kinds of intoxicant. The remnants
usual for them. The servants were so worn black hood to cover their faces. It all went for half an hour. The intrud- of such sweets were still there in pack-
tired of the days work; they even did She shrieked in fear and cried for ers entered the rooms where they could ets scattered around them.
not remember to put locks on the doors. help. But, there was none who could hear find their way easily and stole the goods It now became pretty much clear
HusnBano was also sleeping in her her, because, no one was in a position to and other valuable things on which they that she was robbed and it was done in
room, alone. Suddenly, she opened her do that. could lay their hands on. a much planned way.
eyes with some disturbing commotion She kept looking outside to gauge When they were decamping with
outside of her room. She frightfully ran the movements of the intruders. Who the stolen things, suddenly, one fellow Mohammad Aleem is the writer of
towards the window to look outside. could they be? How on earth they could among them fell on the ground. Perhaps, four children books, The Rainy Day,
She also feared for her own safety. But come inside? She said to herself in utter his feet got hit by a stone in the grass. To In Search of Truth, The Unusual Stories
where were the servants and guards of disbelief. her utter surprise and bewilderment, and An Adventurous Bear published
the mansion? She asked to herself. Who She wanted to go outside of her room the man who had fallen on the ground by Magnifera Publications Pvt. Ltd.,
were these intruders? and seek others help. But, for fear of her was the same holy man whom she had New Delhi.
T R AV E L S
Owner, Printer, Publisher and Editor: Mushtaq Ahmad Bala, Legal Advisor : Nazir Ahmad Baba (Advocate), Published from :
Debonair Group, #9, Regal Building, Regal Chowk, Srinagar 190001 Kashmir, Phones & Email : Editorial : 2479202, 2472529 Fax: 0194-2451587
editorkashmirpen@gmail.com, Advertising : Haamid Mushtaq Bala (9906841415), haamidbala@gmail.com, Circulation : Rouf Ahmed,
9419059895, roufahmed008@gmail.com, Title Code: JKENG01219, Layout Designer: Glacier Graphics (+91-9419063021)