The Power Fiasco in Kashmir

The “unscheduled cuts”, is a word you hear every now and then these
days. The common man tries to explore every avenue to make the
authorities accountable for it. The authorities on other hand put
blame on people and a typical answer goes like,'' We are ready to
provide 24*7 power supply provided they do cooperate with us. We
request them to not use heaters, lights during peak hours”. The peak
load time they mention is around evening. They forget something about
the time. It is time when the ferocious Chilakalaan shows its might.
When coldness starts to sink in the bones, the common man does put his
best to give a befitting reply to Chilakalaan. Every heating
instrument becomes pot in the storm. But alas, it becomes peak hour
and a common Kashmiri is again left at the mercy of nature.

The problems surrounding common man are multifarious. His incapability
to have other sources of energy, the turmoil in economy due to unrest
and non-availability of conventional sources like wood ( thanks to
sustainable development),  force him to not abide what are called
terms and conditions in the contract with power supplying agency. He
becomes a self-proclaimed out law and resorts to power theft, in
Kashmiri called power choor.

Is this something unique in Kashmiri people or are there the
conditions that force him to go for power theft. Let we be pragmatic.
The people in developed are mostly law abiding, not because it is in
their genes, but the service they obtain are affordable for them.
Their Purchasing capacity is too high. If the people will use the
electricity as per dictated terms and conditions, it will take away
major junk of their income.  Seeing in this way, it would be right to
assume that Government irrespective of the party they belong to is
pushing the people to wall- the power theft. Here avenues of job are
least and in regard to obtaining taxes, we are front runners. It is
painful also to see that while the common citizen of India in form of
Kashmiri does suffer from power deficiency, the India as whole does
export the power to other nations like Bangladesh, Myanmar. It is even
more painful that even in such power deficit condition, the power from
is exported from Jammu and Kashmir to other states, in fact to better
developed states.

The role of Government or its agencies is beyond terms and conditions
of the contract. They have to act as guardians of interest of common
people. Their role is not restricted to making hue and cry in the
assemblies or making grand promises during elections. They are voted
to alleviate the sufferings and do better than what the earlier
government was incapable of. We do have potential to become a state
which can even generate revenue from hydro-electricity. This requires
the mammoth investment and this is where the government has to become
the instrumental. This will make electricity accessible and
affordable. Not only will it increase our power generating capacity,
but it will produce other ripple effects. The projects for development
of electricity will become avenue for employment. Our state is lagging
behind other states in industrial development due to number of
reasons, lack of affordable electricity being one. The availability of
electricity will increase the ease of doing business. Nature is kind
with us for giving us the natural resource which other cherish for. It
is high time that we exploit this renewable energy to maximum level
and make it source of comfort for people .Let the government of people
become government for the people.

THAT POOR LAD

There is much hue and cry about the examination of students. While for
Huriyat it is the tool for Government to oppress the students , and
for the government it is the only mean to avoid the loss of valuable
year. Let us give a pause and think! Has the conditions normalized
that the students are seeking time to fill the void and what if
government went ahead without looking on possible implication.
Possible implication not on the government , but on the fate of the
poor students. The word poor is significant here, for they are the
only group, who are going  to bear the burnt.

IMPLICATION ON POOR STUDENTS
It is not astonishing to see the notices in newspapers these days in
which the private institutions( Where bulk of students are from
affluent families) direct the guardians of the children to complete
the syllabus and remain ready to face examination and here comes fore
the capabilities of poor families. Keep away their capacity to teach
their children, for them even buying books is uneconomical. The fact
that they do not have capacity to comprehend themselves (various
studies have shown their low level of learning) makes them even more
vulnerable. Their government is responsible even for this fact. In
rural areas you can still find the government schools which are not
better than cowsheds. A single room and a single teacher is all that
is needed to makes a school. You ask any 5th grade student a basic
mathematics problem and you will see what it means to get education in
government institutions.

AND THE ULTIMATE WEB OF POVERTY…
For a poor boy, the loss of a year (through failure) can prove
catastrophic. The family cannot bear the event of keeping him/her idle
for one year. It becomes means for that poor lad to ingrain himself in
social evils or more likely become means for the survival of family.
The girl starts to take over the daily chores of house and the boy
comes in aid of his poor ailing father. The single year of failure
seals his future for times to come and destines him to remain poor.
While government is right in claiming the fact that it will be
hazardous to allow the loss of valuable year, but it has not to be
done in the way that it may end academic carrier of someone.

AND- THE WAY OUT…
The examination in March is not feasible for it will impact the
ensuing academic year along keeping the Kashmiri students at
disadvantage in national exams like NEET. But, the statement made by
various credible sources that it is absolute in decision to take
examination in November will prove disastrous. A Balanced view, with
optimism will suggest something else. The government should give
required opportunity to everyone to learn in quantum that will
sufficient to pass. The demand of time is to provide required number
of complete day classes, which may last for ten to twenty day. This
way, the time of examination can be stretched to December. Taking exam
is one thing, but giving examination is another. Even this suggestion
will work if there will some improvement in conditions that have
engulfed the Kashmir. if not, God save the students!

Change that must be cconstant inKASHMIR

 A change kashmir needs

I called my friend, Rashad, to ascertain his well-being and a
heartbroken sound came from there asking me “to do something” for his
safety .His voice was filled with the gloom and a feeling of my
haplessness entrenched in my body. The only thing i could do was that
I made a phone call to the police and earnestly requested them to
provide him the “deserving” help. My friend, like many people, had
made the unfair judgment about the nature of this catastrophe that
took many lives and rendered the lakes homeless. Beforehand, I had
warned him about the gravity of this calamity-though I too had a
feeling that it would pass without creating any havoc. His house owner
had kept his wobbling heart at bay by giving him required amount of
assurance for his “personal safety” and suitability of the place
against such incidents and accidents. So I could not persuade my
friend to leave the place. The end result was he had a narrow escape
and believes his survival a miracle.
Along it, my own house owner preferred to stay in house and “deal”
with the catastrophe. He was not imbecile in keeping his life at
stake, but he thought it judicious to stay in home to save the home
from miscreants. Knowing the fact that it is apt time for the
“socially imbecile” persons to take advantage and loot their
belongings, he kept his sanguine eyes on the raising level of water
hoping that it would retreat its direction. Such an idealistic
optimism made him the victim. My friend, later narrated the same story
about the inability of his house owner`s inability to leave the home.
        Feeling the pain, much proportion of folk did everything to
help the people in the calamity-an act worth of standing applause.
Everyone had a reason to mourn. However, the anti-social elements
tried to make fortunes from the catastrophe. No sooner had the
catastrophe environed the city, the shopkeepers started raising price
at galloping rate, the fares touched sky high and in fact the
essential public services were kept in abeyance. Few boatman had
forced the underdog persons to pay huge amount for the survival, which
on occasions crossed one lakh rupees.
The point worth of stressing here is that the increase in number of
morally degraded and anti-social elements. They are the persons who
are responsible for the sufferings of the commons. The ambience they
are chronologically creating is forced a common man to take irrational
decisions.The need of hour is that we have to become intolerant to
such ant-social acts and take necessary steps to deter them.
Kashmir, a place that has been known for the generous nature of people
is turning from sublime to ridiculous. Materialism is trying
overshadow the altruistic nature of ours. This catastrophe made us
believe that the young folk of this society are not laggards in the
sphere of morality. They have proven that they can become the agents
of change- a change where immorality has no place, a change where
altruism dominate materialism and a change where Kshmiriyat is visible
in every act.

kashmiri idealism-still vague

Accidents will happen.No matter, how much highness a man will achieve
in technology,how much adroit he will become,he would not be able to
annul the natural cruel happenings.The remedy will be to pass through
terrible ordeals instead of prevention, for beyond the power of human
mind lies the power of the creator of that mind.
   It is not spectacular to hear the cries of utter regret when some
catastrophic scene unfolds before us.What is spectacular is to hear
these cries when something jolly good happens at an apropos time.Snow
fall though should have been welcomed, got taunts.From every where the
people became accustomed to say,"Mousum ha lug naar(weather has got
fire)".Though i should not have made big issue of this saying,but this
is one among mammoth sayings and doings that reflect our inner
world.Even more precious than pearls, we want take it away from our
life.We kashmiri people have strange caliber.We want to live life in
the lap of luxury without doing the things that are cardinal to get
luxuries.Nature does not make jumps and this nature of nature is our
adversary.We want to change our environment and not over selves!No
doubt, for some time during snowfall,the life becomes almost
crippled,sufferings add more digits, but it is more panic to see
people have hatred for the thing that is going to aid them in
mammoth.If our ancestors were finding it a job of snug berth to live,
when comfort was only of name.Why are we becoming too frantic and find
it a harsh time.I don't want folk of mine to have a life of aeon old,
but want them to apart themselves from the cynic idealism.Why not to
leave the insularity and come out of boxes.
   Our every sphere of life has been flavored by what i can say
kashmirism.Our political life is full in filthiness.When ever there is
an election manifesto,we are the ardent supporters.We leave no stone
unturned in taking part in elections.The turnout in elections are
enough to prove the number of adherents to India.Aparting from this,
if any separatist leader happens to give a shut-down call, everything
happens in perfection.We are running with the hare and hunting with
the hounds.One old man of my area used to say,"kashir lukh che sawaje
he.yaper tum chu vushan sabzar,tum chu doran tapere! Kashmiri people
are like goats.Whereever they see greenery they flock there!).Yes
apropos, he was!This  nature of duality of kashmiri people have given
a vague principle of uncertainty,and has force even the great leaders
to go between devil and deep blue sea.I wonder about the future of we
kashmiries.
   In economic field, we are not laggards in filthiness.Our palms are
itching.We want jump the queue.Money, The tokens are the alpha and
omega of our life.Our state has got the appellation of being the
second most corrupt state.If you are supposed to have any work in any
government office, in the epoch of today, the apropos way to have it
done in small interval is to grease their(government officers)
palms.Much proportion of our society does not want government
accession to have secured future,but it would provide them access to
become member of affluent society, surely through illicit means.
  In social life, we see such scenes which dazes the mind of a
bystander.we do things to the top of our bents.Social homogeneity has
lost it existence.The hatred for others is enshrined in our
mind.Instead of propping up somebody during the harsh times,we act as
catalysts to his miseries.It is hard to observe the decencies.Kashmir
was once among the states having lowest female infanticide rate.Now it
its rate has shown galling upward direction.
   Among various pollution, thought pollution is considered more
ferocious than other types for it affects every sphere of life, from
  environment to political.Our action rely on our thoughts.Our actions are
speaking louder than my written words.Is this the thought pollution
that has brought an impetus in us to cross every ambit?Surely a big
yes.This thought pollution has made us materialistic enough and forced
us to distrait from the values that are more valuable than any other
affluence.We have not to forget the reason of our origin by having mind
like a sieve.We have to change our mind and the idealism.We have to
apart ourselves from the barbaric hand of our environment environ ed by
anglomania, westernization.Human mind is too narrow  to run the gamut
of power of Almighty and he forgets, Allah does everything for the
bliss of mankind.Even the chilly heavy snow fall has this reason
behind.

THAT POOR LAD

There is much hue and cry about the examination of students. While for
Huriyat it is the tool for Government to oppress the students , and
for the government it is the only mean to avoid the loss of valuable
year. Let us give a pause and think! Has the conditions normalized
that the students are seeking time to fill the void and what if
government went ahead without looking on possible implication.
Possible implication not on the government , but on the fate of the
poor students. The word poor is significant here, for they are the
only group, who are going  to bear the burnt.

IMPLICATION ON POOR STUDENTS
It is not astonishing to see the notices in newspapers these days in
which the private institutions( Where bulk of students are from
affluent families) direct the guardians of the children to complete
the syllabus and remain ready to face examination and here comes fore
the capabilities of poor families. Keep away their capacity to teach
their children, for them even buying books is uneconomical. The fact
that they do not have capacity to comprehend themselves (various
studies have shown their low level of learning) makes them even more
vulnerable. Their government is responsible even for this fact. In
rural areas you can still find the government schools which are not
better than cowsheds. A single room and a single teacher is all that
is needed to makes a school. You ask any 5th grade student a basic
mathematics problem and you will see what it means to get education in
government institutions.

AND THE ULTIMATE WEB OF POVERTY…
For a poor boy, the loss of a year (through failure) can prove
catastrophic. The family cannot bear the event of keeping him/her idle
for one year. It becomes means for that poor lad to ingrain himself in
social evils or more likely become means for the survival of family.
The girl starts to take over the daily chores of house and the boy
comes in aid of his poor ailing father. The single year of failure
seals his future for times to come and destines him to remain poor.
While government is right in claiming the fact that it will be
hazardous to allow the loss of valuable year, but it has not to be
done in the way that it may end academic carrier of someone.

AND- THE WAY OUT…
The examination in March is not feasible for it will impact the
ensuing academic year along keeping the Kashmiri students at
disadvantage in national exams like NEET. But, the statement made by
various credible sources that it is absolute in decision to take
examination in November will prove disastrous. A Balanced view, with
optimism will suggest something else. The government should give
required opportunity to everyone to learn in quantum that will
sufficient to pass. The demand of time is to provide required number
of complete day classes, which may last for ten to twenty day. This
way, the time of examination can be stretched to December. Taking exam
is one thing, but giving examination is another. Even this suggestion
will work if there will some improvement in conditions that have
engulfed the Kashmir. if not, God save the students!

Traffic-The traffic Here in Kashmir, you can find many showy sights, that you hardly see elsewhere.Don't think, I mean they are showy for the perfection, but are known for errors.The traffic system prevailing here, in kashmir, is mind bewildering in every way.The personal employed to maintain traffic are known for taking bribes.For mere few tokens, they will mask themselves with face of inhumanity and hearten you to do everything illicit.All they know is the end of talking money and hardly they care for the means to get it.Thought in exceptions, you will find few upright persons trying to do justice with their job, but the huge filth prevailing here overshadows their faithful attitude.Not is the end here, you can get the license for driving vehicles through illicit means also.This has increased the rate of accidents.For few tokens, they put life of the commons at stake. Leaving authorities aside, the commons of Kashmir create much fuss for themselves.They are the persons who make sarcastic remarks about faults of others, but don't even feel slight amount of embarrassment on doing the echo of same mistakes.Overtaking ,overloading and over-charging are few among many hallmarks of our traffic system.When ever you are away from native place, you make sure that you don't have a look of stranger, else you are going to fell in the trap of illusion.The rural folk feel the heat most of time.The only way to avert any bad scene is to mask yourself the way you find the people there, or the conductor will charge you much more.Always while traveling, it is common to find people exchanging bitter words with conductor.It becomes the mess and the agony when you suppose yourself to enjoy the travel.This is not the end of ordeal that you have to experience while traveling.Overloading has now become the rule than an exception.Two possibilities are always there that you have to encounter.Either you get bashing by passangers standing while you are sitting or you get squeezed by them while you are standing.The driver hardly moves till he make sure that perfect packing has taken place.If you try to become outlaw, in no time you will have to meet the ferocity of the conductor.Some places, here in Kashmir, are known for traffic jamming.H.M.T one among the large has this distinction.Along adding to the discomfort, it is uneconomical as huge fuel is wasted out.On one occasion, while I was heading towards srinagar, I met the painful scene of traffic jamming at H.M.T around 11.30 A.M.At the same place i found the bus of my institute , that was indeed heading towards opposite direction, caught in the same misery.Few students were looking hither and thither and many giving gestures of indolence.I could not apprehend the purpose of modern means of transport as it could not fulfill the purpose of its origin, because of the attitude and the idealism of both the authorities and the commons.It would be better to ascribe this fault much to our public as their selfish attitude for others brings agony for the whole society. There are many means to distance our society from this artificial problem.The foremost change that we have to do is to bring caprice in our idealism.We have to bring veer in our idealism from selfishness to altruism.Our single smile for others would mean we will meet same in millions.The government must also take necessary steps to accommodate the ever increasing demand.With the chronological increasing growth and development, it is must to develop to increase the infrastructure. Irshad Magray is pursuing B.E(Civil-5th sem.)

WHEN LAW BECOMES EXCUSE TO ERR

When law becomes an excuse to err

Saturday, 23 Feb 2013 at 08:55

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Irshad Magray
This is not the first scene, when law saved a barbaric person from getting the deserving punishment, because the law guaranteed him certain rights over others. One of the six convicted in Delhi gang rape case was found to be a juvenile. He will avail this privilege even after being part of a ruthless gang who killed that poor girl brutally. The juvenile even being the most ferocious among six is likely to get least punishment. Perhaps it is the international compulsion that is forcing India to act passively with juveniles.
Here in India, a fourteen year old is mature enough to work but he is treated as juvenile and a child when matter of crime is involved. For the sufferer they are no smaller than monsters. Even the judiciary system sticks their ambit to inert documents (laws). In "rare of the rarest cases", the court can slap capital punishment on the accused. Why can't the juvenile be dealt with more deterrent way in such cases especially when he is about to cross the juvenile age limit. By taking the Delhi rape case as the rare of rarest cases, it would be cruelty on the part of the society to allow these cases not to fall in rare of rarest.
It is an obligation for the common masses to make hue and cry for safeguarding their right of dignity and modesty. This is not the only scene, where law guarantees safety for the accused. Since independence of the Indian sub-continent, there are enough evidences to show that, time and again, the loopholes in laws have been used by astute persons for personal gains and advantages. It was the loophole in the law that helped the big farmers to retain huge farms and make the land redistribution a complete fiasco. In the aftermath, the land-less labours got birth.
In contrast when we look at our counterpart China, they distributed the land among the commons equally and the result has been startling and spectacular. Even being the most populous nation they have done better than India. Irom Sharmila-the iron lady of Manipur has been on hunger strike since November 2000, not because AFSPA (Armed forces "special forces” act), 1958 is there but because of the way it was and is being used. Kashmir too has seen bad side of this act. The commons became sufferers.
In the name of maintaining peace, this law has on several occasions distorted peace and made huge number of people hapless and helpless. The law providing immunity to defense personnel has emboldened them to do every sort of atrocities on common people- making them human shields, killing them in fake encounters, and indulging in gang rapes. The defense personnel should know that this immunity given to them is just to safeguard rights of common people not to abrade them.
Recently, Verma committee repeated the statement of early committees to bring necessary changes in the AFSPA. The prime minister's affirmation for implementing the recommendations of Verma committee has energy enough for the commons of the anarchy rid areas to remain optimistic for future of calmness. Like AFSPA and the Juvenile act, there are many laws that has made life of the commoners gloomy and uncertain. Reviewing and revamping these laws is need of the hour. Serious changes must be brought in the laws that do affect the life of commoners in negative way. Few more committees should be set up for making the law an apt and effectual tool. The government has to become proactive and should act on the impulse and beats of the common people. Sanguine to remain optimistic for these changes-the cataclysm that will persuade the Irom Shirmila to enjoy a good dinner.

The author can be mailed at magray2010@gmail.com