Friday, June 18, 2010

Mother stood by him all the way
Mudasir Majeed Peer
Dr. Shah Faisal a name which resonates in every ear these days, has also brought immense pride to the people of Kashmir. Dr. Shah Faisal is a Kashmiri who hails from the Lolab area of Kupwara district. He emerged as the first Kashmiri who topped India’s toughest UPSC exams and set the path for thousands of youngsters.
Hailing from humble beginnings, Dr. Shah Faisal lost his father late G. H. Rasool Shah, a government teacher at a crucial time in his life. He was better known for calm temperament, superlative vision and unparalleled oration. Faisal’s father was his idol, teacher and mentor. Unfortunately, he had an untimely and a tragic death.
It was the year 2002 when Shah Faisal had to appear in the combined entrance test (CET) as he had a word with his father that he would surely win a seat for MBBS. Prior to year 2002 he had qualified for BDS but his father wanted him to qualify MBBS so he left BDS and started extensive preparations for qualifying MBBS. On the day he had to appear in CET he got to know that his father has been killed.
A complete state of frustration and bewilderment he had to go through. He was left with only two options; either to give up everything, the dreams of his father and to embrace failure or to behave like a stone to overcome the tragic upset. The credit must go to his divine mother who stood like a bed rock. Perhaps no mother can do what she did. On one side was lying the gory corpse of her husband and on the other side she says to her children “do not cry do not cry”.
Her husband’s poignant memories haunting her mind, lacerating her heart so deeply but her unprecedented courage praiseworthy and unmatched. After this tragic incident, she held the fort of family. She always encouraged her children to not give up. She always supported their ideas and plans without a second thought, provided them a special environment which was favorable to their plans. Her support without a second thought to the ideas and plans of her children was only because she knew well that her children had a good guidance of father that is why she never contradicted.
Dr. Shah Faisal achieved this milestone and brought pride to entire Kashmir. Being the victim of conflict he proved that despite the adversities in life a person can do marvels provided he or she is committed towards the goal. He has broken the myth that we Kashmiris lack the exposure or we are getting discriminated or we do not have the talent. Being the student of a government school up to high school level and grown up in a rural area, he proved that success doesn’t see the rural or urban area, government school or private, what it sees is the commitment and dedication towards the goal. Whatever the circumstances be whether good or bad, a person can pursuit his or her goal provided he or she has a good willing and perseverance towards the objective.
Some days back in the month of May I had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Shah Faisal to the district he hails from….. District Kupwara, where he had a warm welcome. He addressed large gatherings. In Government Boys Higher Secondary School Kupwara, he insisted students to make good use of time instead of wasting it in futile activities.
He laid the impetus mostly on vocabulary enhancement. He admitted that vocabulary is the prime remedy to challenge every competition. He advised them to make newspaper-reading a daily habit so that their vocabulary can get enhanced. While his address he revealed a gripping fact. He disclosed that during his secondary education he had a friend whose vocabulary was quite considerable. “I fell in a deep thought that why can’t I build my vocabulary. I bought Long Mann’s English dictionary and sat in a room for complete three months. Due my dedication courage and commitment I crammed every word of dictionary within three month’s spell” Dr. Shah Faisal admitted.
This is called the spirit and passion for achievable goal. Cramming dictionary in a three month’s spell, topping MBBS exam and cracking and topping the most prestigious and toughest UPSC exam that also in first attempt speaks the pitch of knowledge dedication and commitment of Dr. Shah Faisal towards objective.
We, Kashmiris have always been fearful in facing the competitive exams. But now it is the time to come out of fear and do something marvelous. We should take lessons from 28-year old Shah Faisal, who is the best inspiration for every Kashmiri. We should not let our mind work within the purviews of closed room. We should refurbish our mind setup. Our aim should always be to read beyond the syllabi. We should always look for the diversified information instead of specialized information so that our Kashmir can produce quasi Faisals.
(The author is doing graduation in mass communication and multimedia production in Govt Degree College Baramulla and also is cousin of Dr. Shah Faisal. He can be reached at pir.mudasir@gmail.com)

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Quest for justice leads nowhereShare on facebook Share on twitter
Not a penny paid even after CM's assurance





In January 2002, after a three-day operation by the Indian Army, 25 families in Fakirpora-Drugmulla, Kupwara, had to seek alternative housing. The families were hastily told to vacate their homes due to security reasons, and three days later they found their land inaccessible due to army presence. To this day, compensation has only been sought, not granted.


The land that is still under Army belongs to the villagers of Fakirpora, Chanpora, Gund and Matipora. “The army not only took our land (some 62 kanals), but also snatched our only source of livelihood for a helipad and a transit camp for convoys,” says a local.

The residents have not just lost around 62 kanals (eight acres) of land, but also their only source of livelihood.
It was January 2002 when forces from Fakirpora cantonment approached the villagers and told them why they wanted the land. The villagers agreed to negotiate, and set a reasonable price. Ten days later, the villagers say, the army cordoned off the area and announced that anyone seen stepping out of their homes would be shot at.
People didn’t dare venture out for three days and nights, they recalled.

Mohammed Subhan Lone, a villager who has lost about an acre and a half of his land to the army, recalled, “When we emerged from our homes, the army had fenced the land, leveled it and occupied. We couldn’t even recognize our plots. When we protested, we were beaten up by the police. Even our women were not spared.”

The locals used to cultivate paddy before the army forced themselves upon their land. They lost their only source of livelihood. The police stayed stoic and refused to file a report, the villagers said. Even the district administration chose to ignore their pleas. Lone added, “All this was done under the watchful eye of the then deputy commissioner of Kupwara.
Even now, our demands are being ignored.”

Back then, Lone and 24 others went to the chief minister’s office to complain. Despite his assurances regarding compensation, nothing happened. Now, the villagers are demanding compensation as per the present market rates along with a rent that spans over seven years.


Initially, in 2002, it was decided that the cost for leasing the land would be Rs 200 per kanal, annually. Currently, the amount has shot up to Rs 3,200.

No justice in sight

Kashmir Dispatch asked MLA (Kupwara) Mir Saifullha why he wasn’t raising questions about this case in the Legislative Assembly. Saifullha replied, “I have tried to address this problem but there has been no action from the government. It’s about time the government does something for them.”


Last July, a group of victims, headed by M. Subhan Lone visited CM Omer Abdullah’s residence to ask for compensation. Again, they were given assurances that their demands would be met soon. Again, they were let down.

Eight months have passed since that meeting but compensation is nowhere in sight. “One day, the officials tell us our documents have been received by the Central government and a decision will be taken soon.
The next time, we are told that our documents have gone missing,” lamented Lone.

The villagers then filed a law suit in the High Court, asking for a stay on the construction activities. Soon, they ran out of funds and had to let go of their only shot at justice.

As per the current rates, the land in question costs about Rs 10 lakh per kanal. “The government is trying to purchase the land at the price of Rs one or two lakhs per kanal as per our inside information. We are not going to accept it at any cost.”
The Army PRO (Kupwara) is currently on leave and was unable to comment. But Army PRO (Srinagar) Colonel Brar, when asked about this case, said he had no knowledge of it.

When Kashmir Dispatch spoke to Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) Showket Ahmad Mir, he said that he had no information about this matter and passed the buck on to assistant collector (land).
Quest for justice leads nowhereShare on facebook Share on twitter
Not a penny paid even after CM's assurance





In January 2002, after a three-day operation by the Indian Army, 25 families in Fakirpora-Drugmulla, Kupwara, had to seek alternative housing. The families were hastily told to vacate their homes due to security reasons, and three days later they found their land inaccessible due to army presence. To this day, compensation has only been sought, not granted.


The land that is still under Army belongs to the villagers of Fakirpora, Chanpora, Gund and Matipora. “The army not only took our land (some 62 kanals), but also snatched our only source of livelihood for a helipad and a transit camp for convoys,” says a local.

The residents have not just lost around 62 kanals (eight acres) of land, but also their only source of livelihood.
It was January 2002 when forces from Fakirpora cantonment approached the villagers and told them why they wanted the land. The villagers agreed to negotiate, and set a reasonable price. Ten days later, the villagers say, the army cordoned off the area and announced that anyone seen stepping out of their homes would be shot at.
People didn’t dare venture out for three days and nights, they recalled.

Mohammed Subhan Lone, a villager who has lost about an acre and a half of his land to the army, recalled, “When we emerged from our homes, the army had fenced the land, leveled it and occupied. We couldn’t even recognize our plots. When we protested, we were beaten up by the police. Even our women were not spared.”

The locals used to cultivate paddy before the army forced themselves upon their land. They lost their only source of livelihood. The police stayed stoic and refused to file a report, the villagers said. Even the district administration chose to ignore their pleas. Lone added, “All this was done under the watchful eye of the then deputy commissioner of Kupwara.
Even now, our demands are being ignored.”

Back then, Lone and 24 others went to the chief minister’s office to complain. Despite his assurances regarding compensation, nothing happened. Now, the villagers are demanding compensation as per the present market rates along with a rent that spans over seven years.


Initially, in 2002, it was decided that the cost for leasing the land would be Rs 200 per kanal, annually. Currently, the amount has shot up to Rs 3,200.

No justice in sight

Kashmir Dispatch asked MLA (Kupwara) Mir Saifullha why he wasn’t raising questions about this case in the Legislative Assembly. Saifullha replied, “I have tried to address this problem but there has been no action from the government. It’s about time the government does something for them.”


Last July, a group of victims, headed by M. Subhan Lone visited CM Omer Abdullah’s residence to ask for compensation. Again, they were given assurances that their demands would be met soon. Again, they were let down.

Eight months have passed since that meeting but compensation is nowhere in sight. “One day, the officials tell us our documents have been received by the Central government and a decision will be taken soon.
The next time, we are told that our documents have gone missing,” lamented Lone.

The villagers then filed a law suit in the High Court, asking for a stay on the construction activities. Soon, they ran out of funds and had to let go of their only shot at justice.

As per the current rates, the land in question costs about Rs 10 lakh per kanal. “The government is trying to purchase the land at the price of Rs one or two lakhs per kanal as per our inside information. We are not going to accept it at any cost.”
The Army PRO (Kupwara) is currently on leave and was unable to comment. But Army PRO (Srinagar) Colonel Brar, when asked about this case, said he had no knowledge of it.

When Kashmir Dispatch spoke to Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) Showket Ahmad Mir, he said that he had no information about this matter and passed the buck on to assistant collector (land).