28: Episode 28 | In conversation with Nishita Trisal | "Who gets to speak for Kashmiri Pandits?"

<div>After India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status in August of 2019, Nishita Trisal, a Kashmiri Anthropologist, wrote an op ed titled 'India must stop weaponising the pain of Kashmiri Pandits.' This article went viral overnight which meant that Nishita had a lot of reactions to deal with, and not all reactions were pleasant. But what this article did is broach a conversation which otherwise seemed out of question.<br><br>In this episode of Voices from the Lockdown, we speak to Nishita about why she wrote this article, how it has been for her since August 5 of 2019 and where she sees the Kashmiri Pandit community and their aspirations, after abrogation.</div>

00:23:21

27: Episode 27 | Kashmir's economy, one year since Article 370 revocation

<div>"I am 47 years old and I have never experienced a situation like this in my life. I was around in the 90s, 92s, 96s and 97s. Not just that, even 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 had difficult situations, still tourists used to visit. Since the abrogation of Article 370, we have not seen tourists visiting the valley. The tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir and now, that backbone is broken.” says Yaqub Donoo, a representative from the Houseboat Owners Association of Kashmir. </div><div><br></div><div>This episode of Voices from the Lockdown will attempt to highlight dying tourist revenue and the crumbling economy in the valley, through interviews with various stakeholders from Kashmir. </div><div><br></div><div>In conversation with Firstpost, Kashmiri journalist Quratulain Rehbar explores the debilitating state of the tourist-reliant economy in Kashmir. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries estimated that Kashmir’s economy suffered losses to the tune of ₹40,000 crores since the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A in August of 2019. Since, most businesses have been shut. The worst-hit, according to the KCCI has been the tourism, hospitality, transport and horticulture industries. </div><div><br></div><div>As Qurat points, it's not just one, but all allied industries associated that have suffered as a result of no tourists in the valley. Add to that the lack of government aid and job losses, and there seems to be no respite or resolution for the major and minor business owners. </div><div><br></div><div>"When I spoke to different people across the sectors connected with Tourism, what I could see is that there has been a complete breakdown of an entire ecosystem. I spoke to a ponnywalla in Pahalgam, whose name is Mohammad Shafi. He used to earn his livelihood by ferrying tourists around. But since last year he has not seen a single tourist. Even if he had to find alternative employment, there is nothing available for him. Shopkeepers, shawl sellers, hotels, home-stays, small tea-stall owners and other businesses dependent on tourism are not able to make anything for their living," said Qurat. </div><div><br></div><div>Making matters worse is the inability to operate any businesses online, given the joke of internet speeds in the state. What the people need right now is immediate and effective government intervention and assistive policies to revive what could soon be a completely crippled economy.</div>

00:10:34

26: Episode 26 | Student life in Kashmir after removal of Article 370

<div>"It's better now. We at least have network now, we have 2G," says Quratulain Rehbar, a Kashmiri journalist on how things have become marginally better as compared to the total communication clampdown last year, following revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The reasons cited by the government for abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A included facilitating development of the state. <br><br>This series will attempt to revisit where things stand a year from 'Voices from the Lockdown'.  While the initial podcast was created to facilitate a smooth flow of information from the state under lockdown, episodes to come will attempt to reevaluate things as they stand today. Through the lives of the people in the thick of it all, each episode will explore the different facets of a life lived in constant lockdown, and the impact it has on the community.<br><br>In today's episode, punctuated with opinions from students and teachers, Quratulain Rehbar will help understand the impact the past year has had on  education in Kashmir.</div>

00:14:15

25: Episode 25 | How has the legal system in Jammu and Kashmir changed after October 31?

<div>121 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down</div><div> <br>The August 5th decision of the Indian government to abrogate Article 370 meant that a new political and legal system has been put into place in Kashmir. Does that mean existing laws before October 31st, specific to Kashmir are to be replaced by laws applicable to the rest of the country? How will the new union territory adapt new laws and which are the laws that will be repealed or retained? <br><br> </div><div>We will discuss these questions in detail with Kashmiri Journalist Quratulain Rehbar who has taken a look at the most contentious laws, those which have a dubious history in Kashmir, specifically the Public Safety Act and Armed Forces Special Powers Act. <br><br> </div><div>Included are excerpts from interviews with Advocate Wajid Ahmed where he speaks about how laws before October 31st are being integrated into the new legal system; Advocate Mir Urfi where she speaks about how new laws such as UAPA are being applied in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and with Professor Wani, where he explains the manner in which PSA has been used in Kashmir. <br><br> </div>

00:12:23

24: Episode 24 | What are the long term implications of continuous clampdowns on the lives of Kashmiris? | In conversation with Quratulain Rehbar

<div>120 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down<br><br>Having looked at situation in North Kashmir and South Kashmir, we will take a closer look at Central Kashmir in today's episode. <br><br>The primary focus of this episode though will be to try and understand the long term effects of continuous lockdowns on the people of Kashmir. For decades, Kashmir has been in the middle of violence and clampdowns, each adding up to the existing trauma and angst. The worst to have suffered in the past few years have been victims of pellet firing. Kashmiri journalist Quratulain Rehbar has spoken to many of them, including those who've suffered injuries after August 5. We will listen to their accounts, in addition to the accounts of those who've lost their lives. In a difficult situation are also women who are in different stages of their pregnancy. We will speak to them to understand what they face. <br><br><em>Cover photo: Image of Hiba Jan, 19 months old when this photo was taken. She is the youngest to have been hit by a pellet gun fired by security forces. <br>Source: Basit Zargar. </em> </div>

00:17:26

23: Episode 23 | The government is targeting ethnic Kashmiri Muslims, this is an attempt to erase us, residents of Sopore tell Kashmiri journalist Daanish Bin Nabi

<div>119 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down</div><div> <br>In the final episode on how North Kashmir has responded to the August 5 decision of the Indian government, we speak to Daanish Bin Nabi about the Sopore and Bandipora region. </div><div><br></div><div>In this episode, we speak to residents of Sopore who opine that their region is witnessing unprecedented civil disobedience due to the abrogation of Article 370. Before this, Sopore was the only region in Kashmir which was largely unaffected by militancy. But through our conversations, especially with students, we unearth that a deep rooted fear has emerged across Sopore. Included are excerpts of interviews with residents of Sopore. </div>

00:15:03

22: Episode 22 | North Kashmir's Kupwara witnesses unprecedented 3 month lockdown | In conversation with Daanish Bin Nabi

<div>116 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down</div><div> <br>In this segment of Voices from the Lockdown, where we are focussing on the situation in North Kashmir, we will speak to Daanish Bin Nabi about where things stand in the District of Kupwara. </div><div> </div><div>Kupwara is a District which used to be at the centre of militant activity for the longest time. Similar to what happened in Baramulla, which we discussed at length yesterday, the District was heavily militarised after the 1990’s. Following this, Kupwara remained distant from what was happening in other parts of rest of Kashmir. For the first time in years, Kupwara witnessed a complete shutdown for three months after the Indian government’s August 5 decision to abrogate Article 370. </div><div> </div><div>In this episode, we will also playback interviews with residents of Kupwara about how they view this unprecedented shutdown in Kupwara. One of them, a student who wishes to remain anonymous, talks to us about how her trust in regional parties stand vitiated.</div>

00:14:26

21: Episode 21 | Dispatches from North Kashmir | Residents of Uri convey dismay and fear | Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs of Baramulla speak their mind

<div>115 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down<br><br>In the last two episodes, we’ve discussed South Kashmir in detail. In today’s episode and in the episodes to come, we will be looking at the situation in the various districts of North Kashmir. We will be speaking to Kashmiri journalist Daanish bin Nabi, who has travelled through North Kashmir after Jammu and Kashmir state was converted to a Union Territory. </div><div> </div><div>In this episode, we will be speaking to two minority communities of Baramulla - the Kashmiri Pandits and the Sikhs. Included are excerpts from interviews with a Kashmiri Pandit teacher, who chose to remain unidentified and Dr. Tara Singh, a Professor and the President of the Gurudwara Committee of Baramulla. </div><div> </div><div>North Kashmir is also where militancy started. Over the years, the region was heavily militarised and has been witness to many deaths. Daanish speaks about how militancy, which saw a dip after 2005, has started to slowly re-emerge.</div><div> </div><div>Lastly, we also travelled to the border town of Uri, where locals fear expressing any kind of opinion, in the fear that they will face repression from the Indian Army. Daanish managed to speak to some of them anonymously, and he tells us what they think about the months that have gone by, after August 5. Included are excerpts from interviews with residents of Uri. </div>

00:17:13

20: Episode 20 | "Identity crisis in the Valley after Aug 5, India's policy to catch and kill young militants will backfire, crucial that youth are taken into confidence" | In conversation with Kaiser Andrabi

<div>114 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down<br><br>In yesterday's episode, we spoke with Kaiser Andrabi about the situation in South Kashmir. We listened to interviews with families of those who've joined militant ranks. We also looked at the manner in which militancy is taking shape in Kashmir in the aftermath of August 5. <br><br>In today's episode, we will continue our conversation with Kaiser where he speaks about how the youth of Anantnag and Shopian are going through an 'identity crisis' because of the abrogation of Article 370. This, he says, is creating a sense of alienation among them. Adding to this is the approach of the Indian government to 'catch and kill' young, educated militants. <br><br>The consensus among those Kaiser spoke to in South Kashmir is that till the Indian government engages with the youth of Kashmir, things are bound to further spiral out of control. <br><br>Included are excerpts of interviews with families of active and slain militants from South Kashmir. </div>

00:13:41

19: Episode 19 | Districts of South Kashmir worst affected, militancy on the edge | In conversation with Kaiser Andrabi

<div>113 days of communication blockade since August 5, postpaid mobile services restored, internet and prepaid mobile services still down</div><div> <br>The Indian government announced on August 5 that Article 370 and Article 35 A will stand revoked as on October 31st. By then, more than one and a half lakh troops had been moved into the Valley. Kashmir witnessed a complete shut down in the weeks to follow.<br><br>On October 31st, the State of Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status and was converted into two Union Territory's - Ladakh and Jammu Kashmir. It has been close to four weeks since this happened.<br><br>Starting from today, we will be taking a closer look at where things stand in very District of Kashmir. In today's episode, we will be speaking to Kashmiri journalist Kaiser Andrabi who has traveled across South Kashmir since the Jammu and Kashmir ceased to be a State. <br><br>Included are excerpts of interviews conducted with families of active militants in South Kashmir. <br><br> </div>

00:17:00