My best friend and I shared a smoke today at the Central Park in New York. We’ve been girlfriends for more than two years now, but didn’t know that we both like an occasional “I am feeling a deep connection right now” smoke. She said it’s like having sex. We both laughed at it.
Online Dating Changing Old Matchmaking Norms in Kashmir
It was a pleasant surprise when a Kashmiri female friend told me youngsters like her were using Bumble for online dating in Kashmir. I first came across Bumble when it recently came in news for its women-centric approach, in which women make the first move. If two profiles match, it is up to the woman to decide whether to chat or not to chat. Online dating, to me, was a Western idea. However, to learn it is useful in Kashmir, is an ahaa moment for me, in a good way.
One’s Terrorist, Another’s Freedom Fighter
A February 27, 2022 tweet by Khalid Beydoun after Russia invaded Ukraine. Of course what’s happening in all these regions, mentioned in the tweet above, is heartbreaking. But, what’s it about Ukraine that is different from the other regions mentioned in this tweet? In other words, why are Ukrainians “freedom fighters” and others “terrorists?” To… Continue reading One’s Terrorist, Another’s Freedom Fighter
Ethics in Research
A screenshot of a recent story by Outlook on author Saiba Varma’s controversial book, The Occupied Clinic. Dr. Varma, an anthropologist who recently published a book, The Occupied Clinic, on militarization of health care in Kashmir, revealing enormous mental health trauma due to the militarization in Kashmir. Many anthropological scholars have pointed out that her… Continue reading Ethics in Research
Book: Infidel
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the author of ‘Infidel’ was named the “most influential people in the world today” by TIME magazine in April 2005. She has death threats issued against her, but the magazine categorized her in influential “Leaders and Revolutionaries.” What makes her influential is her ideas that make her a controversial political figure. She was born in Somalia, was raised as a Muslim, and spent her childhood in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. She is now Dutch-American. She was a member of Parliament in Holland. She now runs a non-profit, which is named after her: The AHA Foundation. She is controversial because she asks the most difficult questions in today’s world.
Kashmiri Women and Mental Health
Kashmiri women coming together as a community to help each other Because of the protracted conflict, patriarchy, violence and extremism in Kashmir, Kashmiri women have been suffering from a silent mental health crisis. So, let's talk about it and do Kathshath | Talkshawlk. Watch this less than three minute powtoon. https://www.powtoon.com/c/ecbdUQWK5J0/1/m
Article 370 had nothing to do with whom Kashmiri girls married
This commentary originally appeared in Kashmir Times. It is in response to a piece published in The Sunday Guardian on December 27,2020, written by Preeti Sompura. The writer seeks to present the misconception that the now abrogated Article 370 of the constitution of India banned Kashmiri girls from marrying non-Kashmiris. To this end, the writer narrates a story that cannot be true.
Book: Frankenstein in Baghdad
This book made me think about the different tales and narratives that exist in Kashmir. Although Kashmir is not a war zone like Iraq, it has been a conflict-stricken zone for the last 73 years now. Elliot Ackerman, National Book Award finalist for Dark at the Crossing confirms how the story is relevant to any war or a conflict stricken zone. They write, it is “[o]ne of the most essential books to come out of the Iraq War, or any war.”
Has the Year-Long Internet Shutdown in Kashmir Been Worth It?
This piece originally appeared in Columbia Public Policy Review. Being a conflict zone, plenty of things need to be set right in Kashmir, but perhaps the urgently needed measure is to prevent further humanitarian losses which are likely to have long-term effects. Restoration of full speed internet in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir should be prioritized. It might induce a certain level of routine-normalcy in the scathed lives of people in the state. It will also allow relief in accessing other impaired basic services such as education and health care among others.
Kashmir Commentary 