[Reader-list] Back home, I feel reborn

Mon Sep 29 10:30:16 IST 2008

Pt.Bhajan Sopori,a noted musician of our nation was stripped to be checked
at NY.
I because of my passport was interrogated for several hours at Vienna.Only
after a thorough check with my office at Geneva,I was let off.In Pt.Sopori's
case it needed Indian Consulate to intervene.

Am I and Bhajan Sopori to hold it aganist the authorities of US and Austria
for doing their job of protecting their respective nations.
Making frenzy and creating stories of discrimination on routine checks that
the Police would carry is simply not on.Sajjad was released after the Police
found him innocent.

I have myself been beaten badly by Police for protesting aginst Yasin
Malik,a known ex-terrorist.Wasnt then it a case of reverse discrimination.
Malik Sajjad was seeing pictures(for his presentation) on net which made the
owner suspicious,so he called Police.After routine questioning he was let
off.
Why make such a fuss of the whole thing unless you want a tear of out of
your audience?

Rashneek

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>wrote:

> Dear Aditya,
> Wonderfully put, and there are many areas that I agree with you.
>
> Rgds, Partha
> ...............
>
> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 7:57 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Dear Aarti ji,
> >
> >     I thought of not replying to this e-mail by you; but then you
> wouldn't
> > have known the truth. Yes, of course even I felt sad to react to such a
> > fictitious story. I simply wouldn't have commented; if he had genuine
> > concerns and it wasn't exaggerated out of bounds.
> >
> > Yes, I along with my friends have been arrested quite a few times and for
> > the right reasons. Please note that Malik Sajad wasn't arrested, he was
> > detained (though even this would be a strong term to use). With Sajad's
> > post, I feel assured at least the Delhi Police has woken up from its deep
> > slumber and is tough.
> >
> > I've been reading newspapers, Yes, and I know how to extract truth out of
> > those fake media reports especially from Kashmir based newspapers such as
> > Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir and Etlaat. Maybe, you are unaware of the
> > terrorism and the ground reality in Kashmir. And, how often the locals in
> > the valley shield the terrorists quite willingly. Also, you don't know
> how
> > Kashmiri Muslim youth crossed the border to PoK to get trained in arms
> and
> > then spread their tirade in the valley and now across India.
> >
> > You are unaware, of how disinformation campaign is launched by people
> like
> > Malik Sajad to hypnotise the Indian masses; especially the youth to
> gather
> > support for their pan-Islamic movement.
> >
> > I'm sad at what Malik Sajad had to face (if true) and am equally sad at
> his
> > attempt to make it sound so tragic, emotional and dramatic. He was happy
> > all
> > through the Film Festival, I noticed that as a silent observer. He could
> > have been seen clicking pics with PSBT friends and even talking to
> > participants and even journalists freely. I could sense his childish
> > attitude but well chiseled brain-washing; when I heard of his drama
> during
> > the discussion on Kashmir at IHC.
> >
> > Aarti, I was 9 months old when Islamic terrorists forced my family to get
> > out of our homeland in Kashmir on gun point. My entire house was later
> > burnt
> > down to ashes; just because my great grand-father was the first
> > ornithologist of Asia, also a scholar on Kashmir Shaivism and had as well
> > maintained a good library and a mini-museum. The entire thing was burnt
> > within a few hours. When I mentioned this late last year on my blog and
> > compared it with the so-called demand for aazadi in Kashmir by some
> > brain-less terrorists; my blog was hacked along with my e-mail id. This
> is
> > how you suffer. I've stayed in a camp along with lakhs of other Pandits
> in
> > summer heat of Jammu. There was no Aarti Sethi to speak for me; neither
> was
> > there a Malik Sajad to lend a helping hand. Instead his community was a
> > mute
> > spectator; it felt they were part of this agenda, this game plan, to oust
> > the minority Pandits.
> >
> > In the past, on many occasions I've stood against injustice at the cost
> of
> > my life; and through the justice delivery mechanism in India, and the
> > support of the masses and even the media, Justice was finally restored
> > after
> > a long and tiring battle. The list members here know of it well.
> > Unfortunately, in regard to Kashmir; in reality its different and the
> > picture portrayed is far from true. Only in present Kashmir can a bloody
> > terrorist become a youth icon.
> >
> > A couple of years back, I was even threatned by a reputed journalist for
> > protesting against this demon Youth Icon, Yasin Malik. And, they say he
> is
> > Gandhi..
> >
> > Why don't Malik Sajad's cartoon's also raise voice against the demons in
> > his
> > own community, responsible for the terrorism in the valley ?
> >
> > I don't acknowledge fake portrayal of injustice. I won't ever.
> >
> > And, there is a life beyond online world. I've seen it on ground. I don't
> > have sympathy for terrorists or their supporters. I don't want to support
> > them just for the world to know that I'm secular to the core. I'll rather
> > happily spit at them and not stop speaking against their lies at each and
> > every possible platform.
> >
> > Regards
> > Aditya Raj Kaul
> >
> >
> > On 9/28/08, Aarti Sethi <aarti.sethi at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I think its really sad to react to a story like this in the manner that
> > the
> > > two of you are. Have either of your ever been arrested by the police
> for
> > > anything? I presume not. I honestly cannot think of anything more
> > > frightening than to be under the power of the state when they might
> > invoke
> > > anything against you including the NSA. I don't think there is any
> cause
> > to
> > > celebrate police harassment or be skeptical of it. Have you not been
> > > reading
> > > the papers over the last 5 years Aditya? You consider yourself such a
> > > well-informed and intelligent person. Here are just  four reports of
> > > Kashmiri muslim boys shot in "encounters". Spend a little more time
> > online
> > > and many more will surface.
> > >
> > > How come at such a young age all humanity has been leached from you
> > Aditya?
> > > I find it quite astonishing and deeply saddening that you measure all
> > human
> > > beings and experience and human worth in the prism of whether it
> extends
> > > your agenda or not. This apparently makes it completely impossible for
> > you
> > > acknowledge that there might be some truth and value to the expereince
> of
> > > other human beings qua human beings.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > Aarti
> > >
> > > On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 6:22 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <
> kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com
> > > >wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Malik Sajad certainly is a good cartoonist. Very good art-work.
> Content
> > > > sometimes very hackneyed.
> > > >
> > > > I am not discounting that some sort of an unfortunate incident took
> > place
> > > > that involved Malik Sajad being harassed by a policewoman or being
> > > > treated with suspicion at the cyber cafe. I would not expect him to
> be
> > a
> > > > blatant liar. It is sad, whatever be the degree, that any such
> incident
> > > has
> > > > to take place.
> > > >
> > > > A few interesting/intriguing things though in his dramatic narrative.
> > > >
> > > > - Habitat Centre could not provide him Internet access. Possible.
> > > >
> > > > - A cyber-cafe would, in advance of Internet access ask for
> > > identification
> > > > from a complete stranger and not wait till the "owner of the cafe"
>  had
> > > > "peered over his shoulders" and checked what he was doing. I could be
> > > wrong
> > > > about this.
> > > >
> > > > - The surprisingly efficiently prompt Delhi Police arrived "within
> five
> > > > minutes" of being summoned to the cyber-cafe from a PCO. Interesting.
> > > >
> > > > - Malik had his mobile phone with him. Looks like, inspite of the
> > "within
> > > > five minutes" arrival of Delhi Police, he had enough time to make a
> few
> > > > calls including one to the "Director of the Film Festival". Why didnt
> > he?
> > > > That would have avoided his having to shout "Somebody please go to
> the
> > > > habitat centre and tell them the artist whose installation is there
> has
> > > been
> > > > arrested!" while he was being "dragged" to the Police Station.
> > > >
> > > > - The Manager of Habitat Centre asked Malik not to call from his
> > > (Malik's)
> > > > phone (or Email) for a few days. Why no Email? Why couldn't Malik use
> > > some
> > > > other phone to call home or the GK office?
> > > >
> > > > Kshmendra
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- On Sun, 9/28/08, Sanjay Kak <kaksanjay at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: Sanjay Kak <kaksanjay at gmail.com>
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Back home, I feel reborn
> > > > To: "Sarai Reader List" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 4:55 PM
> > > >
> > > > Just a slice of life story for a young Kashmiri...
> > > >
> > > > Malik Sajad is the young–very young–editorial cartoonist of the
> > Srinagar
> > > > paper, the Greater Kashmir. His excellent work can be seen on their
> > > website
> > > > too.
> > > > **
> > > >
> > > > Sanjay Kak
> > > > **
> > > > **
> > > >
> > > > *The GK Cartoonist Malik Sajad Narrates The Experience Of Being A
> > > Kashmiri
> > > > At A Wrong Time In New Delhi.*
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=28_9_2008&ItemID=61&cat=1
> > > >
> > > > I arrived home from Delhi yesterday.  I took a deep breath when I
> laid
> > > eyes
> > > > on the landscapes of the valley.  My mother was waiting for me at
> home.
> > > Her
> > > > face was pale and her eyes were full of tears. My father held me for
> a
> > > long
> > > > time as if I were away for years. My brothers gathered around me as
> if
> > my
> > > > return was unexpected. My mother asked me in a weak voice, "Were you
> > okay
> > > > in
> > > > Delhi?" "Yes," I nodded, "My exhibition had a huge
> > > > response. Everyone
> > > > praised my cartoons and I enjoyed the trip."
> > > > They looked worried and I sought the reason for their worry." They
> > > > replied,
> > > > "Sajad, some policemen in civilian clothes came here to verify some
> > > > information about you while you were in Delhi. You didn't call us for
> > > four
> > > > days. We thought something bad has happened to you. We were all
> > crying."
> > > I
> > > > was surprised. My family already knew what I had tried to keep secret
> > for
> > > > the sake of my mother's health. At home I felt safe again, and I
> > narrate
> > > to
> > > > them the ordeal I went through in New Delhi for being a Kashmiri.
> > > > I was invited by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust to create an
> > > > installation art in the OPEN FRAMES, EXPLORING CONFLICT, an
> > international
> > > > film festival about peace and conflict held at the India Habitat
> > Centre.
> > > > The
> > > > festival began on the 12 September and lasted eight days. My
> > installation
> > > > titled "Terrorism of Peace" featured my cartoons hanging from rolls
> > > > of razor
> > > > wire with some alcohol bottles hanging on the wire, exactly the same
> > way
> > > as
> > > > found around bunkers of troopers on the streets of Srinagar. I put
> some
> > > mud
> > > > and stones on the shiny green marble floor of the Stein Auditorium to
> > > give
> > > > the installation the real feel of Kashmir.
> > > > On Saturday afternoon, the second day of the festival, I drew a
> cartoon
> > > in
> > > > my hotel room for my Sunday Slice column. I took a picture of it with
> > my
> > > > digital camera and headed to a cybercafé about 150 meters from the
> > > habitat
> > > > centre to mail it to Greater Kashmir. After I mailed the cartoon I
> > > visited
> > > > the Greater Kashmir website and my cartoon website. Meanwhile, I
> heard
> > > > another browser seated on a nearby computer chatting over the phone
> > about
> > > > the serial blasts at Connaught Place and Greater Kailash I. Soon
> > everyone
> > > > in
> > > > the café joined in on a discussion about terrorism and the blasts.
> > While
> > > I
> > > > was watching news videos on Greater Kashmir's website, the owner of
> the
> > > > café
> > > > peered over my shoulders to glimpse what I was looking at. Soon the
> > owner
> > > > and others started to talk about me in hushed voices. "He is
> Kashmiri!
> > We
> > > > should check his identity!" they whispered. The owner approached me
> and
> > > > asked me for my passport in a soft voice.  I gave him my identity
> card
> > > and
> > > > told him that I don't have my passport with me. He took it and
> xeroxed
> > > it.
> > > > He studied my identity card for a long time. He asked me where I was
> > > > staying
> > > > in Delhi and I gave him the address of the Habitat Centre. He asked
> me
> > > > which
> > > > websites I had visited. I listed them for him. I could hear the
> > customers
> > > > saying "He is looking at websites from Kashmir!" Then someone said
> > > > loudly
> > > > "Why should we take responsibility for this boy. He could be
> anything!
> > > > Just
> > > > call the police and let them verify who he is!" I started to panic.
> > > > "I am
> > > > Kashmiri," I thought "No one will listen to me."
> > > > There was a PCO in the café. They called the police and told them
> that
> > > > there
> > > > is a Kashmiri in the café and that they should verify my identity. I
> > > asked
> > > > the café owner to call the habitat centre to check my identity as
> well.
> > > > They
> > > > refused. I pleaded with them to just call the centre, but they
> > wouldn't.
> > > > Two
> > > > fat police constables and a woman inspector wearing two stars arrived
> > > > within
> > > > five minutes, wearing a we-have-got-the-culprit look. Her face
> > frightened
> > > > me. Her hair was jet black and short like a boy's hair cut. Her eyes
> > were
> > > > stiff like black moles on her face. She held a very fine stick in her
> > > hand.
> > > > She entered the café shouting "Who is the guy? Who is the guy?"
> > > > Before
> > > > anyone pointed at me I raised my hand with my I card, shouting back,
> > > > "Madam
> > > > it is me, it is me! Here is my I card!"
> > > > She didn't look at the card, but slid it into her pocket, and ordered
> a
> > > > constable to search into my bag. They studied my camera as if it were
> a
> > > > bomb. They told me to pack everything in the backpack.  I quickly
> > managed
> > > > to
> > > > eject the memory card out of my camera and slip it in my pocket,
> since
> > my
> > > > photographs were the only proof of my installation at the habitat
> > centre.
> > > > Before they confiscate my mobile I memorized the number of the
> director
> > > of
> > > > the film festival. The inspector shouted at me "Salay bahar chalo!" I
> > > > shook
> > > > with fear. I didn't know what to do. No one would listen to me. The
> > > > constables literally dragged me out of the cafe. Someone shouted "We
> > > > should
> > > > place him in the bus." I was shocked and cried, "Please listen to me!
> > > > Please
> > > > listen to me!" Almost two hundred people gathered on the road to see
> > the
> > > > "terrorist"--Me! The crowd was so big that it created a traffic jam.
> > > > I
> > > > shouted in the air "Somebody please go to the habitat centre and tell
> > > them
> > > > the artist whose installation is there has been arrested!"
> > > > As they were dragging me to the police station, the inspector shouted
> > at
> > > me
> > > > "You Kashmiri bastard! Why do you people have problem with being part
> > of
> > > > India? Sala…!" At the police station, they seated me on a bench with
> > > > another
> > > > person they had arrested. He had dried brown blood all over his face.
> > His
> > > > eyes were sharp and red. It was obvious he was drunk. I pleaded,
> > "Please
> > > > listen to me. I am a cartoonist in Kashmir! I am not a terrorist! I
> am
> > > > innocent!" They ignored me and listened to their wireless radios.
> They
> > > > continued to hurl abuses at me. Another woman inspector wearing
> > civilian
> > > > clothes with a wireless radio in her hand shouted at me "You bastard,
> > you
> > > > speak such nice Hindi! Why do you have a problem with being part of
> > > > India!"
> > > > I replied, trying to be as transparent as possible, "Madam, I am
> > speaking
> > > > Urdu actually, which sounds like Hindi."
> > > > The inspector woman who dragged me to police station began to record
> > the
> > > > evidence:
> > > > 1: He was looking at the website with diagrams of guns on it.  (This
> > was
> > > > her
> > > > definition for my cartoon website kashmirblackandwhite.com!)
> > > > 2: He was searching for information about the Kashmir conflict. (I
> was
> > > > reading some articles to prepare for my talk about the "Dialoguing
> > peace
> > > > in
> > > > Kashmir" at the Stein Auditorium on 17 September.)
> > > > 3: He had a camera with a memory card in it. (Obviously my camera is
> a
> > > > Canon
> > > > digital SLR and it can't be without a memory card.)
> > > > I was crying. I couldn't feel my fingers and feet. I felt like I had
> > been
> > > > electrocuted. The incandescent lights in the police station were
> > shining
> > > > brightly, but it seemed to me very dark.
> > > > I had no hope now. I thought of running away from the police station.
> > > "The
> > > > habitat centre is only 50 meters away," I thought. "Even if they
> > > > shoot me I
> > > > would be injured, but I can prove my innocence."
> > > > But I didn't want to give them any chance.  I thought my life was
> over.
> > > > "If
> > > > there is no hope of life, I need to accept the reality," I said to
> > > myself.
> > > > But somehow this thought actually gave me strength. "I am not going
> to
> > be
> > > > scared of them any more," I thought "They are not going to listen to
> > > > me any
> > > > way." I stood up and said to them sternly, "Come kill me! Shoot me!
> > > > Do
> > > > whatever you want, but keep in mind that I am a guest here and my
> work
> > is
> > > > being displayed in the Stein Auditorium! Hang me or label me a
> > terrorist!
> > > I
> > > > am going to sit here silently now!"  Then they finally called the
> > > > Coordinator for PSBT. The number was busy. I asked her "Madam, can't
> > > > you
> > > > come with me to the Habitat Centre to check whether I am speaking
> truth
> > > or
> > > > not? It is only 50 meters away." Finally, after fifteen minutes, she
> > > > relented and agreed to take me to the Habitat Centre. They held me by
> > the
> > > > collar as we walked to the centre. Once we entered the gate no 3 of
> > > habitat
> > > > center, she continued to curse Kashmiris. At this point however, I
> was
> > in
> > > > the habitat centre, so I shot back, "Mind your language!" My voice
> > > > was firm
> > > > and she became quiet. When she saw my work in the auditorium, she
> > started
> > > > shouting "You Kashmiris have a problem!" I wasn't in their grasp
> > > > anymore, so
> > > > I picked up a stone lying in the mud of my installation and started
> to
> > > > smash
> > > > my installation. The sound of the glass frames breaking echoed
> > throughout
> > > > the auditorium. Those watching a film inside the auditorium came
> > outside
> > > to
> > > > see what had happened.  The policewoman ran away.
> > > > I called GK to inform them what had happened, but the Habitat Centre
> > > manger
> > > > instructed me to not leave the premises and not to call from my
> phone,
> > or
> > > > email, for a few days. After three days I called home and the GK
> > office.
> > > > The
> > > > PBST issued a letter to the security agencies that I am their guest
> and
> > > > they
> > > > are responsible for my accommodation and tickets. I thank God that I
> > was
> > > a
> > > > guest of the habitat centre and not alone as a cartoonist for GK.
> > > > Otherwise,
> > > > the story of another missing Kashmiri would have been all over the
> news
> > > > here. I watched the news channel that night to see if they would
> flash
> > my
> > > > name….
> > > > _________________________________________
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________
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> > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > > subscribe in the subject header.
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> > > _________________________________________
> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > subscribe in the subject header.
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> > >
> > > List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > _________________________________________
> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > Critiques & Collaborations
> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > subscribe in the subject header.
> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Partha Dasgupta
> +919811047132
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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-- 
Rashneek Kher
Wandhama Massacre-The Forgotten Human Tragedy
http://www.kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com
http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com