Latest news with #Kashmiri
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
J-K student body alleges hijab ban at Karnataka nursing college, seeks CM Siddaramaiah's intervention
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) Tuesday sought the immediate intervention of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after four Kashmiri students were allegedly prevented from attending classes at a nursing college in Bengaluru for wearing the hijab or burkha. In a representation to the chief minister, the association alleged that the management of Sri Soubhagya Lalitha College of Nursing threatened the students with expulsion. Nasir Khuehami, national convener of the JKSA, claimed that students had been denied entry into classrooms and practical sessions for the past several days solely because of their religious attire. 'These Kashmiri female students have been systematically targeted, humiliated, and denied their fundamental right to education because they wear the burkha or abaya — an expression of modesty, dignity, and identity rooted in their religious and personal beliefs,' he said. According to Khuehami, the college chairman entered the classroom and ordered hijab-wearing students to leave immediately. 'When the students sought clarification, they were told, 'This is our college; only our rules apply.' The chairman and principal allegedly threatened to terminate their admissions and withhold academic records if they continued to wear the hijab,' he said. Khuehami stated that the students were warned they would not be permitted on campus unless they removed their hijabs. He noted that there is no official or legal policy in place to enforce such a ban. Additionally, he claimed that the students were instructed to adhere to 'so-called university rules' that prohibit hijabs and burqas, which he argued do not exist under law. The college administration was also said to have justified its stance by claiming that other students had objected to the presence of hijab-wearing peers. 'The chairman reportedly told the students that 'hijab and purdah are not allowed for medical students anywhere in the country, not even in Kashmir', and even declared that 'no article or fundamental right is applicable in our college',' Khuehami said, calling these remarks 'absurd, Islamophobic stereotypes'. Terming the college's conduct a 'direct and dangerous violation' of the Constitution, Khuehami said the institution had failed to uphold the rights guaranteed under Articles 25 (freedom of religion), 15 (prohibition of discrimination), and 21A (right to education). 'Forcing students to choose between their faith and their education is both unconscionable and unconstitutional,' he said. Meanwhile, the director of student welfare at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), to which the college is affiliated, has launched an investigation into the incident. Riyaz Basha, registrar (evaluation), told The Indian Express, 'We have already heard the submission made by the college principal and the chairman. We have called the Kashmiri students to RGUHS to hear their account, after which we will take appropriate action in line with government norms,' said Basha. According to the submissions made by the college management, the officials had only directed the removal of hijabs for identification purposes before entering the practical class. 'The college management clarified that they asked the girls to remove the hijab with a veil, for identification and verification purposes, so that there is no impersonation, before entering the practical classes. However, they were asked to wear it back later. Additionally, burkha or hijab is not allowed at clinical postings or patient visits. Instead, students should stick to the uniforms (apron) for such purposes,' said Basha. He added, 'At the outset, RGUHS ensures there is no such discrimination on a religious basis. Rules are enforced in line with patient care and students' interests.' In 2022, Karnataka witnessed a hijab controversy when a government pre-university college in Udupi banned the attire inside classrooms. This led to protests by many students, and the controversy sparked counter-protests from Hindu students who wore saffron shawls. The Karnataka government then banned religious attire in institutions with mandatory dress codes, and the Karnataka High Court upheld the government order. The matter later reached the Supreme Court, which delivered a split verdict and referred it to a larger bench for a final ruling. Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Meet the Dutch woman who has been cleaning up Srinagar's Dal Lake
Gift this article On a still May morning, as the mist rises gently from the waters of Dal Lake, a lone shikara glides across its soft surface. But unlike most tourists drawn by lake's houseboats and picturesque setting, a lone Dutch woman steering a wooden boat is not here for leisure. Armed with a trash bag, the 69-year-old Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman wants to clean up Kashmir's Dal Lake—one plastic bottle at a time. On a still May morning, as the mist rises gently from the waters of Dal Lake, a lone shikara glides across its soft surface. But unlike most tourists drawn by lake's houseboats and picturesque setting, a lone Dutch woman steering a wooden boat is not here for leisure. Armed with a trash bag, the 69-year-old Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman wants to clean up Kashmir's Dal Lake—one plastic bottle at a time. 'I fell in love with this place twenty years ago," Ellis says after collecting some trash including chips wrappers and plastic cold drink bottles thrown into the lake. 'The situation was difficult then—strikes, curfews, soldiers everywhere. But I saw the mountains, lakes, and amazing nature here. And I met Kashmiri people whose hospitality impressed me and their warmth is like nowhere else," she says. Also Read | How tourism is impacting picturesque Gurez Originally from the Netherlands, a country famously reclaimed from the sea, Ellis knows what it means to respect nature. 'Without Dutch, I would not exist," she says with a smile. 'My country is man-made. But Kashmir, this is divine nature," she adds. 'And yet, everywhere I look, there is a lot of plastic waste." Starting with the streams of Dachigam, Ellis began picking up waste. It was not long before her mission expanded to Dal Lake itself. 'My daughter last year gifted me a shikara on my birthday," she says, adding that now whenever she is on water, she collects waste on her boat. 'It may seem small, but I believe every ripple matters." It is not just about picking up the trash for Ellis but about setting an example. She believes education begins at home. She never had to teach her children not to litter. 'They (children) copied me," she says. 'But I worry about what children learn in schools. They memorise books, clear exams and then forget them afterward. We need to teach them about the environment and their health." She says plastic waste finds its way into animals, then into the food chain, and finally enters our bodies. 'People wonder why they get sick, why there is cancer, even if they do not smoke. But they forget, the plastic you throw away comes back to you affecting your health," she warns. Dal Lake, a world-renowned tourist destination in Srinagar, is facing severe ecological degradation due to increased urbanisation, unchecked sewage, and invasive species. Once praised for its clear, pristine waters, Dal lake now suffers from hyper-eutrophism, excessive weed growth, and pollution. A 2022 study titled The Changing Water Quality of Lakes—a case study of Dal Lake, Kashmir Valley by Rohitashw Kumar, Sabah Parvaze, Mir Bintul Huda and Saqib Parvaze Allaie highlighted rising levels of harmful substances in the lake water, contributing to ecosystem damage. The study found that 'houseboats, sewage treatment plants, hotels, agricultural practices around the lake, floating gardens, lake encroachment, and other non-point sources have degraded the water quality as well as aesthetic properties of the lake." The study called for an urgent need for restoration, better management and conservation by both authorities and local population. Researchers emphasise the urgent need for a comprehensive restoration plan for long term lake conservation, including sewage control, rehabilitation of local dwellers, and ecological management. Ellis, who wants to do her bit to clean the lake, does not just preach but also offers solutions. She frequently urges shopkeepers around the lake to ditch plastic and polythene bags for reusable alternatives, some even made locally by recycling companies. 'If everyone refuses plastic, disposes of waste properly, it makes a huge difference," she insists. While she does not deny the government has a role to play, she believes change must begin at the individual level. 'Government built beautiful shopping centres with Smart City funds, but forgot bins," she points out. 'I spoke with Lakes Conservative Management Authority (LCMA) officials. They are supportive, but everyone needs to do their bit." Despite her efforts, challenges persist. Bins she helped place around Dal Lake sometimes mysteriously disappear. 'It only shows the need for steady, permanent bins," she says. Not everyone has welcomed her activism. 'Some say, 'What difference can you make? It will take a thousand years to clean Dal'. But Ellis is no stranger to hardship. Having battled depression and personal loss in her native Netherlands, she knows the power of resilience. 'When you have fallen so deep, there is only one way to get back up. Age does not matter, it is just a number," she says with a smile. Her message to people in Kashmir is both blunt and hopeful: 'Stop pointing fingers towards each other. Be the change you want to see," she says. Social media has amplified her voice, bringing volunteers to her cause. She organises cleanup drives along streams like Dagwan, a freshwater stream flowing through Dachigam National Park where swimmers at times leave behind rubbish. 'Nature is where I want to focus," she says. 'Government cannot clean everything. We also must help." In countries like Switzerland, Austria, Norway, she says the water bodies are clean. 'You throw trash and you are fined there," she says. 'Here, unfortunately some people do not even think before throwing trash into water bodies and streams." When Ellis hikes in the valley mountains, she likes to dip her feet into streams. But she often finds trash underneath streams. 'It brings tears to my eyes," she says. Despite setbacks—missing bins, skeptics, loneliness—she did not give up. She remains undeterred in her mission. The locals who have seen her singular attempts to clean up the lake are inspired to do more on their part. President of Jammu and Kashmir Shikara Owners Association, Wali Mohammad, says that cleaning Dal Lake and other such lakes is the duty of every individual. 'If a lone foreigner has taken this initiative, it is commendable and we welcome and support her," he says adding that being a non-native, she is doing a wonderful job while some locals carelessly continue to throw and dump trash and plastic into Dal and other water bodies.. As head of J&K Shikara Association, Mohammad said he wholeheartedly welcomes her initiative and is inspired by her efforts. 'The youth of valley must come forward to help her clean the Dal Lake and other water streams and play their part in preserving the region's lakes," says Mohammad. The head of the shikara association has also instructed every shikarawala (boatman) to keep their own dustbins and strictly avoid throwing garbage into the Dal Lake. 'Any waste should be stored in their respective boats and later disposed of according to guidelines set by authorities," he emphasises. Meanwhile, Oris Yusuf, owner of houseboat 'Malaya" near Ghat 10 on the shores of the lake, says it's rare to find a tourist, especially from another continent, visiting the valley and then staying back to start a cleaning drive in Dal lake. 'It is inspiring and admirable. When a foreigner can undertake a cleaning drive in Dal and adjacent areas, why can't we? This lake is our asset and heritage," says Yusuf. Initiatives like hers, he adds, could serve as a source of inspiration for youth to take care of our precious water bodies. 'Although many domestic and international tourists visit Kashmir to enjoy its scenic beauty, she probably is the first elderly foreign tourist who has taken this kind of initiative here," says Yusuf who often notices the old lady rowing her boat inside the lake and personally collecting garbage and plastic waste from the lake. Born just after World War II to a father scarred by war, Ellis connects with and understands the region's generational trauma. 'Young people here carry memories of conflict, even if they did not live it," she says. 'I can understand their pain and empathise with them." For all her global travels, Ellis says her heart belongs to Kashmir. 'I feel so blessed to live here," she says. 'This feels like my home." 'Kashmir is paradise," she insists. 'Someone has truly said, 'If there is paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.' But you have made a mess of your paradise," she adds after a pause. 'Now, let us clean it up as I cannot do it all alone." Yaqoob Ali is an kashmir based independent journalist reporting on culture, conflict, environment, social Justice, and economy. Majid Maqbool is a Kashmir based independent journalist and writer Topics You May Be Interested In
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mehbooba: Urdu being unfairly communalised in J&K
After the Central Administrative Tribunal's order staying the requirement of basic Urdu knowledge for the naib tehsildar exam in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday alleged that Urdu was being unfairly communalised. After the Central Administrative Tribunal's order staying the requirement of basic Urdu knowledge for the naib tehsildar exam in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday alleged that Urdu was being unfairly communalised. (HT File) Mehbooba Mufti took to X to express her disagreement over the CAT order. 'It is deeply unfortunate that our judiciary appears to be influenced by divisive politics. Urdu, a recognised official language for decades, is now being unfairly communalised,' she said. In an interim measure, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu, stayed Urdu language compulsion and ordered J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) to accept applications for the post of naib tehsildar from candidates who have graduation with knowledge of any of the five official languages enumerated in the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, which includes Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri and Urdu. Following the order, the J&KSSB on July 15 put the recruitment process on hold as it deferred the advertisement calling for applications for NT posts which was issued in June 2025. Mufti said that J&K's administrative work has been maintained in Urdu. 'Our revenue records and administrative work continue to be maintained in Urdu, and it is only logical that applicants for the post of Naib Tehsildar possess basic proficiency in the language. This requirement is rooted purely in administrative efficiency not in any form of divisiveness,' she said. The CAT's order has been celebrated by Bharatiya Janata Party after it launched a campaign to remove Urdu as a mandatory qualification for naib tehsildar posts in Jammu Kashmir. PDP leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Parra alleged that BJP's attempt to view Urdu through a 'communal lens marks a dangerous and disgraceful new low' in our political discourse in J&K. Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone also voiced deep concern over the exclusion of Urdu as a qualifying requirement for the post of Naib Tehsildar in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it part of a 'systematic marginalisation' of the Kashmiri-speaking majority and a dangerous step toward the 'linguicide' of Urdu.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mehbooba, Lone oppose Urdu's exclusion as mandatory subject for Naib-Tehsildar posts in J&K
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) opposed the move to drop Urdu as a mandatory subject for Naib-Tehsildar posts in Jammu and Kashmir. 'It is deeply unfortunate that our judiciary appears to be influenced by divisive politics. Urdu, a recognised official language for decades, is now being unfairly communalised,' former J&K Chief Minister Ms. Mufti said in a post on social media platform X. J&K's revenue records and administrative work continued to be maintained in Urdu, she said. 'It is only logical that applicants for the post of Naib Tehsildar possess basic proficiency in the language. This requirement is rooted purely in administrative efficiency not in any form of divisiveness,' Ms. Mufti said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been protesting against the government notification issued in June to fill these posts. A Central Administrative Tribunal Bench, comprising Rajinder Dogra and Ram Mohan Johri, on Monday passed an order to stay the operation of the provisions of the J&K Revenue (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules of 2009, making knowledge of Urdu as the minimum qualification. It directed the J&K Services Selection Board to accept applications from all candidates who possess an undergraduate degree with knowledge of any of the five official languages in J&K. 'The exclusion of Urdu as a qualifying requirement is part of a systematic marginalisation of the Kashmiri-speaking majority, and a dangerous step towards the 'linguicide' of Urdu,' Mr. Lone said. With Urdu no longer needed to qualify for the post of Naib Tehsildar, 'The majority Kashmiri-speaking population has been almost relegated to a footnote in the recruitment lists. Their presence in the recruitment lists is inversely proportional to their numbers. That is of course due to reservations,' Mr. Lone said. He said that Urdu had historically given Kashmiri aspirants a reasonable edge in such posts because of the language's relevance in administrative affairs. 'It is a calculated move to erase regional linguistic roots. The onus of giving a good legal representation is on the incumbent elected government. Hope it is not yet another fixed match in a series of fixed matches that we are seeing lately,' Mr. Lone said.
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actress separated from her father in childhood, never went to school, had a flop debut, now Bollywood's top heroine, she is…
This actress separated from her father in childhood, never went to school, had a flop debut, now Bollywood's top heroine, she is… In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, it's usually the glitzy and dazzling lives of celebrities that come to the forefront. However, what happens behind the curtain, the struggles and challenges, are often swept under the carpet. One such similar tale is of a leading actress in Bollywood who, despite having no film connection, had a rocky start in cinema, emerged as Bollywood's most successful and beloved heroine. Katrina Kaif: Childhood, Early Life, and More The actress that we are talking about is none other than Katrina Kaif. Katrina was born on 16th July 1983 in Hong Kong. She is originally from London. Her father, Mohammad Kaif, is of Kashmiri descent, and her mother, Suzanne Turquotte, is British. Katrina saw struggles from a very young age. Her parents got separated when she was still very young. After their separation, Katrina lived with her mother and was raised by her single mother. Since her mother was a social activist, Katrina and her siblings lived a nomadic life. They kept relocating and making homes in different countries. She lived in 18 different countries in her childhood, which led her to never attend a formal school. She completed her education by self schooling and home tuition. How Did Katrina Kaif Enter the Film Industry? At just the age of 14, she ventured into modelling. During a fashion show in London, an Indian filmmaker, Kaizad Gustad, discovered Katrina Kaif and later cast her in her debut film called Boom. The film couldn't make a mark and flopped at the box office. However, Katrina's striking look caught everyone's attention, and soon she started getting offers. Later, she also entered South Indian cinema with the Telugu film Malliswari (2004), which gave her some initial recognition. When was Katrina Kaif's Breakthrough Moment? Although Katrina did many films, she rose to fame with the romantic comedy Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), followed by the much-loved Namastey London (2007). Over the years, Katrina delivered a streak of hits and even worked on her Hindi speaking skills with her electrifying dance moves, creating an undeniable magic. Later, she also delivered hits like Race (2008), Rajneeti (2010), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), and Dhoom 3 (2013). Today, Katrina is among the top heroines in Bollywood. She has not only captivated everyone with her striking beauty but also strong screen presence, resilience, and growth. From her journey of having no godfather, failed debut to top heroine, Katrina's journey speaks of her talent and determination.
