Kashmir
The Kashmiri Pandits are Saraswat Brahmins, one of the oldest ethnic groups of the Indian subcontinent. Their history in the Valley spans over 5,000 years, rooted in a land they believed was reclaimed from a vast lake by the sage Kashyapa. https://thewire.in/rights/the-rise-exile-and-fading-footprints-of-kashmiri-pandits
The Kashmiri Pandits’ ‘best times’ are often associated with the reign of Lalitaditya Muktapida in the 8th century and later, the peaceful rule of Zain-ul-Abidin in the 15th century. The latter invited Pandits back after a period of persecution, earning him the title Budshah, the great king. During these eras, the community thrived as administrators, scholars, and spiritual leaders. Life moved on after the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1948. The two communities, Pandits and Muslims, lived in harmony although Kashmiri Pandits were always viewed with a bit of suspicion because of their religious identification with the majority community of mainland India. Pandits were, however, acknowledged as good teachers and professionals (many were doctors and bureaucrats). Interestingly in spite of being Hindus they were very good teachers of the Persian language and were also recognised as good interpreters of the Quran.
The most painful chapter in their modern history began in January 1990. As Islamic militancy surged in the Valley, fuelled by external support and internal radicalisation, the minority community was targeted with a campaign of terror. Slogans like “Raliv, galiv ya tchaliv (convert, die, or leave)” reverberated from loudspeakers of the mosques. Prominent community leaders were assassinated. These included Tika Lal Taploo, a lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Lassa Kaul, station director of Srinagar Doordarshan, Satish Tikoo, a young social worker, Sarwanand Koul Premi, a poet, and his son, Girja Tikoo, a teacher, and Sarla Bhat, a young nurse.
Most of the Pandits fled their ancestral homes overnight, carrying little more than their house keys –many of which they still hold on to today as symbols of hope
In spite of all these negatives the community is celebrated for its survival instincts since the days of Sikandar Butshikan. Deprived of land and homes, they doubled down on the one asset that couldn’t be taken away and that is education. Today, the Pandit diaspora is globally successful in medicine, technology, and academia
by Upendra Kaul
19/01/2026
National Medical Commission Withdraws MBBS Permission to J&K Medical College Facing BJP-Led Protests
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the permission granted in September last year to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir to open admissions for the MBBS course.
https://www.doccentre.in/emeets/administrator/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit
The decision came hours after the activists of the newly-floated SMVD Sangharsh Samiti which is backed by the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party held a protest outside the civil secretariat in Jammu on Tuesday against the admission of Muslim and other non-Hindu students to the institute.
According to reports on January 6, the NMC, citing “severe findings about non-compliance with minimum standards”, has withdrawn the ‘Letter of Permission’ granted to the SMVD University whose board runs the medical institute.
Of the 50 students from the first batch who got admission last year on the basis of their NEET rankings, 47 are Muslims and one is a Sikh while only two are Hindus. The NMC has ordered their placement at other government medical colleges of the Union territory.
07/01/2026
Following orders of the Supreme Court which came last month, the central agency had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by deputy superintendent of police Subash Chander, for investigating the case of Khursheed Ahmad Chohan, a police constable who was allegedly tortured in custody.
J&K: CBI SIT Arrests Six Police Officials for Brutal Custodial Torture of Policeman - The Wire
Amnesty International has documented details of 715 detainees of Jammu and Kashmir who died in the custody of security forces between 1990-1994. While some of them were allegedly tortured which resulted in their death, many others were shot and killed.
In 2019, a report by the now defunct Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society – a human rights advocacy group based in Srinagar, whose convenor, Khurram Pervez is languishing in jail under anti-terrorism charges – and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, documented 432 cases of torture by security forces between 1990-2017 in J&K, of which 70% of victims were civilians.
by Jehangir Ali
21/08/2025
The government has declared the books banned as “This literature would deeply impact the psyche of the youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood and terrorism heroism.” It also blamed the books for “misguiding the youth” in Kashmir and instigated their “participation in violence and terrorism”. https://thewire.in/rights/the-attempt-is-to-erase-everything-three-women-jk-authors-on-the-ban-on-their-books
The Wire spoke to three women authors whose books were banned to find out what it means for them to be silenced, and how the erasure of the Kashmiri narrative would impact the people of J&K. Excerpts from the interviews follow.
Ather Zia’s Resisting Disappearance: Military Occupation and Women’s Activism in Kashmir
Anuradha Bhasin’s A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370
Hafsa Kanjwal’s Colonising Kashmir
by Vrinda Gopinath
11/08/2025
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What Does the Book Ban in Kashmir Seek to Repress? https://thewire.in/books/what-does-the-book-ban-in-kashmir-seek-to-repress
Excerpted from the essay ‘The Militarized Zone’ by Angana P. Chatterji, from Kashmir: The Case for Freedom by Tariq Ali, Hilal Bhat, Angana P. Chatterji, Habbah Khatun, Pankaj Mishra and Arundhati Roy (Verso Books, 2011). This is one of the 25 books recently banned in the union territory by the Jammu and Kashmir home department.
by Angana P. Chatterji 12/08/2025
Government of Jammu and Kashmir Home Department
Civil Secretariat, J&K NOTIFICATION
Srinagar, the 5th August, 2025
S.O.203-Whereas; it has come to the notice of the Government, that certain literature propagates false narrative and secessionism in the Jammu and Kashmir. Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been the systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State. This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting culture of grievance, victim hood and terrorist heroism. Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include dist01tion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc; and
Whereas; in the above context, 25 books have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism in J&K and need to be declared as 1forfeited1 in te1ms of Section 98 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023; and
Whereas; the identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of sections 152, 196 & 197 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 98 of the Bhrutiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares publication of 25 books, forming Annexure 11A11 to this Notification, and their copies or other documents to be forfeited to the Government.
By order of the Lieutenant Governor.
Sd/ (Chandraker Bharti),IAS
Principal Secretary to the Government,
No. HOME-ISA/223/2025-11(7655892) Dated: 05.08.2025
Annexure-A
LIST OF BOOKS
1. Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Piotr Balcerowicz and Agnieszka Kuszewska : Routledge (Manohar Publishers & Distributors)
2. Kashmiri's Fight for Freedom by Mohd Yosuf Saraf : Feroze Sons Pakistan
3. Colonizing Kashmir, State-Building under Indian occupation by Hafsa Kanjwal : Stanford University Press
4. Kashmir Politics and Plebiscite by Dr. Abdul Jabbar Gockhami : Gulshan Books Kashmir
5. Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? by Essar Batool & others :
Zubaan Books
6. Mujahid ki Azaan by Imam Hasan Al-Sana Shaheed edited by: Maulan Mohammad Enayatullah Subhani : Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers Delhi
7. Al Jihadul fil Islam by Moulana Moudadi : Darul Musannifeen-Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers Delhi
8. Independent Kashmir by Christopher Snedden : Manchester University Press and Sanctum Books Delhi.
9. Resisting Occupation in Kashmir by Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhat, Ather Zia and Cynthia Mahmood : University of Pennsylvlia Press
10. Between Democracy and Nation (Gender and Militarization in Kashmir ) by Seema Kazi : Oxford University Press- Women Unlimited New Delhi
11. Contested Lands by Sumantra Bose Harper Collins Publishers India Gurugram Haryana
12 .In Search of a Future (The Story of Kashmir) by David Devadas : Viking Penguin
13.Kashmir in Conflict (India, Pakistan and India the unending War) by Victoria Schofield Bloomsbury Academic India
14.The Kashmir Dispute 1947-2012 by A.G. Noorani by Tulika Books Chennai Tamil Nadu
15.Kashmir at the Cross Roads (Inside a 21st Century Conflict) Sumantra Bose : Pan Macmillian India, New Delhi
16. A Dismantled State by Anuradha Bhasin (The Untold Story of Kashmir after Article 370) :Harper Collins Publishers India, Gurugram Haryana
17. Resisting Disappearance (Military Occupation & Women's Activism in Kashmir) by Ather Zia :Zubaan Publishers Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
18.Confronting Terrorism Stephen Pcohen New Delhi. Pengiun India Darya Gunj
19. Freedom in Captivity (Negotiations of belonging along
Kashmiri Frontier) Radhika Gupta Edited by: Maroof Raza Cambridge University Press
20.Kashmir (The case for Freedom) by Tariq Ali, Hilal Bhatt, Angana P. Chattelji, Pankaj Mlshra and Arundhati Roy Verso Books .
21. Azadi by Arundhati Roy Pengiun India Darya Gunj, New Delhi.
22. USA and Kashmir Dr. Shamshad Shan Gulshan Books
23. & Conflict Resolution in Piotr Balcerowicz andAgnieszka Kuszewska Roudedge (Manohar Publishers & Distributors)
24.Tarlkh-i—Siyasat Kashmir by Dr. Afaq Karwan—e-Tahqiq-o- Saqafat Kashmir
25. Kashmir and the future of South Asia by: Sugata Bose & Ayesha Jalal Routledge (Manohar Publishers & Distributors)
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