This is what happened several months ago. A teenager living in the housing society where I reside was sent to Australia to study at a university in Sydney with much fanfare. The parents, whom I often met as part of a group, would tell us how easily the boy got his admission with the help of “some well-meaning friends,” adding that they had obtained an education loan to ensure he could study at a graduate school.

On reaching Sydney, the boy’s parents—especially the father—would tell us how a place to stay had been arranged by a “very close friend” at virtually no cost, and that the boy was “extremely happy.” We would be shown photos of the boy at various spots in the city as evidence of his happiness.

But as time passed, the father began to complain that his son had to “walk a lot” from where he stayed in order to catch public transport. “He gets tired on return,” he would tell us, adding that food was another problem. “He has to prepare his own food, which he has never done. Besides, while we can afford outside food, since he is a pure vegetarian, he isn’t very comfortable with what’s available on the counter.”

A month or so later, we found that the boy had returned. The reason? He was “unable to adjust,” and his mother was quite worried about him. “She advised him to return,” the father said, adding, “We have been promised by the university to return the advance fees deposited for his studies… Good that he is back…” Ironically, the parents never revealed which agent, if any, had organized the boy’s student visa.

While this boy returned after failing to adjust to a foreign environment, a news item published in the Times of India, authored by my ex-colleague Bharat Yagnik, suggests that Australia has now clamped down on Indian students, with the country joining the US and Canada in tightening immigration norms for Indian students, and several universities halting applications from six states, including Gujarat. The universities which have cracked the whip are Federation University, Western Sydney University, Victoria University, and Southern Cross University. Apart from Gujarat, the affected students are from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The news item quotes what it calls visa consultants and foreign education experts—especially from Gujarat—pointing out that they are “rattled.” In their estimate, “20% of students from the state heading abroad typically choose Australia, a figure likely to drop with these new restrictions.”

Foreign education consultant Bhavin Thaker is quoted as saying, “This has dramatically reduced the number of opportunities available to students. Of every 100 students who plan to study overseas, at least 20 are directly impacted. With Canada and the US already tightening immigration policies, and now Australia going the same way, the list of accessible countries is shrinking. While there’s no official government statement yet, the message is quite clear.”

Visa consultant Lalit Advani is cited as claiming, “The decision by Australian universities to restrict applications from certain regions within India will impact genuine students. The majority of applicants are sincere, and they can be easily identified based on their academic scores, background, and intent. Blanket bans only add to the frustration.”

No sooner had I read the news item than I forwarded it to my college friend Neeraj Nanda, who runs South Asia Times, an online periodical in Melbourne, and phoned him up to find out what was happening, and what the Australian side of the story was. Nanda, who was my colleague at Link Newsweekly in Delhi in the early 1980s, told me that this is an “old story,” pointing out that the authorities in Australia have discovered how Indian students submit fake documents to study in Australia.

The post Why’s Australian crackdown rattling Indian students? Whopping 25% fake visa applications appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Now seven decades after the tragedy on one hand we see the plight of Pakistan, sliding down on the scale of democracy, social wellbeing and progress. India which began well and strove on the path of pluralism and development is seeing the resurgence of the ‘Two Nation theory’ in the form of strengthening the communal forces which are sharpening their politics to achieve Hindu Nation. Ambedkar in his book on Partition warned that formation of Pakistan will be the worst tragedy as it may pave the way for Hindu Raj. How true was he! The attempts of Gandhi, Maulana Azad and Congress to prevent the tragedy failed to counter the British Policy of ‘Divide and rule’ greatly assisted by the ideology and politics of Communal forces of that time, Muslim League on one hand and Hindu Mahasabha-RSS on the other.

The Partition debate, the underlying two nation theory keeps surfacing time and over again in both the countries. Sectarian Nationalisms, Muslim and Hindu both, keep blaming each other for this tragedy. They undermine the deep roots of tragedy in the declining sections of society, the feudal forces, assisted by the clergy on both sides. As both these sectarian streams were on the forefront of spreading Hate, against the ‘other’ community, the communal violence went on intensifying and the figures like Gandhi, Maulana Azad could not prevent the ghastly events which followed.

While each communal stream, Hindu and Muslim have their own versions of this event, the holistic picture can be unearthed by seeing the picture through the movement and ideology of emerging Indian Nationalism and its opposition by the declining sections of Landlords and clergy on both sides.

This debate has once again come to the surface with Pakistan’s General Aim Munir. While addressing the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad, in presence of the top political leaders of the country, he eulogized the “two Nation theory”. He went on to pay tributes to the people who worked for the formation of Pakistan. Seeing one side of the picture he stated, “Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different — that’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations; we are not one nation,”

This in contrast to the understanding particularly of Gandhi and Nehru who saw the two major communities and other smaller religious communities as interacting with each other and creating a unique syncretic culture where each component has contributed to the emergence of celebratory Indian culture. Common celebration of festivals at social level and contributions of people to all aspects of Indian culture by people of diverse religions, the unique Bhakti and Sufi traditions being the highest form of these interactions. Gandhi summed it up in his unique, Ishwar Allah Tero Naam, and Nehru articulating it as Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb.

Two Nation theory was not a sudden articulation. As the National movement started emerging from amongst the sections of society associated with Modern Education, industries, and communication, Indian Nationalism towered over all other fissiparous ideologies. As pointed out, the other sections not associating with it and hanging on the feudal and pre-modern values threw up Muslim league on one side and Hindu Mahasabha on the other. They were exclusionist and veered round propagating the caste and gender hierarchy, standing opposed to education for Dalits and women.

The British subtly supported these trends as these were helpful for them in suppressing the National movement. One talked of Islamic Nation and the other of the Hindu Nation. Immediately after the formation of Indian National Congress the opposition to this came up in the form of Rajas and Nawabs pledging their loyalty to British rulers. Gradually these parallel streams emerged and Muslim League was formed in 1906. This was encouraged by the British. On the other side Punjab Hindu Sabha came in 1909, Hindu Mahasabha in 1915 and RSS in 1925. Both these criticized Gandhi to the hilt. Formally Two Nation theory was articulated by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and that became the guiding light of Hindu Nationalism. Muslim nationalism started talking of Pakistan by 1930 and strongly articulated in 1940 BY Jinnah in 1940.

Today RSS ideologues (BJP leaders and RSS leader, Ram Madhav: Decoding General, IE 19 April 2025) are presenting as if ‘Two Nation theory’ was only the making of Muslims through Muslim League. They underplay the great role of Allah Baksh, Maualana Azad and Khan Abdul Gaffer Khan who were opposed to the demand of Pakistan’s. Pakistan which was formed on the ‘Two nation theory’ just after 25 years of existence broke down into Bangladesh and Pakistan. That was the grave of “Two Nation Theory” Their abysmal condition is very obvious today.

While in India Hindu Nationalism was quietly being nurtured in the silent manner, its first dangerous manifestation came when RSS trained Godse put three bullets in the bare chest of Father of the nation. Its further starkly visible form came up the decade of 1980 with the most divisive campaign for demolishing Babri Masjid.

A Pakistani poet Fahmida Riyaz at this point wrote Arre Tum bhi Hum Jaise Nikle, Ab tak Kahan chhupe the bhai. (Oh you have turned out to be like us, where were you hiding so far!). After this the attacks on the concept of secularism, inclusive politics and values of Indian Constitution were intensified and now the emotive issues have taken the centre state. The product of “Two Nation theory” Pakistan, is in the grip of Mullahs-army and has been servile to America. The other component of “Two Nation Theory”, Hindu Nation has also more or less occupied the centre stage in India. Values and outcome of Nationalism on both sides of the divide are same, only form is different. The Criticism of ‘two Nation theory’ and attributing it only to Muslims and Muslims is half the truth!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia.

Also Read:

Standing Truth on its Head: Ambedkar and BJP agenda

Striving to Promote Democracy: Values of the Constitution

The post Composite Indian Nationalism or ‘Two Nation Theory’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Us.
The dusky-skinned, the mosque-born,
the ones with crescent moons in names,
whose mothers prayed in tongues too foreign for prime-time comfort.
Suddenly, we are all summoned.
Summoned to the dock of national conscience
to account for sins we neither conjured nor condoned.

They demand an arena of shame—
lip-wrung condemnations,
flag-wrapped fealties,
a parade of disavowals
that must be louder, sharper, more breathless than before.
As though the volume of our denials might absolve us
of crimes not ours.

And I must speak, not softly but starkly:
I am no confessor for a stranger’s sins.
No tribunal sits above my brow.
I owe no one the hippodrome of guilt.
The sun rises without my bidding,
and so too do the madmen fall—without my nod.

I am Indian. Not as an addendum.
Not pencilled in the margin of someone else’s belonging.
But wholly, fiercely, undeniably so.
My veins carry the dust of Bhagat Singh,
the perspiration of Ambedkar,
the silence of every unmarked grave
that nationalism buried and forgot.

Do not ask me to audition
for a passport already inked in sacrifice.
Do not hand me the script of the apologetic native,
for I shall not read it.

Let this be clear as broken glass:
A man’s faith does not annul his rights.
A man’s skin does not tether him to another’s shadow.
Identity is not inherited crime.
It is forged—in thought, in constancy, in scars.

Let us speak, then, of unrest—
of the state that forgets its promise,
that stirs the pot of division
and calls it patriotism.
Of ministers with tongues forked
like colonial serpents,
charming the poor with gods and guns
while coffers burst unseen.

Let us not forget the riots fed on rumour,
the lynchings filmed for Facebook fame,
the laws tilted like bent scales
toward temples and terror.

In such an amphitheatre of control,
what madness to demand that we perform purity?

Enough.
Enough of this Pavlovian shame,
of being summoned to cry on cue,
to swear loyalty not to a land—
but to the lie that we do not already belong.

Do you not see?
The question is not whether we are Indian enough,
but whether this India remembers what that means.

So hear me now—
I am Indian in every breath I take,
every grave I’ll return to,
every injustice I’ll fight till my bones are ash.
I will not lower my voice
so others may raise their fears.

I will not apologise for my name,
nor for the noise it makes in narrow throats.

This land is mine—
not because I say so,
but because it is written in the soil,
in sweat, in struggle,
in the quiet, unmoving certainty
of those who stayed
even when the nation turned its back.

This is the beginning.
And that—regardless of your stare—
is also the end.

Farahdeen Khan is an author, writer, entrepreneur, interior decorator, antiques and art curator, filmmaker and painter. He lives in Bangalore, India. 

This poem by Farahdeen Khan was first published on https://www.farahdeen.com/.

The post I am not your apology appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to reports from the Superintendent of Police, the attack took place around 9:00 am on April 22, when most villagers were away in their fields for cultivation work. Taking advantage of their absence, unknown assailants set multiple homes ablaze, triggering panic and displacement in the already fragile region. In response, Kamjong District Magistrate Rangnamei Rang Peter invoked Section 163(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to issue emergency prohibitory orders.

The curfew prohibits the movement of all persons outside their homes and bars any activity that could disturb peace and public order in the affected areas. Only personnel involved in essential services and law enforcement have been exempted. Anyone wishing to organise processions for weddings, funerals, or religious or cultural events within the restricted zones must obtain prior written permission from the District Magistrate or the Superintendent of Police. To ensure on-ground implementation and oversight, Hungyo Yurreikan, Sub-Divisional Collector of Sahamphung, has been appointed Executive Magistrate for the affected village jurisdictions, as per a report of India Today NE.

The incident has been widely condemned by tribal civil society groups. In a joint statement, five Kuki-Zo-Hmar organisations, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), denounced the attack as a targeted assault on innocent Kuki civilians. “These heinous acts of arson have devastated lives, destroyed homes, and terrorised a community already grappling with ethnic tension and insecurity,” the statement read, as per The Tribune.

The organisations described the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of systemic violence, displacement, and discrimination against the Kuki-Zo people. They criticised the Government of India for its continued failure to uphold constitutional duties and protect vulnerable communities in the state. “It is deeply alarming that such acts of terror persist under the government’s watch, at a time when the region demands urgent, just, and sensitive intervention,” they said, the report of YesPunjab said.

In addition to condemning the violence, the tribal bodies called for the immediate rehabilitation of affected families and the deployment of neutral and adequate security forces in Gampal and Haiyang to ensure safety and deter further attacks. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing. With tensions running high and the threat of escalation looming, residents have been urged to remain indoors and extend full cooperation to security personnel patrolling the area.

Related:

Manipur: In a First Under Prez Rule, ‘Tactical Retreat’ by Meiteis

Manipur tensions escalate over free movement policy: Kuki-Zo resistance and government crackdown

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigns amid political turmoil and ethnic unrest

Supreme Court seeks forensic report on audio recordings alleging Manipur CM’s role in ethnic violence

The post Curfew imposed in Kamjong District after arson attack destroys Kuki homes in Gampal and Haiyang appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On the afternoon of April 22, the area was bustling with families, couples, and individual tourists. Many were enjoying tea and snacks after a trek or pony ride to the high-altitude meadow, unaware of the horror about to unfold.

At approximately 2:45 pm, peace was torn apart when a group of four heavily armed militants, disguised in camouflage uniforms, emerged from the forest surrounding Baisaran. Without warning, they opened fire on the unsuspecting tourists, unleashing a hail of bullets that reverberated across the valley.

Witnesses described a scene of sheer panic and terror. Tourists, many of them with children, fled in every direction. One survivor from Nagpur, Simran Chandani, spoke to The Times of India and recalled the chaos: “We had just finished our tea and were preparing to leave. Suddenly, we heard what we thought was a balloon bursting, and then came the screams, the stampede. I ran, taking the name of God.”

Initial reports confirmed 28 civilians killed—most of them tourists—and many more injured, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India since the 2008 Mumbai carnage. Questions have been raised regarding the absence of any police, paramilitary, or army in or around the place of attack, as a large number of tourists were present at the Baisaran meadow. As per media accounts, ANI, PTI, Greater Kashmir, about six armed gunmen first encircled then selectively shot dead the men from among several visitors gathered there.

Claim of responsibility and motive

A group of four, including two locals, identifying itself as Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the heinous assault. The group cited opposition to the recent settlement of more than 85,000 outsiders in the region as their justification—a deeply troubling development, hinting at targeted violence based on identity and residency. Sketches of the suspected attackers—identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha (aliases Moosa, Yunus, and Asif)—were released shortly after the attack. 

Targeted horror and eyewitness testimony

A report of Deccan Herald provided the account of survivors, who says that the militants deliberately targeted men, asking them to identify themselves and even allegedly forcing some to recite Islamic verses. There were claims that some were made to remove clothing before being executed at close range. Although these details are still being verified, the cruelty and premeditation behind the attack are undeniable.

The firings lasted an excruciating 20 to 25 minutes at least, as per multiple media reports. Over 70 shell casings—belonging to American M4 carbine rifles and AK-47s—were found at the scene. The attackers later vanished into the forested terrain, triggering a massive search operation by Indian security forces.

One local, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator, emerged as a tragic hero. He attempted to disarm one of the terrorists in a desperate bid to protect a tourist under his care. Shah was shot dead during the attempt—becoming the only Kashmiri local killed in the attack. His grieving family, now without its only breadwinner, has appealed for justice.

The Victims: Lives interrupted, dreams extinguished

The true weight of the Pahalgam attack is not in the number of bullets fired or shell casings recovered, but in the lives so brutally cut short. Each victim was more than a statistic—they were sons, daughters, parents, and partners.

Among those killed was a young Indian Navy officer on his honeymoon, his uniform traded for a few days of peace in the hills. A retired banker from Andhra Pradesh was also gunned down without warning. A realtor from Karnataka, an accountant from Odisha, and a cement dealer from Uttar Pradesh—each on a simple holiday with loved ones—met the same cruel fate.

There was a man from Kerala who had recently returned from the Gulf, and a tourist from Nepal, the only foreign national killed, whose presence was a reminder of Kashmir’s reputation as a destination that once transcended borders. Now, their names are etched into a grim list of those who never made it home. The tragedy of this attack lies not only in the brutality of the act but in the ordinary, joyful moments it stole. This was not just an attack on individuals—it was an attack on the fundamental human desire to seek beauty, joy, and connection. And that is why it cuts so deep.

A Local Hero: The story of Syed Adil Hussain Shah

As bullets rained down on unsuspecting tourists in Pahalgam, amidst screams and chaos, one man stood his ground—not to flee, but to protect. A Gujjar local Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a humble pony ride operator from Pahalgam, displayed remarkable bravery in the face of terror. NDTV reported his heroic acts in a special report. In a moment that epitomised selflessness, Shah tried to snatch a rifle from one of the gunmen in a desperate attempt to save the tourists he had ferried to the Baisaran meadow. His valiant act cost him his life.

Adil Shah was the only local killed in the brutal attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. According to eyewitness accounts, the terrorists were selecting victims based on their religion, reportedly asking people to recite a Koranic verse before pulling the trigger. In the midst of this horror, Shah’s actions offered a fleeting glimmer of humanity. He refused to cower—his last moments defined by courage rather than fear.

As reported by NDTV, Adil leaves behind an elderly mother and father, a wife, and young children, all of whom depended on him. The grief in the Shah household is immeasurable. His inconsolable mother wept not only for the irreplaceable loss of her son but also for the uncertain future that now looms over the family. His father, Syed Haider Shah, speaking to ANI, said: “My son went to Pahalgam yesterday to work, and around 3 pm, we heard about the attack. We called him, but his phone was switched off. Later, at 4.40 pm, his phone turned on, but no one answered. We rushed to the police station, and that’s when we learned that he had been shot in the attack. Whoever is responsible must face the consequences.”

#WATCH | J&K | Family member of Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #PahalgamTerroristAttack, says, “He (Syed Hussain Shah) had gone to Pahalgam to work… We got information about the attack at 3 pm. When we called (Syed Hussain Shah), the phone was not… pic.twitter.com/8IlX5NKB8j

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Adil’s story is more than a tragedy—it is a testament to the strength of character that often goes unsung in times of crisis. In a region haunted by decades of conflict, his death is a piercing reminder that violence knows no bounds, and its victims are often the very people who strive to preserve life. The family has appealed for justice, and the Valley mourns a son who died not in silence, but in struggle—trying to protect those who had come seeking peace in the meadows of Kashmir.

#WATCH | J&K | Mother of the Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #PahalgamTerroristAttack, gets emotional, says, “He was the only bread earner of the family…” pic.twitter.com/W7BgzeVOEC

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

National and international response

The attack drew widespread condemnation and grief from both national and international quarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, immediately cut short his trip and returned to India. In a statement, he described the assault as a “heinous act,” vowed that the perpetrators “will not be spared,” and promised all assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased.

I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected.

Those behind this heinous act will be brought…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2025

Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar to oversee the investigation, while the government decided to transfer the probe from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), indicating the gravity of the situation.

With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared. pic.twitter.com/bFxb2nDT4H

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2025

US President Donald Trump expressed deep condolences and assured India of America’s full support. The world watched in horror as images and videos of the aftermath—people screaming, bleeding, and desperately pleading for help—circulated across social media.

Across India, political leaders and citizens reacted with grief and anger. Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Rahul Gandhi expressed sorrow and condemnation at the attack but also stated on his account on X that he had spoken to Home Minister, Amit Shah.

“Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC President Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation. The families of the victims deserve justice and our fullest support,” Gandhi said.

Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC President Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation.

The families of victims deserve justice and our fullest support.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 23, 2025

Rahul Gandhi also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the chairman of the National Conference, which leads the ruling alliance in the Union Territory, with the Congress as a coalition partner. After the 2001 attack on the Parliament, Sonia Gandhi, who was then the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, was among the first leaders to dial the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to enquire about his well-being.

Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah expressed heartbreak over the mass exodus of tourists and urged cooperation with controlled evacuation efforts, given the precarity of local roads.

It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights,… pic.twitter.com/5O3i5U1rBh

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 23, 2025

Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and PDP leader, led a protest march with party workers in Srinagar. They held placards reading, “This is an attack on all of us” and “Stop innocent killings.” Iltija Mufti, a young local leader, expressed disbelief, saying Baisaran was heavily patrolled and the ease with which such an attack happened was deeply alarming.

This is an attack on all of us. #Pahalgam pic.twitter.com/3NAJKrG0Wp

— J&K PDP (@jkpdp) April 23, 2025

CPI (M) leader and Kulgam MLA MY Tarigami speaking to PTI has said, “It is very unfortunate and painful for all of us. Especially for those whose family members, loved ones have been injured in the attack. When a tourist comes to Jammu and Kashmir, it opens employment opportunities for the locals here… It is a good thing for us when tourists come here again and again, but if they are attacked, then it is very shameful and painful… The government should take strict action against this.”

Condemning the dastardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam. The inhuman act of violence deserves to be denounced in the strongest terms. Such cowardly attacks on innocent civilians have no place in any civilised society.

— M Y Tarigami (@tarigami) April 22, 2025

Senior advocate and independent Rajya Sabha member, Kapil Sibal has, in a statement quoted by PTI stated, “Quoting Pakistan Chief Gen Asim Munir’s ‘jugular vein comment’, Sibal called the attack as a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack. He says, “It will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it, we not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their historic struggle. So obviously this is (Pakistan) state sponsored because this was said just a week ago…. I would urge the Home Minister to proscribe the outfit as a terrorist organisation under UAPA and we should file a prosecution in the International Criminal Court, urge international community to boycott Pakistan.”

Pahalgam
Baisaran Valley
26 dead so far..

This terrorist attack is an attack against humanity clearly sponsored by Pakistan.

General Munir said “Kashmir is our jugular vein..” one week ago

HM must proscribe Pakistan a terrorist state ; a terrorist organisation under UAPA

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 23, 2025

VIDEO | Quoting Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir’s ‘jugular vein’ comment, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) calls Pahalgam terrorist attack as Pakistan sponsored terrorist attack.

He says, “‘It will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it, we will not leave our… pic.twitter.com/CA07QxG0qG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2025

Security and evacuation efforts

In the immediate aftermath, the region saw a significant security build-up. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urged airlines to increase flights from Srinagar and waive rescheduling fees to help tourists evacuate. 

Aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, DGCA issues advisory to airlines over surge in pricing and waiving cancellation charges: DGCA pic.twitter.com/GHzerH1NSw

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Helicopters were deployed to airlift the severely injured, while locals—many of whom make a living from tourism—rushed to carry the wounded down the hill on ponies, a testament to the humanity still present amid horror.

Protests: A valley silenced by grief, united in defiance

This attack has dealt a severe blow to the region’s fragile calm, coming at a time when Kashmir was witnessing a revival in tourism. With the 38-day Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage set to begin in July, concerns over security are likely to grow.

While investigations continue, the horror at Pahalgam has brought back chilling memories of past tragedies in the Valley. It has reminded the country that terrorism still lurks, capable of destroying lives and peace in an instant.

On the morning following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that left 28 people dead—mostly tourists and local guides—Kashmir awoke to a sight it hadn’t seen in decades. Leading newspapers across the Valley printed their front pages in black, a visual lament echoing the sorrow, fury, and helplessness that had gripped the region. With headlines in stark white and crimson, the media offered a rare and haunting public protest against the brutality that once again ruptured the fragile peace of Jammu and Kashmir.

This is how Kashmir is feeling today. Saluts to the local newspapers: apologies to all Kashmiris for some of the Indian commercial electronic TV channels! https://t.co/dVycluuuwJ

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) April 23, 2025

Prominent English and Urdu dailies—Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab, and Taameel Irshad—eschewed the usual format, opting instead for a symbolic blackout. Greater Kashmir led with the chilling headline: “Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving”, its subheading in blood red: “26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.” The editorial beneath, titled “The massacre in the meadow – Protect Kashmir’s soul,” did not mince words. It described the assault not merely as a massacre but as an existential threat— “a deliberate blow to Kashmir’s identity and values — its hospitality, its economy, and its fragile peace.”

https://t.co/IJhRewSpKd #PahalgamTerroristAttack #pahalgamattack #PahalgamTerrorAttack

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) April 23, 2025

The editorial called for an urgent reimagining of security and intelligence coordination in the Valley. “The ability of terrorists to infiltrate a high-traffic, pedestrian-only tourist site undetected,” it warned, “points to severe gaps in our preventive mechanisms.” It urged a shift from reactive to proactive governance—demanding not just increased surveillance, but greater community engagement and a concerted effort to uproot terror infrastructure.

In a dramatic shift not witnessed since the early 1990s, the entire Kashmir Valley observed a total shutdown in response to the killings—marking the first bandh called to protest terrorism in over 35 years. The call for the shutdown was widely endorsed across the political spectrum and sections of civil society, including religious organisations, business federations, students’ unions, and trade bodies.

As per Hindustan Times, shops, fuel stations, and businesses remained closed in Srinagar and other districts. Public transport was scarce. Only essential services operated, and private vehicles plied the roads cautiously. Private schools suspended classes, while Kashmir University postponed all examinations. The silence that enveloped the Valley was not one of fear but of collective mourning—an unspoken but palpable declaration of unity against the forces that sought to terrorise the region.

Throughout the day, spontaneous and organised protests emerged in all corners of Kashmir. In Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Mehbooba Mufti joined grieving citizens in a rare display of civilian solidarity. Holding placards that read “Stop innocent killings” and “Killing innocents is an act of terror,” protesters demanded accountability and protection. Addressing the crowd, Mufti said, “This massacre is not just an attack on tourists, but an attack on the very soul of Kashmir. We have always stood against violence, and we will continue to raise our voice until the bloodshed ends.”

Killing innocents is an act of terror. Jammu & Kashmir stands against it. This attack is an attack on all of us. pic.twitter.com/Kc7BiesI4C

— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) April 23, 2025

No to Killings. No to Terror. We stand in shame and sorrow. #PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/pP6lY0oyl8

— Yasir Reshi (@YasirrReshi) April 23, 2025

South Kashmir towns like Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian saw markets voluntarily shut down. In Ganderbal and Kangan, traders staged processions through town squares, closing their establishments in mourning. Civil society participation was overwhelming. The Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU)—a collective of Islamic scholars led by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq—issued a rare joint appeal for peace and justice. Quoting the Quran during Friday prayers, the Mirwaiz said: “Whoever kills an innocent soul… it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” He urged the people to observe the shutdown not in vengeance but as a dignified protest against a “heinous crime against humanity.”

#WATCH | J&K | Locals hold a protest against #PahalgamTerrorAttack in Pulwama. pic.twitter.com/Gmgz1y8eE6

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

#WATCH | In light of the tragic killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, government employees across Jammu and Kashmir observe a two-minute silence as a mark of respect and solidarity

(Visuals from Jammu) pic.twitter.com/XMoCYHHfkW

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Political parties that have often found themselves at ideological odds—National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference, Apni Party—all joined in a chorus of condemnation, signalling a rare moment of political consensus in the Valley. Leaders across affiliations called for a unified approach to security, a reaffirmation of Kashmir’s commitment to peace, and a crackdown on the networks enabling such attacks.

On social media, heartbreak and solidarity flowed freely. A photo of a woman cradling her husband’s bloodied body outside a hospital in Anantnag became emblematic of the grief sweeping through the Valley. Tributes poured in not just for the tourists who perished, but for local guides, porters, and shopkeepers who died helping others flee.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Pahalgam terrorist attack, Senior advocate Kapil Sibal says, “Those responsible for this should be prosecuted in the international court. I urge the Home Minister to proscribe Pakistan as a terrorist state and move the International Criminal Court. I am sure… pic.twitter.com/eYHdRnUHRy

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

In Baramulla, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil led by students, while in Pulwama, elderly citizens marched silently, holding signs that read “We are Kashmiris, not terrorists.” In Budgam, schoolteachers and parents formed human chains outside education offices, denouncing the return of fear in a region already battered by decades of trauma.

Significantly, for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the administration did not clamp down on protest rallies. Officials confirmed that while security was heightened across sensitive areas, demonstrations were allowed to proceed. “We recognised that this was not an ordinary political agitation. This is a collective tragedy,” a senior police officer said. “The public anger is real, it is justified—and today, the people of Kashmir have made it clear: they reject terror in all its forms.”

The day-long shutdown, though sombre, was not a surrender to fear. It was a powerful, united act of remembrance and resistance—a statement that Kashmiris will not let violence define them. 

Other reports on the Pahalgam terror attack may be read here and here,

Related:

Muslims in Kashmir & across India strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack

Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir

The post A Tranquil Paradise Shattered: The Pahalgam terror attack appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“This attack on the Supreme Court, as an institution, and qua the Chief Justice of India Mr Justice Sanjiv Khanna, as an individual, is unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the statement added.

The association urged the attorney general to take action against Dubey. Already an advocate on record Anans Tanvir has approached the SC with a plea to launch contempt proceedings to which a division bench of the court, led by Justice Gavai asked the advocate to seek the Attorney General (AG). The hearing on this is listed for next week as there has been no response from the AG.

Under the 1971 Contempt of Courts Act, an individual can file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court only with approval from the attorney general or the solicitor general, it has been reported.

In his letter to the SC, Tanvir had argued that contempt proceedings should be initiated against Dubey for his “grossly scandalous” and “misleading” pronouncements on the CJI that were aimed at “lowering the dignity and authority of the Court.”

The SCBA in its resolution has stated that “this attack on the Supreme Court as an institution and qua the Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice Sanjiv Khanna as an individual is unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with law.”

The resolution may be read here.

Besides the bar association, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning Dubey’s remarks, Live Law reported.

“Such remarks are not only factually baseless and deeply irresponsible, but they also amount to a direct and unwarranted attack on the independence, dignity, and majesty of our country’s highest constitutional court,” the resolution was quoted as saying.

The Advocates-on-Record Association added that Dubey’s statements were “defamatory in nature and seek to lower the judiciary’s authority in the eyes of the public”.

The resolution emphasised the importance of judicial independence in a democracy and stated that while disagreements with the court’s decisions are acceptable, they must be expressed respectfully and within legal bounds.

The association also urged public representatives to “exercise restraint, uphold constitutional values, and respect the dignity of the judiciary”.

The post SCBA demands contempt action against BJP MP for remarks about CJI Sanjiv Khanna appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a statement issues today representatives of these organisations have said,

“We join all fellow Indians in offering our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. And call upon the central and state governments to ensure urgent and adequate compensation for the loss of precious lives and proper treatment of the injured.

“According to some reports, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, has claimed responsibility for the strike.

“We hope that the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended, brought to justice and handed severe punishments.

“IMSD, Bebak Collective, BMMA, CSSS and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have always opposed any targeting of innocent civilians anywhere, irrespective of the cause offered as justification for such savagery.

“The terror attack hits at the heart of the Valley’s tourism centre, Pahalgam, putting a big question mark on claims of “return of normalcy”.

“The latest mass killing raises disturbing questions about the failure of security agencies in ensuring adequate cover in and around Pahalgam, among the obvious targets of terrorist groups.

“We demand a thorough enquiry into such a grievous security lapse, fixing of responsibility and necessary action.

“Meanwhile, in this moment of grief and anguish, we are heartened by the humanity displayed by the average Kashmiri Muslim. On Wednesday (April 23) the entire Valley observed a complete bandh: shopkeepers, traders, transporters. Reports across Kashmir of Mosques opening their doors to assist distraught tourists are pouring in as are reports of open condemnations from the Mosques calling this terror attack an attack on humanity itself.

“Kashmiri newspapers have in their editorials and front pages, editorially and visually conveyed the message that this is a day of mourning for the lives lost. We urge all media, especially the television channels to objectively report the developments and not slide into any provocative coverage

“We call upon all Indians irrespective of religion to emulate the fine example of communal amity displayed by ordinary Kashmiri Muslims.”

Signatories:

Javed Anand, Convenor, IMSD

Hasina Khan, Bebaak Collective

Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS)

Teesta Setalvad, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)

Zakia Soman, Co-Convenor, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)

Zeenat Shaukatali, Director General, Wisdom Foundation

Related:

Indians & Kashmiris alike, Muslims strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack

The post Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In the communal violence in Northeast Delhi in February 2020, a big tyre market was set ablaze by rioters thrice over three consecutive days, leading to the loss of crores of rupees. As many as 224 tyre shops, mostly dealing with old ones, were gutted. They all belonged to Muslims. Hundreds of families were badly affected by this mayhem.

Notwithstanding challenges, the community has made steady progress in different sectors in the last few decades. Not only boys, even girls have entered the fields hitherto considered a male bastion. So, it would be factually incorrect to pronounce that their children are just cycle puncture mechanics.

Occupational shift

In the fast-changing occupational shift it would be wrong to claim that any community, or for that matter even caste, monopolises any particular profession. Today, in this era of rampant unemployment, several upper caste Hindus with degrees from universities are also lining up for jobs related to scavenging, otherwise traditionally fixed for Valmikis, Mehtars or Doms. The “twice-born” would eagerly accept these menial sanitation jobs in municipalities or municipal corporations and would then outsource it to the same scheduled castes. The salary would be shared between the two – the real worker would take half and absentee one the rest. At least, something is better than nothing.

Thus, it would be inappropriate to synonymise cycle tyre-puncture makers with Muslims. Of late, many Hindus are too taking up this work. Technology is also playing its role as new variants of tubeless tyres for vehicles seldom get punctured.

If one accepts that 78 years after the “fictitious” independence of the country on August 15, 1947, many Muslim youths are still engaged in the cycle tyre-puncture work, one may ask as to why 11 years down the “real” independence (May 26, 2014), millions of Musahars (Dalit community) as the very name suggests, are still filling their stomach by catching and eating rats.

What about crores of other Dalits who are still compelled by circumstances to consume the meat of the dead cattle and pigs as food? Who has left them in such dire straits more than a decade after India got its Vishwaguru?

By that logic, should one blame the Hindu religious and charitable endowment boards for their sorry plight? Who should be held responsible for thousands of farmers’ suicide and starvation deaths if not the government?

Social status

Needless to claim, puncture-makers have a relatively better social and economic status than many others in the strongly-entrenched caste hierarchy of India. Several of them have risen to the top position in different arenas. The lowly-paid puncture workers have been making enormous contributions to the transportation industry, which is essential for the economic growth of India.

A cursory analysis of the job market would reveal as to how B. Tech, M. Tech and PhD degree holders are applying for the posts of railway gangmen, chowkidars, miners, peons etc. And they belong to all the communities and castes. Why talk just about waqf boards – hardly any temple, ‘matha’, church, gurdwara or vihara (monastery) is providing jobs to people.

Corruption and illegal encroachment of graveyards, maqbara and masjid land are not only confined to Muslims. Religious bodies of other faiths are too plagued by them.

Yet, some of these religious institutions belonging to all the communities are providing actually education. They are engaged in the health sector, small-scale economic activities, as well as other philanthropic works, but providing employment and creating congenial atmosphere for the growth of trade, commerce and industry lie essentially on the shoulders of the government of the time.

‘Pakoda’ outlets

If a person earns just Rs 200 daily – as asserted by Mr Modi in an interview some years back – by selling pakodas (fritters) outside any television studios in the national capital region (or any other metropolitan city), where the standard of living is very high, it cannot be called employment in an era where double this amount has been fixed as the minimum wage of an unskilled labour. Earning Rs 200 daily, or even Rs 2,000 daily, is not enough as an income for these mega-cities.

Some of us at the top live in our own bubble. We do not take into account money policemen and policewomen, unauthorised agents and local mafia who are enjoying the patronage of ruling party goons, extract from vendors – be it puncture workers, ‘pakoda’ sellers, or those involved in other roadside engagements. One day, another gentleman may wake up to declare that all these illegal activities are actually honorable rozgars.

The need of the hour is not to ridicule or see in poor light those engaged in self-employment as they are at least not puncturing the wheels of development and are not becoming a burden on the society and the government. They are neither committing crimes nor are they taking to streets demanding jobs from the government.

Thus, after ‘pakoda’ selling kiosks, we have in Waqf boards discovered a big source for providing employment. Is it not a fact that until a few years ago, Modi was pooh-poohing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA)?

With unemployment still out of control, the Modi government now sees some merit in it.

Soroor Ahmed is a Patna-based freelance journalist.

First Published on TheWire

The post Amid Waqf Debate, Should Hindu Endowment Boards be Held Responsible for the Sorry Plight of Dalits? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Nagpur is a habitus where Dr B. R. Ambedkar launched his meditative anti-thesis of Navayana Buddhism, a counter-revolution against the Brahmanical forces. Using his Rhetorical technique, he chose Nagpur, having a rich history, legacy of Naga tribes, the original inhabitants of this country, who adopted, enacted and spread Buddha’s Dhamma based on liberty, equality, and fraternity. This principled Dhamma, he hoped, would be socialised and gradually absorbed by the state apparatus. My answer to Nagpur’s performative violence will be answered using the Vitanda of Nyaya Philosophy. The anatomy of these riots using this framework shall be analysed in three paradigms: textual habitus, power and its manifestations, and Sarvajanik Enlightenment.

Textual Habitus.

Brian Stock has formulated a concept of textual community. Here, textual communities are a part of the textual habitus governed by the centripetal force of Brahmanical texts. These texts are normalised using the ideological and government-state apparatus. Using this force, the ideological apparatus of RSS in Nagpur and its mimesis in the form of State apparatus are trying to revive the spirit of Brahmanical rule, engendering gender and caste-graded inequalities masked in divinity. The empirical framework shows the commercialisation of religion, the creation of spectacle in the form of the Kumbh Mela, the Machiavellian use of Religion as a performance, its feeding as opium by Hon. Prime Minister and his coterie, the suppression of the democratic spaces for dissent of an individual, snatching her freedom and rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, is being manufactured-normalised. This textual habitus socialises the youth in its orthodox Brahmanical discourse, whose chief purpose is resurrection, reinstituting Brahmanical hegemony. Rather than addressing the existential crisis engulfing the youth and economy, their energies are being diverted to instituting Brahamanical Hindutva, which later, as per Matsya Nyaya, shall swallow them also. To sum up, this textual habitus is a counter-revolution against the civility of the Constitution of India, taking it towards catastrophic homogeneity.

Power, its manifestations.

Steven Lukes describes power as an ideology manifesting in decision and non-decision-making. This raises a powerful question regarding power- who sets the discourse? The natural answer to these riots is the Brahmanical institution of RSS in Nagpur. Dr Ambedkar pointed out these phallocentric tactics of violence using these dogmatic texts. In the name of philosophy, he says these holy texts perpetuate and propagate war. The ideological power instituted in Nagpur sets these parochial dogmatic discourses of- othering the Muslims, segregating them as good and evil, forcing them to accept secondary citizenship, the lynching of Dalits, etc. in the name of religion. The Satyashodhak Movement and writings by Mahatma Jotirao Phule countered this power of Brahmanical textuality, which Dr. Ambedkar carried to its zenith. To cite a few instances, one can examine how these Brahmanical texts portray Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The attempts to rescue this Janata Raja were made by Mahatma Phule, Dr Ambedkar, and Comrade Govind Pansare. Their texts help to question this hegemonic power, exposing this Brahmanical project. They question the authority and legitimacy of these texts, thus devoiding them of their sanctity and attacking their infallibility. So, the Shudras-Atishudras and Economically marginalised people need to understand the cunningness of this Brahmanical strategy, promising them moksha, satiating their masculine dignity by bestowing them the titles of defenders of Hindutva. It is a typical psychological modus-vivendi of the Manuvadi ideological hegemons of Nagpur.

Sarvajanik Enlightenment

To understand the hermeneutics of these riots, I use the principles of the Sarvajanik Enlightenment. I derive this framework from two masters- Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Bertolt Brecht. Using the Brechtian concept of Verfremdungseffekt- distancing myself emotionally and understanding the factors of production of these riots. I foreground my Brechtian epic theatre of the Sarvajan public sphere. Creating this public sphere must be a protracted effort by the intellectual class. This intellectual class, organic intellectuals, must emerge from their ivory towers and democratise intellectualism in the spirit of Satyashodhak modernity. As popularly portrayed, Enlightenment is not just empiricism or rationality, but as per Blaise Pascal, it consists of two core factors, i.e. Customs and Inspiration. Thinking on these two paradigms and their dialectics, the Shudra-Atishudra-Economically marginalised need to educate themselves, and the task falls on the shoulders of organic intellectuals. These Brahmanical hegemons initiated riots, but their children were/are never a part of these staged events. They focus on foreign education; they are dipped in luxury and head the powerful institutions of the state and non-state using their social-cultural-economic and political capital.

Whereas the Shudras-Atishudras, economically marginalised, face the backlash of the State, get entangled in court cases, face poverty, stigmatisation, and moral-psychological guilt for their entire lifetimes. The classic example of handling such an event in this Sarvajanik Enlightened paradigm was practised by Dr B. R. Ambedkar during Mahad Satyagraha in 1927. The upper caste(s) of Mahad brutally attacked the Dalits on the orders of Brahmanical hegemons. Dr Ambedkar advised the Dalits not to respond violently. He was enlightened to understand that if Dalits attacked, they would play into the trap set by the Brahmanical hegemons. The Dalits had physical strength, but the repercussions later would be catastrophic as they lacked economic-political and social capital to tackle the Brahmanical judicial system. Later, Dr Ambedkar won the court case using his intellectual might not via violent fights.

Thus, the anatomy of the riots is what I had tried to understand by its hermeneutical reading of the event of Nagpur, understanding the communal bio politics that thrives on the graded inequalities of religion, gender and caste(s). In contrast, the Shudras-Atishudras-Economically marginalised are the resources used for their discourse; when their utility is over, they too shall be disposed of. Beware!

The author is a senior research scholar, IIT-Delhi

The post Anatomy of Nagpur Riots: A communal bio politics that thrives on the graded inequalities of religion, gender and caste(s) appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In the death of Pope Francis, the world has lost one of the greatest personalities of modern times! We are saddened that he is no longer in our midst!

He was truly a compassionate pastor with a warm, loving heart for the poor and marginalised, the excluded and the exploited, the refugees and the migrants, the LGBTGIA+ community, the victims of war and human trafficking and in fact, with all sub-alterns and those who live on the peripheries of society.

Pope Francis transcended boundaries and exclusiveness, divisions and discrimination of every kind. He was convinced that humans should build bridges and not walls, to reach out to others, particularly the lost, the last and the least. His Encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ speaks strongly about this.

Pope Francis was deeply troubled by what is happening to the environment. He cared for our common home and wished that all take responsibility to ensure that our planet earth is liveable for all. His writings ‘Laudato Si’ and ‘Laudate Deum’ on the environment, bear testimony to his concern.

Pope Francis was a man of peace! He spoke out unequivocally against every war and the industrial military complex; he took a strong stand against the ‘culture of death’. He spoke directly to the most powerful people on earth reminding them of what they should be doing. His last tweet on 20 April evening began with “I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible…”

Above all, Pope Francis was a man of God, sent to be a pilgrim on earth; to motivate all of us with a newer, deeper and more meaningful hope! He was a complete human being who left no stone unturned to make our world a more just, peaceful and humane place for all! He was and is a SAINT!

Millions all over will miss him! In his death the world is orphaned!    

(The author is a human rights, justice, reconciliation & peace activist/writer)

The post In Pope Francis’ death the world has lost a visionary appeared first on SabrangIndia.