Updated: As a journal of contemporary culture grounded in Kashmir and reaching out to the rest of the world, our main purpose of being is to discuss ideas, share art, literature, film and academic work in order to generate a massive cultural and intellectual exchange based on a common interest in the arts, humanities and scholarship from diverse fields, societies and cultures around the world. The simple goal thus far has been to reconnect and acquaint contemporary Kashmir with the outside world and vice versa in the hope that people from all origins and backgrounds may come to know each other through their dedication to the arts and humanities, and an eclectic engagement with scholarship. However, due to the recent media blackout in Kashmir, the heavy mobilization of army and police personnel throughout the Himalayan territory and the complete telephonic and internet shutdown enforced by the state, Inverse Journal has had to cover for a wide variety of media outlets and civil rights organizations from Kashmir Valley to provide a Kashmiri perspective on the actual happenings in Kashmir (it seems odd to have to write such a sentence in the first place). In the process, for the basic right to information, this page has been compiled with a curated sample of different media, interviews, articles and other such information about the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A from the Indian constitution and the subsequent military curfew and media blackout imposed on the Kashmiri population (now for the fifth day). This space will be updated regularly so please do check and share widely.
A significant number of Kashmiri scholars, journalists, writers, members of the diaspora and the international community have their say on India’s revocation of Articles 370 and 35A. The Indian state stands in contradiction of its own constitutional logic as the primary provisions of democratic consensus have been bypassed by presidential order and employing the governor’s authorization. At the present (and since the last seven decades), there has been no democratic consensus over the matter by the people of Kashmir, who aside from not being consulted by means of a proper vote, have currently been put under house arrest, under military watch on every street corner and public space, with mobile and broadband services shutdown, television channels out of service, telephone lines disconnected, public assembly prohibited and Section 144 being imposed indefinitely. Despite such extreme restrictions and mass scale silencing imposed by the government, members of the international Kashmiri community as well as global figures have not ceased to offer perspective on the matter. Meanwhile, back in Kashmir, it is impossible to receive news of any developments at ground level and people living outside of Kashmir are not able to contact their loved ones in the valley, which remains under severe military and police surveillance and watch. Attached is a compilation of media, articles and tweets from the besieged Himalayan territory. A visual bibliographical citation of the works of such figures in relation to Kashmir is provided for further inquiry and exploration into their work. This section will be updated as more media emerges.
Sanjay Kak, Mirza Waheed and Sidhartha Deb on Democracy Now
“Tensions are escalating over the disputed region of Kashmir following India’s revocation earlier this week of its special status, which granted the area some autonomy. Kashmir remains on lockdown, with internet and other communications blocked and leaders placed under house arrest. The Modi government has also deployed tens of thousands of additional troops in Kashmir. Pakistan announced Wednesday it would expel India’s ambassador and stop its newly appointed envoy from assuming his position in New Delhi. It also announced it was cutting off all bilateral trade with India. We speak with three guests: Sanjay Kak, a New Delhi-based Kashmiri documentary filmmaker; Mirza Waheed, journalist and award-winning Kashmiri novelist; and Siddhartha Deb, award-winning Indian author and journalist.” – Democracy Now Website
Professor Mona Bhan
Professor Mona Bhan (Syracuse University) provides much needed perspective on India’s revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, and what it entails for the future of Kashmir. This video from BBC World News is captured by The Polis Project and sourced from Youtube. Also included is Professor Bhan’s interjection in a special program on Al Jazeera and her recently co-edited volume “Resisting Occupation in Kashmir.”
Resisting Occupation in Kashmir | Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhan, Ather Zia, Cynthia Mahmood
Search the full text of this book: Edited by Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhan, Ather Zia, and Cynthia Mahmood 312 pages | 6 x 9 | 7 illus. Cloth 2018 | ISBN 9780812249781 | $79.95s | Outside the Americas £66.00 Ebook editions are available from selected online vendors A volume in the series Ethnography of Political Violence View table of contents "At last anthropology comes to Kashmir.
Professor Ather Zia
Professor Ather Zia provides her perspective on a special program by BBC World News covering the Indian government’s abrupt and secretive decision to repeal Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution. The provisions of the articles have been illegally bypassed and contradicted to nullify the Kashmiri right to self-determination. Professor Zia provides the necessary historical and legal contexts from a far too ignored and recuurently undermined Kashmiri perspective.
Professor Inshah Malik
Professor and Kashmiri feminist scholar Inshah Malik offers perspective on the situation in Kashmir on a special segment broadcast by BBC World News. Her interview on Radio Islam is also attached below along with a link to her recent book “Muslim Women, Agency and Resistance Politics
The Case of Kashmir” (Palgrave-Macmillan)
Mirza Saaib Bég
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF STATE- SUBJECTS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. Read out by Mirza Saaib Bég from Kashmir at the vigil for Kashmir outside the Indian High Commission, London. #standwithkashmir
Mohammed Hanif
Pakistani novelist Mohammed Hanif voices his opinion in the New York Times, stating “Subjugating an entire people wasn’t enough for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
British Member of Parliament Liam Bryne
British Member of Parliament Liam Bryne makes an open call for peaceful resolution. Below is his speech in the British Parliament from January 2016. Full text of his speech here.
United Nations Human Rights Spokesperson
“What we are witnessing in Indian-Administered #Kashmir takes what was already a bit of a pattern to a new level.
We are deeply concerned that the latest restrictions in Indian-Administered Kashmir will exacerbate the human rights situation in the region. We are seeing blanket telecommunications restrictions, the reported arbitrary detention of political leaders and restrictions on peaceful assembly. These restrictions will prevent the people of Indian-Administered Kashmir and their elected representatives from participating fully in democratic debate about the future status of Jammu and Kashmir,” — United Nations Human Rights spokesperson briefs journalists at UN Geneva.
British Member of Parliament Shabana Mahmood
British Member of Parliament Shabana Mahmood on Sky News:
“The Indian Government’s decision to revoke Article 370, removing the autonomy of Kashmir is alarmingly provocative. Taking this decision in the most heavily militarized zones in the world is deeply irresponsible. The Kashmiri people must have their rights upheld.”
Below is Shabana Mahmood’s September 2011 speech in the House of Commons.
Jean Dreze
Economist Jean Dreze holds up an infographic protest placard.
Amnesty International
Indian Media Coverage (NDTV)
“It has been close to 72 hours since the government’s dramatic move to strip Jammu and Kashmir of statehood and special powers. For a move that is meant to benefit the Kashmiris, there is one missing piece, the Kashmiris themselves. On Reality Check, we turn to these voices of Kashmir even as several of them outside the state are reluctant to speak publicly, and find out what they think of the Centre’s move even as J&K remains in lockdown. NDTV is one of the leaders in the production and broadcasting of un-biased and comprehensive news and entertainment programmes in India and abroad. NDTV delivers reliable information across all platforms: TV, Internet and Mobile.” – NDTV
Below are some useful and informative articles on the recent events concerning Kashmir.