Murtaza Shibli
Countercurrents.org
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Past articles by Murtaza:
The Grammar of Galwan
The Kashmiri word galwan is quite riveting. In common idiom, it has an unsavoury connotation laced with an overwhelming pejorative sentiment. Anyone described as a galwan would be uncouth both in visual representation and in deed, provoking an insalubrious characterisation in mind. Another meaning is to describe somebody who possesses a clamorous voice. But that is not what galwan is[Read… → Read More
Beyond Soleimani! – Countercurrents
Finally, the storm over General Qassem Soleimani’s death seems to be over. Had it not been for the strategic restraint and wisdom of the Iranian regime, the war seemed imminent which would have certainly resulted in the decimation of the stranglehold of the religious elite and wide-scale destruction of the country and beyond. It is now clear that the sustained[Read More...] → Read More
Kashmir: The politics of bloodbaths – Countercurrents
On the New Year’s Day, Kashmir will complete 150 days of siege – largest ever in any place with the world’s longest-ever internet blockade. Although the curfew-like siege that started on mid-night 4 August has been considerably eased, the wherewithal of the cordon remains entrenched and determined to activate with a wild vengeance whenever Kashmiris display any potential for resistance.[Read… → Read More
Doing Kashmir in India?
The last ten days or so have seen a lot of violence in India. From Assam to Bengaluru and from Chennai to New Delhi, peaceful protesters have been brutally attacked and assaulted by a police force... → Read More
Dreams of Article 370
More than four months since Article 370 was abrogated, gruffly followed by wide-scale and harsh curbs, Kashmiri feelings of a distinct identity lie in tatters. Despite a potent current of... → Read More
In search of an Ottoman Kashmiri
Dr MA Sherif is a committed researcher with the zeal of a detective and patience of a saint. Last month, we met in an East London café as he elaborated on his search for a 19th century... → Read More
Governor Raj
The governor’s rule that was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir last year after the fall of the coalition government headed by crafty Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party is about... → Read More
From Amarnath to Murree
The annual holy Amarnath Yatra in the 3880-meter-high glacier cave in the Himalayan is in full swing. So far, in the first 20 days of the 46-day pilgrimage, around 2,50,000 devotees from across... → Read More
Water, wars and hydro-diplomacy
Climate change is eating the Himalayan glaciers at a pace that, if left unabated, would threaten water supplies and life and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people across South Asia.The... → Read More
Governance in Kashmir
The central Indian government has just announced an extension of the president’s rule in restive Jammu and Kashmir. The rule is managed by the governor directly appointed by the central... → Read More
Ramadan, Ramzan, and the crescent
Prior to the commencement of the holy month, it has now become almost a ritual to get drawn into the simmering debates, mainly over social media, on how to rightly articulate its name. In my... → Read More
In search of the Yeti
A day before the month of April folded, the Indian Army made a startling claim of having found the footprints of the fabled snowman – Yeti – near the Makalu Base Camp, close to the... → Read More
Election diary
The third phase of the Indian parliamentary elections ended early this week. I am so wilfully removed from the process that when I learnt that the government had declared a holiday for all schools... → Read More
Troubled waters
General Asad Durrani’s latest book, ‘Pakistan Adrift: Navigating Troubled Waters’, offers an interesting account of his life both as a military general and head of the... → Read More
Hindu vs Hindutva
The forced resignation of Fayyazul Hassan Chohan from his post as the information and culture minister for the government of Punjab has set a good example. I am not aware of anyone else holding... → Read More
Sanity for now
Following the Pulwama fidayeen attack, the last two weeks have been terribly unnerving. A dangerous war hysteria generated by an endless barrage of hate and incendiary broadcasts from Indian... → Read More
The Fallout of The Balakote Strike – Countercurrents
Notwithstanding the claims and counter-claims between India and Pakistan, one thing is now acknowledged from both sides that the Indian Air Force planes entered the Pakistani territory and returned back safely. That is pretty embarrassing for the Pakistani authorities – both the Prime Minister Imran Khan who, only a few days back, promised retaliation and the Army Chief, General Qamar[Read… → Read More
Sorrows of Aligarh
For the last five years, the Aligarh Muslim University has been under a continuous and vicious assault from right-wing Hindutva groups. Their main motivation, according to various Muslim and Dalit... → Read More
Beyond the plebiscite
The recent plebiscite in the southern Philippines province of Mindanao has boosted optimism for peace and a settlement to finally end a decades-old deadly conflict in Asia.The predominantly Muslim... → Read More
Shah Faesal: A Forged Journey – Countercurrents
Shah Faesal’s journey from an overwhelming personal tragedy to excellence in his career is both amazing and awe-inspiring. At 19, his father, a government teacher who was very popular locally, was murdered by the hitherto unknown militants because of his refusal to provide them shelter, according to a 2010 newspaper report quoting his mother Mubeena Begum. Such a calamity could’ve[Read More...] → Read More