Kashmir Halcyon:

Posted on June 27, 2016 in Staff Picks, Stories by YKA By Daanish Bin Nabi for Youth Ki Awaaz: Most of us live dull, dreary lives. Only the fortunate few are able to live the life of their dreams. Among those lucky ones is, 19-year-old football player-cum-coach, Nadiya Nighat She tells Youth Ki Awaaz, “My life is like a dream for me. All I can say is that I am living my dream.”  Nadiya breaks the stereotype that people may have in mind regarding Kashmiri girls. She is a passionate footballer. For her, playing and coaching football is her passion and her life. Nadiya started playing football when she was ten years old. While she has graduated from high school, she has not taken applied for further studies. This 19-year-old sleeps, dreams and lives football. She is all praise for her mentor and coach, Mohammad Abudullah. “He has taught me everything I know about football. It was only after his coaching that I decided to play football for the rest of my life,” ...

Published on November 28, 2015  in Rising Kashmir Daanish Bin Nabi On November 26, Bijbehara, the hometown of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed wore a deserted look. Armed forces dotted this town in south Kashmir. Three militants: Adil Sheikh, Tanveer Ahmad Bhat and Sartaj Ahmad Lone; all three belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahidin group, were killed in a gunfight with forces at Aishmuqam on November 23. I travelled the home town of the chief minister to get the glimpse of the people post the encounter that lasted about an hour.  The family of Adil Sheikh, one of the militants killed in Aishmuqam, does not own a house and lives in a tent. Adil’s grandfather since the killing is a shattered old man, who looked at us with piteous eyes. The father, Fayaz Ahmad Shiekh, accused SOG and Police for Adil’s joining militant ranks.  The brother of Adil says that he (Adil) was picked up by SOG men in the past and when he returned home he did not utter a word but only demande...