Kashmir Halcyon:

By Daanish Bin Nabi Published on June 26, 2018 Two days before Eid on 14 June, the shocking assassination of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari in the heart of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, shocked the entire country, particularly the journalistic community. However, along with the renowned editor, two other individuals also lost their lives in the same attack. They were two personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police — Abdul Hamid Tunch and Mumtaz Awan — who were entrusted with the responsibility of guarding Shujaat as threats to his life rose manifold. Belonging to nondescript villages near the Line of Control (LoC), both struggled against hardships to become part of one of the country's busiest police forces. After their untimely deaths, their families are still trying to find ways to come to terms with the tragedy. Daanish Bin Nabi, on behalf of Firstpost, visited the ancestral homes of both the slain cops to find out what these individuals were...

By Daanish Bin Nabi  Published by FIRSTPOST Jun 20, 2018  The killing of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari has sent shock waves not only across the Kashmir Valley, but all over the globe. The manner in which Shujaat was killed was the most brutal in recent times (at the very least). However, he died in the line of duty. Even at the time of his killing, he had copies of two national newspapers (The Indian Express and Hindustan Times) with him. Given his stature and the international exposure, his killing is not only a loss to the field of journalism, but to the world of activism as well. He was blunt and vocal against human rights violations and had pleaded in India and abroad that Kashmir be dealt with as a political issue.  Preacher of peace He was a man of principles and integrity. He also was a warmhearted person who had a unique attitude as far as making friends and maintaining relationships went. Shujaat was a vocal vanguard ...

By Daanish Bin Nabi Published by National Herald on June 17th 2018 “Why did you leave without telling me? Eid is two days away. What are we going to do now?” These were the last words, over the phone, of Shujaat Bukhari for me at around 1:30 pm on June 14. How was I to know that this would be the last call that I would receive from my Editor? I got associated with Shujaat Bukhari and Rising Kashmir in 2013. Within a span of only a few months, I got promoted as Online Editor of Rising Kashmir, besides being the Oped Editor of the paper.  Heading the online section got me even closer to Shujaat Bukhari. He would treat me like his son than an employee. Whenever there was some development regarding Kashmir, he would ring me up, saying, “Listen, this should go live within the next two minutes”. I had only two minutes to check, cross-check and then upload the news. He always wanted us to break the news first come what may. He would always say to me, “Daanish raftaar...

The ‘Nanne Kour’ of ‘Zone Dab’, an editor at BBC’s Urdu Service in London for 22 years, author of a well-received book in English language ‘Lost in Terror’ published by Penguin India and ‘Deshat Zadi’ in Urdu language, the daughter-in-law of the famous Kashmiri poet, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, and wife of the former BBC Hindi Service editor, Abdal Mehjoor, the former Media Advisor of the Peoples Democratic Party and Chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women, Nayeema Ahmed Mehjoor has worn many hats. In an interview with  Rising Kashmir  Op-ed Editor,  Daanish Bin Nabi,  she talks about the commission she headed and the challenges she faced, why she joined politics and how she see the PDP and the Muftis, and the state of journalism in Kashmir. Excerpts  Did your being close to Mehbooba Mufti qualify you for the appointment of the Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women? My appointment as Chairperson of the ...

Published by Rising Kashmir on August 16, 2018  The rebel Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA   Molvi Imran Raza Ansari   in an exclusive interview with Rising Kashmir Op-ed Editor,   Daanish Bin Nabi  talks about a host of issues that laid the basis of contention between him and PDP high command. These issues range from family interference to taking Tassaduq Mufti as a minister in Mehbooba Mufti-led government, from corruption to nepotism. He also says that the disgruntled PDP MLAs do not have the numbers to form a new government with the rightwingBharatiyaJanata Party (BJP). Excerpts  What actually happened between you and PDP high command? Nothing happened all of sudden. Three months after Mehoobaji took oath as the chief minister of the State, I told her that things were not right. Then I also tendered resignation as a minister. After my resignation, the party high command gave me assurances that my genuine demands would be fulfilled. H...