Spare our ears!

Each city is unique in its own ways, one just needs to connect with the culture and get going. Exploring new places, getting along with the culture of the city and analyzing everything with a journalist’s eye has become a part of my life. Travelling to places has always excited me and moving to Jammu for post graduation in IIMC had its own charm too.

Living in this city for more than two months now, I observed various sounds made by horns of vehicles. Stand at any traffic signal or road in the city and you are bound to hear unnecessary honking. Sometimes, I wonder what makes people take out all their anger on roads in the form of honking!

To delve deeper into the issue and to find a valid reason behind the same, I sit back and try to classify these sounds based on my own observations. Though, it would seem non-sensical to some, I would advise the readers to be a little patient and continue reading. You might as well identify with what I observed!

So here I begin. The first and foremost type is the standard honk which is most prevalent in the city. One can hear this type of honk almost anywhere and everywhere from streets to markets. Be it a deserted road or a stuffed market, honking is “cool” especially in the minds of youngsters. Next, is the stylish honk; which rises above the previous one. It is mostly musical or rhythmic; irritating everyone else. Possibly, the reason behind the stylish honk which I can  think of, is that, it is an outlet to show an upbeat mood or a flair for music!

And after the musical stylish honk comes the angry frustrated honk. This one is particularly longer in duration and keeps on rising with time and is normally used in beastly traffic jams. It is possibly applied to show disapproval in the drivers mind when he or she wants to make someone cry for what he or she is feeling and the effect is conveniently reproduced by pressing the horn! I wonder what is so annoying in their lives that they forget that roads are also meant for everyone else to use.

The main purpose of writing on this issue so explicitly is that the rising sound pollution due to needless honking affects health and temperament. Loud noise or continuous exposure to it can increase the irritability of a person, affect hearing ability and may even cause blood pressure to rise. It is high time for people to understand that horn is meant for emergency only. It is not a toy to play with. It is very essential to sensitize them about the impact of their act which is not just disturbing but at the same time irritating and is an inconvenience for all. And with this I conclude, dear worthy citizens spare our ears, and stop honking!

Horn is meant for emergency only. It is not a toy to play with. Spare our ears!

A delightful jaunt!

Last Friday, early morning, we set for a one-day trip to learn the basics of photojournalism practically. Students along with the professors started from the hostel and after a long seven-hour drive by bus from Jammu; we reached our destination Sudh Mahadev, a 2800-year old temple.
Thereafter, we walked to a “paap nashini baoli”, a natural water spring wherein water flows throughout the year and a dip in the same has the power to destroy all our sins. Whether I was freed of my sins or not is yet to be found out, but, the chilling water definitely managed to make me rid of the drowsiness and fatigue of the travel.

A treat to the eyes !

After the refreshing water of the baoli, we started interacting with the locals. The picturesque beauty of the village was like a treat to the eyes. The melodious hum of chirping birds, soothing shade of the chinar tree and the serenity of the village gave us the complete idea as to why people prefer to live in villages today when cities provide all the luxuries of life.
Though we wanted to stay for long, but so as to reach timely we started back at 5 in the evening.
 “Nature did never betray the heart that loved her”; the place undoubtedly left me mesmerized. So next time if you are travelling to Jammu, don’t limit your visit only to the world famous Vaishno Devi Shrine and try giving your eyes a delightful treat!
Here's a glimpse of what we explored through Avantika's lens ;)
Our day trip to Sudh Mahadev

Inspiration for all: Doordarshan Director (Jammu), Mr. Shabeer Ahmad Buch

‘Not here to make money’

Doordarshan Director,Mr. Shabeer Ahmad Buch

National award winning journalist, producer and presently the director of Doordarshan, Jammu, Shabeer Ahmad Buch, the man who believes in action, went candid with students of IIMC, Jammu. He shared his personal journey as well as his industry experience with students briefing them about the functioning of Doordarshan. Here’s my excerpt of the enlightening session with the man of ethics who emphasizes on imparting the social responsibility of a journalist in the society.
 “We are not here to earn money”, he said while talking to the students about his life and career in Doordarshan. The director feels proud about his position in Doordarshan and claims that no other channel can provide pure news in the way their channel does. There have been innumerable changes in the industry with the advancement in technology, he added. He also told that the role of private channels is totally different because Doordarshan is perhaps the only channel that focuses both on rural and semi urban areas.
He completed his graduation in mass communication from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 1976.He entered the industry as a floor manager in 1982 and completed his first assignment on Asian games. He believes that it was a challenge for him to sustain and that he has totally enjoyed his work so far.
He also added that their main function is to spread awareness among masses. Krishi Darshan was the first programme telecast on Doordarshan and is one of the longest running programmes on Indian television. He mentioned that no other channel is able to provide informative and interactive programmes about new variety of seeds, farming techniques, green revolution etc. It is basically catering to those masses that are in rural areas and can’t afford a luxurious life.

Kishtwar, Clashes and Curfew

Trouble-torn Kishtwar: Not all prayers got answered 

Day curfew was lifted from the trouble-torn Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir after 13 days of prolonged restrictions. The communal violence broke out on the festival of Eid bringing massive destruction to life and property. Clashes broke out soon after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on August 9 in Eidgah area of old city where around one lakh people offered prayers. Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq was going to address the gathering but he was kept inside his residence and was not allowed to offer prayers. Soon after the prayers, a large group of people carried out a protest march and pelted stones on the police who were deployed in full strength in the Eidgah area. Incidents of arson, looting and violence were reported during the day in which three persons were killed and around 63 others were injured.

A free for all situation prevailed for several hours due to complete collapse of civil and police administration, which gave the miscreants freedom and they indulged in open vandalism razing shops, vehicles and various other commercial establishments to ground. Twelve bore guns, petrol bottles, lathis and all other available material was used by the mob to set fire on shops, buses, petrol tankers, trucks, cars and other commercial establishments till 7 p.m. Curfew was strictly imposed nearly five hours after it was announced.

The violence in which three people were killed and at least 150 shops were destroyed raised several questions about communalization in the state. Till 1947, the town was known for its near idyllic inter-community relations much due to the conscious collective efforts taken by the elders of both the communities to maintain the mutual trust that existed between them.Kishtwar wasn't always divided on communal lines. It has a strong history of communal harmony. A Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi is said to have spread Islam in this area. His shrine is considered holy and worshiped with equal reverence by Hindus and Muslims.

 The political situation in this district, which largely remained peaceful since 1947, changed drastically in the early 1990s due to rise of militancy. The vastness of the district, highly inaccessible mountainous terrains and dense forests provided a safe haven to militants. The separatist movement also gained from the demography of the district and soon managed to earn the sympathy of ethnic Kashmiri Muslim population here. Militancy and Centre's response to it and the separatist politics slowly divided the two communities. The Muslims soon found themselves stuck between the militants and the security forces. While they were forced to aid militants, provide them food, shelter and cover, they were also grilled by the security forces for helping them.

The violence and killings during this period created the first seeds of mistrust between the communities.The situation, however, turned worse after the selective killing of Hindus by militants and the creation of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) that changed the attitude of people towards each other. Over the last 20-30 years,it has become a sensitive place. A similar incident of curfew took place in the year 2003, where violence erupted after Hindus objected to Muslims chanting anti-India slogans after prayers. This incident of communal violence in Kishtwar is not new. In fact, it’s just like a spark in the fire that pre-existed. Locals said that due to curfew and non-supply of fresh stocks, people of the district faced acute shortage of life-saving drugs, baby food, ration items, vegetables and other essentials.

A new girl in the city

Jammu mornings :)

Moving on in this unpredictable journey called ‘Life’, following the childhood dreams and to do justice to myself by bringing truth out to the society; I, hereby, step in the field of journalism. Not many people get a chance to live their dreams fully and I consider myself lucky enough by making it to Indian Institute of Mass Communication .Meeting new people and exploring new places has always excited me and I believe there’s a lot of learning waiting ahead. The city Jammu, the conversations with the new friends and the nights that I have spent in the hostel so far assure that the stay is going to be a memorable one. Waking up to the peaceful mornings, watching the simplicity of people here, trying to catch hold of the Dogri language, bonding with the budding journalists with different perspectives and bearing power cuts briefly defines the short span.And the journey begins …