DRESSED in a red pheran (a traditional Kashmiri overcoat) and a scarf, Insha Mushtaq, 22, sits at her house in Sedow, a village in South Kashmir. But she cannot see the picturesque environment around her. Insha lost her eyes in July 2016 when pellets blew on her face and she lost her eyes.
Mushtaq Ahmad, her father, is seated at a distance from her. As we talk, Insha would often interrupt, reminding him of the specific dates and days she had spent in the hospital back in 2016. She would often touch her forehead and eyebrows.
"For the past few days, I feel itching around my eyes," she says laughing. After seven years, Insha's house is again frequented by journalists and politicians as she has qualified Class 12 J&K Board examination securing 367 marks out of 500. It's a remarkable feat for her considering the challenges she faces.
"Even babber-sher was here," Insha says laughing. She is referring to Peerzada Muhammad Shafi Shah, who contested from the Khag constituency of Budgam in the District Development Council polls in 2021. He lost the polls, but he is popular on the social media sites for his gaffes. He calls himself babber sher (lion). "He was shouting about the BJP," Insha says with a sardonic laugh.
Insha says the scars of July 2016 are still fresh in her mind when a volley of pellets ruptured her face and eyes. It took her months to heal from the trauma.
Bu hikaye Outlook dergisinin July 11, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Outlook dergisinin July 11, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
My Secular Mentor
A rare psychologist of Indian culture, Sudhir Kakar leaves behind seminal works that will have relevance for many generations
Battle of the Bahubalis
Gangsters in Bihar no longer enjoy the kind of dominance that they did in the 90s, but that has not kept them away from politics
Memories of Riots
Have frequent communal tensions changed the social fabric of Bihar?
Didi's Achilles Heel
Mamata Banerjee stays the course but her party, plagued by corruption charges, spins out of control
Memory Metamorphosis
What happened on March 14, 2007 in Nandigram? People still ask this question as they take part in the dance of democracy
Minority Report
He has not lost the Dhubri seat in Assam since 2009. Now he is fighting for political survival as Bengali Muslims look to favour the Congress
THE POWER OF PURPOSE
Doing good is good business as it transcends bottom lines and impacts lives positively, yielding profits that go beyond numbers.
CURRENT FARMING METHODS ARE EXACERBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project is supporting transition of 850,000 farmers covering 377,801 hectares of land and operating in 3730 villages. \"Natural farming is in harmony with nature. It is a holistic land management practice that leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants\", says Mr. T Vijay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, who is the Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a non-profit organization set up by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2014. Since 2016, this platform has been utilized to integrate and promote APCNF activities, aimed at fostering the overall development and empowerment of farmers. Excerpts from an interview with Mr T Vijay Kumar:
IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Harshavardhana Gourineni, Executive Director, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd, in an interview shares how through its products and operations the company is helping reduce carbon footprints and meet SDGs. Excerpts:
COOLING NO MORE A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY
With the rise in demand of air conditioners due to heat stress, sustainable air conditioning is the way forward to bring relief to people as well as manage emissions