Renowned poet and broadcaster, Farooq Nazki, passed away at 83, leaving a void in Kashmir's literary community. His daughter shared a poignant moment on Facebook, capturing his lack of fear for death but concern for dependents. A Sahitya Akademi awardee, Nazki began as a poet in 1967 and contributed significantly to popular radio dramas like "Zoon Daeb." He served as Director of All India Radio's Srinagar station and, post-retirement, held key roles in media advisory. His literary contributions in Kashmiri and Urdu, including translations of Urdu Ghazals, earned him national recognition, marking his passing as a substantial loss in Kashmir's literary world.
Hafsa Kanjwal's "A Fate Written on Matchboxes" delves into the complex dynamics of state-building in Kashmir in the post-1947 era, focusing particularly on Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad's governance in the 1950s. The book critically examines the 'paradox' of development under Bakshi, where state-building practices aimed at integration coexisted with increased modernization. Kanjwal highlights Bakshi's emphasis on empowerment and development to foster loyalty, yet reveals the simultaneous fuelling of resentment and suppression of dissent. Chapters detail Bakshi's effective use of propaganda, tourism, and cinema to reshape narratives and project a façade of normalcy. The economic challenges, education reforms, and cultural interventions under Bakshi are scrutinized, exposing the tensions between short-term political imperatives and long-term economic growth.The book sheds light on Bakshi's authoritarian rule, deploying oppressive state machinery, dr