For Kashmir's Women Journalists, Press Club Closure Is the Loss of Their Last Safe Workplace:
V/D/C NEWS :
Srinagar: The abrupt conclusion of the Kashmir Press Club (KPC), the biggest collection of writers in Kashmir with around 300 individuals, by the Jammu and Kashmir government with an upset style takeover by a couple of columnists adversely affects ladies writers.
Most feel like they have lost a subsequent home.
The public authority secured the club, reported its conclusion and the abrogation of its designation of premises to it on January 17.
The club space - a sanctuary for independent writers and photographic artists as well - was additionally utilized by common society gatherings, ideological groups, business foundations and relationship for question and answer sessions. All the more significantly, the club had been instrumental in campaigning for writers' wellbeing and gave standard explanations at whatever point nearby columnists were assaulted, gathered or bothered by the public authority organizations or when the web associations were closed somewhere around specialists.
Indeed, even as the public authority supported the closing down of the club, saying it was to guarantee the "wellbeing of genuine writers", the public authority move paving the way to the conclusion of the club has been generally scrutinized by columnists and a few columnists' bodies the nation over who have required a free investigation into the constrained conclusion and looked for the returning of the club.
Mohsina Malik, a youthful columnist from Srinagar who at present works with a week after week paper and gateway Free Press Kashmir, says the shutting down of a unique space like KPC which was continuously humming with youthful and senior writers from across the Valley is one more endeavor to gag the voices and privileges of columnists. She says she and her associates feel "dissipated" presently with no normal space to accumulate in.
Additionally being a lady I would consistently lean toward a more secure space like KPC rather than any bistro or side of the road place for work. This was likewise the situation for when I needed to meet my companions and individual columnists," she says, adding that in her calling mingling securely with individuals and partners, and creating human affiliations is vital.
"At KPC, other than working, it was the best spot to get to know and meet our seniors and experienced partners. Cooperating with them and trading thoughts and perspectives with them was a growth opportunity," says Arjumand. "Being a youthful columnist and new to this field, I would get to know their approach to managing the various circumstances and their method of work. I used to gain some significant knowledge from them there."
Farzana Nisar, an independent columnist working throughout the previous four years in Kashmir, sees the persuasive takeover and resulting conclusion of the club at this point one more endeavor by the public authority to stifle opportunity of articulation and quiet free writers in Kashmir.
"Throughout the long term we have seen a youthful variety of free ladies columnists coming up in Kashmir who make an honest effort to bring out significant and verifiable stories. The club resembled a second home for them," she says. "It is extremely evident that the specialists are attempting to control the account and further curb writers by shutting down their work and meeting spaces."
Farzana accepts the club gave a feeling that all is well with the world, particularly to ladies writers despite expanded badgering and request to columnists by specialists after the Union government on August 5, 2019 read down Article 370. The club had stayed open for columnists during the ensuing half year closure and correspondence barricade. Past actual security and expert help, she says, the individuals tracked down help and support in one another's quality at the club in troublesome occasions.
"Additionally, at an at once pictures of Muslim ladies writers are sold essentially on applications like Bulli Bai and Sulli Deals, any expert help coming from autonomous press bodies like KPC was vital for us," she says. "In any case, presently it seems like that last help is likewise gone
