SHEHJAR - Web Magazine for Kashmir

RECENT UPDATE Promoting Kashmiri Hindu issues of this decade and bring the diverse needs of the community in a format that is easy to read and navigate.

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Author’s Article

Just this one more time

Like all other folks he and his family had moved out to Jammu in March of 1990 after having received life threats to vacate his house and leave the valley for good.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

GANESHJI OF GANPATYAR

Ganakak woke up early on the morning of his birthday, had his bath at the Vit�sta ghat at Ganpatyar as usual and entered the Ganesh temple for prayers. Back home Shobawati had kept the puja thali, containing �t�her� ready for his ritualistic offering after which he left home for the Shiva temple.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

FISH TALES!!!

With a growing appetite for fish I had no option but to learn the delicate art of fish preparation so that I keep my taste buds constantly wet.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

The signs of God

When we compare the various living species on earth we believe that a human race is the most evolved than the rest. The marked feature that separates the humans with the other creatures is that it has two distinctly developed hands that no other species has.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Fly into Sunset - A short Story

For both the cycle of life was complete and they flew off towards the sunset together hand in hand and Trilokinath finally returned to dust from which he was raised with his last wish fulfilled.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

ONE LEG UP, ONE LEG DOWN

As Indravati tired watching the crowd on the river bank on either side without any visible sign of further activity, she soon got bored and decided to settle indoors.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

DEE - A short story

It was he who called her Dee and the name stuck. When quite young he was unable to speak the word Di-Di, meaning sister,

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Just this One More Time

This part of Dal Lake is less frequented as the main attractions are on the side of Bod Dal with Nehru Park and Char Chinar as the focus of attention and a scenic Pari Mahal nestled in the hills above in the background.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Murder on my Mind

False witnesses were paraded before me and I had none for myself as I did not know where to find one. I had my own lawyer who was not as aggressive as Prem but he sure was intelligent and made his point clean at all proceedings and proved the falsity of the witnesses produced.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

AK-47

On the first day all cadets got to practice firing a 303 rifle at varied distances and on the next day they qualified to handle the Light Machine Gun (LMG) when they experienced how to fire rapid shots with it.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

RATTANDEEP

My neighborhood sister of Rainawari, who is sadly dead now, also lived at Jammu for some years even though I had forgotten to call out her name over my shoulder as I crossed the Banihal Tunnel that fateful day many years ago.

Author : B L Dhar More

K H A Z A N C H I

Khazanchis? was a well-known family residing at Chattabal in a crowded locality some distance away from the Tonga Stand and close to the oil mill in the locality. The house was a small two floor building with a large entrance door having ornate carvings engraved all over, representing a timeline of almost a century.

Author : B L Dhar More

Y A R B A L

Shibanji was in his last teens and would perhaps celebrate his birthday in a couple of months to enter his twentieth year of life. He was appearing for his graduation exams in April and was doing his best to cram up all that he could during the winter vacation.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

The man living Upstairs

It was my sixth birthday and Dad promised to bring a big cake that had dressings that would send everyone into shivers of excitement. My name would be written all over the cake. I had invited all my cricket buddies and school-mates and my cousins and there would be lots of gifts that I would receive.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Chasing the Rainbow

Delta Express got clearance from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for its descent for landing and also the weather parameters like the visibility and wind conditions as they neared the airport. Both pilots being professionals knew the routine well. When the descent was commenced for landing they calculated the position and height where an encounter with the small plane was estimated.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

a n a n t n a g

He had fled his home at Anantnag at midnight on the 11th of January 1990 with his newly married young wife and father. He could not have done it without the help of his colleague and friend at the school where he was a teacher for over three years and was held in great esteem by everybody in the neighborhood where he lived.

Author : B.L.Dhar More

Excess Baggage

Well I was happy when I located a face in the crowd that very much looked like an Indian and with a smiling face I put my request to him.

Author : B.L.Dhar More

Shadows of a mind

There was the only one thought gnawing his mind all these years and that was the memory of his first wife whom he had married after a prolonged courtship of three years. He had loved Jessica from the depth of his heart and had been deeply pained at her passing away.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

The Petticoat Lane

I had, of course, planned a visit to the numerous beer pubs located all over the town and savor all kinds of beer. I went to most of these that had fancy names that appealed to my sense of humor. I wanted to get a feel of the ale the British liked to consume and had reason to cheer at some famous celebrities who had at one time roamed these parts looking out for some refreshment.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

OF NICKLES "N" DIMES

My friends at the campus soon learnt about my obsession with getting rid of the small coins. Whenever we had to go Dutch on an outing and square off our debts, I invariably ended up pocketing the loose change.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Grandma in my memories

Now you would perhaps ask me about my Grandpa. Well he is someone special and he needs to be talked about with respect. He is gentle, careful, and considerate, and at the same time he is my hero.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

LIttle Red Ants on the hill

I climbed over the pane-less window ledge that threw off my scent for a while but I knew the creatures would finally crawl up the cabin wall and though unable to kill the consequence would still be calamitous.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

ZEBA & ZOYA - a short story

All that could be seen was a Honda City car that had hit a taxi cab ahead of it just round the sharp bend, instantly killing a woman who was at the rear seat on the right side.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

The Stepbrother

It was in the spring of 1992 when Kasif returned home after missing for over a year. His mother had given up on him and his father did nothing other than lodge a missing report with the local police.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

TAKE ME HOME

Back home in Srinagar both her parents were busy finding a suitable boy for their adorable and talented daughter. They did get offers from various families but were not sure they would make the best choice.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

Cucumbers in my Garden

And she would not throw out the peeled slices either and these were rubbed on the face or placed on eyelids for that cold feel. My mother would never compromise on cucumbers.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

FOOTPRINTS AT FATEHKADAL

The name of Fateh-Kadal reverberated in my mind umpteen times and I was cautious not to show any urgency to visit this place for fear of being targeted if the threat to my father two decades ago had anything to do with his enmity to any one in particular.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

The Core of the Sun

And it is inside the core of the sun where the real heaven lies and no one is allowed to come closer. It is the sun�s glow that generates life and preserves it and destroys as well when the purpose is fulfilled. The functions are akin to the Trinity Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh...

Author : B.L. Dhar More

Now and Then

I was all ready with my stories and anecdotes for my friends in the park and I knew they would lap up the content with awe and amazement at my adventures. I wanted to keep the acidic content out for the time being till everything settled down and then at intervals aim my arrows at Pradhanji.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

River Ride to Tulmul - A Reminiscence

As we entered the waters of the Jhelum and River Sindh later, the ride was upstream and the waters a bit shallow at places making the boatmen try harder to pull at the boat to take it against the current.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

MyWifesKitchen.com

What followed was a diatribe I will not forget for the rest of my life. As a gist of her invectives it followed that she was not inclined there should be an intrusion in her domain and anyone disturb her setting. Where is the space for the two of us in this small kitchen...

Author : B. L. Dhar More

THE STORY OF POO

I didn�t have the intelligence to go through with the ordeal of higher learning. I found it fit to toil in the fields during the day besides doing other chores and spend the evenings with other boys in the village.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

THOKUR KUTH ठोकुर कुठ

Having now retired from service, Dina Nath spent most of his time in the Thokur Kuth where he gave all attention to the gods around him and in particular to the only son he ever had.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE - KASHMIRI PANDITS

Today they are spread all over the world rather than limiting their activities in a valley which was treacherous to them all through the ages.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Secret of the Souls

At the burning ghat at Manikarnika the Doms (community associated with cremation) tap the skulls of the dead with a pole and turn the corpses on the burning pyre till nothing of it remains.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Namaskar Mahra

Born at the fag end of the 19th century in 1899, Pt. D.N. Koul (Tathaji) had all the traits of a man who would assume a powerful personality one day as he grew up. Habba Kadal was the place where he was born and that is where he breathed his last 64 years later.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

The Silver Mace

Unfolding story in 2020

Author : B. L. Dhar More

The Affair at the Taj

The Affair at the Taj -Shahjahan and Mumtaj (A short Story)

Author : B. L. Dhar More

NAUSHEEN MUBARAK

A short story of a native visiting his home in Kashmir valley.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Adventures of Xio Xiu - Part2

There was a large assembly of people in an open enclosure ahead and some kind of a leader was addressing them. He soon found out that this was a workforce that was being readied to work on some construction at a site close by and instructions were being given to them by the leader.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

Adventures of Xio Xiu

This is the story of Xio Xiu (read Zou Zoo), a young boy of 14 years who lived with his parents and a little brother Lin, five years his junior, in a hamlet of about 80 odd families (total population 433) close in the mountain ranges to the north of the Xi'an province of China almost touching the present Mongolia border.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

RIVER REVERE- A short story

There were nine chinar trees strategically located around the place where the houseboat was moored along with six other boats and the trees shed red and gold color leaves in autumn, setting the atmosphere around on fire with its color and beauty.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

CHERRY CHOCOLATES- A short story

Ayesha is celebrating her 24th birthday today and has turned out to be quite a girl who is eagerly sought out for her mature handling of issues relating to the nursing management at the hospital where she herself was a patient not very long ago.

Author : B. L. Dhar More

A WALK IN THE CLOUDS

The early morning rush hour at the Mall Road was palpable as all kinds of people rushed to wherever they were going. Young children wanted to avoid getting late for school and office goers rushed to avoid reprimand from the boss.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

Aman Satya Kachroo

Aman � we are left with your love and remembrance. You have let us experience love in ways we never have before, and never will again. We are heartbroken but you are now free from the bondages of earthly life. Your spirit and memory live with us eternally.

Author : Siddarth Tickoo & BL Dhar More

Warrior of Faith -A short story

The long-range extra-wide-bodied jet Airbus A380 from Frankfurt landed well past midnight at Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi, about 20 minutes behind schedule. The aircraft taxied to the terminal via the newly laid taxi track specifically designed for the jet and while taxiing the pilot carried out all the mandatory post landing checks to ensure that the craft was in good health for its return journey home. I

Author : B.L. Dhar More

A FLOWER IN THE DESERT

When you visit another country it is but natural that you start a study in comparison with where you come from, be that about the place or the people or its character.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

BUTTERFLIES & BUTTERCHICKEN

Excerpts from the pages of a boy�s diary

Author : B.L. Dhar More

MAN WITH A MISSION

The city of Srinagar nestled in the Kashmir Valley, surrounded by tall mountain ranges of the Pir Panchal along all its sides is a paradise on earth. The layout of the town is molded by the hands of God and spanned along the two banks of the river Jhelum.

Author : B.L. Dhar More

THE CELESTIAL MEETING

At the stroke of midnight, when the moon was directly above and the sun god had finally decided to park his chariot on the other side, a crescendo of voices began to be heard along the slopes leading on to the gates.

Author : B.L. Dhar More