Terror-(w)ised!

“Being in Kashmir,I’ve seen many acts of violence over the years,but how I managed to survive that attack,which was actually a case of mistaken identity,is something which defies logic. I can only say that I survived because of the blessings and good wishes of my parents,” said Iqbal.

Awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2006-07) for bringing to the fore stories of hope in an atmosphere of violence and uncertainty,Iqbal’s coverage of the devastating earthquake in Kashmir also came in for much appreciation. “The award came as a pleasant surprise. While reporting stories,you don’t really think how much they could end up being appreciated or even that others are following your stories. So,it was an unexpected but pleasant surprise,” he added.

When asked if a new dawn was happening in Kashmir with the election of Omar Abdullah as the new Chief Minister,Iqbal said it was an exaggerated assessment of the situation. “It’s best not to talk in hyberbole in this context. No ‘new dawn’ is taking place here and it helps to have realistic expectations from politicians,” he added.

In a session where most speakers were pedantic in their approach,Iqbal’s interface with students at SIMC was more interactive and thus saw greater involvement. Conducted simply but with a grasp which can be attributed to having spent several years on the job,in one of the most difficult regions of the country,Iqbal’s session was interesting and thought-provoking,by turns.