Photo exhibition captures turmoil in Kashmir

A tiny dark room, a few hurried words on the wall and photographs telling a thousand stories. As a part of a 12-day -long art exhibition, fi...

A tiny dark room, a few hurried words on the wall and photographs telling a thousand stories. As a part of a 12-day -long art exhibition, fifteen artists from different parts of the world have spent seven days in Srinagar, capturing years of bloodshed and the turmoil in Jammu 038; Kashmir.

The exhibition was organised by the Khoj International in Gulshan Villa, Srinagar.

8220;Kashmir is better known as the heaven on earth. But we all know the picture inside is dark,8221; says Gargi Raina, an artist from Baroda, who has conceived the idea. Raina8217;s forefathers had left the valley more than two centuries ago during the Afghan rule.

In the garden of the villa is a half buried shikara with its other half entwined in barbed wires. 8220;The view of the shikara is the most interesting sight I have come across,8221; says Sujan Chitrakar, an artist from Kathmandu.

8220;The shikara is also a symbol of freedom. The artist, however, has not lost all hope. This is evident from the flower-strewn shikara. 8220;These are the flowers of hope,8221; says Raina.

Artists from England, Mozambique, Greece, Iran and Nepal also participated in the exhibition.

Harbert Gram Matikopolous, an artist from Greece, has captured the daily life of Srinagar to present a 8220;fairy tale of Kashmir8217;s past and present8221;. The photo-essay starts from a peaceful and economically well-off Kashmir, passes through the turmoil and ends with a hope of a peaceful state.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More