Kolkata filmmaker Nilosree Biswas’s short film on Kashmir’s ‘Half Widows’ would be shown at the prestigious Festival de Cannes in May.
‘Broken Memory, Shining Dust’ was the result of Biswas’s Kashmir visit in 2007 during which she interacted with the victim families of the custodial disappearances. The film revolves around the life of Parveena Ahanger, whose son disappeared in custody, and three other women who have lost their husbands. “These women, while I shot them, had to live through the memory again and it was very traumatic for them at times,” Biswas was quoted saying. She has shown at Rome International Film Festival and is planning to show it at festivals across India.
DELHI
Dr Farooq Abdullah was admitted to AIIMS last week for pneumonia. He was not well after his return from Golden Temple in Amritsar. For a couple of days he was on antibiotics prescribed by Respiratory Medicines and Sleep Disorder specialists. Apart from Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, son Omar Abdullah, son-in-law Sachin and wife Molly visited him at the AIIMS.
SRINAGAR
Unbunkering’ of the capital city may land in a problem. Against the targeted demolition and removal of 24 bunkers in the city, the government has so far removed only three because there is no alternative to house the security men who will become houseless after the sand-bagged bunkers are removed. CRPF has indicated it would require roof for 1200 of its personnel who are currently housed in 24 bunkers! After removal of 39 bunkers in last one year, Srinagar still has 368 operational bunkers right now.
JAMMU
Government has hired Kinsely Brothers for digitisation of more than 15 lakh folios of rare books and manuscripts. This is the second phase of the project aimed at preserving the rare historic resource launched by State Archives department. The contracting firm has started the work at Jammu repository and has already scanned 200 thousand pages.
SHOPIAN
An unidentified minor school girl was detained by cops at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) Srinagar along with a Major rank army officer who had completed his two year tenure in Shopian. Identified as Major Mandeep Choudhary of 44-RR, police arrested both. While the girl was handed over to the family, Major was arrested under section 363 RPC. Major is a resident of Rajasthan and was on way home after completing his two year tenure in Kashmir. The duo was noticed by some drivers who informed the police. The girl lives near Balpora where the officer was posted.
MUZAFARABAD
Chinese Exim Bank has delayed clearing a credit line of $448 million to Pakistan for implementation of Neelam-Jhelum power project currently being implemented by a Chinese firm. If it slows down the implementation, it will be an advantage for India that is implementing the 330-MW Kishanganga project in Gurez. Though WAPDA was an alternative but it is cash starved these days. Now Islamabad is raising $200 million from IDB, $337 million from Saudi Fund, $ 100 million from Abu Dhabi Fund and $ 30 million from Kuwait Fund to manage the project requirements.
