Samar, 25, is in Jammu since October 2019 to keep her Instagram page Ribbons by Samar Shawl running. She arranged a broadband connection there to not lose her customer base that she had built in Kashmir after a lot of struggle.
“Public memory is very short lived,” Samar said. “If you have to survive in business, you have to get noticed.” Now the page gets an order a week or sometimes not even that. “In January, I got only eight orders.”
Samar had managed almost 2900 followers in just one year. “The page was doing good in fact, fetching likes on a daily basis till August last,” says Samar. “I was also getting around 80 orders a month”.
On August 5, central government scrapped the special status of erstwhile J&K state and bifurcated it into two union territories, enforcing a blanket ban on communication including the internet.
Though some restrictions were eased after many months, for Samar, this is not enough to return to Srinagar. “How can I access my page on 2G data,” questions Samar.
In April 2018, Samar had started Gift Hamper Service involving “adorably wrapping the gift items” as desired by clients. Samar did her masters in business administration (MBA) from the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST). During studies, Samar thought of having her own business venture and not joining any service. “Had I known that Kashmir would become the gag capital of the world, I would not have even thought of starting my own business.”
In October, after two months of communication gag, Samar realized that there is no chance of resumption of internet here.
“That is where the thought of migration came to my mind,” she said. “Following day she arranged a ticket and left for Jammu”.
Bu hikaye Kashmir Life dergisinin March 08-14, 2020; UNMASKED; Issue 49 Vol 11 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Kashmir Life dergisinin March 08-14, 2020; UNMASKED; Issue 49 Vol 11 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Before The Kabul Retreat
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FINGERS CROSSED
Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch
Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar
The visiting 28-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have had detailed interactions with top civil administration and discussed developmental scenario and people’s welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. It is on a 4-day visit. Congress leader and MP Anand Sharma is heading the committee.
MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE
Deep into north Kashmir, Faheem Mir meet a small community that sings and lives on folk music but is facing a tense situation in the last few years
THE KABUL SPILLOVER?
Security experts are divided over the possible impact of the Kabul situation on Kashmir. But the dramatic Taliban triumph has altered the region’s geopolitics, for the time being, writes Riyaz Wani
Durga Bhawan At Katra
To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.
Women Empowerment
In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women
Boredom Is Creative?
Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain
LG In Bangus
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
