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The most significant contribution of sociological thinking to our understanding of conflict, violence and terrorism is the realization that it is a social construction. Terrorism is the intentional generation of massive fear by human beings for the purpose of securing or maintaining control over other human beings. As a regulating and remedial mechanism to these forms of dysfunctionalities, the role of State and its specific form of governance become an issue of primary concern. Keeping in view, the general understanding of governance and nation-state in the conflicting situation, the paper humbly addresses such issues pertaining to conditions of governance in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) state. It is to be emphasized that the said state had a contentious history and allied disturbances, especially conflicting issues and terrorism at large, owing to its strategic location and conflicting ethnic diversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History is re-written in every age but historians have to guard not only against the prejudices of the past but also of the future otherwise their work would be untranslatable in troubled times. This paper has grown out of an interest in Kalhana's Rajatarangini which has not received adequate attention in Indian historiography. Kalhana is one of the foremost historians of early Kashmir and one of the most original scholars in this field. His method, however, does not only fit the familiar moulds of social, economic, political and cultural history but his writing also corresponds to our history of ideas and over laps with what has recently become known as the history of mentalities. This paper is not concerned with the details of looting of Kashmir by Damaras or with the abilities of Kings such as Lalitaditya as illustrated by Kalhana. But it indicates how necessary interpreting the Rajatarangini is as a source text as the evidence of a personal stand point, which has acquired a lasting significance from the individuality of the author, uniqueness of the historical situation and specificity of region and time. The principle subject is not the historical reality of events and state of affairs recorded by Rajatarangini; what appeals the reality of the mental activity manifested in this chronicle which also shows how Kalhana's account of complex social economic and political processes and patterns in Kashmir interacted with the wider world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involvement of people in the dispute resolution process is the most prominent feature of the India-Pakistan relations in recent years. The ongoing peace process is multidimensional involving multiple actors. Earlier the dialogue process was almost confined to the official level, whether it was between New Delhi-Islamabad, India-J&K or Pakistan-'Azad' Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. But as the recent developments would indicate, especially after the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route in April 2005, the major focus has gradually shifted to the people of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir. The opening of cross-border routes, the proposed e-mail-linking of passport offices in Srinagar-Muzaffarabad to ease travel, the increasing realisation of the need to fight disasters like earthquakes together, the prospects of other joint mechanisms--are all indicative of a government-backed people-centric process underway. The present article focuses on the ongoing peace process in Kashmir which involves not only India and Pakistan but also the people of both parts of Kashmir. Admitting the complexities involved in the whole exercise, the paper endeavours to portray the positive aspects of the peace process, which could possibly succeed in spite of hurdles. Most of the materials used in the paper are from author's field surveys in Jammu and Kashmir (in Poonch, Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and Leh), and monitoring of the developments in the region from close quarters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, women's experiences of armed conflict are multiple and may be classified as vulnerable victims, survivors, peace builders and perpetrators of conflict. In all these roles the effect is both negative as well as positive. Conflict may have grave implications for women while at the same time it may create new opportunities for them. The paper aims at exploring various experiences of women in Kashmir conflict. Women in Kashmir have been continuously the victims of physical/psychological, cultural as well as economic violence. Yet, they have also resisted, for instance, by refusing to veil. In another role, the women in Kashmir have been at the forefront of militancy during the initial period when there was a mass uprising against the Indian State. Since then women have also been active in supporting the militant movement. The setting up of the Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in 1994 is an important initiative on the part of women towards bringing peace in Kashmir. However, in the peace processes initiated from time to time, the gender dimension is often ignored and remains invisible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]