Separatists want youngsters to practise stone-pelting Young ones want to compete in national-level sports

Kashmiri separatists want youngsters of the valley to acquire efficiency in pilling stones on the security personnel so that the latter are not able to discharge their duty, but, young men and women prefer taking part in competitive sports with teams including those hailing from outside Kashmir This winter the valley had a snowfall earlier than the usual time That didn't dampen the spirit of the young ones from coming to the playgrounds .

Within 48 hours of the snowfall, when the pitch was still wet valiant teammates of the Real Kashmir Football Club rushed to the Tourist Reception Centre ground to match compete with Churchill Brothers team from Goa The valley had chill and wind, but that didn't deter football fans numbering 10,500, coming to the playground. Among the enthusiasts was 70-year-old, Mohammad Shaaban, who reached the venue hours before the start of the game During the play when Real Kashmir's Danesh Farooq started hotting up, Shaaban shouted 'Bahut shaandaar kehta hai (he plays great football). The competitions were held from November 6 to December 5. On the later day the Srinagar- based club jumped to the fourth position in India's premier football H-League. They secured a goal's victory over the former champions Aizawl Football Club Midfield Bazie Armand struck the match winner to help the home side register their third win and jump fourth in the League standings In 2017-18 Real Kashmir Club became the first club from the valley to play in the top tier football.

Separatists believe in the two-nation theory, arguing that Hindus and Muslims are two different nations and cannot live in one country. Real Kashmir Club has proved that this theory is not correct. Club's Chairman Shamim Moraj is a Muslim. His partner and club co-owner Sandeep Chattoo, is a Hindu. Moraj says. "A whole generation of fans, in Kashmir, grew up watching Mohan Bagan and East Bengal on TV. Now, they will have opportunity to watch them live, in Kashmir, against their own team. Chatoo was worried that if the Kashmiri team loses, the Kashmin fans might create an unwanted atmosphere. However, he presented a different picture of the present younger generation. He said "Last season, in the second division Hindustan FC drew the game, against the Kashmir team, at 3-3 After that, the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Imagine, Kashmiri fans applauding a team named Hindustan The Kashmiri players worry is the hartals and curfews that the valley often has and that deters them practicing as much as they want. On December 1 the Kashmiri cricket team competed in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against the Army Captain of the Kashmir team Parvez Rasool was declared player of the match.

During the days the teams were competing the Kashmin sports fans remained glued to their smart phones and televisions On November 24, they got elated when 35-year-old mother of three, Mary Com, created history by punching her way to boxing immortality by claiming her sixth world title Some Kashmir fans were unhappy over a Pak television programme in which it was said that Jesus Christ didn't deserve high respect because his father's name was not known and he was born of Mary, an unmarried girl Some other fans were carrying in their smartphones, pictures of India's star television player Saina Mirza One of the fans was heard asking another "When Saina earned a Pakistani, why did she decline Pak citizenship? His friend replied "Pak clerics were opposed to Saina's clothes she put on during the competitions, but hijab and tennis cannot go together

Most of the majority-community Kashmir leaders, including those of the separatists, are a product of Aligarh Muslim University. On December 9, they were surprised to know that, for the first time in the varsity's century-old history, it is boasting of a girls' hockey team, ready to compete in the World Cup series. These girls are playing in jeans, as usual players do Separatists have to think. Should they continue to believe that Hindus and Muslims cannot live in one country, or will they allow their young boys and girls be progressive and competition-minded?

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Courtesy:- Jagannath Dhar and Koshur Samachar  2018, December