Kashmiris have looked down upon the pigeon keepers, who would pet the bird as a hobby and are locally known as Ko’tarbaaz. Over the decades, Ko’tarbaaz have been trying to make their place in Kashmiri society but couldn’t change the perspective of the majority.
Two back-to-back lockdowns, initially prompted by the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s limited autonomy in August 2019, and then by COVID-19 in March 2020, the pigeon seller said, have helped the sales as people looked for pets to “pass their time”.
The Kashmir Walla needs you, urgently. Only you can do it.
We have always come to you for help: The Kashmir Walla is battling at multiple fronts — and if you don’t act now, it would be too late. 2020 was a year like no other and we walked into it already battered. The freedom of the press in Kashmir was touching new lows as the entire population was gradually coming out of one of the longest communication blackouts in the world.
We are not a big organization. A few thousand rupees from each one of you would make a huge difference.
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