Kashmir: Occupation and Resistance

Kashmir became a part of the Muslim World in the 14th century C E. Under the local Sultans (1325-1585) , the Mughals (1586-1752) and the Pathans (1752-1819) , it developed into a state and society with its own peculiar Islamic culture. Kashmir was colonised by the Sikhs (1819-46) from the Punjab and the Hindu Dogra Maharajas (1846-1947) . The Muslim Kashmir stood for Islam through the freedom movement during this period. When the movement under the banner of Islam was at its apex and it seemed that the mahkutn (colonised / enslaved) Kashmir was about to achieve the goal, India ( Bharat) , a newly born nation (Aug 15, 1947) , invaded it on Oct. 27, almost 3 months after her own birth. Since then this newly emerging occupying -power through its policies of political deceit, cultural aggression, economic onslaught and delslamizing educational schemes has given rise to the problem of the IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir) . The paper narrates the story of the past up to 1988-uprising & throws light on the oppression, persecution and discrimination that the Muslim Kashmir has been witnessing. The form offreedom-movement that followed from 1947 to 1989 is also outlined. In 1989 Jihad Kashmir, a new phase of the movement that invited the attention of the world begins. The paper helps to understand the background ofthe genesis ofthis new phase

Is There an Association Between Placental Inflammatory Lesions and Vaginal Microbiota in Preterm Labour? a Case Control Study

Background: Preterm birth continues to be a significant contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity despite diverse unique interventional strategies. There is need for better understanding of differences and influences of the now characterized vaginal microbiome on terminal inflammatory effects in the uterine microenvironment in term and preterm labour to improve on current strategies. How the existence of a postulated placenta microbiome also affects this understanding should be considered. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between the maternal vaginal microbiota and placental inflammatory lesions in preterm labour and to determine the presence of a placenta microbiome. Methods: In this nested study, we enrolled 36 case and control placentas in a 1:1 ratio matched for age and parity from women delivering preterm between 26 to 36 weeks gestation. The profile of bacteria in the vaginal tract and placenta was characterized and compared through 16S rRNA sequencing. All histologic inflammatory lesions were graded and staged as per recommended latest consensus guidelines on reporting placental lesions. Results: Preterm placentas were associated with greater rates of inflammation (43.3%) compared to term placentas (23.3%). Acute histologic chorioamnionitis accounted for the greatest proportion with higher rates in preterm (33.3%) than term placentas (6.67%). Placenta microbial samples had a sequence read success rate of only 5.7% bearing similarity to oral, environmental and vaginal tract bacteria. Conclusion: (1) Acute histologic chorioamnionitis was associated with preterm labour. (2) There is lack of evidence to support the existence of a placenta microbiome.