Khyber Cements, Kashmir Life Present History Through Architecture

SRINAGAR: Veteran Kashmiri journalist Mohammad Saeed Malik, together with Manzoor Ahmed Mir, President of Khyber Cements, today formally inaugurated the first episode of Kashmir Life’s History Series titled Kashmir’s Architecture Tales: Qabal Masseh Say 20wain Sadi Tak. The series, a product of nearly two years of work, will be webcast every Saturday on Kashmir Life’s digital platforms.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik lauded both Kashmir Life and Khyber Cements for their effort in preserving and reshaping the narrative of history. “In the present times, preserving history is the most important task. Bringing it to digital platforms will make it easily accessible to the younger generation,” he said.

Acknowledging Khyber’s role, Malik added, “We must appreciate Khyber’s progressive outlook. It produces the best in comparison to others present in the market.” He described the series as a timely effort to highlight Kashmir’s architectural legacy for wider audiences. “Kashmir Life today is producing incredible content,” he remarked. On the programme itself, Malik said, “You can compete with anybody across the globe.”

Malik also praised the series presenter, journalist Iqra Akhoon, for her confidence and skill. “Her presentation is par excellence. The belief she had in herself made it vibrant. The whole team is amazing,” he said, adding, “This is what we look for; it gives us hope that we are in for better times.”

“Khyber has always committed itself to the well-being of society in Jammu and Kashmir,” Umar Tramboo, Khyber Cement’s Director, said in a message for the event. “Partnering with Kashmir Life on Kashmir Architecture is a re-emphasis on Khyber Cement’s core focus.”

Waseem Ahmed Khan, Chief Sales and Customer Relations at Khyber Cements, called the project “a historic moment in the history of Kashmir, born of a candid conversation.” He credited the partnership between Masood Hussain’s vision of documenting architecture and Umar Tramboo’s vision of contributing to society for making the series possible.

“We never imagined it would be such a tedious task. Initially, we planned to finish in two to three months, but great credit goes to the Kashmir Life team, who travelled to areas with serious accessibility challenges,” Khan said. “I witnessed the efforts and hardships they faced in reaching different corners of Kashmir. The team had to dig deep into the roots from which society evolves. Kashmir Life has left a remarkable mark in writing Kashmir’s history.”

Masood Hussain, Editor of Kashmir Life, said, “Architecture is the easiest medium to tell the story of changing times.” Appreciating his team, he noted, “They worked day and night for months. What you see today is just the beginning of a new journey.” He added, “Someone once said Kashmir is the centre of the world. The main motive of this project was to present history more engagingly.” Hussain also underlined the use of artificial intelligence in the series.

Series presenter and producer Iqra Akhoon shared her personal journey with the project: “I have witnessed Kashmir Life growing and changing over the years, and alongside it, I too have grown. In these years, I saw KL evolve, I saw Masood Hussain evolve, and I saw myself evolve. Along the way, Khyber too evolved.”

She explained that Kashmir’s Architecture Tales goes beyond buildings. “The thought behind it is very important. If any other organisation attempted it, it could not be done with such depth. It’s not just about places, but about our history, our roots, and our origin.”

Recalling the fieldwork, Akhoon said, “Often, I felt like we were time-travelling as we moved from place to place at such speed. In a single day, we had to travel, shoot, and still manage our lives in the society we live in. I often had to explain to my family every day why we were late.”

“The work was exciting but also stressful. I only hope that when my family sees this, they are proud of me,” she concluded. “The entire team of Kashmir Life supported and encouraged me throughout. Kashmir Life taught me how to survive with fewer resources.”

Director Humaira Nabi, in her virtual message from South Africa, described the project as “a full-fledged history lesson.” She said, “We were lucky to document and witness things that had never been recorded before. People were unaware of the treasures they were living right beside.” Reflecting on the journey, she added, “It felt like a time machine, becoming aware of three thousand years of history.”

The inaugural event concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Umaima Reshi. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Guest, veteran journalist Mohammad Saeed Malik, whose presence and life’s journey have been a source of inspiration. She also extended thanks to Khyber Cements for their consistent support, without which the project would not have been possible.

Special acknowledgement was given to the Kashmir Life team for their tireless dedication, turning the series into a valuable contribution to history. Finally, she thanked the distinguished guests, media representatives, and participants, closing with the hope and prayer: “May knowledge, truth, and progress guide the team in the days ahead.”