 "Pulwama starts new innings with Royal Premier League, aiming to exorcise ghosts of terrorism with cricket")
Pulwama. A name that once sent shivers down the spine of every Indian. A place that the world remembers for the 2019 terror attack. An attack that took the lives of 40 brave CRPF personnel. A place that was once a stronghold of separatists and terror groups.
But today, six years later, Pulwama is writing a brand-new story. A story of hope. A story of unity. A story where cricket is leading the charge. A new innings for the Kashmiri town.
A region once marked by bloodshed is now lit up by the floodlights of cricket.
Cricket - the one sport that unites India like nothing else. When bat and ball come together, states, politics, and language, all take a backseat.
And now, cricket has entered a place where hope was once lost. In Pulwama – a district known worldwide for the 2019 terror attack, an attack that changed the face of the valley.
In the years that followed, youth struggled with unemployment, with depression, with uncertainty.
Pulwama begins on a fresh note with Royal Premier League
But this week, under the lights of the Pulwama Sports Stadium, a new beginning was made.
The Royal Premier League kicked off with 12 teams from across Jammu and Kashmir. For Pulwama, it was more than a match – it was symbolic, it felt like an international fixture.
And when thousands of people turned up to cheer, it was clear — this town is ready for change.
“This is the first time a day-night match is being held in Pulwama. This marks a new beginning for our youth who once felt hopeless and depressed. Now they have something to dream about,” said People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Para.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts‘Cricket can give them hope and a purpose’
And this initiative is not stopping here. The tournament will spread across districts, giving more youth an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
“This is a youth-led initiative. We want to keep our youngsters away from drugs, from violence, and from depression. Cricket can give them hope and a purpose," Para added.
For decades, Pulwama’s image was tarnished by terrorism. Today, cricket is giving it a chance to reclaim its name.
A place associated with bloodshed is now getting known for cheers, for fans, for dreams.
But this isn’t just about fans in the stands. For many young players, this is a platform. A chance to showcase talent. A chance to be picked for state teams. A chance to one day wear India’s blue jersey.
From strife to sport -from violence to victory, Pulwama is proving that hope can rise from the darkest of times. And cricket has become the baton of change.
The stadium lights have become a beacon, leading a new path for a whole generation. And maybe, the next hero of Indian cricket could emerge from Pulwama.
Watch the full episode here:
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