From ancient oceans to modern farms, algae may hold the key to cutting carbon and methane while feeding the planet. By Mool Raj Algae are not just pond scum or seaweed washed up on the beach; they are among the most ancient and adaptable life forms on Earth and may hold the key to solving […]
Gifts, Guard, And Geopolitics
India welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Kashmiri-infused state banquet and high-level talks aimed at reinforcing defence, energy and trade cooperation. By Sameer Ahmad Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to India concluded on Friday last week with a grand vegetarian state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Doon Chetin made with Kashmiri morels […]
FTSCs in J&K Show Progress but Convictions Still Low
Jammu & Kashmir reports its highest POCSO case disposal in five years, but a mere 4.5% conviction rate raises concerns over investigation and trial gaps. By Raja Syed Rather Jammu and Kashmir’s child protection and sexual-offence justice mechanism continues to show mixed results, with official data revealing both progress in case disposal and persistent gaps […]
Book Review: I Wrote Myself Under the Moonlight
From childhood innocence to moonlit longing, this collection glows with feeling By Imbisat Tareen In an age when poetry often bows under the pressure of performance and cleverness, I Wrote Myself Under the Moonlight by Wani Ibtisaam arrives with an unguarded honesty that feels almost disarming. This slim, 22-poem collection doesn’t pretend to be polished […]
The Siren Trap
The ancient tale of the sirens becomes a striking metaphor for the seductive distractions that steer us off course today. By Aubaid Ahmad Akhoon Long before modern navigation apps and digital maps, sailors traced their journeys by instinct, courage and the shimmer of a faraway horizon. Among the many stories carried by those who braved […]
The Brick Trap
In the busy lanes of Lal Chowk, a quiet mystery unfolded for months—until one clever trap exposed the truth. By Syed Majid Gilani In the late 1980s, Court Road in Srinagar’s bustling Lal Chowk was at its vibrant best. Lines of shoppers threaded through the narrow lanes, vendors shouted over the hum of traffic, and […]
The Cost of Leaving
In Jammu and Kashmir, a broken marriage rarely ends with two people — it becomes a public trial. Behind the silence and stigma are stories of courage, loss, and quiet reconstruction. By Mool Raj Sometimes a relationship doesn’t collapse — it frees the people trapped inside it. But in Kashmir, where the scent of chinar […]
Kashmir’s Saffron on the Brink
A disastrous season leaves Kashmir’s saffron growers staring at empty fields and a fading legacy. This is the year Pampore’s purple turned pale. By Jahangeer Ganaie In the sun-baked plateau of Pampore, where autumn usually unfurls a purple-tinged carpet of saffron blossoms, despair has taken root instead. Growers in Kashmir’s famed saffron belt say 2025 […]
A Decade of Silence
How One Man’s Marriage Unravelled Into Accusations, Courts, and a Fight for Dignity By Syed Majid Gilani When Arman’s family chose Rukhsar as his bride, their expectation was modest: a peaceful home, a kind partner, and a future built on trust. Wealth and social standing never entered the equation. What they noticed in her was […]
A Silent Climb
J&K’s HIV Cases Hit New Highs By Sameer Ahmad The steady rise in HIV cases across Jammu and Kashmir is becoming an increasingly serious public health concern, with updated data indicating a persistent upward trajectory over the past several years. According to new figures accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) application, 117 HIV-positive individuals […]