As winter deepens across Kashmir, a silent but potent threat is tightening its grip on the Valley: worsening air pollution. What was once considered a seasonal inconvenience has now emerged as a full-blown public health crisis, driven by a dangerous cocktail of prolonged dry weather, traffic congestion, biomass burning, and unchecked construction dust. Across urban […]
Opinion
The Green Machine Fighting Climate Change
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 […]
Weaving Legacy
By Ajaz Rashid Kashmir’s rich handicraft heritage has once again claimed the national spotlight, reaffirming the Valley’s stature as a crucible of artistic excellence. The recent National Awards announced by the Union Ministry of Textiles celebrate two master craftsmen whose patience, skill, and creative devotion embody the very essence of Kashmir’s living cultural legacy. Their […]
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 […]
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 […]
Lifestyle Shift Fuels Rising Diabetes in J&K
By Ajaz Rashid The rising tide of non-communicable diseases in Jammu and Kashmir is no longer a distant warning—it is an unfolding crisis. Fresh assessments by health experts reveal that roughly one in ten residents is already living with diabetes, while nearly 15 percent hover in the pre-diabetic zone. These numbers, growing with alarming consistency, […]
The Art, Emotion, and Science of Signs
How simple symbols became powerful tools for expression, inclusion, and understanding in a rapidly changing world. By Aubaid Ahmed Akhoon Since the dawn of civilization, signs have been the quiet companions of human progress—silent but deeply persuasive forces that shaped how people communicated, learned, and even felt. Long before written alphabets or structured languages existed, […]
A Blow to Terror
By Ajaz Rashid The latest crackdown on a transnational terror module linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) is more than just another successful police operation. It is a resounding affirmation that the Indian state is neither asleep nor intimidated. With eight arrests including three doctors who shockingly betrayed their professional oath, the operation […]
The Crisis We Created
The environment we inherited was pure; the one we’re leaving behind is battered. This piece traces how everyday choices, industrial greed, and policy failures have triggered a crisis that threatens future generations — unless we act decisively now. By Tariq Ali Dar There was a time, not too far in the past, when nature and […]