A look back at the January results that shook the Valley, from the record-breaking speed of JKBOSE to the high cost of academic pressure. By Rayees Ahmad Kumar The transition of Jammu and Kashmir’s academic landscape into the 2026 calendar year was marked by a logistical feat that has since become the primary talking point […]
Education
A Review of Majeed Masroor’s ‘Faizan-e-Nazar
By Rayees Ahmad Kumar The Budgam district of Central Kashmir has long served as a fertile cradle for intellectualism, producing a lineage of poets, philosophers, and critics who have championed the preservation of regional heritage. Among these luminaries, Majeed Masroor stands as a household name. While many recognize him for the lyrical resonance of his […]
The Dilemma of First Standard Admissions
Why J&K’s First Graders Deserve a Compassionate Transition By Mool Raj I am not a think tank, nor do I claim to be a policy expert sitting in the ivory towers of academia. I am simply a person—a concerned citizen and a parent—who wishes to express a view that is currently keeping thousands of families […]
Kashmir’s Pet Boom Demands Responsibility
A quiet health crisis is unfolding in Kashmir that challenges the region’s long-held focus on stray dog menaces. The valley is witnessing a sharp and worrying increase in cat bite cases, with figures crossing the 6,500 mark at the region’s primary Anti-Rabies Clinic this year alone. In a surprising statistical shift, reported cat bite incidents […]
Echoes of the Valley
A Review of Majeed Masroor’s ‘Taashouq Chanay’ By Rayees Ahmad Kumar In the verdant literary landscape of Kashmir, where the written word has long served as a vessel for both spiritual longing and cultural preservation, Majeed Masroor stands as a distinct and resonant figure. To call him merely a poet would be an understatement; in […]
Kupwara Revives Kashmir’s Poetic Tradition
Against the backdrop of mountains, orchards, and border villages, a poetic symposium in Kupwara turned a remote classroom into a vibrant space for verse, reflection, and cultural exchange. By Rayees Ahmad Kumar Kashmir has long occupied a cherished place in literature and memory for its natural beauty and temperate climate. Poets and writers across generations […]
Majeed Masroor’s Transition from Song to Social Critique
From the romantic airwaves of Yuvawani to the sharp social critique of his latest book, Majeed Masroor’s journey reflects the changing pulse of Kashmir. An in-depth review of a literary icon’s crusade against social decay By Rayees Ahmad Kumar The soundscape of Kashmir in the 1990s was distinct, defined not just by the turbulence of […]
Book Review: Dr. Shaheena Yusuf’s Afsanvi Sadaein
A masterclass in modern storytelling, Afsanvi Sadaein brings together thirty-one of the subcontinent’s most compelling voices. Edited with precision by Dr. Shaheena Yusuf, this anthology is more than a collection of stories—it is a vibrant testament to the enduring power and evolution of the Urdu Afsana in the 21st century. By Rayees Ahmad Kumar In […]
Kashmir’s Polymath of Prose and Poetry
Widely regarded as the backbone of Adbi Markaz Kamraz, Nishat Ansari’s influence extended far beyond his own poetry, shaping the very institutions that safeguard Kashmir’s cultural heritage today By Rayees Ahmad Kumar In the constellation of eminent litterateurs, poets, and scholars, Nishat Ansari remains a towering figure whose intellectual shadow stretches across generations of Kashmiri […]
The Ghost Tongue of the Valley
They called it the language of ghouls. History calls it the lost voice of Kashmir. Discover the true story of Pishachi, the ancient “ghost tongue” that defied kings, shaped the Bṛhatkathā, and remains the ancestral heartbeat of the Valley. It wasn’t magic—it was the mother tongue. By Satish Mahaldar In Indian linguistics, few threads are […]