Prem Pawa hails from Srinagar and is an adventure tourism pioneer who began his career in the early 1970s. Trained at the Indian Mountaineering & Skiing School in Gulmarg, he is a permanent member of the National Geographic Society. He is credited with landmark “firsts,” including rafting the full stretch of the Zanskar River in […]
“Bey Pie Talash: The Soulful Verse of Rafeeq Masoodi
Dr. Rafeeq Masoodi’s latest collection of prose poems, Bey Pie Talash, is a lyrical journey through faith, memory, and the heart of Kashmir. By Rayees Ahmad Kumar Dr. Rafeeq Masoodi is a name that resonates deeply within Kashmir’s cultural and literary circles — a broadcaster, administrator, poet, and philanthropist whose work has shaped generations of […]
Kashmir’s Fading Anchors
Kashmir was once a society raised by a tribe, where wisdom flowed like a river from the old to the young. Today, that river is running dry. We explore the ‘strange loneliness’ of the modern Kashmiri home and the high price our children pay for the absence of their greatest guardians. By Khursheed Dar There […]
The Hidden Price of Everything
We often obsess over price tags, yet we ignore the invisible ledger of our lives. Whether it’s the career you didn’t pursue or the health you’re trading for convenience, every “yes” is a “no” to something else. By Mursaleen Bashir Every choice buys something and costs something. The wiser we become at recognizing the hidden […]
Developed in Dust
We call it ‘disruption.’ The market calls it ‘efficiency.’ But for the man standing in the debris of his own career, it is simply survival. A look at what happens when a profession becomes a smartphone feature. By Umar Farooq The sound of construction is rarely gentle; it is an aggressive, dissonant symphony that feels […]
The Legend of Raheem Kak
Journey back to a time when Sundays were for ghost stories, business was done with a handful of rice, and life moved at the gentle pace of Raheem Kak’s walking stick. A heartwarming ode to the simplicity we’ve lost. By Mudasir koul In the quiet shadows of the hills, where the morning mist often lingered […]
The Loneliness We Built Ourselves
From shared meals to silent hallways, this is the story of how communities dissolved into strangers. By Abid Hussain Rather There was a time—close enough to remember, distant enough to ache for—when life unfolded in the open, stitched together by neighbours who lived not just beside one another but with one another. In the neighbourhoods […]
The Unspoken Vows
Why Kashmir’s Couples Are Choosing Therapy Before the ‘Qabool Hai’ By Sualiha Zubair The Chinar leaves had just begun their descent into fiery hues of crimson and gold back in October when the household of 26-year-old Mir Afsa (Name changed) in Sanat Nagar was buzzing with a familiar, frenetic energy. It was the peak of […]
Srinagar’s Harissa Wans
Imagine the scent of slow-cooked mutton, the sizzle of hot mustard oil, and the warmth of a freshly baked Girda. Harissa isn’t just a dish; it’s a morning ritual that brings the community together in the pre-dawn frost. By Manzoor Akash When the frost of Chillaikalan—the harshest forty-day period of the Kashmiri winter—tightens its grip […]
Parents vs. Private Schools A Battle Over Transparency
Parents across Kashmir say private schooling is slipping into a marketplace maze — with fee shocks, vendor tie-ups, and shifting curricula pushing families to the edge By Javid Amin Every year, as Kashmir wraps up its examination season, families brace for the familiar scramble of admissions, supplies, and new routines. But in recent years, what […]