For decades, Jammu and Kashmir was merely a picturesque backdrop for outside filmmakers. The debut of IFFJK marks the historic moment the valley claimed authorship of its own story. By Ajaz Rashid In an era dominated by algorithmic feeds and solitary living-room streaming, the communal ritual of cinema is staging a defiant comeback. Nowhere was […]
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The Verdict on IFFJK
The maiden IFFJK proved Jammu and Kashmir can stage a sophisticated global event, but high production values masked deeper structural gaps. Moving from administrative triumph to genuine cultural empowerment requires balancing polished optics with long-term local investment. By Ajaz Rashid The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) arrived on the shores of […]
PM Modi’s Historic Red Fort Address
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the ‘Sapt Shakti’ roadmap to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. The address placed massive emphasis on self-reliance, semiconductor manufacturing, and training one crore youth in AI skills. By Chasfeeda Shah Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined […]
The Numbed Pulse
A silent chemical epidemic is rapidly shifting from the margins of Kashmiri society to its absolute center. What began as experimental use has transformed into a profound public health crisis that threatens to mute the voice of an entire generation. By Asma Khurshid Nowadays, Kashmir is witnessing a visible rise in campaigns, seminars, workshops, panel […]
The Unbelievable True Story of Qadir Ganderbali
From chasing down a notorious trans-border bandit in the snows of Gulmarg to being requested by Washington after the JFK assassination, his career reads like a spy thriller. But in the arena of mid-twentieth-century Kashmir, his actual achievements were eventually eclipsed by the ghost of his own legend. By Ajaz Rashid In the volatile theatre […]
Not a Crisis, a Call to Action
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent ‘Nation First Appeal’ isn’t just about saving dollars, it is a masterclass in leveraging a billion-strong population to shield the economy from a volatile world. By Ajaz Rashid The air crackles with geopolitical tension. Half a world away from India’s shores, the Strait of Hormuz, the vital maritime artery of […]
The Cracking Rice Bowl
Kashmir is trading its historic food sovereignty for the high-profit lure of modern horticulture. While orchards bring immediate wealth, the region faces a future of total dependence on outside states for its most basic staple. By Ajaz Rashid The emerald-green landscape of the Kashmir Valley, defined for centuries by the rhythmic swaying of paddy stalks, […]
The Women Mystics of the Valley
While formal histories often remain silent, the female Rishis of the Valley were more than mere disciples. They were seekers and transmitters of a localized faith that favored ethical living over institutional power. By Khursheed Dar The spiritual history of Kashmir is often told through the grand narratives of its male saints and the architecture […]
Echoes of Lethpora
A Nation’s Unyielding Pledge to the Pulwama Bravehearts By Ajaz Rashid Seven years have passed, yet the silence that descends upon Lethpora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14 remains as heavy as the mountains that stand guard over the valley. It is a silence not of defeat, but of a profound, resonating memory, […]
The Strategic Victory of the New NH-44
Once defined by fear and landslides the Jammu-Srinagar highway is now a masterpiece of tunnels and viaducts that bridges the Pir Panjal and connects the region like never before. For decades, the mention of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) evoked a sense of dread among travelers. It was a route defined by the “bottleneck” of […]