WRITE-UPS

Rayees Shah Nature has kept its best secrets in Kashmir. With the mystic views, gurgling rivers, breathtaking aura, sounds of nature, and hospitable residents, Kashmir invites everyone to its land. It is also a trekkers' paradise. Gangabal Twin Lakes trek is an offbeat and peaceful trek starting from Narang. In this panoramic land, you will find peace in its utmost simplicity. The trees and farms emanate a vibe that is too fresh to ignore; you will feel a sense of belongingness in the air. Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district in Kashmir valley, is home to a hidden gem that lures tourists from around the globe – the enchanting seven lakes. Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayan hills, these pristine alpine lakes offer a breathtaking experience and a serene escape from the hus...

"He used to say that he was born on Eid Day and now he has left on Eid Day, the mourning son of Sampat Prakash said while preparing for the last rites of his father. At his residence in Srinagar's Harwan area, a blue turbaned Sikh, a long-bearded Muslim and a plain shaven Hindu, a burqa wearing woman, a Saree wearing Hindu and a Shalwar wearing Sikh woman is not an uncommon sight. This is the Kashmir, he fought for and spoke about till the 85-year-old Sampat Prakash, passed away on Saturday due to a cardiac arrest. From there, his pyre was shouldered by activists of Jammu Kashmir's pro-establishment parties, business fraternity, Hurriyat conference, retired employees participated in his last rites and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. Others through statements said Sampa...

Mehar Zarger As soon as my day began, I came across a notification on WhatsApp. A news from Baramulla was doing rounds in the news groups. As per the said news, a person had been arrested for placing a camera inside a changing room of a cloth store. I was taken aback and thought to myself how unfortunate it was that such incidents have started happening in Kashmir. Little did I know that something of this nature would happen to me too. After breakfast, I left my home in Shalimar for getting some essentials and groceries. Since it's been raining cats and dogs in the valley for some days now, streets are almost deserted. On my way back, I realised I was being followed by a car, in an unusually slow speed. I hurried towards home and upon this, the guy in the car started honking the hor...

Mir Tanveer Last month, 18-year-old Danish* who hailed from Srinagar's Hyderpora gelled up his hair, wore a good perfume and left his home with a friend on his bike. Upon being questioned, he told his mother that he will return soon. Danish reached the Boulevard road of Srinagar which is busy with tourist activity throughout the year. Danish was being accompanied by several bikes and they all were overtaking each other at a very high speed. eventually two of the bikes collided at a very high speed and Danish lost his life after at the hospital after having receiving injuries all over his body. Not just the Boulevard, Srinagar city and its outskirts are witnessing a dangerous trend of over-speeding, stunt-biking, drifting, zigzag, and drag races on city roads, endangering the lives of...

Danishwar Hameed For the last two years, Faisal Dar*, a resident of Amanoo village of Kulgam district of south Kashmir is unable to grow anything on his land. Owned by his father, Faisal used to feed his family on the patch of land that has now been acquired by the central Government for the National Highway 444 project. ALSO READ: ‘Not beggars who need freebies’, say locals as food grain supplies to Kashmir are drastically reduced Angry villagers have halted the work on the highway for a 'delay' over the payments for their land which was acquired by the state. National Highway 444', a 73-km four-lane road supposed to start from central Kashmir’s Budgam district and culminate with the ‘National Highway 44’ near Qazigund passes through the paddy fields, apple orchards in the distric...

Mahjoor, the poet of Kashmir was born on 11 August 1887 and died on 9th of April 1952. His actual name was Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad and his father’s name was Peerzada Abdullah Shah. He was a patwari by profession and possessed great power of imagination which he used in creating art with distinction. It was this ability that earned him the title of the Poet of Kashmir. His contemporary writers/ poets were, Zinda Koul, Abdul Ahad Azad and Dinnath Nadim He is noted for introducing a new style into Kashmiri poetry which pushed it into great realms of art created for arts sake. He introduced his pen name Mahjoor when he visited Punjab and started writing poetry under the influence of great Urdu poet, Shibli Noamani. He followed in the academic footsteps of his father, who was a scholar o...

Shabir Khan On December 23, 2022, Kashmir woke up to the horrifying news of a man killing his mother and three others in Anantnag's Aishmuqam area, bringing the valley to a standstill. The accused Javed Ahmed was said to be under the influence of Alcohol and other drugs, as was claimed by officials and locals. The incident triggered panic and disbelief among most of the Kashmiris. There has been a sharp increase in crime in the valley. In 2021, The Jammu Kashmir Police's DG claimed that there has been a 15.41 percent increase in the crimes registered in 2020. Months later, another news has shook the Kashmir valley, at least many of its residents. A woman has been murdered by her son in the Dangerpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The man allegedly choked hi...

“Only a week ago, as a marker of Herath, Sanjay Kumar had distributed Walnuts as prasad among his neighbours and friends,” recalls Mohammad Maqbool, his friend who also works as a security guard at the ATM Sanjay previously worked at for a few thousands, while detailing how the nuclear family of five led a simple life in the neighbourhood. However, all hell broke loose the week that followed Herath as Sanjay was shot dead Sunday morning at around 10:30, nearly a hundred meters from his home. Sanjay (41), was on a stroll with his wife this morning when his wife stopped at the neighbourhood shop for a moment while Sanjay led on. A sudden sound of a bullet made his wife turn around, only to find Sanjay lying down in a pool of blood. Everyone including Sanjay’s wife rushed to the spot an...

Duwa Bisati Making of one of the notable handicrafts 'Gabba' (embroidered Kashmiri rug) has been carried out since the late 16th century, i.e., from the Mughal period. Gabbas are made up of wool blankets. The old blankets are dyed in vegetable colors and are attached together along with a cotton backing. Gabba making, one of the oldest surviving and popular handicrafts of Kashmir valley has its cropping clusters in many districts of the valley. By examining various historic sources, it is clear that there is no particular birthplace of Gabba making in the valley, but its roots touch the far-flung areas of the valley. In earlier times, Gabba was used as a source to keep warm during long and harsh winters. During the Mughal era, the Gabba was used by both the wealthy and the not-so-...

Ishfaq Ahmed Sheikh (28), saw several reports of demolition drives across Jammu Kashmir, which frightened his family, who dwell in Tangmarg's Kunzer area, just 20 kilometers from Kashmir's feted tourism destination, Gulmarg. "I was afraid that the bulldozers would come here at any moment and wreak havoc here. Today is just the beginning of that," the 28-year-old said, sipping a cup of tea, wearing a worrisome expression on his face. Ishfaq is not the only one who is concerned about this demolition in the Kunzer area. Several others have received eviction notices from the Revenue Department of Jammu and Kashmir, declaring that their properties are built on 'state land' and must be vacated within four days. "If you do not evict the building within four days, action will be taken against y...