Author: Kashmir Newsline

Our journey was not only a test of physical endurance but also a testament to the spirit of exploration and adventure that drives us to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of mountaineering. Shahnawaz Khanday In the wee hours of September 19, our seven-member group comprising Kaiser Jameel, Latief Hussain, Gulzar Ahmad, Muzammil Ashraf, Masrat Iqbal, Umar Shafi Khan and myself embarked on an epic journey to conquer the majestic Mount Tatakooti, which stands tall  at an impressive elevation of 4760 meters above sea level. This towering peak, highest among the entire Pir Panjal range of…

A celebrated food critic and writer, Marryam H Reshii recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award fromThe Big F Awards. Jaspreet Kaur Marryam, a star in the culinary world, has been writing about food and lifestyle for over 30 years. She has been the Times of India food critic since 2008, besides being an independent writer on cuisine. She has a weekly column published in the Friday edition of TOI. Marryam has several books to her credit, including those for the Times Group Books imprint about India’s food scene in terms of best restaurants, notable chefs and cuisines. Apart from that,…

The essence of effective orchard management lies in the judicious execution of timely interventions. Mariya Dar Known for its beautiful landscape and temperate climate, the Kashmir region provides favourable conditions for apple cultivation. The apple industry holds a significant position in the regional economy. With a wide range of apple varieties being cultivated in the valley now, the past few years have seen a rise in the adoption of high-density apple varieties. The apples produced are not only consumed locally but are also in demand internationally. However, weather uncertainties, lack of awareness, faulty practices and fast-changing global dynamics make it…

While the country is making efforts to advance its space program with help from China, economic challenges and climate change related disasters raise questions about its sustainability. Shome Basu In 1947, Pakistan emerged as a new nation, gaining independence from British rule along with India. India was four times larger than Pakistan and dominated the region as the two countries were geographically separated by 2,000 kilometres, with one to the west and the other to the east. This partition resulted in a massive bloodshed claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, coinciding with the end of World War II and significant…

The country has picked up the pieces and is raring to go.  Saurabh Kumar Shahi In the autumn of 2016, the Islamic State (Daesh) came perilously close to the city of Karbala. Well, at least their presence became ominous. While physically they were still over a hundred kilometres away, they were close enough to attack and kill Shiite pilgrims coming to the twin cities of Najaf and Karbala for the annual Arbaeen commemoration. While those coming from Shiite heartlands were relatively safer, those trying to cross the Sunni-dominated triangle of Northern Baghdad, Ramadi and Tikrit were particularly exposed to potentially…

It is the soulfulness that often connects these delicacies to the people with their communities, religions and the cultural traditions. Jaspreet Kaur The practice of community kitchens (langar or bhandara) is said to have been started by the Nath Jogis, followed by Baba Farid, the Sufi saint who established the Chisti order in Punjab. On Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti’s birth anniversary, people visiting the dargah in Ajmer are served kesariya bhat – made from broken wheat, sugar, ghee and dried fruits. Colleen Sen writes: “As the food is considered to be imbued with blessings, it is considered an honour to accept…

Samanbal—an Artist’s Dream of his Land and People Renowned Kashmiri artist Masood Hussain shares his Kashmir story and how it came to become the leitmotif of his art. Jaspreet Kaur I first met Masood Hussain at a wedding in Srinagar – briefly. I found his work which I had been following on Facebook and Instagram, mostly water colours of life in Kashmir, captivating. He mentioned about the residency for artists he had been trying to set up. So on my next Kashmir trip, I decided to meet him again and visit the residency. We met at his house in Jawahar…

How Shiism, marked by persecution, taqiya and other survival tactics, evolved in the valley.  Sajjad Haider Come Muharram, the month of mourning, Kashmir’s Shia-dominated areas come alive with black banners and portraits of religio-political revolutionary leaders from Iran and beyond. The banners of modern day Shia icons from Iran to Lebanon in Kashmir illustrate how the Shia resurgence has spilled over borders, into places like Kashmir with small Shia populations with their own troubled history. This new assertiveness from a community which till recently would observe Taqiyah (1), or dissimulation, for fear of being persecuted merely for observing rituals like those in…

The predominantly black colours, with some red, green, white and yellow were seen across Srinagar—amid reverberating chants of ya Hussain—as the 34-year long ban on Muharram was revoked by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Jaspreet Kaur The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday decided to allow the 8th Muharram procession through the traditional route of Srinagar on Thursday, the 27th of July, after a ban of 34 years. Despite the decades-long ban, Shia mourners would take out processions from Guru Bazar each year, defying restrictions, which would invariably end up in confrontation with local police and paramilitary forces. Smaller processions…

In a three-part series on the smart city project, Kashmir Newsline had warned of a potential disaster. Jaspreet Kaur After last night’s heavy rainfall, which is nothing unusual in the month of July, the social media is inundated with photos of flooded shops of Polo View Road, Srinagar. Was this unexpected? Absolutely not, considering the design and layout of the now pedestrianized stretch, which was manicured as a smart city project and more as a showpiece for the G-20 summit. During the summit, with stringent rules and heavy security, the road bore a rather forlorn look. More than boosting shopping,…