Author: Kashmir Newsline

The Jnanpith winner was a lifelong campaigner for the Kashmiri language. by Tariq Rashid On the day of his passing, his poem Karav Kyah!—What Can We Do!—resonated with mourners as rich tributes kept pouring in for Prof. Rehman Rahi who breathed his last today in the wee hours at his Vichar Nag residence. The multiple award-winning bard had retired from active life. He was 98. Karav Kyah! is a lament portraying the helplessness of the people of conflict-ridden Kashmir. Rahi was often accused of not raising his voice in the turbulent nineties when the Kashmiris were at the receiving end…

The adult movie actress joins the party as well. Kashmir Newsline Desk In a hilarious blooper on the second day of the ongoing Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium, Karachi, Bazid Khan, son of legendary cricketer Majid Khan,  referred to fellow commentator Danny Morrison as Dani Daniels, an American adult actress. In a video grab that became viral on microblogging platform Twitter and other social media sites, Khan is seen talking about the last wicket 106-run partnership between Morrison and Nathan Astle at Auckland in 1997 against England when he mistakenly calls Danny Morrison Dani…

Societies can ill-afford to keep women away from education. Ashok Swain After announcing that universities in Afghanistan will be closed to women, the Taliban administration has even restricted girls’ education above grade six and closed down private schooling for girls. The aftereffects of this decision will be serious and long-lasting for the country and its people. Though no other country has been as restrictive about girls’ education as Afghanistan has become in the last year, gender disparities persist in most of the world. As UNESCO estimates, 129 million girls are out of school, and only 49 per cent of countries…

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra could be a watershed moment in the Indian politics. Sanjay Kapoor After a pit stop in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi embarked on the last leg of the ambitious 3700 kilometer Bharat Jodo Yatra which will culminate in Srinagar. Gandhi attracted big crowds during his long journey and also got substantial coverage in the media and also on social media, but it was after he entered in a T-shirt into a bitterly cold Delhi on December 24, 2022, that the pretentious commentators—afraid of walking out of the comfort of their heated rooms—took notice. It was…

Celebrating each other’s festivals is celebrating life. Farooq Shah On December 25, a church located at the centre of Srinagar city was bustling with Christmas celebrations. Many young Muslim men and women – some sporting beard in an Islamic fashion and some wearing hijab – were seen wishing their Christian friends a Merry Christmas. Joyful pictures that epitomized communal harmony went viral but some local clerics disapproved of the act and issued a fatwa ordering the Muslim men and women to pronounce the kalima shahadah afresh because, according to them, they ceased to be Muslims after taking part in Christmas…

The breathtakingly beautiful global skiing destination is battling encroachment, haphazard construction, deforestation and pollution, among others.  Jaspreet Kaur After climbing higher and higher Was reached a plain smooth space Rain dropping over velvet grass Pleasant coolness in attendance Shrivelling heat and enthralling engagements gone Reaching those heights a cool quietness was attained Which cools the mind unites and mystifies it That supreme calmness prevails here!  ~ Bhai Vir Singh, Gulmarg  Bhai Vir Singh wrote poems on Kashmir, over a span of many years starting 1922 when he first visited the valley. From then on, he returned to Kashmir every summer…

The history of the Kashmiri houseboats dates back to the 19th century. Jaspreet Kaur The houseboats of Kashmir are famous for their unique and rich designs and hospitality and they attract a number of tourists from across the globe. There are about 950 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes. To celebrate the uniqueness of this floating marvel, the Department of Tourism celebrated a two-day ‘Houseboat Festival’ earlier this month, originally scheduled for September, 2022. The previous houseboat festival was organized in October 2021 as part of the Iconic Week Festivals. During the two day festival inaugurated by J&K Lt Governor…

There are multiple factors that could be responsible for India’s poor performances. Bilal Ahsan Dar In the first Test of the ongoing bilateral series that began on December 14, India inflicted a crushing defeat on home team Bangladesh at Chattogram. While India’s performance at test level has been reasonably satisfactory, the same cannot be said about its performance in the white ball cricket over the last few years. It was not so long ago that star all-rounder Hardik Pandya claimed: “I think India can pick two more teams and win any tournament in the world.” He was referring to the…

Credit score is a summary of a borrower’s past and current borrowing and repayment history. Sajjad Bazaz Some time back, a student, who had approached a bank for education loan, shared an interesting story with me. His application was rejected despite his parents having sufficient income on the ground that their credit score was bad. The parents were surprised as they had no idea what ‘credit score’ meant. While seeking the exact meaning of ‘credit score’ from the bank official who had done appraisal of the study loan application, they were astonished to learn that the bank knew about their…

A recent study by the Department of Mental Health and Neurosciences in collaboration with the Department of Health Services suggests a serious increase in drug abuse across all districts of the Kashmir valley. The findings of the study have revealed a dark underbelly that needs immediate attention. The study has concluded that the deadly opioid drug heroin has become the main source of addiction, replacing milder drugs such as painkillers and cannabis. The survey also concluded that most of the addicts are in the age group of 17 to 33 years, though doctors have previously reported addicts as young as…