Author: Kashmir Newsline

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…

The world stood with India in strongly condemning the attack.  Shome Basu It was a warm, sunny December day. New Delhi was going about its usual business. The posh Connaught Place area was gearing up for a carnival as Christmas was just around the corner. I was at the Bangla Sahib gurudwara for a photo story. At the gurudwara, I was planning to have my lunch at the langar which was about to start.  Suddenly, at around 11:30, a loud explosion was heard along with some gunshots. I stepped out of the gurudwara to check. Outside, on the road, people…

Lt. Gen. (retd) Tariq Khan The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem. ~Milton Friedman We are an accommodative nation abounding in conspiracy theories, rumours and labels. No one understands that we, as a nation and society, are held hostage to ignorance and stupidity. Our economy is in shambles and a semiliterate accountant rolls his pearls of wisdom while the fan club sits in wonder trying to pick up nuggets of wisdom from the utter nonsense he rattles off. No nation has suffered from a lack of intellectual capacity and functional collapse the way we…

Unprecedented steps are needed to create a basic framework for conservation and restoration of the lake. Akshay Kaul The 1990s saw a sharp reduction in the quality of lakes, rivers and other water bodies – particularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. For us, the 1990s in Kashmir also reflect a watershed moment of a different sort that had a significant impact on the environmental legacy of the valley. The causes of lake degradation are quite similar when you look at them, especially in developing countries. Lakes are complex living systems because their health and water quality depend on both…