Lives Unseen: A Glimpse into Lasjan’s Slum Realities
Toyyibah Ansar and Aalima Qayoom
Lasjan, a developing area in Srinagar (south) tehsil, located 7.23 kilometres from the city centre, is home to various rock-making, sand, and other construction mills. Beneath the bypass flyover lies a mix of residential areas, including multiple slum communities.
According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) under Rajiv Awaz Yojna (RAY), Srinagar has around 18,000 households across 77 slum pockets, with over 52 percent of the state’s slum population residing in the district. » Read more about: Lives Unseen: A Glimpse into Lasjan’s Slum Realities »
From Brushstrokes to Digital Blows: The Struggle to Save Kashmir’s Hand-Painted Boards
Kashmir’s hand-painted boards, once vibrant symbols of the region’s artistic heritage, are increasingly overshadowed by modern digital printing. As traditional artisans struggle to keep their craft alive, efforts to preserve this fading art form offer a glimmer of hope.
By: Amaan Rasheed, Nazakat Aslam, and Faria Bhat
Srinagar, June 28, 2024 — Shakeel Ahmad Khan, a 58-year-old man, stands in his dimly lit workshop, surrounded by the fading aroma of paint and the remnants of his once-thriving business. » Read more about: From Brushstrokes to Digital Blows: The Struggle to Save Kashmir’s Hand-Painted Boards »
Breaking Barriers: Kashmiri Women Lift Stereotypes with Strength
In Kashmir, women are breaking stereotypes by embracing strength training, historically seen as a male domain. This trend boosts physical and mental health, enhances confidence, and challenges societal norms. Increased awareness and dedicated fitness spaces are empowering Kashmiri women to pursue weightlifting, transforming it into a symbol of progress and empowerment.
Srinagar, 15 June: Last year, Yana Iftikhar, a young girl from Srinagar, began her ambitious journey of strength training. Despite facing discouragement from outdated views that considers weightlifting exclusive to men, » Read more about: Breaking Barriers: Kashmiri Women Lift Stereotypes with Strength »
India’s Beauty Ideal: The Dark Side of Fairness
Fairness, considered an attribute of beauty in India, is basically a veiled mask of social prejudice. The historical and cultural fascination with fair skin in India is deeply rooted, predating even the invasions by lighter-skinned people.
Social structures reflected a preference for lighter skin, which was later exacerbated by British colonial rule. This obsession with fairness has permeated Indian society, influencing marriage prospects, employment opportunities, and social status.
This analytical piece explores the origins of this toxic beauty standard in India, » Read more about: India’s Beauty Ideal: The Dark Side of Fairness »
Megaquake risk in Kashmir underscores need for strong buildings
By Bhat Yasir, Simran Mir, Kaiser Ali and Tabish Shakil
A potential earthquake threat is looming over Kashmir and surrounding regions as the Indian subcontinent continues to push northward and stresses continue to build on massive faults along the Himalaya arc, thus making the region more vulnerable. The experts are continuously warning that earthquakes above 8 magnitudes can strike the Himalayan region at any time.
Kashmir valley has been rocked by many moderate and large earthquakes in history. » Read more about: Megaquake risk in Kashmir underscores need for strong buildings »
Kashmir’s Snow Trout at Risk
By Nazakat Aslam, Aalima Qayoom, Toyyibah Ansar, Faria Farooq
Kashmir’s indigenous Schizothorax, the iconic Snow Trout or “Kashir Gaad,” battles a sharp decline, threatened by sand mining, hydropower dams, invasive species, and pollution. These cold-water fish species are ecologically, economically and culturally significant. The ongoing conservation prioritizes water quality enhancement, artificial breeding, and safeguarding natural breeding habitats to ensure their survival.
Kashmir’s aquatic ecosystem is under threat as native fish species, especially the Schizothorax genus, » Read more about: Kashmir’s Snow Trout at Risk »
CRISPR-Cas9: Gene-ius of Biotech and a Double-Edged Sword
In 2020, Marwa, a 22-year-old woman, was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition characterised by insufficient thyroid hormone production. Despite being prescribed medication to alleviate her symptoms, she remained trapped in a state of perpetual fatigue and sluggishness.
The year 2021 dealt another blow to Marwa when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that relentlessly assaults the thyroid gland. This condition stands as the leading cause of hypothyroidism, and, notably, there is no known cure. » Read more about: CRISPR-Cas9: Gene-ius of Biotech and a Double-Edged Sword »
Chatting Apps: The Expanding Virtual World
With WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram being the most popular, the other apps have also paved ways to make a mark
By Saqib Manzoor, Saqib Gull, Sharik Aslam
In recent times, the internet has seen a rise of different chatting apps like, WeChat, Yubo, Bumble BFF, Instagram, Wink, where a person can bump into any stranger from anywhere and talk to them.
The number of netizens rose by 100 million to a total of 560 million in 2019. » Read more about: Chatting Apps: The Expanding Virtual World »
Young Zoologist documents JK’s avian treasure
By Hashim Zakir, Zeeshan Ahad and Duwa Bisati
Parvaiz Yousef posing with his book [Photo: Zeeshan Ahad]
In the picturesque town of Pampore, a young researcher has emerged, driven by an unwavering passion for avian life. Parvaiz Yousuf, a 24-year-old Zoologist, recently achieved a significant milestone with the publication of his book, “Birds of Jammu & Kashmir,” exploring the region’s diverse avifauna.
Reflecting on his early years near the serene Chatlam Wetland Reserve, » Read more about: Young Zoologist documents JK’s avian treasure »
Alien species pose threat to Kashmir’s ecosystem
By Mehak, Shaista,Tehreem and Fahad
The pristine environment of Kashmir is facing an unprecedented threat from invasive alien species that have spread throughout the region and are wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.
Native plants in Kashmir valley are being displaced and outcompeted by an alien species that is spreading quickly. The alien species is known to be a kind of plant that originated outside including North America, Africa etc.
Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Shah, a leading botanist based in Srinagar, » Read more about: Alien species pose threat to Kashmir’s ecosystem »
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