Peaceful summer in Kashmir, calm before the storm?

1

Tweet

Everyone is satisfied that the summer in the Kashmir valley this season remained peaceful. Of course barring some incidents of stone pelting and strike calls by separatists. However, timely response by the government in most cases, including custodial death case of a youth in apple township of Sopore in north Kashmir. Though the separatists still dissatisfied, have helped to cool down the tempers and saved the situation from going out of control as last summer. Horrifying memories from last summer still saddens most of us back in the valley, when death of a youth in security force action in the down town resulted in about four month long turmoil, taking more than 120 lives. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abudullah too expressed his satisfaction over the peaceful summer while Union Home and other central ministers and leaders praised the state government for maintaining peace. But the question....

Will the change be enough to 'change' Bengal?

2

Tweet

New Delhi: With only two phases left in the West Bengal Assembly elections and the judgment day round the corner, the people of Bengal are keeping their fingers crossed, hopping change for better governance this time. However, change will be a distant dream for the people until they force the government, whosoever will be elected, to change the work culture among the babus, who are strong enough to sabotage any system. The journey of West Bengal elections can be compared to Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's plays, where everyone does what they are asked to do without questioning the might of the writer. The only difference here is that there are multiple writes (political parties) with same objective (to win) but with different approach. Be it CPM accusing TMC of being a Maoists sympathier or TMC accusing Left Front of having killed about 75,000 opposition workers. The....

Spring colours bring hope to Kashmir

0

Tweet

Finally the harsh winter is over with the arrival of spring in the Kashmir valley, which has woken up to life with fresh green tints having emerged on the frozen land and mountainside. However, this time due to late snowfall, high mountains are still under a blanket of snow. Not far away from the winter, the spring brings about changes even in the dress and eating habits of the people in the Kashmir, where the pussy willows and the daffodils are in blossom. Migratory birds had started arriving. Mustard has carpeted the countryside, almond trees are in flowers and willow branches are imbued in anticipation of sprouting buds. Kashmir is literally in bloom. However, late snowfall on upper reaches and rains in plains had turned the weather a bit cold. According to Khalid Bashir, poet and writer, who has written several books on Kashmir, the Kashmiris have....

Try out your hands on Kashmiri cuisine

2

Tweet

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is not only known as paradise on earth, but also for the hospitality across the globe. Wazwan is the Kashmir's most formal meal, which took hours of cooking and days of planning. The Secret behind the mouth-watering cuisine of the state lies in the books of history. The history of modern Kashmiri cuisine can be traced back to the 15th century invasion of India by Timur, and the migration of 1700 skilled woodcarvers, weavers, architects, calligraphers and cooks from Samarkand to the valley of Kashmir. The descendants of these cooks, the wazas, are the master chefs of Kashmir. The ultimate formal banquet in Kashmir is the royal Wazwan. Of its thirty-six courses. Majority of them can be preparations of meat, cooked overnight by the master chef, Vasta Waza, and his retinue of....