Umar Khan Amiri, Author at Kashmir POST

Saving Handicrafts: Beyond Slogans and Selective Concern

January 27, 2026January 28, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

Challenges: Exploitation, Decline, and Market Saturation The renewed concern expressed by the Copper Handmade Utensils Union, echoed by sections of the administration, about saving handmade copperware has reopened a larger and more uncomfortable debate about the future of traditional crafts in Kashmir. While the intention to protect any indigenous craft is welcome, the selective urgency surrounding copperware raises critical questions about policy consistency, cultural priorities, and economic realism. Kashmir has historically been a global centre of handicrafts. From carpet and shawl weaving to handmade paper, kitabat (calligraphy), wood carving, papier-mâché,…

Weather in Kashmir: An Anthemic Wake-Up Call We Can No Longer Ignore

January 17, 2026January 18, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

By Umar Khan Amiri Kashmir has long been celebrated for its pristine climate, snow-clad winters, and life-giving rivers. But today, the changing weather patterns across Kashmir are not just a seasonal anomaly—they are an anthemic warning. A winter without snow, deficient rainfall, shrinking forests, rising pollution, and chaotic tourism together form a loud, unsettling chorus demanding urgent attention. For generations, snow in Kashmir was more than a spectacle; it was a system. Snowfall regulated temperatures, replenished groundwater, sustained agriculture, and powered hydropower projects. Today, prolonged dry spells and snowless winters…

Beyond Marks: Rethinking Merit, Youth, and Mental Well-Being in Kashmir

January 16, 2026January 16, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

Beyond Marks: Rethinking Merit, Youth, and Mental Well-Being in Kashmir By Umar Khan Amiri In Kashmir, the declaration of academic results has increasingly become more than a routine educational milestone. It has evolved into a social yardstick—one that often measures not just performance, but worth, intelligence, and future potential. This mindset, deeply entrenched in society, has had a distressing impact on the mental health and self-esteem of young people. Every year, students give their best within the limits of their individual capacities. Yet the first and often the only question…

Tourism in Kashmir — Charting a Path to Resilience and Growth in 2026

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

Tourism in Kashmir 2026 — Resilience, Growth, and a New Era of Travel Tourism has long been the economic backbone of Kashmir, driving employment, social mobility, and global interest in the Himalayan region. As we enter 2026, the tourism sector stands at a crossroads — balancing recovery, persistent challenges, and opportunities for sustainable expansion. The tourism landscape in Jammu & Kashmir has seen dramatic fluctuations over the past few years. After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, there were clear signs of revival. Domestic tourist visits surged from approximately…