Category: Community

The Loan Culture in Kashmir: Navigating Necessity and Luxury with Islamic Insights

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The Loan Culture in Kashmir: Navigating Necessity and Luxury with Islamic Insights

The rise of the loan culture in Kashmir & What Islam speaks about loans By: Javid Amin Kashmir, with its vibrant culture and stunning landscapes, has a history deeply intertwined with borrowing and loans. Traditionally, these loans were sought for fundamentally crucial life events such as marriages, education, and urgent medical needs. However, in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the loan landscape. Loans are now increasingly being acquired for non-essential, often luxurious, purposes, marking a significant departure from tradition. Several factors contribute to this evolving trend, and…

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Kashmir’s Silent Plague: Battling the Scourge of Drug Addiction

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Kashmir's Silent Plague: Battling the Scourge of Drug Addiction

By: Mudasir Wani Kashmir valley, renowned for its beauty and culture, has recently been cast into the shadows by a growing epidemic – drug addiction. This ominous presence is unraveling the social fabric and dragging the valley into a bleak abyss. The Pandora’s box of this crisis is wide open. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recently revealed in the Lok Sabha that nearly 10 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir are entangled in the clutches of drug addiction. To put this into perspective, the population of Jammu and…

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Unmasking the Stark Reality of Food Wastage in Kashmir: A Call to Conscience

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Unmasking the Stark Reality of Food Wastage in Kashmir: A Call to Conscience

Food Wastage in Kashmir: A Stark Reality and a Call to Conscience By: Javid Amin In the serene valleys and picturesque landscapes of Kashmir, a silent yet profound crisis looms large, one that has far-reaching consequences for society, the environment, and our collective morality. The menace of food wastage, once relegated to the shadows, has taken center stage, demanding our urgent attention. Daily Squander: A Conundrum Close to Home In the quaint towns and bustling cities of Kashmir, food wastage has surreptitiously embedded itself in our day-to-day lives. As we…

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Mitigating Food Wastage at Lavish Kashmiri Weddings

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Mitigating Food Wastage at Lavish Kashmiri Weddings

“Eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters” (Surat Al-A’raf 7: 31) By: Javid Amin Kashmiri weddings, celebrated for their opulence and grandeur, often feature extravagant feasts. Families invest considerable resources in creating lavish spreads to commemorate these joyous occasions. However, this lavishness has a considerable downside – a staggering amount of food wastage. A study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has revealed that up to 40% of the food served at Kashmiri weddings goes to waste.…

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The Begging Conundrum in Srinagar: A Multifaceted Challenge Requiring Comprehensive Solutions

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The Begging Conundrum in Srinagar: A Multifaceted Challenge Requiring Comprehensive Solutions

By: Javid Amin Beggary has emerged as a significant issue in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A 2019 survey conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir government reported that Srinagar is home to over 10,000 beggars, with approximately 70% originating from outside the state. Beggary is an intricate problem that defies simple solutions. Several factors contribute to the prevalence of begging, including poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and disabilities. Frequently, beggars hail from impoverished and marginalized communities, often left with no alternative means of sustenance. Beggars in…

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Kashmiri students demand action against police officers accused of brutality

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Kashmiri students demand action against police officers accused of brutality

A disturbing and shocking video went viral on social video, Kashmiri muslim students of Desh Bhagat University (DBU) in Punjab were reportedly beaten by university staff, police and local goons allegedly hired by the staff after students, raised concerns over the university’s admission practices. Scores of Kashmiri students pursuing nursing degrees at Desh Bhagat University have found themselves embroiled in a contentious admission debacle. Nursing students had been protesting for the past one month against the university for admitting more students in the course than the number allowed by the…

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Kashmir’s Youth in Crisis: The Need for Suicide Prevention

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Kashmir's Youth in Crisis: The Need for Suicide Prevention

By: Nawaz Manzoor Malik Suicide is a global concern, and its impact is far and wide, affecting individuals, families, and entire communities. In Kashmir, the menace of suicide has been exacerbated by decades of conflict, political turmoil, and a unique cultural context. Trying to explore the latest information and initiatives surrounding suicide prevention in Kashmir, shedding light on the challenges faced and the glimmers of hope that are emerging. As per the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report, suicide has claimed the maximum number of lives in Kashmir after terrorism.…

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Kashmir’s dark side: How black magic is destroying lives

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Kashmir's dark side: How black magic is destroying lives

By : Mehr-u-Nisa Zargar By early May, Shoby Jan, a resident of the Kachdoora area in south Kashmir’s Shopian allegedly showed an immense transformation in her behaviour. It was not normal. After days of struggle, her husband Muzaffar Ahmed Sheikh got in touch with a faith healer from Qazigund in the Kulgam district. The “faith healer” came to her house in Kachdoora and right away said, Shoby was possessed by a Djinn. After the “revelation” Shoby started facing a social boycott. Nobody visited her or went close to talk to…

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Kashmir’s Mental Health Crisis: The Invisible Scars of Conflict

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Kashmir's Mental Health Crisis: The Invisible Scars of Conflict

After consulting with several doctors in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aayat Hameed was advised to seek help from a mental health expert for her bouts of unspecified anxiety, random palpitation attacks and occasional but strong suicidal thoughts. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with acute depression. On a recent hot summer day, Hameed was among scores of other patients visiting a mental health clinic in Srinagar, where she had been undergoing rounds of counselling along with prescription medication. “I realized seeing a psychiatrist or reaching out to someone you trust…

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Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms

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Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms

Religious centres and educational institutions are assuming a new role in Kashmir by doubling up as counselling and testing centres to curb the fast-spreading menace of drugs. These rare interventions come as the Valley is battling a drug addiction crisis; over 10 lakh people were officially designated drug addicts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration this year. Otherwise restricted for the clergy, the pulpit at Magam Imambara in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, where Shia Muslims organise large religious congregations, recently saw Muzaffar Khan, a clinical psychologist who heads the Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation…

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