Divorce rates are rising in Kashmir, but framing this as a moral collapse misses the deeper truth: it’s a complex, multi-factor reality shaped by social, economic, and psychological transitions—not just infidelity or cultural decay. By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025 More Than a Moral Panic In recent years, the picturesque landscapes of the Kashmir Valley have also become the backdrop for a quieter but significant transformation: rising divorce rates. Conventional wisdom in many quarters suggests that this signals a moral collapse—“Western values” infiltrating traditional societies, increasing infidelity, declining respect…
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Kashmir’s Dream League Turns Nightmare: How the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) Collapsed Amid Fraud Allegations
Kashmir’s Dream League Turns Nightmare: IHPL T20 Collapses Amid Fraud Allegations By: Javid Amin | 03 November 2025 The Big Promise – Sport, Youth and Tourism in Kashmir When the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) was announced, the vision was bold: to bring high-profile T20 cricket to the snow-covered valley of Srinagar, to merge sport with youth empowerment and tourism. On paper, it had all the right ingredients. The tournament, launched on 25 October 2025 at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, featured eight teams, over 70 players and promised international stars…
Read MoreChoked Streets, Blocked Crossings: How Srinagar’s Traffic Jams Are Crippling Daily Life
Choked Streets, Silent Lights — Why Srinagar’s Traffic Jams Are Getting Worse (Analysis & Solutions) By: Javid Amin | 02 November 2025 Every morning and evening, Srinagar — the summer capital that pours itself along the Jhelum — locks up. Commuters inch along tightly packed lanes, schoolchildren arrive late, shop owners lose customers, ambulances crawl at critical moments, and tempers fray. The causes are many: an explosion in vehicle numbers, narrow historic streets, repeated failures of signal infrastructure, chronic encroachments and intermittent manual traffic controls at major junctions. This article…
Read MoreScheduled Power Shutdowns Across Kashmir in Early November 2025 – What Residents Must Know
KPDCL has announced scheduled power shutdowns across multiple districts in Kashmir during early November 2025, citing essential maintenance and upgrades on key transmission lines. By: Javid Amin | 30 October 2025 Electricity supply is a critical part of everyday life, especially in regions with extreme weather swings and challenging terrain. In early November 2025, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns in multiple areas of the Kashmir Valley. These shutdowns are being carried out to perform essential maintenance, upgrades and strengthening of…
Read MoreFrom Detox to Despair: Why J&K’s Drug Crisis Needs More Than Short-Term Fixes
10% of J&K Population Struggling with Substance Abuse, Yet Long-Term Rehab Remains a Mirage By: Javid Amin | 26 October 2025 The Hidden Epidemic Jammu and Kashmir is facing one of India’s most severe drug addiction crises, with over 10% of its population—approximately 13.5 lakh individuals—struggling with substance abuse, according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment. Behind the numbers lies a grim picture: a generation caught between trauma, unemployment, and easy access to narcotics. Despite government campaigns and public awareness drives, long-term rehabilitation remains a distant…
Read MoreCouriers Turned Carriers: The Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis in Kashmir
A New Face of Addiction in Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 21 October 2025 Prescription drug abuse, once considered a fringe issue, has now entered the mainstream of Kashmir’s public health crisis. Traditionally overshadowed by heroin and synthetic narcotics, pharmaceutical abuse is quietly reshaping patterns of addiction. Recent reports and investigations reveal that courier services—once a lifeline for online orders—are now being exploited as conduits for trafficking addictive medications. Drugs meant for legitimate therapeutic use are slipping into the hands of youth, creating a legal high with dangerous consequences. Couriers…
Read MoreThe Digital Danger Lurking in Kashmiri Homes: How Screen Addiction is Rewiring Childhood
A Silent Crisis in Kashmiri Households By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025 The phrase “The Digital Danger Lurking in Kashmiri Homes” has rapidly emerged as a powerful lens through which journalists, educators, and psychologists are examining a growing—and deeply concerning—crisis: the unchecked rise of digital addiction among children and teenagers in the Kashmir Valley. What began as a tool of connection during lockdowns and political disruptions has quietly evolved into a force reshaping childhood, family dynamics, mental health, and even cultural continuity. As per features in Kashmir Observer and…
Read MoreThe Social Burden of Marriage on Kashmiri Women: Between Tradition and Trauma
The Social Burden of Marriage on Kashmiri Women | Dowry, Pressure & Cultural Change By: Javid Amin | 15 October 2025 Marriage in Kashmir: A Celebration with a Hidden Weight In the lush valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, marriage has long been seen as a sacred institution—a blending of spiritual belief, cultural tradition, and familial bonding. The solemnity of the nikah, the elegance of the bride’s attire, the aroma of wazwan, and the warmth of shared laughter reflect the community’s deep-rooted values of togetherness. But beneath this ceremonial grandeur, many…
Read MoreEarly Snowfall Blankets Pahalgam and Aru Valley as Pir Panjal Farmers Face Harsh Realities
The beauty of early snow is undeniable, but Kashmir’s shifting weather patterns reveal a deeper story—one of breathtaking landscapes, fragile livelihoods, and climate uncertainty. By: Javid Amin | 07 October 2025 Winter comes early, and the valley reacts On crisp mornings in Srinagar and the valleys beyond, an early snowline rewrites the season. Within days of rain and a sharp fall in temperatures, meadows that usually glitter in autumnal gold turned to silver: Gulmarg’s slopes, Pahalgam’s meadows, Daksum’s oak pockets and the intimate Aru Valley were dusted with snow. Tourists…
Read MoreKashmir Tightens Meat Labeling Rules: Halal & Source Transparency Made Mandatory
Kashmir Tightens Meat Labeling Rules: Transparency Now Mandatory By: Javid Amin | 04 October 2025 Transparency on the Table: Kashmir’s New Meat Labeling Law Kashmir’s food regulators have drawn a firm line in the sand. Beginning August 2025, every kilogram of dressed meat entering the Valley — whether mutton or chicken — must come with a full, verifiable label. The Jammu & Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it clear: no label, no sale. The move follows a storm of public concern triggered by the seizure of 1,200…
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