“We, the willing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing.” Notes from the diary of a soldier who served in Siachen. (Original quote by Mother Teresa.)

India and Pakistan may have their guns aimed on each other at Siachen, but in reality they are both fighting nature, nature defeating them and being defeated by them. At 20,000 feet the world’s largest glacier outside the North...

Genetically modified (GM) crops were promoted as a ray of hope to increase yield and solve the problems of hunger among the nations. Yet the evident reports find these crops failed to increase yields, rather they were known to endorse superweeds, food insecurity and pesticides. According to a report by 20 Indian, south-east Asian, African and Latin American food and conservation groups representing millions of people. The so-called miracle crops, which were first sold in the US about 20 years...

Dog killing of the past fashion is stopped subsequent to imposition of ban is still a requirement particularly in the current horrible scenario, yet to be on the safer side sterilization as is discussed nowadays is the best alternative available to curb the menace. This programme involves catching of street dogs or stray dogs (free roaming & unsupervised dogs), sterilizing them, vaccinating them against rabies, registering them & releasing them back into the areas where they were...

In the heart of Lal Chowk, Srinagar on a Friday morning (20th April, 2012) the Palladium cinema bunker was dismantled in the presence of J&K Minister of State for Home and the Director General of J&K Police (DGP). This bunker-removing exercise was portrayed in the media as a ‘Peace Dividend’ for Kashmir. While this removal surely did give more space to the local market, but this move was seen merely as symbolic in the greater context of Kashmir. In reality, the CRPF personnel from...

Hangul, scientifically known as “Cervus elaphus hanglu” is the only surviving race of the Red Deer family of Europe in the sub-continent. The Hangul is listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the international Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural. The Hangul is one of the most famous animals of Jammu & Kashmir. It inhabits the thick forests of Jammu & Kashmir. In the past, Jammu & Kashmir had a large and vibrant population of Hangul Deer. But...

The endless harrowing situations which ultimately lead the previously called ‘Heaven on the earth’ in a state of hopelessness and chaos. The murderous assault by Security (Indian) forces against innocent people of Kashmir has resulted in about a lac of assassinations besides countless damage to private properties. The women in Kashmir were not directly involved in the conflict but they have been the immediate affectees of military operations which claimed the life of the sole bread earner...

The recommendations in the ISIIS report “Media impact on the Kashmiri youth” remind one about George Orwell’s 1984! The Institute of Research on Indian and International Studies survey report on the topic of “Media impact on Kashmiri youth” apparently creates a very scary feeling about the recommendations made to change the social milieu in Kashmir. It is about changing the entire outlook of the youth by virtually brainwashing them. However, one need not be panicky about the...

The recent Rushdie episode has raised some vital points regarding freedom of speech and expression, which need to be seriously addressed. I am submitting five points for consideration on the topic.

1. No freedom can be absolute: In a democracy freedom of speech is a valuable individual right. For progress there must be freedom to speak, freedom to write, freedom to criticize, and freedom to dissent. Unless there is freedom ideas cannot grow, and in the transition period India and other...