Rohit Tikoo

The Nilamata Purana (Sanskrit: Nīlamata Purāṇa) is one of the most important surviving Sanskrit texts for understanding the cultural, religious and geographical history of ancient Kashmir. Although classified as a Purāṇa, it differs significantly from the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas. Rather than presenting a universal cosmology or extensive genealogies of gods and kings, it focuses almost exclusively … Read more

नमोऽस्तु ते शारदे देवि काश्मीरपुरवासिनि । त्वामहं प्रार्थये नित्यं विद्यादानं च देहि मे ॥ Salutations to You, O Goddess Sharada, who dwells in the sacred land of Kashmir. I bow before You each day and pray for the gift of wisdom. Some journeys begin with footsteps, while others begin in the heart. For countless Kashmiri … Read more

The lost temples of Kashmir tell the story of one of India’s most remarkable yet least understood civilisations. Most people know only the Martand Sun Temple near Anantnag, but for nearly five centuries, the Kashmir Valley was home to dozens of magnificent temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, and the Divine Mother. Today, many survive … Read more

Lake Satisar is the legendary lake described in the Nilamata Purana as once covering the entire Kashmir Valley. According to Hindu tradition, Sage Kashyapa, also called Rishi Kashyapa, drained the lake with the help of the gods, defeated the water-born demon Jalodbhava, and made the valley fit for human settlement. What makes this story especially … Read more

Once the grandest Hindu temple in Kashmir, the Martand Sun Temple stood as a symbol of power, faith and architectural brilliance. Why was this magnificent monument reduced to ruins, and what does its story reveal about Kashmir’s forgotten past? Let’s Explore. Few historic places are as breathtaking as the Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir. Built … Read more

When we strip away the political rhetoric and look at the raw reality of our displaced community, the definitive answer to whether Kashmiri Pandits return to Kashmir remains one of India’s longest unresolved rehabilitation challenges. More than three decades after our exodus, the dream of a genuine, safe, and permanent homecoming remains in a holding … Read more

Three decades after the Kashmir insurgency began, Yasin Malik remains one of its most contested figures. To some, he is a separatist leader who abandoned violence. To Kashmiri Pandits, his name remains inseparable from an era of terror, exile, and unanswered questions. In this article, we comprehensively examine the relationship between Yasin Malik and the … Read more

In a historic milestone for the pursuit of justice in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a 737-page chargesheet against the banned JKLF chief Yasin Malik and four accomplices in the Sarla Bhat Case This definitive legal breakthrough stands as one of the most significant advancements in legacy terror investigations. It … Read more

Abdur Rahman Rahi was a Kashmiri poet, teacher, and translator. He is best known for being the first writer from Kashmir to win the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India. His work changed the way people write in the Kashmiri language. He shifted the focus away from old folklore and religious mysticism toward … Read more

Few writers have transformed a language as profoundly as Dinanath Kaul Nadim transformed Kashmiri literature. At a time when Kashmiri poetry largely revolved around mysticism, romance, and folklore, Nadim introduced a fresh literary voice rooted in realism, social justice, and human dignity. His work gave modern Kashmiri poetry a new direction while preserving the language’s … Read more

Saqiya lubey lubaab, chaav mai Jaam-i-Jamai. Tashne lab gasi sehraab, chaav mai Jaam-i-Jamai. A Literary Rendering O Cupbearer, fill the Cup of Jamshid with the purest essence. Let these parched lips savour its wine. For nearly two centuries, these immortal lines have echoed through Kashmir. They have been sung in homes, remembered in cultural gatherings, … Read more