Rohit Tikoo

The gradual erosion of Kashmiri Pandit festivals and rituals is a pressing concern. This article explores the Lost festivals and rituals of Kashmiri Pandits after being forced out of Kashmir in 1990. There was a time when the snow-covered evenings of Kashmir were filled with anticipation. We, as children, would eagerly wait for our Guru … Read more

Between 1988 and 1990, Kashmir faced a dark era of terrorism that claimed many innocent lives. Notable figures such as Tika Lal Taploo, Justice Neel Kanth Ganjoo, Satish Tikoo, Sarvanand Kaul Premi and his son, Girija Tikoo, Sarla Bhat, Prana Ganjoo, K.L. Ganjoo, and others were tragically murdered. Lassa Kaul was also a victim of … Read more

In the dark days of 1990, as terrorism gripped the Kashmir Valley, a sinister pattern emerged. Those working in telecommunications, radio, and television found themselves in the crosshairs of radical militants. The twisted logic of these extremists painted innocent civilians as spies, leading to a reign of terror that would forever scar the region. Among … Read more

Jo shakhs ho zinda to phir kya khaak marta hai Hunar ke saath insaan amar ho jaata hai These words by Josh Malihabadi resonate profoundly with the life and legacy of Sarvanand Kaul Premi, a luminary whose diverse talents and unwavering spirit continue to inspire long after his untimely demise alongside his younger son, Virender … Read more

Imagine the magic of Kashmir – snow-capped peaks glistening, warm fire crackling, and the aroma of Kahwa and Ksheer chai ( Noon Chai) swirling in the crisp mountain air. But amidst these wonders, there’s a simpler magic, a symbol of Kashmir’s soul – the Kangri. The Kangri is an earthen pot, a beacon of hope in … Read more

The Brutal Killing of Sarvanand Kaul Premi On the fateful night of April 30th, 1990, armed men with extreme views barged into Sarvanand Kaul Premi’s home in Kashmir. They forcefully gathered the family into one room and looted all their valuables like gold, jewellery, cash, and fine clothes. The men even yanked off any gold … Read more

Main Kashmir Pandit Hoon, Apne Hi Desh Mein Dandit Hoon (I am a Kashmiri Pandit, Tortured in My Own Country).  For over three decades, this has been my reality. The exodus, meant to be temporary, stole my home, my land, and my very identity. We, the Kashmiri Pandits, were driven from our ancestral lands by … Read more

Who Was Sarla Bhat of Kashmir? By Rohit Tikoo | Kashmir Historian · Kashmir History Project · Kashmiri Pandit Originally Published: 2024 | Comprehensively Updated: March 2026 | Reading Time: ~13 minutes A Note From the Author I have written about atrocities. I have documented massacres, named the murdered, and traced the arc of an … Read more

Introduction: The inclusion of Article 370 in the Indian Constitution stands as a landmark moment in the nation’s history, shaping the relationship between the Indian Union and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This article explores the critical provisions of Article 370, its historical origins, the architects behind its drafting, and the subsequent contentious revocation … Read more

Kashmiri Pandits. The name itself paints a picture – a people with a history stretching back thousands of years, deeply connected to the land of Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits have known victories and losses, their rich culture blooming like the valley’s roses and weathering tough times like the mountain peaks. Imagine families living in the same … Read more

Imagine a celestial tapestry, shimmering with threads of divine essence. Among them, one radiant strand stands out – Lal Ded, a mystic poetess whose very being defied earthly constraints. Like a luminous moonbeam piercing the velvet night, she transcended the mundane, embodying unwavering devotion and weaving verses that echoed with celestial fire. AMI PANA SUDDRAS … Read more