When Autumn Trees Still Wait for Spring: The Silent Longing of Old Age Parents, opinion 1 December 2025

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When Autumn Trees Still Wait for Spring: The Silent Longing of Old Age Parents.

By Tyima Bilal
The Poetry of Autumn: A Metaphor for Ageing Hearts:
There is a quiet, melancholic poetry in the way autumn trees stand, weathered, thinning, yet unshakably dignified. Their branches droop with age, their leaves fall one by one, yet beneath their fading beauty lies a heart that still hopes, still waits, still believes that spring will return. Old age parents resemble these autumn trees in the most heartbreaking way. They have spent the prime years of their youth standing tall, providing shade, comfort, nourishment, and protection to their children. They held our tiny fingers when we learned to walk, they sacrificed their meals so we never slept hungry, they soothed our fears in the darkness, and they worked relentlessly to give us a life better than the one they lived. Their days were filled with responsibility and their nights with dreams for us, not for themselves. But when age steals their strength and their world grows quieter, their children, once the center of their universe, grow absorbed in their own lives, leaving behind memories stronger than presence. The irony of life is that parents raise children to be independent, yet independence is what distances children from them. And this distance is not measured in miles; it is measured in silence.
The Quiet Cry That Should Have Shaken the World:
Just a few days ago, I witnessed something that tore through me in a way I cannot fully describe. An old uncle, someone’s father, someone’s entire universe once, sat under the shade of a fading tree. His fragile body seemed to sink into the chair, not from age alone, but from the weight of longing that had settled in his bones. His eyes, which had probably once sparkled with pride when his children achieved something, were now filled with a kind of sorrow that was too deep to explain. When he began to cry, it was not the loud, dramatic weeping that drew attention. It was the silent crying of old people, the quiet tears that fall slowly because even their sorrow has grown tired. His voice cracked, trembling as he whispered, “I gave my children everything. Today I only want a few minutes of their time, but even that has become too much to ask for.” In that moment, his tears were not just water; they were decades of sleepless nights, uncounted sacrifices, hidden struggles, and love that had been returned with distance. The heartbreak of his loneliness felt like watching an ancient tree crack from within, something sacred breaking silently.
Loneliness: The Illness No Doctor Diagnoses:
Loneliness at old age is perhaps the most painful illness, one that no medical report can diagnose and no medicine can treat. It creeps quietly, disguised as silence. It begins with children becoming busy, then distant, then unavailable, and eventually emotionally disconnected. In the beginning, parents understand. They believe their children are occupied, they tell themselves the calls will come later, the visits will happen soon, things will get better. But time does not heal this wound; it deepens it. Every morning, old parents look at the door with hope, and every night they sleep with disappointment folded inside their sighs. They cook meals for two even when they live alone. They keep the home tidy as if expecting someone to walk in. They sit by the window pretending to enjoy fresh air, but in reality, their eyes are fixed on the road, searching for familiar footsteps. They keep the lights on longer than needed not because they fear the dark, but because they fear being forgotten. Their hearts turn into quiet museum rooms, filled with memories but empty of visitors.
The Unspoken Ache Behind Every “I’m Fine”
Parents rarely express the depth of their loneliness. They don’t say, “I miss you,” even when their hearts ache with every passing day. Instead, they swallow their pain, hide it behind tired smiles when their children call for two minutes, and act strong even when their hands tremble with age. When asked how they are, they always say, “I’m fine”, a phrase that hides an entire universe of longing. Behind every “I’m fine,” there is a silent plea: “Stay with me for a while.” Old age parents do not measure love in money or gifts. They measure it in minutes, in conversations, in the warmth of presence. What they crave most is a simple moment of companionship, someone to sit beside them, someone to listen, someone to remind them they are still valued, still wanted, still loved. These are the same parents who once walked barefoot to save money for our shoes, who skipped their dreams so we could fulfill ours, who stayed awake when we were sick, who aged early so we could grow freely. Their love holds no conditions, their devotion has no limits.
The House That Slowly Empties of Laughter:
A home where parents wait alone carries a different kind of silence, one that feels heavy, one that echoes. The walls remember the footsteps of children, the kitchen remembers the laughter, the rooms remember late-night conversations. But the present remains quiet. Parents keep utensils in pairs even when they eat alone, as if the second plate will encourage a miracle. They keep old photographs clean, touching them gently like fragile memories. They talk to themselves sometimes, because silence becomes unbearable. They replay old moments in their minds, birthdays, school days, weddings, because memory becomes the only companion. A house that once overflowed with the chaos of children becomes a place where only the clock speaks. And that ticking sound becomes a cruel reminder of days slipping away unnoticed.
The Regret That Arrives Too Late:
 There comes a time when the words we spoke in frustration and the disrespect we showed without thinking return to us like echoes we cannot silence. At that moment, we realize how deeply it must have hurt the very hearts that never wished us anything but goodness. Parents absorb our harshness quietly, but regret does not stay quiet, it grows heavier with time. Nothing hurts more than remembering the times we raised our voice at those who once spoke to us with endless patience. And when they are no longer around to forgive us with their warm smile, the weight of that regret becomes lifelong. The truth is, no apology is ever too late. Respect them now, before time turns your regret into something you can never undo.The saddest truth of life is that children often realize the value of their parents only when it’s too late, when the house becomes permanently silent, when the bed remains undisturbed, when their favourite shawl lies neatly folded forever. When the familiar voice becomes a memory, not a sound. When their empty chair becomes the loudest thing in the room. Regret blooms too late. We remember their sacrifices only after their hands no longer reach out for us. We search for their blessings after their lips can no longer whisper prayers for us. We look at their photos and feel a hollow ache, wishing for a single moment more. A single conversation. A single hug. A single chance to say “I’m here.”
A Plea from Their Hearts: Be Their Spring:
Old age parents are not burdens; they are blessings whose time is limited. Their autumn is gentle but short. Their winter arrives quietly. And once they leave this world, no one, not even the closest friend or partner, can fill the emptiness their absence creates. If you still have your parents, you have something priceless. Visit them more often. Call them without waiting for a reason. Sit beside them without rushing. Let them tell old stories even if you’ve heard them countless times. Let them feel seen, heard, and cherished. Hold their hands, those hands that once held your entire world together. Tell them you love them now, not later. Show them the spring of your presence while they are still here to feel it. Because parents are autumn trees that waited their whole lives for us, and now they wait in their final season with hope that we will return.
The Final Truth: They Loved Us Through Every Season:
They loved us when we were weak, when we were learning, when we were lost, when we were difficult, when we were ungrateful. And now, in their season of fragility, they deserve the same love returned. Not through money, not through gifts, but through time, presence, tenderness.Call them without waiting for an occasion. Sit beside them without rushing. Hold their hands even if you don’t know what to say. Let them talk about old stories even if you’ve heard them a hundred times. Let them feel heard, seen, and loved. Before time steals them silently, give them the spring of your presence, because they have spent their entire lives being your shelter. They are autumn trees waiting for a spring that only you can bring. And one day, when life makes you stand in their place, you will understand the depth of the love they carried and the ache of the wait they endured. Give them love now, while their hearts still beat with hope, while their hands still reach out for yours, while they still wait by the door believing that you will return soon. Because nothing is more painful than realizing you were their entire world, and they spent their final years feeling forgotten. And nothing is more beautiful than giving your parents the dignity, warmth, and companionship they so deeply deserve. They are not just parents, they are stories, they are prayers, they are living blessings. They loved you through every season. Now it is your turn to be their spring.
Penned by Tyima Bilal
A wanderer of fading memories, writing with ink dipped in the quiet tears of forgotten parents, and a heart that prays for love to return before the last autumn leaf falls.

Reimagining Education with Tech , opinion 24 November 2025

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Reimagining Education with Tech

By Dr Aqib 

E-learning can play a vital role in restructuring the education system of our country. The current system is traditional and can be improved in many ways among which, e-learning stands out as one of the most transformative. The conventional face-to-face learning approach can effectively be blended with online learning to create a more dynamic and flexible educational model. Online learning can be both synchronous and asynchronous, allowing for adaptability and inclusiveness.

This approach offers many benefits such as wider accessibility, improved engagement, increased interaction, flexible course design, better management of time and resources, and lower costs. However, it also presents some challenges, including the lack of direct face-to-face communication, the need for stronger self-discipline, and additional workload for instructors.

A variety of digital platforms such as Moodle, Blackboard, WebCT, Adobe Captivate, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack can support e-learning. These platforms help in managing courses, delivering lessons, assessing learners, and facilitating communication. For teaching to be effective, instructors must also focus on building essential skills such as digital literacy, organizational ability, time management, and creativity to inspire continuous learning and progress.

Online courses should be carefully designed to encourage collaboration among learners and instructors. Clear learning outcomes aligned with curriculum goals must be established. Using action-oriented verbs like “describe,” “demonstrate,” “outline,” “design,” and “create” helps make objectives measurable and effective.

Instructors can create engaging virtual content through tools such as Vituou, MERLOT, Nearpod, Wikibooks, Diigo, and Delicious. Additionally, MOOCs offered by platforms like EdX, Coursera, and Udacity provide rich learning experiences.

Technology should be used to facilitate participation, enable collaboration, and enhance creativity. Following the SAMR model Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition can help transform teaching and learning experiences. Similarly, Bloom’s Taxonomy provides a strong framework for structuring e-learning through its focus on remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.

Collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack can further strengthen interaction, allowing students to learn from one another, solve problems collectively, and develop teamwork and communication skills.

Assessment in e-learning should be both formative and summative. Formative assessments can include quizzes, discussions, assignments, and peer feedback, while summative assessments can take the form of final exams, projects, or comprehensive evaluations. These assessments should measure not only knowledge acquisition but also the learner’s ability to apply and extend that knowledge.

In conclusion, technology should not merely supplement education but should reshape it. By thoughtfully integrating digital tools into the learning process, we can bridge the gap between traditional and modern education truly putting the “tech” in teaching.

 

Whispers of the Vanished Woods, opinion 17 November 2025

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Whispers of the Vanished Woods

 How Kashmir’s Forests Fell to Greed and Silence.

By Dr Noour Ali Zehgeer

The earlier parts of this series peeled away the layers of Kashmir’s land crisis — the reckless ownership drives under the Roshni Act, the quiet theft of Pandit homes during the dark 1990s, and the abandoned fields left in bureaucratic limbo since Partition. But perhaps nothing wounds deeper than the story of the forests — those sacred green lungs that once wrapped the Valley in life, shelter, and serenity.

 Once, Kashmir’s woods were more than trees. They were guardians of rivers, homes to animals, shields against hunger and flood. The revered saint-poet Sheikh-ul-Alam had warned centuries ago, “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi” — food lasts only as long as forests last. Today, those words echo like a lament over bare hillsides and dried riverbeds.

When the fires of militancy swept across Kashmir in the early 1990s, governance vanished overnight. The forest guards disappeared, offices were torched, and the rule of law dissolved into fear. At first, the loss seemed harmless — villagers cutting a few trees for firewood or clearing small patches to grow crops. But as chaos deepened, greed found its chance. Armed men, traders, and desperate villagers together turned the forests into open loot.

By night, gunshots were followed by the rumble of trucks. Deodar and pine, the Valley’s prized giants, were felled and shipped away — some to city markets, others to military camps. Even the forces, it was whispered, took their share. “Everyone had their reason,” says a retired forest guard from Budgam. “For some, it was survival; for others, power.”

Between 1990 and 2010, over five lakh mature trees vanished from Budgam’s Sitharan range alone. Across Kashmir, satellite data shows the Valley losing more than 152 square kilometres of forest cover since 1989. The wounds of that loss still bleed — in swollen rivers, eroded hills, and the choking air that once carried the scent of pine. During 1990 to 2008, the natural resource of this valley was looted, the insensitive businessman of the valley grabbed every commercially viable land to create fortunes for there family. The politicians were alibi to their crimes yet silent and waiting for their shares rather than legally stopping them. So called these Pakistan sponsored militants were part of parcel of this loot which made Valley a barren land, they also made fortunes without caring for our generations to come.

If Trees don’t return to Kashmir, in Next 20yrs we will see our children suffering and making their future dark

From Kral Sangri to Kupwara, the story repeats itself — quiet villages turned into settlements of stumps and stones. “We thought we were taking what was ours,” recalls an elderly villager, staring at the concrete where oak trees once stood. “But we took away our children’s shade.”

When democracy returned in 1996, the damage was already deep. The Public Safety Act (PSA) — once meant to deal with threats to peace — was extended to forest smugglers. Yet the powerful remained untouched. Timber mafias became donors, and politics turned green crime into patronage. “Forests paid for elections,” a former officer remark bitterly.

As of September 2025, official data reveals 19,501 hectares of forest land — nearly 3.9 lakh kanals — encroached across Jammu and Kashmir. Of this, 5,891 hectares lie in Kashmir alone, with the South Circle (Anantnag to Awantipora) worst affected. The pattern is unmistakable: illegal felling under the shadow of development, silence under the pretext of progress.

The 1990s saw timber smuggling evolve into an organized industry. Militants levied “forest taxes,” and smugglers, protected by fear or favour, stripped the woods bare. In places like Tosamaidan, leased to the army in 1964, lakhs of deodars disappeared under the cover of military activity. “We cut to survive,” admits Javed Ahmad, a former smuggler from Budgam. “The militants took their share, and the rest went unseen.”

By the early 2000s, over 84,000 kanals had already been seized. Today, that number has tripled. The victims aren’t just trees — they are people too. From Kupwara’s nomadic Gujjars, who now wander parched pastures, to widows in Kral Sangri who lost homes to the 2014 floods, everyone has paid the price. The Jhelum, once a calm vein of the Valley, now clogs with mud from naked hillsides.

The environmental toll is immense. Studies show a 2°C rise in average night temperatures since 1990 and a steady increase in flash floods and landslides. The Hangul deer — Kashmir’s pride — teeters on the edge of extinction. Medicinal herbs once common in Verinag or Doda now exist only in memories.

Though efforts to reclaim encroached land have begun — with 14.28 lakh kanals retrieved out of 17.22 lakh — the pace is painfully slow. The Forest Protection Force, armed and alert, clears only a few hundred hectares a year. Technology has entered the fight: satellite monitoring, tip-off apps, and drone surveys. But against entrenched corruption and political apathy, such steps barely scratch the surface.

Ironically, even institutions meant to protect are part of the problem. Camps, government offices, and even tourist resorts have been built on forest land. In Dachigam National Park, a proposed CRPF camp threatens to erase habitats of the endangered Hangul. Each new construction is defended as “national interest,” yet each leaf behind another scar.

What’s needed now is courage — and honesty. Kashmir must publish the names of the encroachers, prosecute the powerful, and protect the weak who cut only to live. Forest-dependent communities should be partners, not targets. Projects like REDD+, which reward conservation, could offer new hope if implemented sincerely. Climate change is reshaping Kashmir’s ecology, economy, and daily life—triggering erratic weather, shrinking water bodies, and threatening traditional livelihoods like saffron farming. What the UT government should do is Train youth in climate literacy, disaster response, and green entrepreneurship. Co-create tech-enabled solutions for crop resilience, soil monitoring, and market access. Empower youth to draft climate adaptation policies and engage with local governance bodies.

But in Kashmir, votes still weigh heavier than virtue. Parties trade slogans over bulldozers, yet none speak of the 19,000 hectares already lost. “We took from nature,” says an ex-smuggler now turned forest guide in Tosa maidan, “and she is taking back from us.”

The civil society has also done very little for awareness of not cutting down trees, they are tight lipped like corporate houses of Jammu and Kashmir who could have done a lot under CSR programs. Irony is Kashmiri people themselves are responsible for this mess ,and no one can deny that locals have looted the forest reserves and put generations to come in climate change danger.

The message is clear — if the trees do not return, neither will life as we knew it. The winds that once carried the fragrance of cedar now whisper a warning: we are running out of green, and out of time.

Why Should Men Never Argue With Women? The Bridge Between Emotion and Logic

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Why Should Men Never Argue With Women? The Bridge Between Emotion and Logic
By:Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili

It is one of the oldest and most enduring sources of friction between the sexes: a conversation that starts with good intentions and swiftly spirals into a confounding clash of worlds. He says one thing; she hears another. She expresses a feeling; he offers a solution. The result is a familiar stalemate: she feels unheard, and he feels misunderstood. The common, albeit flippant, advice that “men should never argue with women” is not a surrender of reason or a suggestion of female irrationality. Rather, it is a crude, oversimplified banner for a profound and necessary truth. The path to harmony lies not in avoiding conflict, but in fundamentally understanding that men and women often speak different, yet equally valid, native languages—the language of logic and the language of emotion.

A great deal of interpersonal conflict stems from this fundamental divergence in communication processing. From a young age, many boys are socialized to be problem-solvers. They are taught to suppress overt emotion, to be stoic, and to value action over feeling. Their world is often one of structure, hierarchy, and fixable problems. This upbringing forges a mind that, when confronted with a issue, instinctively reaches for logic. It is a toolkit for navigating the world, a way to create order from chaos. When his partner shares a problem, his deeply ingrained response is to diagnose the issue and prescribe a remedy. He is, in his mind, being helpful, protective, and engaged.

Women, on the other hand, are often socialized within a different framework. They are frequently permitted, and even encouraged, to develop a rich and nuanced emotional vocabulary. For many, emotions are not a messy byproduct of thought but the very medium through which thought is processed in real time. Articulating feelings is not merely about venting; it is a method of exploration, a way to untangle complex internal experiences by giving them voice. When she shares a problem, she is often engaging in this very process—she is thinking out loud, connecting the emotional dots, and seeking validation and connection.

The challenge, and the primary source of so many arguments, arises when these two native languages collide. When she speaks from her heart, sharing the frustration of her day, and he responds with a step-by-step plan to fix it, a profound disconnect occurs. She interprets his logical blueprint as a dismissal of her feelings, as if he is saying, “Your emotions are an illogical problem to be solved, not a valid experience to be shared.” He, in turn, is baffled by her rejection of his help. He offered a perfectly good solution, and his efforts were met with tears or anger. He feels unappreciated and ineffective, wondering why she brought him the problem if she did not want it fixed. This is the crux of the misinterpretation: he mistakes her request for empathy as a request for advice.

The key to bridging this divide is for both parties to learn that emotion and logic are not enemies locked in a battle for supremacy. They are two essential instruments in the orchestra of human understanding, and a beautiful symphony requires both. The goal is not for one to convert to the other’s language, but to become bilingual, to develop the empathy and patience to listen for the meaning behind the words.

For a man, this requires a conscious shift in focus. His strength is not just in building solutions but in providing a sanctuary of understanding. He must learn to listen with empathy, which is an active and engaged practice of feeling with her, rather than acting upon her feelings. This means resisting the powerful instinct to troubleshoot and instead practicing simple, validating responses. It means understanding that sometimes, perhaps even most of the time, she does not need a mechanic for her soul; she needs a witness to her experience. His calm, steady presence in the face of emotional storms is not passivity; it is a powerful form of support. By holding space without immediately trying to dispel the discomfort, he makes her feel safe, seen, and profoundly understood. This requires him to value her emotional reality as much as he values his logical one, recognizing that what may not make linear sense to him is the very substance of her present truth. Respecting her feelings in this way is the cornerstone of building deep, unshakable trust.

For a woman, the path forward involves a parallel shift in interpretation. It is crucial to recognize that his logical, solution-oriented response is rarely a cold dismissal. More often than not, it is his language of care. When he immediately starts brainstorming fixes, he is operating from a place of deep-seated instinct to protect and provide. He is trying to build a levee against the river of her distress. Understanding this intention can reframe his response from one of indifference to one of devoted, if misplaced, concern. To help him learn her language, she can assist by communicating her needs with clarity. A simple, gentle directive can work wonders: “I just need you to listen right now, I’m not ready for solutions,” or, “I value your advice, could you help me think this through?” This clear signaling prevents the dangerous game of assumption, where she hopes he will just know what she needs, and he is left guessing incorrectly. Furthermore, she can learn to respect his steady, calm presence as his unique form of strength. His silence or measured words are not always a sign of detachment; often, they are his way of creating stability and containing the situation, of being the anchor in the storm.

Ultimately, the old adage is wrong. Men should not “never argue with women.” In fact, avoiding difficult conversations is a recipe for resentment and distance. The real imperative is to transform the argument itself. A true, productive conversation between a man and a woman is not a battle to be won with superior logic or emotional intensity. It is a collaborative project to build a bridge. He must take a step onto the bridge from the shore of logic, and she must take a step from the shore of emotion. They meet in the middle, in a space where feelings are honored as the context and logic is valued as a tool. When both sides make the effort to respect and learn the other’s native tongue, communication ceases to be a source of conflict and becomes the very foundation of a deeper, more intimate, and unshakable connection.


Author  is a surgeon, Contributes with positive perception management on socio moral  issues .

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Dr.Fiaz Maqbool Fazili  MBBS; MS(​SKIMS);FICS;​FICA​(USA)​ ​MAMS;DTQM; CQPH;FISQua;CTQM;(Q&A)

 Senior ​Consultant Surgeon (Surgical Gastroenterology; Onco-Surgery; Breast, ,GIT,Hernia; Diabetic foot ,Wound care  & Minimal access;&  Gen;Surgery problems);

 

How to Love Your Spouse Unconditionally, opinion 10 November,2025

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A Love Without Preconditions!. 

How to Love Your Spouse Unconditionally:


By Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili 

Love in marriage, much like life itself, is never static. It breathes, evolves, and sometimes bleeds under the weight of unmet expectations and human flaws. The idea of loving someone unconditionally—especially a spouse—is often glorified in poetry, religion, and philosophy, yet rarely practiced in the daily grind of shared existence. Unconditional love is not a sentimental phrase or a romantic illusion; it is a deliberate, disciplined act of the heart. It means giving your partner what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great personal cost to yourself.

When I first heard those words more than three decades ago, they struck me as both profound and painfully demanding. At the time, I was a young husband, navigating the uncharted territory of marriage with all the impatience and ego of youth. Those words, however, became a quiet compass—guiding me through arguments, disappointments, and moments of emotional drought. They taught me that love without conditions is not about perfection or permanent harmony. It is about choosing your partner, every day, especially when they are hardest to love. In a world increasingly defined by transient connections and conditional agreements, the sanctity of marital love faces unprecedented challenges. This piece explores the profound, often difficult, yet ultimately transformative practice of loving a spouse without conditions—a journey not of perfection, but of persistent, grace-filled choice. It is a reflection drawn from decades of lived experience, offered not as a prescription, but as a testament to the enduring power of a love that chooses to see, accept, and cherish.

Marriage, by its very nature, tests the elasticity of love. It places two imperfect individuals under the same emotional roof and asks them to build a life together. There are seasons when everything feels effortless—when laughter fills the kitchen, when plans align, and when the smallest gestures feel enough. But there are also days when silence stretches longer than words, when fatigue replaces affection, and when both partners feel unseen or misunderstood. It is in those fragile spaces that unconditional love either takes root or withers.

To love your spouse unconditionally is not to ignore their flaws or excuse their mistakes. It is to accept their humanity and choose to see the whole person—the good, the difficult, and the growing. It means extending grace, not as an act of surrender, but as a conscious expression of strength. True love is not about fixing someone; it is about standing beside them as they evolve.

Society often measures love by reciprocity—the give-and-take that keeps relationships balanced. But unconditional love transcends that equation. It gives without keeping score. Yet, this does not mean self-erasure or tolerating emotional neglect. Loving without conditions does not mean living without boundaries. In fact, setting boundaries is often an act of love, both for yourself and for your spouse. When you continue to give endlessly without being emotionally nourished in return, you eventually drain your spirit. Love cannot thrive in an environment where only one heart beats for two.

The idea of unconditional love finds its most perfect expression in divine example. The scriptures remind us that love is patient, kind, and enduring—not because it is blind to faults, but because it chooses compassion over judgment. God’s love for humanity is not transactional; it is steadfast even in the face of betrayal and weakness. That sacred model of love is not meant to burden us with impossible ideals, but to remind us that love can indeed be both strong and forgiving at once.

Marriage offers the closest human opportunity to practice that divine kind of love. When we forgive, when we listen instead of reacting, when we show up in the midst of disappointment, we mirror something larger than ourselves. It is not a weakness to love deeply; it is a rare courage to do so when circumstances test your patience and pride.

In the daily rhythm of marriage, unconditional love often manifests in the smallest acts. Respecting your spouse’s opinions even when you disagree, listening with empathy, believing in their abilities, and encouraging them in moments of self-doubt—these gestures weave the quiet fabric of enduring love. When you speak about your partner with respect in front of others, when you make time for them despite the chaos of life, you are telling them that they matter, that they are seen. Love is not a grand declaration; it is in the consistency of everyday tenderness.

To love unconditionally is also to allow imperfection. Letting your spouse fail, make mistakes, or struggle without judgment is part of this sacred dance. Control may feel like security, but it often suffocates growth. When you step back and give them the space to fall and rise again, you are not losing power—you are nurturing partnership. You are saying, “I trust you to find your way, and I will still be here when you do.”

Encouragement, too, is a language of love. Be their loudest cheerleader, not their harshest critic. Celebrate their victories, however small, and acknowledge their efforts even when outcomes fall short. Gratitude has a quiet magic—it transforms ordinary moments into emotional connection. Saying “thank you” or “I love you” may sound simple, but those words have the power to remind your partner that they are cherished and valued.

Of course, none of this comes without struggle. Unconditional love demands humility, patience, and self-awareness. It asks us to confront our own egos, our need to control, and our fear of being vulnerable. It is far easier to love when love is reciprocated. But the real measure of love is how it behaves when tested—when it must stand alone, fueled only by commitment and faith.

I still remember a time when my marriage felt weighed down by silence and fatigue. I taped that quote—“Unconditional love is giving the other person what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great personal cost to yourself”—to my bathroom mirror. I read it every morning before stepping into the day. It reminded me that love is not an emotion to be felt, but a decision to be made. It reminded me that I was called to love my wife not because she was perfect, but because she was mine.

Over the years, that lesson has deepened. I have realized that unconditional love is not a single act, but a lifelong practice. It requires forgiveness that goes beyond apology, understanding that precedes explanation, and faith that transcends disappointment. It is the slow, steady choice to nurture a bond even when it feels easier to retreat.

When the dust of daily life settles, when careers shift and appearances fade, what remains is the quiet companionship built through decades of shared resilience. To love your spouse unconditionally is to see beauty in the ordinary, to hold space for each other’s humanity, and to continue reaching across the distance when words fail.

At the end of every long day, when I turn to the person who has walked beside me through storms and seasons, I am reminded of one truth: love that asks for nothing in return often gives back the most. It may not always look perfect, but it endures. It grows through grace. It redeems through time. And in that unspoken endurance lies the purest form of love—a love without conditions.

The Author is a medical doctor and social commentator who writes columns highlighting social wrongs and public concerns. He can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dr.Fiaz Maqbool Fazili  MBBS; MS(​SKIMS);FICS;​FICA​(USA)​ ​MAMS;DTQM; CQPH;FISQua;CTQM;(Q&A)
Director HealthServices HSCT JK;Chief Adviser Healthcare,policy,Plans and Projects
Newspaper and Social media Columnist, blogger Healthcare(cancer awareness & prevention) Improvement of   Healthcare-standards ,Safety; Moral Ethics in healthcare &  hospital. Senior ​Consultant Surgeon,Clinical auditor

Adviosr  Hospital & Healthcare Policy Planning; Patient safety &Quality care(QPS) Improvement.

 
 
 
 
 
 

India and the Taliban- Realpolitik or a Real Risk?,opinion 27 October

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India and the Taliban: Realpolitik or a Real Risk?

By Dr Noour Ali Zehgeer

 

India’s recent engagement with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister — a UN-sanctioned individual — has stirred both curiosity and controversy in equal measure. For New Delhi, this outreach might seem like realpolitik — a pragmatic move dictated by shifting geopolitical currents in South and Central Asia. Yet for many observers, it raises a deeper, more uncomfortable question: Has India compromised its principles for the sake of strategic convenience?

The meeting, though perhaps inevitable in the new regional reality, has reopened a moral and diplomatic debate about how far India is willing to go to safeguard its interests — and at what cost.

A Breach of Trust?

For decades, Afghanistan and India shared a relationship built on trust, empathy, and shared history. India wasn’t just another regional player; it was a reliable partner, often referred to by Afghans as an elder brother — a nation that stood by them in times of conflict and instability. From building hospitals and roads to investing in education and governance, India’s development assistance made it a symbol of peace in a war-torn land.

Thus, this recent engagement with the Taliban — a regime that seized power through violence, suppresses women’s rights, and continues to shelter extremist elements — feels to many like a betrayal of that legacy. The people of Afghanistan, who have long admired India’s democratic values and secular ethos, now find themselves questioning whether the world’s largest democracy has begun to compromise with forces that embody everything it once opposed.

This meeting also appears to contradict India’s longstanding policy of zero tolerance for terrorism. How does a nation that refuses dialogue with terrorist organizations justify sitting across the table from a UN-sanctioned minister of a government still struggling for legitimacy?

 

It’s a fair question — one that cuts to the core of India’s foreign policy identity.

The Realpolitik Argument

Yet, from another angle, this engagement may not be betrayal but strategic necessity. The Taliban, whether the world likes it or not, currently represents the de facto government of Afghanistan. To ignore them would mean ceding influence in a region where China, Pakistan, Iran, and Russia are already manoeuvring aggressively for leverage.

Diplomacy, after all, is not about friendships; it’s about interests. India, guided by a “nation-first” principle, cannot afford to let ideology cloud its strategic vision. Engaging with the Taliban doesn’t mean endorsing their ideology — it means acknowledging political reality.

 

Moreover, this isn’t the first time India has spoken to adversaries. New Delhi has engaged Pakistan several times despite its long history of sponsoring terrorism. The difference here is that India is not recognizing the Taliban regime formally; it’s testing the waters, ensuring its interests — particularly in trade, connectivity, and counterterrorism — are not undermined by exclusion.

In the game of geopolitics, moral clarity often collides with strategic necessity. The Indian establishment knows that isolationism achieves little. A seat at the table, however uncomfortable, is often better than shouting from outside the room.

Who Really Gains?

Still, one must ask: Who benefits most from this meeting?

For the Taliban, this engagement is a diplomatic victory. It lends them a veneer of legitimacy they have been desperately seeking. Being received by one of the world’s major powers — especially one that has long championed democratic values — allows them to project an image of acceptance to the global community.

For Afghanistan’s neighbors like Pakistan and China, India’s move might come as both surprise and concern. New Delhi, by reopening communication lines, signals that it refuses to be cut out of regional equations. It’s a way of saying: India is still here, and still matters.

For India, however, the gains are less immediate. Yes, the meeting may open avenues for intelligence sharing, trade routes, or humanitarian assistance. It could help ensure that Afghan soil isn’t used for anti-India terror activities. But these are still ifs and maybes.

 

The real test will be whether such outreach translates into tangible outcomes — or whether it ends up as another well-intentioned diplomatic gesture that history quietly shelves away.

Principle vs. Pragmatism

 

At the heart of this issue lies a timeless dilemma: Should foreign policy be guided by moral conviction or national interest?   India’s engagement with the Taliban isn’t about endorsement; it’s about influence. Yet, in trying to secure that influence, there’s a risk of eroding the very moral high ground that has defined India’s global image for decades. The line between engagement and legitimization is perilously thin — and one misstep could blur it beyond repair.

 

Still, one must also acknowledge that the geopolitical landscape has changed. The world is not divided into heroes and villains anymore. Power dynamics are fluid, alliances are temporary, and every country is recalibrating its approach to survive in a multipolar world.

 

India, therefore, must walk this tightrope — balancing ideals with interests, compassion with caution.

The Final Word

 

So, is India’s meeting with the Taliban a betrayal or a masterstroke? Perhaps it’s a bit of both.

It’s betrayal if seen through the lens of sentiment — of friendship, loyalty, and shared values with the Afghan people.

It’s strategy if viewed through the prism of national interest and regional survival.

 

The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.

India’s challenge now is not just to engage with the Taliban but to ensure that such engagement does not compromise its principles or global reputation. The world is watching — and so are the Afghan people, who once looked to India not just for power, but for hope.

  1. In diplomacy, as in life, sometimes the hardest part isn’t meeting your enemy — it’s not losing yourself in the process.

Respect for Parents , opinion 20 October 2025

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Respect for Parents — Especially in Old Age
Modern Times — Busy Lives, Forgotten Bonds,Values ignored
By Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili

In every religion, culture, and civilization, reverence for parents stands as one of the most sacred moral duties. It forms the foundation of humanity and defines the moral health of a society. Yet Islam raises this obligation from the realm of social ethics to that of divine worship. The Qur’an makes this relationship inseparable from the faith itself: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents.” This verse places obedience to parents immediately after obedience to Allah. It is not merely advice; it is a command — a reflection of divine will. To honor one’s parents, therefore, is not an act of courtesy but an act of worship.

The Season of Their Fragility-In childhood, our parents are our shield — they protect, nurture, and provide. But as they grow old, the shield weakens, the hands that once guided begin to tremble, and the voices that once instructed now seek reassurance. This is the stage when duty reverses — the child becomes the guardian. Yet, in today’s world of busyness and distraction, many fail to recognize this sacred moment. The Qur’an beautifully instructs: “If one or both of them reach old age while with you, do not even say ‘uff’ to them, nor rebuke them, but speak to them with gentleness and honor.”The Arabic expression “uff” may seem small, but it represents every sigh of annoyance, every gesture of irritation, and every trace of disrespect. Islam, in its unmatched depth of compassion, forbids even the faintest sign of impatience toward one’s parents.

When Parents Weep, Heaven Watches-The tears of a parent, especially when caused by the harshness of a child, do not go unnoticed by the heavens. The Prophet Muhammad saw said:
“The father is the middle gate of Paradise; lose it if you wish, or preserve it.” In another Hadith, he warned: “The pleasure of Allah lies in the pleasure of the father, and His displeasure lies in the father’s displeasure.” What greater testimony could there be to the sacredness of parental love? To please one’s parents is to please Allah Himself; to hurt them is to risk divine wrath. A parent’s pain echoes in eternity, and their silent prayers — or their silent grief — can shape a child’s destiny.

The Sin That Weighs Heavily-The Prophet Muhammad saw included disobedience to parents among the gravest of sins:“The greatest sins are associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.” To disregard or disrespect one’s parents, therefore, is no small moral lapse — it is a spiritual disaster. The gravity of this sin lies not only in words or actions but also in indifference. The child who neglects an aging parent, who turns away when their voice calls, commits a silent form of cruelty.

The Power of Words-Language carries the weight of the heart. The Qur’an commands: “Speak to them words of kindness.” . Words can soothe or scar, build or break. Even a single sharp phrase can wound a parent more deeply than physical pain. True respect lies not in loud declarations of love, but in the tone of our everyday speech — in gentleness, patience, and gratitude. The Qur’an further instructs: “And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy.” This image of lowering one’s “wing” captures the very essence of humility — to bow in affection, to serve without ego, and to speak with tenderness.

Old Age — Their Test, Our Opportunity-Many views old parents as a burden, but in truth, they are a divine test of character. Their dependence is not a trial for them, but for us. The Prophet Muhammad saw said:“May his nose be rubbed in dust — the one who finds his parents in old age, one or both, and yet does not enter Paradise through them.” Their frailty is our chance for salvation. Serving them, feeding them, or simply sitting beside them can open the gates of Paradise.

Remembering Their Sacrifices-No matter how high a child climbs in life, he stands upon the shoulders of his parents’ sacrifices. The sleepless nights of a mother, the tireless labor of a father, the quiet prayers whispered in the dark — these are debts no currency can repay.The Qur’an reminds us:
“We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents. His mother carried him/her in hardship upon hardship.” Their love was never conditional. They stood by us when the world turned away. To forget them in their frailty is to forget our own roots.

Love Beyond Death-The bond between parent and child does not end with the grave. The Prophet Muhammad saw  said:“When a person dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” A prayer whispered for one’s deceased parents travels beyond the veil of mortality. It becomes a light in their graves and a source of continuing mercy. To pray for them is to keep their memory alive in the most sacred way.

A World of Distraction, A Generation of Forgetfulness-Today’s world, with its constant noise, ambition, and self-centred pace, has produced a tragic paradox — parents surrounded by family, yet utterly alone. The same homes they built brick by brick have become places of isolation. Screens glow brighter than smiles, and conversations have turned to messages.Our elders sit quietly, longing for the warmth of a child’s presence, not their presents. They do not seek money, luxury, or recognition — they seek attention, kindness, and companionship. When they speak, they do not wish to be corrected, only to be heard. Their stories, repeated a hundred times, are not forgetfulness but a longing to relive moments when life still had meaning.Neglecting parents in their old age is one of the gravest moral crises of our times. It reflects a society that has lost its sense of gratitude. A culture that forgets its elders has no right to expect mercy from its youth.

Paradise Beneath Their Feet-The Prophet Muhammad saw proclaimed: “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.” Beneath those tired, cracked feet lies a lifetime of love, sacrifice, and prayer. And beneath a father’s silent labour lies the shade that once sheltered our childhood. When a parent’s eyes well up because of a child’s indifference, those tears rise to the heavens, not the floor. They reach the Throne of the Most Merciful.

Let us, therefore, not wait for their absence to realize their worth. Love them in their presence. Sit beside them, listen, and serve them without condition. For whoever pleases his parents has pleased Allah — and whoever breaks their hearts has dimmed the light of his own destiny.

Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili is a physician and columnist who writes on ethics, faith, and social concerns. He can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com.

 

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Dr.Fiaz Maqbool Fazili  MBBS; MS(SKIMS);FICS;FICA(USA) MAMS;DTQM; CQPH;FISQua;CTQM;(Q&A)

 Senior Consultant Surgeon (Surgical Gastroenterology; Onco-Surgery; Breast, ,GIT,Hernia; Diabetic foot ,Wound care  & Minimal access;&  Gen;Surgery problems);

 

How Junk Foods lead to obesity and lifestyle diseases, opinion 13 October 2025

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How Junk Food Leads to Obesity and Lifestyle Diseases.

By Tyima Bilal, Medical Student
In today’s fast-paced world, where taste often triumphs over nutrition, junk food has quietly become one of the leading causes of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. As a medical student, I’ve learned that the relationship between food and health goes far deeper than calories, it’s a complex biochemical interplay that determines how our body functions, stores energy, and fights disease. Unfortunately, junk food disrupts this balance at every level.
The Composition of Junk Food, A Hidden Chemical Trap
Junk foods are engineered to please the tongue but poison the body. They are high in refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium, while lacking essential nutrients, fiber, and proteins. These ingredients don’t just fill the stomach, they interfere with the body’s metabolic pathways. Refined sugars rapidly increase blood glucose levels, forcing the pancreas to release large amounts of insulin. Over time, this repeated stimulation leads to insulin resistance, a major cause of type-2 diabetes and obesity. Similarly, trans fats found in fried and processed foods raise LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (good cholesterol), increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Excess sodium contributes to hypertension, putting unnecessary strain on the heart and kidneys.
The Science Behind Weight Gain
Obesity isn’t just about eating more; it’s about what we eat and how our body processes it. Junk food disrupts the natural hunger-regulating hormones, leptin and ghrelin. Leptin signals fullness, while ghrelin stimulates appetite. The high sugar and fat content in junk food confuses these hormones, causing overeating even when the body doesn’t need energy.Moreover, these foods are low in dietary fiber, meaning they don’t promote satiety. The result is frequent snacking, excessive calorie intake, and fat accumulation, especially visceral fat, which surrounds vital organs and increases the risk of heart disease, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome.
The Dopamine Trap, Food Addiction and Cravings
From a neurological perspective, junk food behaves like a mild addictive substance. The combination of sugar, fat, and salt triggers a release of dopamine in the brain’s reward centers, the same chemical released during addictive behaviors. Over time, the brain develops tolerance, requiring more junk food to achieve the same level of satisfaction.This explains why people often crave fast food even when they aren’t hungry. It’s not hunger; it’s neurochemical dependency. This cycle of craving and consumption leads to psychological stress, emotional eating, and long-term metabolic damage.
Metabolic Syndrome, The Silent Outcome
Chronic consumption of junk food contributes to a cluster of disorders known as Metabolic Syndrome, which includes:
Abdominal obesity
High blood pressure
Elevated fasting glucose
High triglyceride levels
Low HDL cholesterol
Metabolic syndrome greatly increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and type-2 diabetes. What’s alarming is that it’s no longer limited to adults, even teenagers and children are showing signs of insulin resistance and fatty liver disease due to regular junk food intake.
Inflammation and Cellular Damage
The trans fats and processed sugars in junk food trigger chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. Inflammation damages the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels), promotes plaque buildup, and impairs tissue repair. Free radicals generated by these foods cause oxidative stress, which accelerates cellular aging and increases the risk of cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. As medical student , when we study pathology, it becomes evident how diet influences disease progression. What starts as mild obesity often advances to conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), atherosclerosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), all directly linked to poor dietary patterns.
Lifestyle Diseases, A Preventable Epidemic
The term lifestyle disease refers to illnesses that result from daily habits, and junk food lies at their core. Sedentary lifestyles, stress, and poor diet together form the “unholy trinity” of modern health problems. Instead of nutrients, our bodies receive toxins; instead of energy, we gain fatigue.Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and even some cancers are not mere coincidences, they are consequences of sustained neglect toward nutrition. Medical evidence clearly shows that reducing junk food intake and switching to whole, unprocessed meals can reverse many early-stage lifestyle diseases.
The Emotional and Social Aspect
Beyond the physical impact, there is an emotional dimension to this problem. In hospitals, I’ve seen patients struggle to come to terms with lifestyle-induced diseases. It’s heartbreaking to see someone in their thirties or forties being told they have chronic diabetes or heart disease, conditions that could have been prevented with mindful eating.Junk food not only harms individuals but burdens families, healthcare systems, and society. The temporary joy of taste becomes a long-term trade-off with pain, medication, and regret.
A Call for Awareness and Responsibility
As medical students and future healthcare professionals, it’s our responsibility to spread awareness that prevention is better than cure. We must advocate for balanced diets rich in natural, unprocessed foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Awareness campaigns, school programs, and community health talks can help young people understand how small food choices today shape their future health. Nutrition education should be a part of every medical and non-medical curriculum because healing begins not with medicine, but with prevention.
Conclusion, Health Begins on Our Plate
Our body is the only place we truly live in, yet we often treat it carelessly. Junk food may satisfy the tongue, but it starves the cells that keep us alive. Obesity and lifestyle diseases are not sudden outcomes; they are the cumulative result of everyday choices. As a medical student, I believe the greatest prescription is awareness. The simplest lifestyle change, saying no to junk and yes to wholesome food, can prevent years of suffering. Let us remember: Food can either be our strongest medicine or our slowest poison. The choice lies on our plate.

Silence falls on a Young Life: How a lost Sound Processor stilled Numaan’s world

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Silence falls on a Young Life: How a lost Sound Processor stilled Numaan’s world

 

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Mohammad Hanief

Father’s Diary

 

In the serene beauty of Harwan Garden, where the laughter of children usually mingles with the rustle of trees, a sudden silence descended for ten-year-old Mohammad Numaan. A Class 3rd student at Legends School of Education, Sadrebal, Numaan lost the sound processor of his cochlear implant during a family outing — an incident that, in an instant, stripped him of the voices, music, and everyday sounds that had once filled his world. What for others might seem like a misplaced gadget has, for him, become a profound loss, affecting not just his hearing but his education, friendships, and daily life.

 

For most people, sound is a constant backdrop — the call of a parent, the greetings of friends, the clatter of a busy street. For Numaan, born with profound hearing loss, these sounds became part of his life only through the marvel of modern medicine. His cochlear implant — a combination of an internal surgical component and an external sound processor — serves as his bridge to the world of sound.

 

The internal implant rests securely beneath his skin, but the sound processor, worn externally, is the lifeline that captures noises, processes them, and transmits them to the internal component. Without it, there is only silence. On that afternoon in Harwan Garden, as he ran and played among the flowers and pathways, this vital link somehow came loose and vanished.

 

From that moment, the lively soundscape that accompanied his life was gone. Where there had been birdsong, children’s laughter, and the voices of his family, there was now stillness. Communication shifted instantly to a world of lip-reading, gestures, and guesswork. Even at home, where surroundings are familiar, the absence of sound can feel isolating and disorienting.

 

The loss has hit his education particularly hard. In a primary school classroom, learning is built on listening — following the teacher’s explanations, joining discussions, and responding to spoken instructions. Without his sound processor, Numaan cannot participate fully in oral lessons. Teachers at Legends School of Education have stepped in to adapt, using written instructions, visual aids, and extra one-on-one time. But the natural rhythm of interactive learning is interrupted.

 

There are social challenges too. During breaks, children chatter, call each other to games, and share jokes. Many games depend on sound — clapping patterns, calling out in hide-and-seek, or reacting to a shouted instruction. Without hearing these cues, Numaan is at risk of missing out. His classmates, aware of the situation, are making efforts to include him through visual signals and gestures, but the spontaneity of play is harder to maintain.

 

For a child who has been hearing with assistance for years, sudden silence is not something the brain adjusts to easily. It can lead to moments of confusion, frustration, and sadness. For Numaan, the change has meant extra effort to keep up with lessons, more concentration to read lips, and an increased need for support from both teachers and family. These adjustments, while necessary, are physically and mentally tiring for a child.

 

The effects extend beyond the classroom and playground. At home, casual conversation now requires eye contact and slower, clearer speech. Everyday background noises — the clang of utensils, the hum of appliances, the call to dinner — no longer reach him. Safety awareness is also affected, as he cannot hear approaching vehicles, alarms, or other warning sounds.

 

Therapy sessions, which play a crucial role in the development of speech and listening skills for cochlear implant users, have also been disrupted. These sessions rely heavily on hearing exercises and auditory feedback, which are impossible without the processor. While therapists can still focus on visual and speech articulation exercises, the progress made through regular auditory practice is paused.

 

The loss of the processor also highlights the vulnerability of such assistive technology. It is a device no bigger than a small matchbox, yet it carries the weight of a child’s access to spoken language, learning, and social interaction. One accidental loss can bring life to a standstill in ways that those without hearing challenges may never imagine.

 

In response to the incident, teachers, classmates, and family members have rallied to ensure that Numaan does not feel left out. In class, peers sit beside him to help with written notes. Teachers adapt their methods to include more visual demonstrations. Friends on the playground use hand signals and facial expressions to invite him to join games. This collective support has softened the blow, showing that communication can transcend spoken words when necessary.

 

Even so, the days without sound have been a reminder of the central role hearing plays in a child’s sense of belonging and confidence. For Numaan, regaining his processor will mean more than just hearing again — it will be the return of his independence in learning, his ease in conversations, and his full participation in the joyful noise of childhood.

 

Until that moment arrives, the world remains quieter for him. But within that quiet, there is also resilience — the resilience of a young boy adjusting to challenges, of teachers and classmates adapting their communication, and of a family ensuring he stays connected to the life he loves. The incident at Harwan Garden may have stilled his world for now, but the bonds of understanding and support around him ensure that silence does not mean isolation.

 

In the end, Numaan’s story is not just about the loss of a device. It is about the fragile but profound link between technology and the human experience, about the ways in which sound shapes learning and relationships, and about the compassion that emerges when a community comes together to bridge the gap left by silence. For those who know him, the hope is simple and strong — that soon, the gentle click of a new sound processor will bring back the voices, laughter, and music that make his young life complete.

 

The author can be mailed at m.hanief@gmail.com

X/Twitter: @haniefmha

 

Buried Beneath the Garbage: Jammu & Kashmir’s Silent Waste Crisis. Opinion 4 August,2025

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Buried Beneath the Garbage: Jammu & Kashmir’s Silent Waste Crisis.

By Dr Noour Ali Zehgeer

First Prime Minister of India used to love water from cheshmashahi, we were the state where hydel power generation was expected to cater the nation and yet we can foresee the water crisis in coming years, just because we abused water bodies of our state. Jammu and Kashmir takes strides toward development and modernization, an ugly and largely ignored issue continues to fester beneath the surface—solid waste. Despite several pilot projects and government promises, the garbage heaps lining roads, clogging water channels, and poisoning the very soil of the region tell a starkly different story.

Pilot Projects or Policy Placebos?

Over the past few years, the administration, often in collaboration with private companies, has launched various pilot projects aimed at improving waste management in both urban and rural areas. These initiatives, on paper, appear promising—offering structured collection systems, waste segregation at source, and improved processing techniques. However, in practice, they have yielded limited results.

One of the glaring issues is the symbolic nature of these efforts. Projects are often launched with pomp and media coverage but fizzle out due to lack of follow-through, mismanagement, or insufficient scale. The question then arises: Are these projects sincere efforts to address the waste problem, or merely exercises in public relations and fund utilization?

A Disjointed Strategy in a Fragile Ecosystem

J&K’s topography, climate, and socio-political fabric present unique challenges. From the snowbound mountains of Kupwara to the plains of Jammu, waste disposal needs context-specific strategies. Yet, the government seems to be relying on one-size-fits-all policies that fail to consider regional diversity.

Rural areas suffer the worst. Villages lack basic waste collection systems, leaving residents to resort to open dumping and burning. These practices not only degrade the environment but also pose serious health risks due to the release of toxins into the air and groundwater.

Lack of Community Involvement: The Missing Link

Perhaps the most fundamental failure lies in the near-absence of community participation. Waste management isn’t just about trucks and bins—it’s about behaviour change. And that change can only come through consistent public engagement, education, and accountability.

In many areas, residents are either unaware of or indifferent to the concept of waste segregation. Plastic, kitchen waste, medical waste—all go into the same bag. The absence of awareness campaigns, school programs, or grassroots mobilization means that people continue with old habits, unaware of the environmental cost.

 

Other Indian cities like Indore and Ambikapur have demonstrated that successful waste management begins at the community level. In those cities, citizens segregate waste, local women’s groups manage composting, and the government provides incentives for compliance. The results have been astonishing—cleaner streets, better public health, and even revenue generation.

Local Governance Left Powerless

While the success of any such initiative depends heavily on local governing bodies like Municipal Committees and Panchayats, in J&K, these institutions are either sidelined or under-resourced. Officials often lack the training, funds, and equipment necessary to implement waste management plans effectively.

Empowering these grassroots bodies with decentralised systems—like community compost pits, local recycling units, and door-to-door collection—can prove far more effective than large, centralised systems that are costly and difficult to maintain in J&K’s terrain.

Policy Paralysis and Poor Enforcement

In 2016, the Government of India laid down clear Solid Waste Management Rules that mandate segregation at source, door-to-door collection, and scientific disposal. But like many laws in the country, their implementation in J&K remains half-hearted at best.

There is little to no monitoring of whether these rules are being followed. Penalties for non-compliance exist only on paper. The absence of digital tracking systems, field audits, or citizen feedback loops means that violators go unpunished and responsible citizens remain unrecognized.

Time to Look Beyond Borders

If J&K’s policymakers are serious about addressing the waste crisis, they must look at success stories from across India and the world. Cities like Panaji, Pune, and Mysuru have achieved significant improvements by introducing user charges, integrating informal waste pickers, and incentivizing bulk waste generators like hotels and institutions to manage their waste responsibly.

Globally, countries like Sweden and South Korea have nearly eliminated landfill use through aggressive recycling and waste-to-energy initiatives. While such models can’t be transplanted wholesale, their principles—community involvement, strict regulation, and technological innovation—can certainly inspire localized adaptations in J&K.

A Crisis That Demands Urgent Action

At a time when the region is trying to attract tourism, boost its economy, and offer better quality of life to its residents, the mismanagement of solid waste threatens to undo all progress. Mountains of garbage not only mar the natural beauty of Kashmir but also pollute its lakes, rivers, and forests—assets that are integral to its identity and survival.

 

The current approach—sporadic projects, passive citizens, and invisible enforcement—simply won’t work. What is needed is a comprehensive, multi-pronged policy that addresses the issue at all levels: policymaking, implementation, community participation, and technological innovation. If the government continues to ignore the problem, it won’t just be squandering taxpayer money—it will be burying the future of Jammu & Kashmir under layers of plastic, toxins, and decay.

Conclusion

Solid waste isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a social and economic one too. The need for urgent, coordinated, and community-driven action is non-negotiable. It’s time to stop dumping the responsibility from one agency to another and take collective ownership. The future of J&K quite literally depends on it.