The Prize (and Price) of Progress
Progress, they say, is the overpass arching over the city. But somewhere beneath its shadow, a sparrow once raised her young — in a world she didn't choose. To the builder, it is triumph. To the sparrow, it is simply gone. Every gain carries a quiet invoice: the arche
The Chinar Still Remembers
In a small Kashmiri village, Veena’s life once flowed with rivers, chinar trees, and shared festivals. Exile tears her family away, forcing them into tents in Jammu. Decades later, when she finally returns to Arigam, she discovers that sometimes the home you seek no l
Panzath Spring, Village Panzath
Panzath Nag, a luminous spring in South Kashmir, blends natural wonder with layered mythology. Believed to feed five hundred hidden springs, its crystal-clear waters and surrounding Chinar groves create an atmosphere of quiet reverence. Rooted in ancient texts and local
Shiuli in Pennsylvania: A Woman at the Altar
At a Durga Puja in Philadelphia, a woman steps to the altar where tradition once seemed to leave no room for her. What unfolds is not a challenge to faith, but a luminous reminder that women have always been part of its deepest lineages, from Vedic scholars to bhakti po
Haakh
Far from Kashmir, in a modest Chandigarh garden, a physics teacher finds his days narrowing around a single, missing vegetable. When Balji cannot locate Monj Haakh, Kashmiri kohlrabi, in the markets, his quiet craving hardens into a plan that will demand borrowed seeds,
Rain At My Window
From a quiet window, a summer rain unfolds in shifting moods, soft whispers, playful bursts, and steady calm. Trees sway, children laugh in puddles, and distant roads blur into memory. Between silver showers and sudden storms, the world pauses, breathes, and renews itse
Finding Lal Ded in the Noise
I am sitting cross-legged on my slightly bruised hardwood floor, actively trying not to think about when I will finally find the time to scrub it clean, while simultaneously attempting to achieve spiritual transcendence over the roar of the gardener unleashing an arsena
It All Comes Full Circle. Exit The Circle Now…
A deeply personal reflection on duality, identity, and spiritual awakening, this piece weaves childhood memories with philosophical insight to explore how light and darkness coexist within us. Through lived experience, it questions societal labels and invites the reader
Listening Heals
A simple act, often overlooked, listening holds the power to heal, connect, and transform. When we offer our full attention without judgement, we create space for others to feel seen, understood, and valued. This quiet presence can ease loneliness, release emotional wei
Will AI Take the Vet’s Job
Artificial intelligence is reshaping veterinary medicine, from reading scans to tracking wildlife and predicting disease outbreaks. But even as algorithms grow more powerful, they cannot replace a vet’s clinical judgement, ethical responsibility, or empathy for animal