West Asia conflict LIVE updates: U.S., Iran exchange fresh fire
The latest round of clashes, which began with U.S. raids last week, comes amid a deadlock in the six-month war
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
Indian-origin fraudster arrested, says FBI Director Kash Patel
Manjit Singh Bedi, who allegedly defrauded the U.S. government of $6 lakh, had a bounty of $1.5 lakh on his head
Congress will launch 100-day OBC rights campaign: Koppula Raju
Koppula Raju said the slogan raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra had evolved into a movement and that Telangana had emerged as a role model in conducting a scientific caste survey under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma appointed Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Mr. Sharma will succeed Admiral D K Joshi (retd), who took over as lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on October 8, 2017.
As Ayushman Arogya Mandirs replaceMohallaClinics in Delhi, former staff await dues
Some former mohalla clinic staff who were not absorbed into the AAMs are still awaiting their dues. Dr. Amit Gupta, who worked at a mohalla clinic nearMandawalimetro station, said he is owed 78,000.
Spotlight on illegal coal trade in Meghalaya after truck accident
A High Court-constituted panel has sought a detailed inquiry into whether the coal transported in the truck was legally auctioned or illegally mined
NHM employees panel announces strike from Sep 9
Srinagar, Sep 5: The UT Level Joint Coordination Committee of NHM Employees of Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday announced a 72-hour UT-level strike from Sep 9 in support of the long-pending and genuine demands, stating that no concrete steps were taken by the government. The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the UT Level Joint Coordination Committee was held on Saturday and attended by core members and representatives of NHM employees from both the Jammu and Kashmir Divisions, including representatives of the RNTCP/NTEP Association J&K and other schemes under the National Health Mission. The Committee had earlier served a final ultimatum to the Govt and concerned authorities up to Sep 05 seeking resolving the long-pending issues of NHM employees. However, despite the expiry of the stipulated deadline, the Committee expressed disappointment over the absence of any concrete response or tangible action from the concerned authorities. After detailed deliberations on the prevailing situation, the Committee unanimously resolved that all NHM employees across Jammu & Kashmir, including NTEP employees and employees working under other NHM schemes, shall observe a 72-hour UT-level strike from Sep 9 onwards. The Committee made it clear that the strike shall be observed across the length and breadth of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, with all district, block and field-level NHM employees extending their collective support to the programme. Dr. Vikas Sharma, Divisional President, All JKNHMEA Jammu Division, stated that the decision has become necessary due to the continued non-resolution of the genuine issues of NHM employees. He appealed to all NHM employees of Jammu Division to remain united, disciplined and peaceful during the strike and to extend their full support to the collective decision of the UT Level Joint Coordination Committee. Muneer Andrabi, Divisional President, All JKNHMEA Kashmir Division, said that NHM employees have repeatedly demonstrated patience and faith in the process of dialogue, but the continued lack of concrete action has left them with no option but to go for strike. He appealed to all NHM employees across Kashmir Division to participate in the strike in a united, peaceful and disciplined manner and to ensure complete solidarity with the UT-level programme. The UT Level Joint Coordination Committee reiterated that the strike is being undertaken as a last resort after the failure of repeated efforts to secure a concrete resolution through dialogue and representations. The Committee further appealed to the Presidents and office-bearers of all District and Block NHM units, as well as all NHM employees across Jammu & Kashmir, to extend their full support, cooperation and solidarity to the 72-hour strike programme and to remain united throughout the course of action. The Committee also urged all employees to maintain peace, discipline and unity during the strike and to refrain from spreading or acting upon any unverified information, rumours or unofficial messages. The Committee once expressed its willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Govt and concerned authorities for an amicable resolution of the issues in the larger interest of NHM employees and the public healthcare system of Jammu & Kashmir.
25,000 MT Kashmir apples moved by rail last season: Govt
Srinagar, Sept 05: About 25,000 metric tonnes of apples were transported by rail from Kashmir during the previous season, underlining the growing importance of railways as an alternative transportation option for the horticulture sector. Director Horticulture Planning & Marketing Ghulam Jeelani Zargar said effective utilisation of railway freight and Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) services can strengthen the transportation and marketing system and provide growers and traders with an economical and reliable option for moving horticultural produce to markets across the country. Zargar made the remarks while chairing a stakeholder consultation at Rajbagh, Srinagar, convened in pursuance of the directions of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. The meeting focused on identifying efficient, economical and reliable transportation options, particularly during the peak fruit season. He said the establishment of rail connectivity between Kashmir and different parts of the country marked a significant milestone and offered a promising opportunity for the horticulture sector. He stressed that effective use of railway freight and Ro-Ro services could facilitate timely movement of horticultural produce, reduce logistical challenges and serve the larger interests of growers, traders and other stakeholders. The consultation was attended by representatives of Northern Railway, the Horticulture Department, Fruit and Vegetable Market Committees, fruit growers associations, traders, aggregators and logistics service providers. Participants reviewed the existing mechanism for railway freight services, operational modalities and logistics requirements. They also discussed measures to encourage greater participation by growers, traders and aggregators. The Assistant Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, made a detailed presentation on railway services available for transporting horticultural produce from Kashmir. The presentation covered operational modalities, booking procedures and freight service requirements, giving stakeholders an understanding of the facilities and mechanisms available during the peak season. Stakeholders also reviewed challenges encountered during the previous season and discussed measures to ensure smoother and more efficient utilisation of railway services. President Fruit Association Sopore highlighted key transportation challenges and called for timely measures to address operational and logistical bottlenecks. He said resolving these issues would enable growers and traders to make more effective use of railway services. Participating aggregators and logistics service providers shared their operational experience and reaffirmed their commitment to ethical, transparent and grower-friendly logistics services aimed at safeguarding growers interests while ensuring efficient movement of produce. Zargar welcomed the participation of stakeholders and stressed collective efforts to strengthen the railway-based transportation mechanism. He assured full departmental support in addressing the issues raised and improving coordination. All Valley President Bashir Ahmad Bashir welcomed the departments initiative, appreciated its efforts to provide growers with additional and reliable transportation options, and stressed continued coordination. The meeting underscored the need for closer coordination among Northern Railway, the Horticulture Department, market committees, growers, traders, aggregators and logistics operators, along with timely dissemination of information on freight services, booking procedures and loading and unloading arrangements. The Directorate reiterated its commitment to facilitating greater utilisation of railway freight services, reducing dependence on road transportation, ensuring timely movement of perishable horticultural produce to major consuming markets and safeguarding the interests of fruit growers and traders of J&K.
Seasons first snowfall hits Kashmir heights
Srinagar, Sep 5: The higher reaches of Kashmir witnessed the seasons first snowfall on Saturday, with the top mountains of Zojila, Gumri and adjoining areas receiving fresh snow, bringing down temperatures and signalling the gradual transition towards the autumn season in the Valley. Reports said that fresh snowfall was recorded over the upper reaches of Gumri, Zojila and Drass, with the higher mountain slopes turning white following the spell of precipitation. The snowfall, largely confined to elevations of around 3,900 metres and above, has added to the chill in adjoining areas and served as an early indication of the approaching winter months. Fresh snowfall was also reported from the higher reaches of Srinagar, where Mahadev Peak was seen covered in a fresh layer of snow. Similar reports emerged from Kaobal Gali and the Tulail Valley, where the seasons first snowfall was witnessed in the higher reaches. Weather observers said the snowfall at extreme elevations was expected, as precipitation over the higher mountain areas had already been forecast. The current spell has remained largely confined to the highest reaches, while lower areas have experienced rain and hailstorms at several places. The early snowfall comes as Kashmir gradually moves towards the autumn season. When snowfall begins over the extreme higher reaches, even during relatively short spells, it can be an indication of the seasonal transition, with temperatures beginning to fall and the monsoon season gradually withdrawing from the region. Meanwhile, parts of Kashmir witnessed hailstorms, adding to the sudden change in weather conditions. Rains also lashed several areas of Kangan in Ganderbal district, with intermittent showers reported from different parts of the area. The changing weather has also raised concerns among farmers, particularly those engaged in harvesting activities. In Ganderbal, farmers are currently busy with the harvesting of grass, maize and walnuts, but the spells of rain and the possibility of a further fall in temperatures have left many worried about the timely completion of their agricultural work. Farmers said current wet conditions could affect harvesting operations and create difficulties in drying and storing agricultural produce. With walnut harvesting also underway in several areas, farmers are keeping a close watch on weather con The weather developments come just days ahead of the first-ever international film festival in Kashmir, scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10. According to the prevailing forecast, generally dry weather is expected across Jammu and Kashmir during the festival period, providing favourable conditions for the major cultural event.
Vitamin D: Are We Really Deficient, or Just Overtesting?
HEALTH WATCH There was a time when vitamin D was hardly discussed outside medical textbooks. Today, it seems to be everywhere. A routine health check reveals a low vitamin D level, a friend recommends a weekly sachet, social media suggests a higher dose, and suddenly vitamin D becomes the explanation for fatigue, body aches, hair fall, poor immunity and even depression. The popularity of vitamin D is not entirely misplaced. It is an important hormone-like nutrient with a central role in calcium absorption, bone health and muscle function. Severe deficiency can cause significant disease, particularly in children and adults with prolonged deficiency. But somewhere along the way, the conversation has become unnecessarily simplistic. We have moved from ignoring vitamin D to testing it excessively, treating borderline results aggressively and sometimes assuming that higher levels must automatically mean better health. So, are we really facing a vitamin D deficiency epidemicor are we simply testing more people than ever before? The answer is somewhere in between. The sunshine vitamin Vitamin D is unusual compared with most vitamins because our bodies can produce it. When ultraviolet B radiation from sunlight reaches the skin, it initiates the production of vitamin D, which is subsequently converted into its active forms through processes involving the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D then helps regulate calcium and phosphate metabolism, allowing the body to maintain healthy bones and teeth. Its importance is particularly obvious in severe deficiency. In children, profound deficiency can lead to rickets, resulting in abnormal bone development. In adults, severe deficiency can cause osteomalacia, a condition in which bones become inadequately mineralised and may result in bone pain and muscle weakness. Vitamin D also has roles in muscle function and the immune system. However, this is where the subject becomes complicated. Laboratory and observational studies have linked low vitamin D levels with a wide range of diseases, but an association does not necessarily mean that vitamin D deficiency caused the diseaseor that taking extra vitamin D will prevent it. That distinction is often lost in popular health discussions. Why can deficiency occur despite abundant sunlight? This is one of the most common questions. India receives considerable sunlight, yet low vitamin D levels are frequently reported. The apparent contradiction has several explanations. Modern lifestyles have changed dramatically. Many people spend most of their day indoorsat work, in schools, hospitals, offices or at home. Children who once spent hours outdoors may now spend much of their leisure time indoors. Clothing also matters. When most of the body is covered, relatively little skin is available for vitamin D production. Skin pigmentation is another factor. Melanin reduces the skin's response to ultraviolet B radiation, meaning people with darker skin generally require more UVB exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D as people with lighter skin. Age is also relevant. The skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D as we grow older. Obesity can be associated with lower circulating vitamin D levels as well, partly because vitamin D is fat-soluble and becomes distributed into a larger volume of body fat. Certain gastrointestinal, liver and kidney disorders can interfere with vitamin D metabolism or absorption. Some medications can also affect vitamin D levels. Therefore, simply saying we live in a sunny country, so nobody should be deficient is incorrect. But the opposite statementeveryone living in India is vitamin D deficientis equally misleading. Should everyone get a vitamin D test? This is perhaps the most important question. The answer is nonot everyone needs routine vitamin D testing. The blood test commonly used to assess vitamin D status is serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. It is an appropriate test in people where there is a clinical reason to assess vitamin D status. For example, testing may be considered in individuals with conditions affecting bone health, malabsorption, certain kidney or liver disorders, particular medications, or other recognised risk factors. However, ordering the test indiscriminately as part of every health package creates another problem. A laboratory report produces a number, and numbers have a psychological effect. Once someone sees that their vitamin D is below the laboratory's reference range, they may automatically assume they are sick and require treatment. But laboratory values must be interpreted in clinical context. Different organisations and laboratories have not always used identical definitions for deficiency and insufficiency. The exact threshold that should trigger treatment depends on the clinical circumstances and the purpose for which the test was performed. This is why treating the report rather than the patient can lead to unnecessary supplementation. The problem with more is better One of the most persistent myths surrounding vitamins is that because they are essential, taking more must provide additional health benefits. This is particularly problematic with vitamin D. Vitamin D is fat-soluble. Unlike water-soluble vitamins that are more readily excreted when consumed in excess, fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate. Excessive vitamin D intake can cause toxicity, usually through excessive calcium absorption. This can result in hypercalcaemia. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, excessive thirst, frequent urination and kidney problems. In severe cases, vitamin D toxicity can result in significant kidney injury and other complications. This does not mean vitamin D supplements are dangerous when used appropriately. They are an important and effective treatment for people who genuinely require them. The message is simply that the dose matters. A medically appropriate replacement regimen for a person with deficiency should not be confused with indefinite high-dose supplementation taken without supervision. Why do doctors sometimes prescribe high doses? This is another source of confusion. People often see someone taking a large weekly dose of vitamin D and assume that such a dose is appropriate for everyone. It isn't. High-dose vitamin D regimens may be used for a limited period in people with clinically significant deficiency. Once the deficiency is corrected, the strategy may change to a maintenance dose, depending on the person's circumstances. Treatment is therefore not necessarily one dose forever. The appropriate amount depends on factors such as the severity of deficiency, age, body weight, underlying medical conditions, medications and the reason for treatment. Self-prescribing a high dose simply because it worked for a relative or friend is therefore not advisable. Can vitamin D cure fatigue? Fatigue is probably one of the most common reasons people blame vitamin D. Someone feels tired, undergoes testing, finds a low vitamin D level and concludes that vitamin D deficiency is the explanation. Sometimes it may be. But fatigue is one of the least specific symptoms in medicine. Poor sleep, long working hours, stress, depression, anaemia, thyroid disease, inadequate nutrition, infections, medication effects and several other medical conditions can cause fatigue. Even among people with low vitamin D levels, correcting the level may not necessarily eliminate fatigue if another underlying problem is responsible. The same applies to body aches. Vitamin D deficiency can cause musculoskeletal pain and weakness, particularly when deficiency is significant. But generalised body pain has numerous possible causes. A vitamin D report should therefore be interpreted as one piece of the clinical puzzle, not as the automatic answer. What about immunity? Vitamin D and the immune system have an interesting relationship. Vitamin D receptors are present on many immune cells, and laboratory research has demonstrated several ways in which vitamin D can influence immune responses. This has generated considerable interest in whether vitamin D supplementation can prevent infections. However, the public interpretation has often gone far beyond the evidence. Vitamin D should not be regarded as a universal immunity booster or as protection against every infection. Some studies have suggested benefits in particular groups, but clinical trials have not consistently shown that giving high doses of vitamin D to everyone prevents infections. This is an important principle in modern medicine: biological plausibility is not the same as proven clinical benefit. What about depression and mental health? The same issue applies here. Low vitamin D levels have been associated in observational studies with depression and other mental health conditions. But people who are unwell may also spend less time outdoors, have poorer diets and engage in less physical activityall of which can influence vitamin D levels. Therefore, low vitamin D may sometimes be a marker of poor overall health rather than the sole cause of a person's symptoms. Vitamin D replacement may be appropriate when deficiency exists, but it should never replace proper assessment and treatment of depression or other mental health conditions. Sunlight: How much is enough? This is probably the most misunderstood aspect of vitamin D. There is no universal rule saying that every person needs exactly 10, 15 or 30 minutes of sunlight every day. Vitamin D production depends on skin colour, age, season, latitude, time of day, clothing, exposed skin area, atmospheric conditions and other factors. The amount of ultraviolet exposure required also varies considerably between individuals. At the same time, deliberately seeking prolonged ultraviolet exposure is not a sensible health strategy because excessive UV exposure damages the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer. The goal should not be to burn or excessively expose oneself to sunlight in the hope of maximising vitamin D. Regular outdoor activity, sensible sun exposure and appropriate sun protection when exposure is prolonged are a much more reasonable approach. Can food provide enough vitamin D? Diet can contribute to vitamin D intake, although naturally occurring dietary sources are relatively limited. Fatty fish are among the better sources. Egg yolks contain smaller amounts, while some foods such as milk, cereals and other products may be fortified with vitamin D depending on the country and product. For some individuals, particularly those with limited dietary sources or increased requirements, supplementation may therefore be useful. But supplements should complementnot replacea nutritious diet. Vitamin D and bone health: The part we should take seriously While the evidence surrounding some of the broader claims about vitamin D remains mixed, its importance for skeletal health is well established. Vitamin D helps the intestine absorb calcium. Without adequate vitamin D, maintaining normal calcium balance becomes more difficult. Children require adequate vitamin D and calcium for normal bone development. Adults need them to maintain bone health throughout life. Older adults are particularly important because falls and fractures can have serious consequences. However, bone health is never just about vitamin D. Adequate calcium intake, resistance and weight-bearing exercise, maintaining muscle strength, avoiding smoking, limiting excessive alcohol consumption and addressing osteoporosis risk factors are all important. A person cannot compensate for a sedentary lifestyle simply by taking vitamin D. The vitamin D industry and the health-check culture There is another issue worth discussing: the commercialisation of health. Modern consumers are increasingly encouraged to undergo large panels of blood tests, sometimes without a clear clinical indication. Once an abnormal or borderline result appears, another product is often recommended. This creates a cycle: Test abnormal number supplement repeat test more anxiety. Medicine should instead follow a different principle: Clinical question appropriate test interpretation appropriate treatment. Testing is valuable when it answers a meaningful clinical question. More testing does not automatically mean better healthcare. Five common myths about vitamin D Myth 1: Everyone needs a vitamin D test every year. Not necessarily. Testing should be based on clinical circumstances and risk factors rather than simply being added to every routine health check. Myth 2: If vitamin D is good, more is even better. No. Vitamin D has an optimal physiological role, and excessive supplementation can be harmful. Myth 3: Vitamin D prevents every infection. There is insufficient evidence to treat vitamin D as a universal protection against infections. Myth 4: Every episode of fatigue is due to vitamin D deficiency. Fatigue has many possible causes. Vitamin D deficiency is only one possibility. Myth 5: The more sunlight you get, the healthier you are. Sunlight is useful for vitamin D production, but excessive ultraviolet exposure damages skin. More is not always better. So, what should the average person do? For most people, the answer is surprisingly straightforward. Spend some time outdoors and maintain regular physical activity. Eat a balanced diet containing sources of calcium and vitamin D. Maintain a healthy body weight. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol. Pay particular attention to bone health as you age. If you have risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, symptoms suggestive of deficiency, a condition affecting bone health or another medical reason for testing, discuss it with your doctor. If a vitamin D test is performed, don't panic over the number. Discuss what the result means in your particular clinical situation. And if supplementation is recommended, follow the prescribed dose and duration rather than assuming that a higher dose will produce a better result. The bottom line Vitamin D is neither the miracle vitamin that social media sometimes portrays it as, nor an insignificant nutrient that can be ignored. True deficiency matters. Severe deficiency can cause significant disease and should be appropriately treated. But we should also move away from the idea that every ache, every episode of tiredness and every health problem is caused by vitamin D deficiencyand that everyone needs high-dose supplementation. Perhaps the most important lesson is that healthcare should be guided by evidence rather than anxiety about laboratory numbers. A vitamin D test can be useful when there is a reason to perform it. A supplement can be extremely beneficial when someone genuinely needs it. But neither testing nor supplementation should become a ritual. The sunshine vitamin deserves neither neglect nor hype. It deserves something much more useful: a balanced, evidence-based approach. (The author is a registered medical practitioner and RK Health columnist. He can be reached at: mir.muzaffar@yahoo.com )
Traffic curbs in Kochi in view of police marathon
Curbs will be imposed on the stretch of NH 544 between SCMS, Kalamassery, and JLN Stadium, Kaloor; Aluva-Ernakulam PWD Road, and the premises of the stadium between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Shiva Within: Why Kashmir Gave Shaivism a Different Voice
There are landscapes that are beautiful, and there are landscapes that become philosophies. Kashmir belongs to the latter category. Its mountains, rivers, springs and forests have never been merely elements of geography. They have been woven into the spiritual imagination of its people. The silence of its mountains invited contemplation; its springs became sacred spaces; its rivers acquired a life beyond their physical existence. In such a landscape, perhaps it was inevitable that the question of God would eventually become a question about consciousness itself. It is in this setting that Kashmiri Shaivism emergednot simply as another school of worshipping Shiva, but as one of the most sophisticated philosophical and mystical traditions to emerge from the Indian subcontinent. What makes it distinctive is not that Kashmiris alone discovered Shiva, nor that their Shaivism existed in complete isolation from other traditions. Its uniqueness lies in the particular synthesis it achieved: Shiva as supreme consciousness, Shakti as the dynamic power of that consciousness, the universe as its manifestation, and liberation as the recognition of one's own true nature. In its deepest sense, Kashmiri Shaivism does not tell man merely to search for God outside himself. It turns the search inward. The central insight is at once simple and profound: the individual consciousness is not fundamentally separate from the universal consciousness. What we experience as an isolated self is, in the final analysis, an expression of the same reality that manifests as the universe. Shiva is not merely a distant deity presiding over creation. Shiva is consciousness itself, and the universe is the unfolding of that consciousness through Shakti. This gives the tradition a remarkably affirmative view of existence. The world is not simply something from which one has to escape. It is a manifestation of the divine. The ordinary experiences of lifeseeing, hearing, thinking, loving, creating and even sufferingcan become opportunities for spiritual awakening when their deeper nature is recognised. This idea becomes particularly important when Kashmiri Shaivism is compared with other Indian philosophical traditions. While there are profound affinities between Kashmir Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta, they do not approach the relationship between consciousness and manifestation in exactly the same manner. Kashmir Shaivism gives an especially dynamic place to Shakti and to the universe as an expression of consciousness. It does not simply reduce worldly existence to something that must be dismissed as unreal. The world may appear fragmented to the limited individual, but behind that fragmentation is the pulsation of one consciousness. This pulsation is expressed through the idea of Spanda a subtle movement, vibration or throbbing of consciousness. It is not a physical vibration in the ordinary sense. It points towards the dynamic character of ultimate reality: consciousness is not inert. It possesses freedom, creativity and the power to manifest. And then comes one of the most beautiful ideas in the Kashmiri philosophical tradition Pratyabhij , or recognition. Liberation, in this vision, is not necessarily the acquisition of something that one did not previously possess. It is the recognition of what has always been present. The seeker does not manufacture divinity; he recognises it. The veil is removed, and what was obscured becomes visible. Perhaps this explains why the philosophy feels so deeply experiential. It does not rest merely upon intellectual acceptance. The real journey is from knowing about consciousness to experiencing one's identity with it. But why did such a remarkable philosophical vision take shape in Kashmir? The answer cannot be reduced to a single cause. Kashmir had already inherited an ancient sacred culture in which Shiva, Shakti, nature and local sacred traditions occupied an important place. The mountains and springs of the valley were not divorced from religious imagination. Spirituality was embedded in the landscape. At the same time, Kashmir became one of the great intellectual centres of medieval India. Philosophers and scholars belonging to different traditions encountered one another, debated one another and responded to one another. Buddhist philosophical thought, particularly its sophisticated reflections on consciousness, perception and the nature of reality, existed within the wider intellectual environment in which Shaiva thinkers developed their ideas. Tantric traditions also contributed an important dimension by questioning the rigid separation between the sacred and the worldly. The result was not a simple mixture of different philosophies. It was something more interesting: a sustained process of questioning, debate, assimilation and refinement. Kashmir produced thinkers of extraordinary intellectual stature. Vasugupta is traditionally associated with the foundational teachings of the Shiva Sutras . Somananda developed the philosophical foundations of the tradition; Utpaladeva gave profound expression to the doctrine of recognition; and Abhinavagupta brought together philosophy, Tantra, aesthetics, yoga, literature and spiritual experience with an intellectual breadth that remains astonishing even today. Abhinavagupta is particularly important because his thought reveals something essential about the Kashmiri mind: spirituality and aesthetics were not necessarily opposing worlds. For him, the experience of beauty could itself illuminate something about consciousness. His reflections on rasa transformed Indian aesthetic theory and demonstrated that the experience of art could involve a temporary transcendence of the narrow boundaries of the individual self. The spectator, for a moment, moves beyond private concerns and enters a more universal experience. It is difficult not to see in this a larger Kashmiri tendencythe desire to discover the universal within the particular. A flower is not merely a flower. A mountain is not merely a mountain. A poem is not merely a poem. Behind the visible lies another dimension of experience. And perhaps this is where philosophy eventually met poetry. What the great Kashmiri philosophers articulated through Sanskrit scholarship found another, more immediate voice in the vakhs of Lal Ded. She did not write philosophical treatises. She spoke through poetry, experience and the language of ordinary life. Yet her spiritual questioning carries the unmistakable force of a seeker who has turned away from external appearances and towards the mystery within. Lal Ded occupies a special place in Kashmir's spiritual memory because she made profound ideas intimate. Her poetry refuses to allow spirituality to remain confined to institutions, rituals or learned discourse. The body becomes a site of inquiry; the mind becomes the field of struggle; the self becomes the place where the search must ultimately end. In her, philosophy begins to breathe. This movement from learned philosophy to lived spirituality is one of the most fascinating features of Kashmir's cultural history. It also helps explain why Kashmir developed such a powerful tradition of mysticism in which the boundaries between philosophical schools could sometimes become less rigid at the level of lived spiritual experience. The later presence of Nund Rishi and the flowering of the Rishi-Sufi tradition added another dimension to Kashmir's spiritual landscape. Shaiva, Shakta, Buddhist and Islamic mystical currents did not become identical, nor should their differences be erased for the sake of creating an artificial harmony. But Kashmir did develop a culture in which spiritual ideas could encounter one another, influence the vocabulary of one another and coexist within a shared cultural space. That may be one of Kashmir's greatest civilisational contributions. Its spirituality was not always about winning an argument. It was often about deepening the question. And the question remains relevant today. We live in an age in which human beings possess extraordinary knowledge about the external universe but remain uncertain about the universe within. We can measure distances between galaxies, manipulate matter at microscopic levels and create technologies that would have seemed magical to earlier generations. Yet anxiety, alienation and the sense of separation remain deeply embedded in modern life. Kashmiri Shaivism approaches this crisis from another direction. It asks us to reconsider the very meaning of the self. Are we merely isolated individuals moving through an indifferent universe? Or is consciousness itself something far more fundamental? The answer offered by Kashmir is radical: the separation may be real at the level of ordinary experience, but it is not the final truth. This does not mean abandoning life. On the contrary, it means looking at life differently. The world becomes a field in which consciousness reveals itself. The senses need not simply be enemies; experience itself can become a doorway. The body need not automatically be regarded as an obstacle to spirituality. The mind need not be destroyed; it has to be understood. There is, therefore, an unusual generosity in this philosophy. It does not tell us that the sacred begins where life ends. It suggests that the sacred is already present in life, waiting to be recognised. Perhaps this is what makes Kashmiri Shaivism so profoundly Kashmiri. Kashmir has always lived between the visible and the invisible. Its landscape has a physical beauty that often seems to conceal something beyond itself. Its poetry has repeatedly searched beneath words. Its saints have questioned rituals when they became substitutes for experience. Its philosophers have tried to understand consciousness rather than merely describe God. The valley's ancient spiritual question was therefore not simply, Where is Shiva? It was something more unsettling and more intimate: If Shiva is consciousness, who am I? The question travels from the mountains to the human heart. It passes through the philosophical brilliance of Abhinavagupta, the mystical utterances of Lal Ded, the spiritual simplicity of the Rishis and the countless unnamed seekers who looked beyond the surface of existence. Perhaps the enduring message of Kashmir Shaivism is that liberation does not always require us to flee from the world. Sometimes it requires us to see the world againwith awakened eyes. The mountain remains a mountain. The river remains a river. The human being remains human. But something changes in the one who sees. The world that once appeared divided begins to reveal an underlying unity. The self that seemed small begins to open towards something immeasurable. And the God whom one had been searching for somewhere beyond oneself begins to emerge as the very consciousness through which the search was being made. Perhaps, then, Shiva was never absent from Kashmir. He was present in its mountains, its springs, its poetry and its silence. But above all, he was present in the consciousness of the seeker who kept asking the question. And perhaps the final wisdom of Kashmir is not that it found Shiva somewhere outside itself, but that, after centuries of philosophical inquiry and mystical searching, it dared to look within. (The author is RK columnist and can be reached at: sanjaypanditasp@gmail.com )
Documentary on wildlife in Tamil Nadu to be screened from Monday
To double sewage treatment capacity, Delhi Jal Board to start 18-20 new STPs
Despite over three decades of court orders directing the Central and State governments to clean the Yamuna, the Delhi stretch of the river continues to be one of the most-polluted sections in the country
PM Modi's Strong Message to the World from the SCO Summit in Bishkek
FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently on a very successful four-day visit to two Central Asian nations, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Besides attending the usual official ceremonies, bilateral meetings and other important engagements in the two countries, PM Modi also attended the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Summit was also attended by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, besides the other heads of government that were invited to the Summit. There is no doubt in the fact that the visit of PM Modi and the SCO Summit 2026 attracted the attention of the whole world, and all these developments were duly reported and covered by the global media. The presence of the heads of the governments of China, Russia and India in Bishkek was seen with keen interest by the international media, geopolitical watchers and the Western media and political establishments. PM Modi made a very impactful presence in Tashkent-Uzbekistan during his visit there before coming to Kyrgyzstan. The talks therein were focussed on bilateral cooperation, energy issues, and regional security. The Indian side also discussed the important issue of a possible uranium supply programme in the near future to India from Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received PM Modi at the Tashkent international airport and accorded him a befitting welcome on behalf of his government. He also conferred Uzbekistans prestigious honour 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' (Order of Friendship) upon PM Modi in recognition of his international stature and huge positive contribution to the global cooperation. This is Modi's 36th international award, which he has received over the last 12 years globally. PM Modi also held very productive delegation-level strategic talks with the Uzbek's side during his two-day stay in Tashkent. Modi also participated in yoga programmes in Tashkent, inter-cultural events, Ramcharitmanas recitation event, interactive programmes with scholars, Indologists, youth and the students at the university and the tree-plantation ceremonies. He also visited the former Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and paid floral tributes to his memory. It was here in Tashkent that the former PM Shastri breathed his last during the Indo-Pak talks in 1966. On reaching Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, from Tashkent, PM Modi received an impressive ceremonial welcome. He held bilateral talks with the Kyrgyzstan delegation headed by their President, Sadyr Zhaparov, to enhance bilateral economic and commercial relationship between the two nations. He also attended the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan alongside visiting global and regional leaders who had come to Bishkek in connection with the SCO Summit on 31st August and 1st September 2026. At the Summit, PM Modi made a strong plea to the world to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terror financing without double standards. He said that in the previous meeting of the SCO, he had outlined three pillars as India's visionfor the SCO, and these included 'security, connectivity and opportunity'. He said, The time has come to move these three pillars beyond vision and translate them into concrete outcomes. The first and foremost requirement for this is peace and security. Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach. We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue. We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone. Our shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. India has been contributing to the development and provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and will continue to do so. In todays interconnected world, the scope of security has become even broader. The crisis in West Asia has demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region. Its impact is felt across the world, affecting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. The countries of the Global South bear the greatest brunt of such disruptions. Therefore, India has consistently called for all tensions and conflicts to be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy. Drug trafficking is not merely a crime; it is a serious threat to our younger generation and regional security. The Centres being established under the SCO to address challenges such as security threats, organised crime, information security, and narcotics are a positive step. We must make these Centres an effective instrument for practical coordination and timely action. On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi met the Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged an immediate and peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. His quote got a lot of attention and appreciation that suggests; 'From endless war to the end of war'. He also met the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to expand trade and address West Asian diplomatic stability. The President of Iran requested Modi to use his extensive resources to bring the Iran and West Asia crisis to a halt. Pezeshkian urged Modi to leverage India's extensive relationships with various international parties to help stop the cycle of violence and support a peaceful dialogue process. He also thanked India for its support and cooperation during the recent conflict and called Modi a man of peace. In a bizarre attempt to showcase his presence at the Summit, the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharief, who was also attending the SCO Summit, committed his office to post an edited group-photograph of the leaders of the Summit on their social media handle. He did so immediately after PM Modi's office posted the original group photograph of the Summit on social media. However, due to the huge international criticism mixed with sarcasm and embarrassment, the Pakistan PMO was compelled to change the 'edited photograph ', which brought humiliation for Pakistan globally and left behind a diplomatic distaste. Additionally, Sharief, in his address, raked up the issue of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) at the SCO summit unsuccessfully. However, the External Affairs Ministry of India, under the leadership of Dr. S.Jay Shankar, External Affairs Minister, who was also attending the Summit, issued a befitting reply from Bishkek itself and made its stand known to the world on the IWT issue. The statement said that the Hague-based International Tribunal ruling that 'Indias decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty was not legally permissible and that the 1960 pact remains fully in force' was not in any way acceptable to India. India rejected the ruling, saying the tribunal had no jurisdiction to pronounce on its sovereign decisions. India rejected the award and also the interim measures order, reiterating that it does not recognise the Court of Arbitration and has never participated in its proceedings. This so-called court was constituted by the World Bank in patent breach of the terms of the Treaty; and India categorically rejects its so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements by this illegally constituted body, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a frontal statement issued from Bishkek. The statement is a rejoinder to all the concerned who try to intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation-state. India walked the talk very emphatically during the whole diplomatic process, pursuing its established policy doctrines, i.e. Terror & Talks won't go together and Water & Blood can't flow together. Indias consistent policy in this regard has stood the test, particularly when it elaborated that as long as Pakistan abets, sponsors and supports terrorism, there can be no real and normal relationship with it. This time, even The New York Times, that keeps on criticising India's policies and PM Modi's leadership, was forced to change the line. It highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic strategy as a hedge against shifting U.S. trade policies under President Trump during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek. The New York Times reported that India is actively building new global partnerships and securing concrete economic and strategic deals to reduce its exposure to unpredictable U.S. trade pressures. The coverage in the paper noted that PM Modi has travelled extensively, visiting around 20 nations since August 2025, to hammer out independent economic ties, such as submarine technology cooperation with Germany and trade adjustments with European and Asian partners. The MOU signed with the European Union sometime back is a big example in this context. PM Modi's presence alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the Bishkek summit was framed as part of India's multi-aligned foreign policy, balancing non-Western cooperation while navigating wider global and economic tensions. Energy security, new strategic deals, long term investments, historic engagements, forging cultural ties and opening new vistas for the establishment of peace in the highly volatile conflict regions globally are the most important takeaways of PM Modi's Central Asian tour this time. The whole world now awaits the BRICS summit that is going to take place on September 12 & 13 in New Delhi under India's BRICS 2026 chairship. (The author is a senior BJP & KP leader, Human Rights Defender and columnist and can be reached at: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com )
Second homes, lifestyle upgrades fuel interest at property expo
Young women were among the prominent visitors at the expo, with many exploring property options and looking to make their own real estate investments
Prepare to be doctors whom patients trust with their vision
Moderate rain leads to waterlogging in parts of city
Ahead of the BRICS summit next week, senior officials survey the route from Bharat Mandapam to Delhi airport; departments directed to work with complete promptness and coordination
On Teachers Day, CM honours 118 teachers
Man kidnaps boy to force sister into marriage, held
Marked shifted, forms not collected: Delhi residents contest SIR deletions
Kolkata school teacher booked for forcing student to remove tilak
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari says an FIR has been registered against the teacher for hurting religious sentiments and humiliating the student. Such things will not be allowed in Bengal, he says
Rahul Gandhi will be PM candidate, says TNCC president
I fell victim to pothole, alleges 29-year-old woman who underwent plastic surgery
The incident left her hospitalised for five days and with a bill of nearly 2 lakh
Experts discuss making particle therapy for cancer treatment more affordable
The Hindu Made of Chennai treasure hunt takes participants on a city-wide trail
Pics by Johan
Why is BRICS exploring cross-border payments? |Explained
How do cross-border payments work? What are the instructions between banks and costs involved in each step? How have transaction times reduced? Why does BRICS want to change the system? What alternatives are being explored? What does India propose?
18-year-old electrocuted while installing advertisement banner
NHAI trials reclaimed bitumen on stretch of Chennai-Tirupathi National Highway
Govt. gets ready for Kharif paddy procurement with 18,250 cr.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy says the estimated production is over 119 lakh tonnes; Govt. to procure 65 LT incl. 45 LT of sanna varieties
Toddler dies after falling into water tank near Gudiyatham
Teachers Day celebrated with fervour at Mandi girls school
Poonch, Sep 5: Teachers Day was celebrated with enthusiasm at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Mandi, where students and staff gathered to honour the dedication and contribution of teachers. The programme featured speeches by students highlighting the role of teachers in shaping character, nurturing talent and guiding students towards a bright future. Cultural performances added colour to the celebrations and showcased the creativity and confidence of the students. A major highlight of the event was the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to members of the teaching staff in recognition of their dedicated services, sincere efforts and commitment to the institution and its students. The certificates were presented by Senior Lecturers Syed Nazak Hussain Shah Bukhari and Barket Choudhary, who congratulated the teachers and appreciated their contribution to the academic and personal development of students. Speaking on the occasion, the lecturers said teaching was not merely a profession but a noble responsibility that plays an important role in nation-building. They emphasised the importance of discipline, compassion, integrity, hard work and social responsibility in the holistic development of students. They said dedicated teachers leave a lasting impact on students and contribute significantly to the progress of society. The celebrations concluded with a renewed commitment by the staff and students to uphold the dignity of the teaching profession and work collectively towards the academic and overall development of students.
Residents protest proposed stone quarry in Tirupattur
Residents said that preliminary work on the proposed stone quarry in Thengal village near Kalliyur was ongoing for the past few weeks
CM Vijay announces waste-to-energy plant in Salem over a month after Corpn. Council rejected it
Officials say 57% of waste to be used in the plant will come from the four cities of Salem, Erode, Karur and Namakkal; AIADMK Councillor says project will pollute groundwater and air in a 30-km radius
Labourer dies after falling from temple tower while installing lights in Chikkaballapur
25 liaison officers appointed for IFFJK
Srinagar, Sep 5: The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed 25 officers as liaison officers to facilitate visiting VVIPs and dignitaries during the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK), scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10. The appointments have been made through government order no. 1483-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department, following a request from the Directorate of Information, J&K. The appointed officers include senior JKAS officers posted across various departments and organisations. Among those appointed are Khalid Jahangir, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration; Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited; Shiv Kumar Gupta, Controller, Legal Metrology; Sudershan Kumar, Managing Director, J&K Trade Promotion Organization; Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, Managing Director, SIDCO/SICOP; and Arun Kumar Manhas, Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu. The list also includes Mussarat-ul-Islam, Director, Handloom and Handicrafts, Kashmir; Vikas Sharma, Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department; Pawan Kumar Sharma, Director, Geology and Mining; Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary, Skill Development Department; Shabir Hussain Bhat, Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority; and Kapil Sharma, Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu. Other officers appointed as liaison officers include Pawan Kumar, Special Secretary, Labour and Employment Department; Rajinder Singh, Special Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department; Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums; Ashish Kumar Gupta, Director, Disaster Management; Ashiq Hussain Lily, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records; Parveez Ahmad Raina, Additional Commissioner, State Taxes; and Rajnish Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Watershed Management Programme. The remaining officers are Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, Director, Horticulture, Planning and Marketing; Shokat Mehmood, Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Dr Zahoor Ahmad Magray, Additional Commissioner in the office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Rakesh Kumar, Special Secretary, Estates Department; Masarat Hashim, Administrator, Associated Hospitals, Srinagar; and Mohammad Anwar Bandy, Special Secretary, School Education Department. The order states that the officers will serve as liaison officers with the visiting VVIPs/dignitaries in connection with the festival from September 7 to 10. They have been directed to report to the Director, Information, J&K, Srinagar, immediately for briefing regarding their duties and responsibilities during the programme.
Kashmir leaves Kerala couple spellbound
Srinagar, Sep 5: A couple from Kerala, visiting Kashmir for the first time, expressed admiration for the Valleys breathtaking landscapes, warm hospitality and friendly people, saying their experience had exceeded their expectations. The couple, who arrived in Srinagar around three to four days ago, said they had been exploring different tourist destinations across Kashmir and were particularly impressed by the natural beauty of Gulmarg and the hospitality extended to them by locals. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, the 43-year-old visitor said it was his first visit to Kashmir, adding that he had long wanted to explore the Valley but could not do so during his student years. I am 43 years old, and this is the first time I am visiting Kashmir. I have a bit of a guilty feeling that I could not visit Kashmir earlier when I was studying, but now I am very glad that I finally got the opportunity, he said. Recalling their experience over the past few days, he said the couple had visited local places in and around Srinagar before spending an entire day in Gulmarg. We went to Gulmarg yesterday and spent the whole day there. It was a beautiful place. We are enjoying the scenery, taking photographs and making a lot of memories, he said. The visitor also praised Kashmiri cuisine, saying they had the opportunity to taste authentic local food during their stay. We had some good authentic Kashmiri food last night. It was really nice. The place is very beautiful, the food is good and the people are very nice, he said. The couple said they were also impressed by the behaviour of locals, particularly the friendly and understanding nature of people they encountered during their journey. Asked about their experience with local residents, the visitor said, I felt people here are very friendly. Even though the traffic can be very heavy and there can be blocks, people understand each other and there was no problem at all. I would say people here are friendlier than I expected, and that was really good. He said the couple had stayed at different accommodations during their trip and found the staff and people welcoming at every place they visited. We stayed in a few accommodations, but everywhere we went, people were very friendly and welcoming. Kashmiri people are really nice, he said. The visitor said much of what he had previously seen about Kashmir was through films and videos, but visiting the Valley in person had given him a completely different perspective. I had only seen Kashmiri people, the valleys and the beauty of Kashmir in movies, but this place is really beautiful and the people here are so friendly, he said. The couple also highlighted the potential for attracting more tourists from southern parts of the country, saying greater promotion through social media and other platforms could help people discover Kashmirs beauty. This is a very beautiful tourist place. To attract more tourists, there should perhaps be more advertisement and promotion through social media. Some people, particularly from the southern parts of India, may not know much about Kashmir or realise that it is such a beautiful place, he said. If that message and information reaches more people, it can attract more tourists and also generate good income for the state, he added. During their visit, the couple planned to explore more destinations, including Sonamarg and Zojila Pass, while making the most of their limited time in the Valley. The visitor said the trip had already filled their phones with photographs and videos, which they planned to share with their family after returning home. We have loaded our phones with memories. There are so many photographs and videos that we can share with our family, he said. The couple also urged Kashmiris to continue maintaining the same warmth and friendliness towards visitors. My message is simply to stay like thisvery friendly and welcoming, he said.
The complaint, filed by BJP MP, alleged that the AAP-led Punjab government had failed to implement the prescribed 25% reservation for Scheduled Castes and 12% reservation for Backward Classes in the recruitment of 1,013 lecturers
Road works worth 15.71 crore progressing rapidly in Ponnur constituency: Pemmasani
Applications invited for journalist awards in A.P.
The awards cover 12 categories, with cash prizes ranging from 1 lakh to 2 lakh; applicants must submit details and at least five works published or broadcast in 2025
Mumbai police issues order barring assembly of five or more persons from September 9 to 23
The order period will cover the 10-day Ganeshotsav festival, which starts on September 14 and continues till the immersion day on September 23
Kanthapuram says will defend Shariat laws no matter whoever opposes it
Mr. Musliar also said that Shariat conferences would be organised in all districts to mark the centenary of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama. He claimed that there would be people who would talk about the Islamic laws till the end of the world.
Two Generations, One Home: India's Promise to Its Elders
In the light of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), the glory of the elderly is their insight, their knowledge and their wisdom. In Indian homes, there is always a memory everyone carries, a grandfather narrating an adventurous story from his childhood or a grandmother demonstrating knitting while sitting in the balcony on a fine winter afternoon. These ordinary afternoons are where a family's real inheritance gets passed on quietly, one small skill and one shared story at a time. We often speak about the generation gap, about grandparents who do not understand smartphones and grandchildren who do not have the patience for long stories of golden past. But I think we speak far less about generation bridges. Almost invisible ways in which the old and the young still complete each other. What Each Generation Is Actually Giving The Other? A grandparent gives a child something no school can teach: time, that asks for nothing in return. With growing urbanisation and both parents often working, a child's day is usually structured around strict timetables but, a grandparent is often the one person willing to simply sit. To listen to a story being told for the fifth time. To wait while a shoelace is tied. That unhurried attention given to children shapes a sense of being valued in ways we rarely measure. And what do these children have for giving back? Presence, which seems something very modest, yet it is not. A grandchild's visit changes the shape of an elderly person's whole week. A video call from a grandson away at college or a granddaughter telling her grandmother how much she misses her cooking, a great-grandchild simply climbing into a lap- these moments do for an elderly person what medicine alone cannot. This is the logic behind Ageing At Home, an idea that elderly people are happiest and healthiest not in an institution but in their own home, surrounded by the family and neighbourhood they have always known and cherished. This is not a new discovery for us. In most parts of India, touching the feet of an elder for their blessing remains one of the first gestures a child learns, a small act that teaches something no lecture could: that age is to be honoured. The Sanskrit teaching Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Regard Your Mother And Father As You Would The Divine, remains the foundation of the values Indian families try to instil in their children. Those who raise us, deserve our reverence in return. There is another divine saying, Paradise Lies Beneath The Feet of Your Mother, again reflects the eternal source of blessings and contentment one can earn through love, care and service to our parents and grandparents. It means that serving, respecting and lowering oneself to care for a mother is a direct path to earning God's pleasure and entering Paradise. Besides, it acknowledges the immense pain, hardship, and lifelong sacrifice a mother endures while raising her children. This is why, when families stay close across generations, under one roof, some exchange happens. Children raised close to grandparents tend to grow knowing the stories that shaped their family, the values their elders lived by and experiencing what patience actually looks like. And elderly people who remain woven into a family's daily life are healthier, less anxious and less lonely. When The Thread Frays? But we would be telling only half the truth if we did not admit that this thread is fraying across cultures in many Indian homes today. Migration for work, nuclear families, the sheer pace of modern life, all of these have quietly left many of our elders spending their days in empty houses, waiting for a call that comes less often than it used to. This is not a failure of love. It is usually a failure of time and distance. And because ageing at home remains the outcome every family and every elderly person requires, the support that steps in should be built to help a parent stay in their own home rather than moving out. What we need is to fully understand and embrace that the elderly are a source of wisdom, experience and stability in a world that is constantly changing. Under the visionary leadership of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government's ELDER LINE, a toll-free helpline (14567), is there the moment they simply need to talk to someone, day or night. And under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), elderly citizens receive walking sticks, hearing aids, spectacles and other assistive devices free-of-cost, so that independence is never out of reach for want of means. These quiet supports exist precisely so that distance does not have to mean disconnection. When a grandchild does finally visit, they find a grandparent who is well, engaged and still at home, full of stories, not one who has simply been waiting. Even when a family genuinely cannot be present every day, ageing at home need not mean ageing without care. The SHATAYU (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility) dashboard is helping build something India has long needed: a trained, trackable network of geriatric caregivers available district-by-district, so that a qualified pair of hands can step in for the hours a working son or a distant daughter simply cannot. It is care that comes to the home, rather than care that requires leaving it. For a smaller number of elders who have no family close by, this idea of home simply takes a different shape and government-supported old age homes, run under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), step in to become exactly the family they need. Residents share meals together, celebrate festivals as a household would, take part in Yoga and health check-ups and have someone to talk to over tea. It is a family, rebuilt in a different form, so that no elder ever has to grow old entirely alone. A Small Practice Worth Reviving If there is one thing every family could do, it is to let the generations sit together. Just an evening where a grandparent tells a grandchild about their own childhood, or a teenager teaching their grandmother to send a voice note. Teaching her to use the JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) App on her phone, where she can check which welfare schemes she is eligible for or simply have an emergency help button within her reach. These moments cost nothing and require no grand gesture. They only require intention. Somewhere in India today, a grandparent is folding a paper boat with a child who will not remember why that afternoon mattered. It mattered anyway. Let us make sure there are many more such afternoons, and with the quiet support of schemes built exactly for this purpose, no grandparent has to spend theirs alone. (The author is an IAS officer, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Courtesy: PIB)
Woman alleges 1.5 lakh fraud in promise of CM relief fund assistance
Supreme Court wants affidavit on IPS postings in CAPFs, continues oversight of 2025 judgment
In an affidavit, the Union Home Secretary had informed the court that 46 IPS officers have been brought on deputation to the CAPFs up to the SAG level after the courts 2025 judgment
Deadlock over release and extradition of antique dealer Subash Kapoor
He was extradited from Germany to India in 2012 to face trial in an idol theft case booked by the Udayarpalayam police in Ariyalur district; he was convicted in the case and sentenced to 10 years in jail; the Centre says India should honour its extradition treaties with Germany and the U.S.
IT employee drowns in Gambheeram Gedda reservoir
B.Tech student drowns in Sariya waterfalls
AI university consultation panel holds first meeting, discusses phased establishment
The committee is chaired by Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and chairman of Axilor Ventures, and co-chaired by N. Manjula, secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology.
Nearly 2,000 fall ill in suspected food poisoning linked to Indonesias free school meals program
Nearly 2,000 people, most of them students, have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesias Free Nutritious Meals program between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3
Bangladesh Opposition launches protest march over energy crisis
This movement is aimed at ensuring cooking gas and lighting up every household with electricity, Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman told supporters
Authorities probing counterfeit rabies vaccine, says drug regulator
The manufacturer of the vaccine has denied producing the misbranded vials bearing batch number KE25012 which failed a potency test by the Central Drugs Laboratory
SIR hearings descend into confusion and chaos on Day 1 in Bengaluru
While some voters had come to collect their notices, many did not know what a logical discrepancy meant, why their name had been marked as not mapped or what they were expected to prove.
When work does not meet workers
Fresh Yemen clashes kill more than 60: military, medical sources
According to three Yemeni military sources, 26 government troops were killed during several hours of fighting in the country's southwest, while medical and military sources from the Iran-backed Houthis said 31 rebel fighters were killed
Car-bound gang robs Andhra jewellery businessman of 1 crore, three nabbed
GCL: American Gambits off to a flying start
Karnataka Governor directs action against KSHEC Vice-Chairman over alleged financial irregularities
As per the documents submitted by the complainant to Lok Bhavan, the Vice-Chairman has allegedly claimed reimbursement from the KSHEC funds for personal expenses and private entertainment.
Rise in fake UPI payment cases leaves merchants worried
Several such incidents have been reported from different parts of the State in recent months, with two silver merchants in Muvattupuzha being the victims in the latest reported incidents.
Rise in fake UPI payment cases leaves merchants worried
Several such incidents have been reported from different parts of the State in recent months, with two silver merchants in Muvattupuzha being the victims in the latest reported incidents.
Watch: Takeaways from BCCIs Review and Roadmap Meeting
BCCIs prolonged performance review meeting was finally held on September 3, with captains Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in attendance along with head coach Gautam Gambhir and Centre of Excellence head of cricket VVS Laxman.
Watch: Takeaways from BCCIs Review and Roadmap Meeting
BCCIs prolonged performance review meeting was finally held on September 3, with captains Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in attendance along with head coach Gautam Gambhir and Centre of Excellence head of cricket VVS Laxman.
Dinakar attacks Oppn. over misleading GDP growth claims
Dinakar attacks Oppn. over misleading GDP growth claims
Watch: Hyderabad to get Indias largest AI data centre with Rs 70,000 crore investment, 7,000 jobs
Hyderabad is set to host one of Indias largest AI data centre campuses, says Telangana CM Revanth Reddy.
Former Delhi Mayor seeks action against police officers over house search
Police entered house at midnight purportedly looking for a journalist who had flagged the alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations, says ex-Mayor
Former Delhi Mayor seeks action against police officers over house search
Police entered house at midnight purportedly looking for a journalist who had flagged the alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations, says ex-Mayor
Watch: Giorgia Meloni: Can she survive Italys next election wave in 2027?
Giorgia Meloni sets a record as Italys longest serving postwar leader after 1,413 days. But with protests rising, can she hold power?
Watch: Giorgia Meloni: Can she survive Italys next election wave in 2027?
Giorgia Meloni sets a record as Italys longest serving postwar leader after 1,413 days. But with protests rising, can she hold power?
Watch: Sikkim identifies 16 high risk glacial lakes for outburst floods
Sikkim identifies 16 glacial lakes at risk of catastrophic outburst floods after deadly Himalayan disasters. Will emergency measures save lives?
Watch: Sikkim identifies 16 high risk glacial lakes for outburst floods
Sikkim identifies 16 glacial lakes at risk of catastrophic outburst floods after deadly Himalayan disasters. Will emergency measures save lives?
Molvi Imran Ansari Calls for Immediate Written Resolution of Medical Intern Stipend Issue
Srinagar, September 5 : In continuation of his tweet dated August 31, 2026, JKPC General Secretary and President of the All Jammu & Kashmir Shia Association, Molvi Imran Ansari, has once again raised the issue of MBBS and BDS medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that they are not asking for a favour but for fairness, dignity and fair support for the crucial services they provide to the healthcare system. In his latest post on X, Molvi Imran Ansari said that in June 2023, GO No. 538-JK(HME) recommended raising the MBBS and BDS intern stipend from the stagnant 2019 rate of Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. He added that in February 2026, the government confirmed on the floor of the Legislative Assembly that the enhancement proposal was under active process. Seven months later, as our young doctors strike across medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir demanding parity with other states at Rs 30,000, the Health Minister has asked them to wait another 30 days without giving even a single line of written commitment, Ansari said. Questioning the governments commitment to youth empowerment, Molvi Imran Ansari asked whether this was the dignity and youth empowerment promised so grandly in the election manifesto or merely another slogan forgotten after voting day. If the government genuinely cares, why does the Omar Abdullah government need an entire month to resolve this issue? A clear and time-bound process can be initiated immediately. The Chief Ministers Office can issue the necessary directions, the matter can be expedited for financial concurrence, placed before the Cabinet for approval, and thereafter sent to the Lieutenant Governor for assent before the Government Order is issued, he said. Molvi Imran Ansari said there was no justification for continuing to keep young medical interns waiting while they work long and demanding hours on the frontline of Jammu and Kashmirs healthcare system. Our medical interns are not asking for charity. They are asking for fairness. Stop stalling young doctors who work exhausting hours with verbal sympathy alone. Give them a clear, time-bound written commitment and notify the order without further delay, he added.
Watch: Nepal Flash Floods: 64-year-old woman rescued 11 days after floods
ChandikaShrestha, 64, was discovered on the fourth floor of her partially buried house in Nuwakot district by a team from Nepals Armed Police Force on Saturday (September 5).
INDIA bloc must take unified stand on SIR, says CPI(ML) Liberation leader
He also expresses concern over delay in convening the Opposition alliances meeting announced for August 8
Hypocrisy in Congress stand on womens empowerment, claims BJP
BJP spokesperson says the Congress is in power in four States, but had only three women Ministers in all in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, there were no women Ministers, while Kerala had two and Telangana had two, one of whom had been removed
FICCI organises Beyond the Boardroom event
Ketan Agarwal murder case: Friend of one accused held for conspiracy; third arrest in case
The arrested man, Ritesh Hange, is a friend of Chetan Choudhary, the alleged lover of victim Agarwal's fiancee Siya Goyal
Reimagining Keralam workshop at IIM-Kozhikode concludes
The gathering brought forth ideas for new initiatives in economic growth, fiscal stability, health and well-being, climate resilience, entrepreneurship, skill development, higher education, and Keralams global standing, all the while upholding the States human-centric development model
Concerns raised over cancellation of Prayagraj-Vizag special train services
Congress targets Modi government over broken education system on Teachers Day
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge posts a two-minute video presentation arguing that the education sector had all but collapsed in the past 12 years; Rahul Gandhi urges teachers to ensure that everyone receives equal opportunity
BTech student held for morphing female classmates photos
Matter came to light recently when some of his friends accessed his laptop while working on a college magazine and came across the morphed images. They alerted college authorities and the police
Citizens protest near Kaziranga, seek release of land rights activist detained under NSA
Protesters said local authorities locked auditorium of tribal rest house where meeting was scheduled after administrative clearance, forcing them to shift to an adjacent site
Nepal floods toll climbs to 1,344; 5,000 still missing
Kathmandu, Sep 5:Death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal surged to 1,344 on Saturday as more bodies were recovered, Nepal Police said. Rescue teams continue searching for around 5,000 missing, including 589 foreign nationals, while over 13,100 have been rescued. Among dramatic survivors Saturday was 60-year-old Chandika Shrestha, pulled out alive from the top [] The post Nepal floods toll climbs to 1,344; 5,000 still missing first appeared on Highland Post .
Teachers Day: Mapping lessonsbeyond the classroom
A geography teacher from the Government Model Higher Secondary School inNandanambagged two awards
