The Pressure to Stay Positive: How Toxic Positivity Is Affecting Kashmir’s Mental Health

Gowher Bhat You lose your job. Someone says, “Everything happens for a reason.” Your heart breaks, and another person offers, “Just stay positive.” You feel like hell when someone reminds you, “Others have it worse.” They mean well—they always do—but their well-intentioned words often deepen your pain. Along with your loss comes an unexpected burden:…

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The Death of Kashmiriyat: A Reflection on Identity and Conflict

Dr Noour Ali ZehgeerThe ethos of Kashmiriyat, once celebrated for fostering harmony among diverse communities, appears to have reached its conclusion. Over the years, the foundational pillars of religious tolerance, mutual respect, and Kashmir’s distinct cultural identity have gradually eroded. Recent developments, particularly the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A—which granted special autonomy to Jammu…

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Jaun Elia and Aestheticization of Despair

Peerzada Masarat ShahIn the years since his death in 2002, Jaun Elia has undergone a resurrection few poets could have anticipated. His verses, once reserved for the dimly lit literary gatherings of Karachi, have become ubiquitous across social media platforms—quoted in Instagram captions, recited in TikTok videos, and transformed into an aesthetic shorthand for existential…

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