Over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel over the last two years. Gaza itself has been reduced to rubble. So, the prospect of peace, even a tenuous one, is an opportunity that the world can’t afford to miss.

At the heart of this new opportunity is US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. It calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas. While Hamas has so far not addressed the disarmament clause or its exclusion from future governance, its agreement to begin negotiations and hand over power in Gaza to a technocratic authority represents a meaningful departure from its previous positions.

The plan is far from perfect and leaves many critical questions unanswered. But perfect cannot be the enemy of what is possible. For now, the pressing task is to halt the bloodshed and begin the long, complex process of rebuilding trust, and Gaza itself.

It is encouraging that key international players, including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and European leaders, have expressed support for this moment. The United Nations has urged all sides to “seize the opportunity.” It is now incumbent on Israel to pause its military operations, which are still ongoing and snuffing out Palestinian lives.

This is a rare diplomatic opening that the parties to the conflict can’t afford to miss, as that could plunge the region into deeper chaos. With Gaza’s population desperate for relief and international opinion increasingly critical of continued military action, the cost of inaction is unthinkable. For the sake of those still alive, and the memory of the tens of thousands who are not, this chance at peace must not be squandered.

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The problem is not new, but it is becoming increasingly acute. Kashmir’s apple industry, which sustains lakhs of families and contributes significantly to the region’s gross domestic product, has in recent years faced a host of compounding challenges: climate change, declining returns, pest outbreaks, logistical hurdles, and now a persistent rainfall deficit. The most recent showers, while offering momentary relief, have done little to replenish parched soils, particularly those situated on the Karewas.

Farmers now fear the worst: a decline in fruit size, compromised quality, and reduced overall yield. The continued dry spell and resulting loss of soil moisture affects fruit development. It disrupts the growth cycle. This could lead to economic losses that farmers are ill-equipped to bear.

However, the government so far has not shown the necessary urgency. Although, there is still hope that the intermittent rains will replenish the land moisture and still salvage the fruit, the government has to be prepared for any potential decline in harvest. A considerable drop in apple production could hit orchardists, both in south and north Kashmir with devastating losses, both immediate and long term. This could deepen rural indebtedness.

The government must also look beyond the present crisis. With erratic weather patterns becoming more frequent – whether in the form of unseasonal rain, prolonged heatwaves, or early frosts – the Valley’s horticulture sector requires long-term adaptation strategies. These must include investments in climate-resilient rootstocks, crop insurance schemes that actually deliver, and more robust research linkages between universities and orchardists.

Apple production is one of the mainstays of Kashmir economy. According to an estimate, it forms 6.8 percent of Kashmir’s GDP and provides livelihood to around three million people. So anything that impacts it has consequences for a large section of population. So, while we hope that the weather changes favourably for the growth of the fruit, the government should also be ready with a plan to mitigate a possible drop in production.

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The project, funded by the National Endowment for Arts and supported by the Dallas Housing Authority, the Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, and the Thanks-Giving Foundation, was designed to inspire dialogue, inclusivity, and healing through artistic expression. The event featured eight local artists of North Texas, which included US based linguist, academic and multidisciplinary artist of Kashmiri origin, Dr. Sadaf Munshi. A self-taught visual artist, Munshi experiments with various mediums, including oil, watercolor, and multimedia.

“In my artistic practice, I strive to delve into the transformative power of both verbal and visual arts. I am particularly drawn to the challenge of pushing my creative boundaries, often venturing into new dimensions such as traditional arts and calligraphy,” Munshi says. The artwork created by her for the said exhibit was inspired by the story of the Dallas-based Turkish origin community exemplar and bridge builder Beril Berk. Munshi’s work will be among the featured art pieces and stories which will soon grace the South Dallas area as a permanent art installation.

Munshi describes her art piece for this project as “a coming together of people from various cultures and their struggles – a collective narrative of their journey as immigrants in the new country that they call home. The art piece is titled “Cōnfluentia” – a Latin noun meaning a place where two or more things flow together, converge, or come together. The collage of texts in different languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Burushaski, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Kashmiri, Persian, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu – represents various ethnolinguistic communities in the Greater Dallas neighborhood. A discernible human component is depicted in the painting by an interplay of cultural motifs crossing boundaries and employing calligraphy art on unified themes. Shades of colors signify the traditional arts of the various communities represented by the piece and highlight the values shared by these communities.”

Among the attendees and supporters honoring the public launch event at the culmination of an art initiative extending a year and a half in preparation, were Rhetta Bowers — an American politician and educator and member of the Texas House of Representatives, Troy Broussard of the Dallas Housing Authority, Vanessa Avery – Executive Director of the Sharing Sacred Spaces Inc., and Almas Muscatwalla – Curator and Project Lead.

“Art has an incredible power to transcend barriers, spark meaningful dialogue, nurture understanding among individuals of varying backgrounds, and foster community connections. My inspiration to participate in Who Are Our Neighbors? art project stems from the opportunity to highlight the stories of people who bring our communities together through empathy and understanding. The opportunity to create artwork which reflects the contributions of the bridge builders in our community, such as Beril, aligns with my artistic vision of creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard, understood, and appreciated. I was particularly drawn to the Project’s emphasis on inclusivity and healing through artistic expression. Healing, that we need so badly today in this every-changing, unpredictable world. My artwork is an attempt to contribute to a collective narrative, a meaningful endeavor, which celebrates our diversity and our shared humanity, encouraging unity and facilitating peace,” Munshi said during the launch ceremony.

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‘’We did not reveal Quran to make you suffer’’ (20:2)

The Holy Verse means to convey that Quran was not revealed to make life cumbersome or to deprive the believers of pleasant things in life, but to bestow a successful life, as and when the import of the revelation is read and understood in its proper context. In its proper context, it could be taken as a reminder. The Verse noted may be read with the one that follows:

‘’ We did not reveal Quran to make you suffer. But only as a reminder for him who fears’’ (20:2/3)

The reminder is for one who may be taken in by a feeling of fear that he may be deprived of the bounties of life, were he to follow what is revealed. It is to dig out the fear that to follow the Quranic Code or the set of laws enshrined might be difficult and cumbersome. It is not meant to cause suffering or deprivation of bounties of life. In its essence, a Quranic revelation is from One in Command of the Universe, thus a reassurance that it has come from the Highest Quarters:

‘’A revelation from He who created the earth and high heavens.’’ (20:4)

There is an added emphasis:

‘’The Most Merciful; on the Throne He settled’’ (20:5)

The revelation is from One who is Most Merciful: Ar-Rahman in Quranic idiom, Who has created the earth and high heavens and Who is settled on the Throne—the Supreme Seat in the Universe, wherein His laws are in operation with full command. He is the Master of the Universe, in all its dimensions:

‘’To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, and everything beneath the soil’’ (20:6)

Thus the revelation from Him cannot but hold promise of blissful life.

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Beyond this, the ugly connections between mafia and politics are also an established thing. All this is true, but that doesn’t mean that politics – political parties, elections, democratic institutions – have lost their function. In fact, given the situation of a grand power contest at a global level, and the emergence of Artificiality, the role of political parties, political leadership and all political institutions has become enormous. In our small space it is the time of heightened political activities.

The second phase of the elections to the J&K Assembly is over and the third and conclusive phase is now underway. People, through the instrument of vote, can emerge as change makers. This time around the participation of people in voting has been good compared to many such occasions in the past decades.

The point here is that at a societal level we need to grasp the importance of voting and the responsibility it places at an individual level. A wholesale condemnation of politics is an ideal way to stop an organic growth of politics. While the criticism of political parties, of political ideologies, and political decisions can continue, and it is a hallmark of a living society, people as political creatures cannot escape the responsibility to act as conscious and informed individuals while responding to political ideas, and political opportunities like elections.

In any democratic set up, if people don’t respond positively to political responsibilities it can only result in a distorted relation between a society and the politics that engenders from it.

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This pertains to all; the political parties, those who vote for them, and the institutional system that ensures a smooth and just conduct of elections. In the earlier decades, like in 1980s, when the big political rallies of opposing parties would anywhere clash, ugly scenes would pollute the entire atmosphere. As we have come a long way in our societal growth, the political parties should now realise that a contest at a political level should not be made into an animosity at the societal level. As a people we live in mixed spaces, we interact in million different ways, and our mutual transactions are much more than once-in-a-five-year political contest.

It means that the political leadership in each party should educate its cadre and the voters that political disagreements can be managed in a decent manner, without hurting the societal fabric. It is also the responsibility of the political leadership not to raise slogans that demean the opponent, or sound abusive in any way. In this age of chaotic social media, and a slide into artificial world, political parties have an added responsibility. In fact it is being realised now at a global level that the crises of depleting human relations, and an over reliance of technology pose a huge challenge to humanity.

The onus is on the political leadership – from global to local – to understand this challenge and lay the foundation of policies and behaviours that can go a long way in restoring the human fabric of our societies. Elections is a time of enhanced human interaction, and the political parties can, if they transcend petty considerations, make use of this time and contribute to the making of human societies. Apart from winning elections, this is the supreme duty of all political parties. We will soon realise its importance, if we have not already, as AI and ML is poised to even determine the election outcomes. It is a dangerous scenario, and sooner we realise it better the chances of our survival as human societies.

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Forming a part of a broader set of announcements made at the Quad Leaders Summit at Delaware in Washington, the Cancer Moonshot Initiative will serve to strengthen the overall cancer care in the Indo-Pacific by improving health infrastructure, expanding research collaborations, building data systems, and providing greater support for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged $7.5 million to the initiative. Speaking at the summit, the PM emphasised the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare, particularly in cancer prevention and treatment. India has witnessed a growing cancer burden in recent years. According to a study published in PubMed Central, the projected number of new cancer cases in India in 2022 was 1,461,427, with an incidence rate of 100.4 per 100,000 individuals.

Around one in nine people in India is expected to face a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. Lung and breast are the leading sites of cancer in males and females, respectively. The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) estimates there were 19.3 million cancer cases worldwide for the year 20201. India ranked third after China and the US. GLOBOCAN predicted that cancer cases in India would increase to 2.08 million, accounting for a rise of 57.5 per cent in 2040 from 2020.

Jammu and Kashmir too has experienced a steep rise in cancer cases over the past decade. The National Cancer Registry Programme has revealed that over the last six years, the Union Territory has seen a staggering 80,000 cancer cases, with the highest-ever recorded in 2023 at 14,112 cases. The alarming surge, according to healthcare professionals, is attributed to sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and the consumption of chemical-laden food items.

But it is also true that cancer is a global disease. Although lifestyle changes, and food choices can make some indifference, the disease needs a global initiative to address its growing incidence. And it is here that the Cancer Moonshot Initiative is a salutary initiative and could go a long way to advancing research, improving treatments, and ultimately reducing cancer-related deaths worldwide.

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According to studies, taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk of developing infections which in turn cannot be easily treated with antibiotics. It is this practice which promotes antibiotic resistance in a population. The US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about one-third of antibiotic use in people is neither needed nor appropriate.

It is therefore important that people in Kashmir are made aware of the harmful health fallout of unneeded medication heavy on antibiotics. Also, it is not just people who are at fault, doctors are too. If we take the case of doctors, more often than not, they are guilty of overprescribing the drugs including antibiotics. This also contributes to antimicrobial resistance and going forward can become a factor in the rising deaths due to antibiotic resistant infections.

To prevent this state of affairs globally from becoming a deadly reality, the Lancet report has called for new strategies to decrease the risk of severe infections through vaccines, new drugs, improved healthcare, better access to existing antibiotics, and guidance on how to use them most effectively. We need the local government, especially the health department to implement this strategy in Jammu and Kashmir. We need not only create an awareness about the unnecessary use of antibiotics by people and their overprescription by the doctors but also have an institutional mechanism in place that discourages this practice. To start with, the government needs to ban buying medicines from pharmacies without prescriptions.

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On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood – for a time.î (2:36) They were ordained to live in a system based on Divine Guidance: Nizam-e-Rabubiya:

We said, Get ye down all from here, and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve (2:38)

When man lost his blissful life, he was told–Do not be despondent. We shall send you Our Guidance and thou shall be governed by Our Laws.  Those who will order their lives in accordance therewith will suffer no fear and sorrow. On the other hand, those who reject Our Guidance would lead a life of constant torment in this world and beyond. It is understood that Divine Guidance for effective governance of human affairs was carried by Prophets in Divine Messages.

Nizam-e-Rabubiya is holistically material and spiritual, it may not be segregated. The tendency to separate material and spiritual, recognize Caesar as the King on earth and God as the King in the heavens has been an age old malady. The desire for material comforts was taken to be an impediment for spiritual development and for salvation in the life hereafter. People had so much attrition towards the earth and earthly matters that they even hated to talk about it.

The renunciation of material comforts made recluse of men, otherwise destined for attaining spiritual development and material comfort, as per the Divine Norm. Nizam-e-Rabubiya dictates striking the right balance between spiritual development and material comfort, which is not possible to attain, unless and until laws governing life are in tune with Divine Guidance.

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People may be driven by some old political prejudice, some emotional appeal, some crazy promises – but it doesn’t last long. Finally, people have their way to assess a political party, and make up their mind at the time of elections. These days, as also in the previous decades, political parties have relied on cadre, on the capacity to run the campaign, and sometimes on the means that might be questionable if we apply strict ethical standards. But all this has a limited life, and also its returns diminish as we go further.

What matters in the long run is what you do for people. And people have not just one kind of need. In this age of limitless wealth, some people think that selling dreams and spending money is the only way that a party can ensure a win. But the study of any human society stands in the way of such an understanding. Human societies, as the aggregates of individuals with difference, have multiple and varied needs.

It has material needs and any political party worth its name cannot ignore that. It must have a concrete plan to enhance the material worth of households; bring the levels of poverty down, and increase the chances of upward financial mobility. Similarly, societies have  emotional needs. No political party can ignore those emotional needs for too long.

These needs are embedded in history and culture. Human societies also need a sense of secure future. If any society is destabilised on that count, it means politics is taking an ugly turn. Any wise political party cannot afford it, if it wants to have a place in that society. The political parties that are in fray this time in J&K, old and new, big and small, need to understand the dynamic that a human society finally is. A political party that answers the actual needs finally carries the day.

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