Kashmir’s Ehsaas Foundation & Callisto Art partner with World Talent in online international art competition

Srinagar Aug 22: Amidst a world that continues to be divided by politics, borders, and challenges, the Valley of Kashmir provided an unlikely stage for a global celebration of art. Callisto Art & Culture’s 2nd International Online Art Competition in partnership with Ehsaas Foundation NGO Kashmir provided a space where more than a hundred artists from across nine countries came together and transformed the virtual platform into an obstacle-less gallery of imagination.

The event was conceived by Kashmiri visual artist Zahoor Kashmiri, founder of Callisto Art & Culture, who has always worked towards establishing avenues for cultural exchange and appreciation of art. “This competition has opened doors for participants from across the globe, providing Kashmiri artists with a chance to showcase their excellence at the international platform,” Zahoor asserted. “The best way to achieve your target is never to lose hope—keep trying, and success will follow.”

The partnership with Ehsaas Foundation NGO Kashmir, which is celebrated for Sufi ideas, cultural empowerment, and social welfare, spiritualized and socialized the competition. Vice Chairman Burhan Nazir thanked the jury and the participants and said that the competition reflected Kashmir’s desire to grow as a center of cultural diplomacy.

The panel for the jury comprised great names from across the globe. Prof. Zargar Zahoor, former Dean of Fine Arts at Jamia Millia Islamia, characterized the competition as being a harmonious mix of style and technique. Turkish artist Dr. Ceyhun Konak toasted the multicultural energy of the paintings, and Mexican painter Carlos Miguel Ramirez dubbed it “a virtual window into the cultures of the world.” Peruvian Daniel Gallegos Esquivias supplemented by stating that the event forged significant global connections at a time when people can’t really go anywhere. Locally, University of Kashmir Cultural Officer Shahid Ali Khan clarified that efforts such as these maintain creativity alive while mainstream institutions remain closed.

Kashmir was also sufficiently represented among highlighted artists. Mehak Mubeen exhibited Homeward and Sacred Threshold, while Syed Mursaleen exhibited Flux I & II. Dr. Zargar Adil Ahmad exhibited Impressions I & II, while Mudasir Rehman Dar exhibited his contemplative Peace Series. Asif Iqbal Khan presented Untitled and Surah Iklas, and Riyan Rafiq presented Islamic calligraphy. Suhaib Ahmad Hakeem, presenting two untitled paintings, Noureen, Enduring Patience and Divine Unity, Mir Andleeb, When Eyes Can’t Hold It Anymore and Salaam, Irtiqa Bazaz, The Eye of Dreams and Whispers of the Universe, Irtiza Sharief, Inside the Eyes and Eye Gaze, and Inju Hussain, Islamic calligraphy on canvas, were other Kashmiri artists.

Indian submissions from outside the state of Kashmir were impressive as well. Md Anirul Islam submitted Holy Bird-II and Tranquility-III, Karan Sharma submitted Khwahisho Ki Khidkiyan and Rozi Roti. Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum and Kaaba were submitted by Shabnam Rajpoot, Sureh al-Fatiha submitted by Shrieen Naaz and Astrolabe in Islam, and Sonjaye Maurya submitted Unity in Diversity and Universe. Jamal Ahmed Shamsuddoha exhibited Aytal Kursi and Dua, Surah Al-Baqarah, Jaspreet Mohan Singh exhibited Divine Lights and The Visionary, M. Akram Khan exhibited Nature I & II, and Neeraj Raina exhibited The Bull I & II. The series was succeeded by Shahed Pasha (King with his Soldiers, Lav Kush), Sualeha Khan (Serenity, Pond), Sumaid Pal Singh Baksh (The Departure, The Veil), and Zuhaib Wahid (Throne Verse, Echoes of an Infinite).

We received a colorful series of works from Malaysia. Hairol Masri Nokhil exhibited Perpetuity & Towards Immortality and Home of Clowder. Eda Tan Sew Lan presented Loving Couple and Strive, while Ain Yusof presented Fruits at Ease and Lotus Symphony. Nur Aniyah binti Anuar presented Tradition in Motion and Ngajat and Datun Julud, while Qaisarah Zainal wowed with Where the Light Found Me and Roads of Adaptation. Rozanah bt Ahmat presented Line and Beauty I & II.

Sri Lanka’s Chandani Jayathilaka showed Women I & II, and Sarath Gunasiri Perera showed Freedom Search I & II. Indonesia’s Tsabita Saifana took center stage with My Safe Place, My Warzone and Frogs and Lily Pads. Bangladesh was represented by Shah Raihan Sani, who showed The Kalimah and Ishq. Egypt’s Safaa Afifi showed untitled acrylic paintings, and from Pakistan, Maryam Kaleem Paracha showed two untitled acrylic paintings.

The variety of themes and styles imbued the competition with its own character. There were those who used cultural heritage, like Islamic calligraphy from India’s Kashmir and Bangladesh. Some used contemporary concerns and individual experience, as indicated by Indonesia’s My Safe Place, My Warzone or India’s Unity in Diversity. From the deployment of the traditional media like charcoal and acrylic to digital experiments, the competition was turned into a kaleidoscope of worldwide artistic practice.

Curator Tasaduq Hussain elaborated the premise behind the campaign: “When Covid had closed art schools and galleries, the artists felt left out. This competition, under the patronage of Ehsaas Foundation, kept the spark of imagination alive and earned them accolades on an international level.”

The 2nd International Online Art Competition was thus not just about ranking or popularity. It was about hope, inclusivity, and determination. For Kashmir, it was also about re-positioning itself to the world in the space of creativity and not conflict.

As Zahoor Kashmiri succinctly framed it: “By art, we express ourselves, but better, we connect humaneness. Having Ehsaas Foundation as our sponsor, this competition was a genuine celebration of global creativity.”

65% of J&K’s landslide areas classified as low risk, 12% high risk: Survey

Srinagar: Around 65% of Jammu and Kashmir’s landslide-prone areas are classified as low risk, 23% fall under moderate risk, and 12% are identified as high-risk zones, according to the latest landslide susceptibility mapping by the Geological Survey of India.

The Government of India, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), has made significant progress in mapping landslide-prone areas across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), as part of its efforts to manage natural disasters more effectively.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), the nodal agency for landslide studies, has completed comprehensive landslide susceptibility mapping for the entire landslide-prone hilly and mountainous regions, including Jammu & Kashmir.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the landslide susceptibility maps classify areas into low, moderate, and high-risk zones based on the likelihood of landslide initiation. In Jammu & Kashmir, about 65% of the landslide-prone area falls under the low-risk category, 23% under moderate risk, and 12% under high-risk zones.

This detailed mapping, created on a 1:50,000 scale, covers about 4.3 lakh square kilometers across 19 states and union territories.

The GSI continuously updates its landslide database, which includes over 33,900 field-validated landslides, supported by remote sensing and field data.

The maps and inventory are publicly accessible through the National Geoscience Data Repository and Bhukosh portals, helping authorities and stakeholders in disaster preparedness and land-use planning.

For more detailed local assessments, the GSI is also working on meso-scale mapping at scales of 1:10,000 and 1:5,000. In Jammu & Kashmir, this will enable more precise risk evaluations and guide safer infrastructure development. By 2028, 200 critical sectors across the country, including those in J&K, are targeted for completion of this high-resolution mapping.

The government is actively enhancing landslide forecasting capabilities to respond to the increasing frequency of natural calamities. The Regional Landslide Forecasting System (RLFS), developed by GSI in collaboration with the Indian Meteorological Department and other agencies, provides early warnings based on rainfall and weather models.

This system supports disaster management authorities to take timely preventive actions in vulnerable regions.

Jammu & Kashmir, with its mountainous terrain and susceptibility to natural hazards, benefits from such forecasting efforts. While specific operational forecasts for J&K districts are currently under development, the government is committed to expanding these services across all high-risk zones.

In addition to mapping and forecasting, the Government of India provides special assistance to states with high-risk landslide areas through financial aid and capacity-building programs.

The National Landslide Risk Mitigation Programme and the Aapda Mitra scheme, implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), offer funding and train community volunteers in disaster response, ensuring local preparedness and resilience—(KNO)

Premier educational institutions set up in J&K in past 10 years: LG Sinha

Inaugurates administrative block at Central University in Ganderbal

Ganderbal: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said that in the past 10 years some premier educational institutions have been established in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing during the inauguration of administrative block at the Central University of Kashmir, LG Sinha, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the human capital that is being prepared in the universities will surely help in nation building.

“It is a fact that from past 8-10 years, we have been able to establish some premier educational institutions under the leadership of PM Modi. Be it IIT, NIFT, Central University and AIIMS, J&K has benefited from these institutions,” he said.

He said that the way reforms are being brought into the syllabus will be beneficial for students and the nation as a whole.

He added he sees a bright future of the CUK and also wished to see this varsity among the top universities by 2047. “I want the committe members of the Central University to take the varsity at global level,”

“The students need to study beyond the syllabus and I am sure that with this, the students of CUK will focus on it and will contribute to the national development,” he said—(KNO)

6200 food samples fail safety tests in J&K over 5 years

15% of items found adulterated; over 6,900 penalties imposed

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir has reported alarming levels of food adulteration in the past five years, with more than 6,200 food samples failing safety standards out of 41,717 tested, according to data presented in Parliament.

The figures show that nearly 15 per cent of food items analyzed between 2020 and 2025 were found unfit for consumption.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in 2020-21, 4,094 samples were tested, of which 871 were declared non-conforming, leading to 573 penalties.

In 2021-22, testing expanded to 8,109 samples, with 1,735 failing standards. That year also saw the highest enforcement, with 1,931 penalties imposed.

In 2022-23, authorities tested 13,502 samples—the highest in the period—but 1,195 failed to meet safety norms. A total of 1,592 penalties were issued. The following year (2023-24), 9,057 samples were tested, 750 were adulterated, and 1,612 penalties were imposed, including some pending cases from previous years.

In the current year (2024-25), 6,955 samples were tested, with 651 found unsafe, leading to 1,239 penalties.

Overall, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 6,202 non-conforming samples and more than 6,900 penalties between 2020 and 2025.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been urging states and Union Territories, including J&K, to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and fill vacant posts of food safety officers.

The Health Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that whenever samples are found non-conforming to provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, legal action and penalties are initiated against defaulters—(KNO)