Author: M. J. Aslam

This Kashmiri idiom of Ghar Zaamtur means that a Ghar Dammad (Urdu) or Ghar Jamai (Hindi) or a son-in-law who lives in his wife’s house,…

The idioms portray our way of life once used to be of all and also tell us something about our cultural moorings. Socio-cultural traditions and…

“Onh” in Kashmir means blind, “Andha” in Urdu and Hindi. There are several idioms related to blind in all languages including Kashmiri. Kashmiri idioms related…

Zalur or spider or Makdi (Urdu) & Ankaboot (Arabic/Persian) is an interesting creature of the nature. In Sanskrit spider means Luta. Its biting causes irritating…

Partly, Kashmiris’ winter migration to hotter city of Jammu is due to their “improved socio-economic status” during one or two preceding decades that enabled them…

From earlier times, “it seems to have been customary for the rulers of Kashmir to leave the valley during the winter, and return to its…

Pannis Darass Pannui Pon or Dara Komui Phatenovukh, Ami Pan’ni Po’in or Pan’nui Pon Chu Pannis Phathenavaan”: These are the three inter-related variants of one…

Scorpion, Bich in Kashmiri, is considered one of the most harmful specie on the earth. Bich in literature represents a person with ‘hidden poison’ of…

Sheen e Peto Peto, Bayi Yito Yito, Mama Yito, Yito: Who has not come across these musical sayings in the valley? But, before we deal…

“Soi” in Kashmiri is “Urtica Diocia” in Botany. It is a wild herbal plant that grows in wild & desolate places. Soi, nettles, grow in…