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Umer Farooq Zargar on Muck Rack

Umer Farooq Zargar

(He/Him)
Jammu and Kashmīr
As seen in: Flipboard, The Express Tribune, The Quint, Scroll.in, Feminism In India, Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Times, Planet Forward, Article 14, India Development Review Online and
Covers:  Climate, Conflict, Human Rights, Gender, Health, Education, Politics, Migration, Livelihoods, Tourism, Technology, Art and Culture.
Doesn't Cover: Elections, LGBTQ
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Umer Farooq Zargar’s Journalist Portfolio

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Weddings Postponed, Lives Paused: Climate Change Leaves Kashmir's Apple Farmers & Millions Nation...

Weddings Postponed, Lives Paused: Climate Change Leaves Kashmir's Apple Farmers & Millions Nation...

Article 14 — A hailstorm on 2 June 2025 in Kashmir's Shopian district destroyed apple orchards, leaving farmers in debt and despair. Families, who were depending on the sale of this year's crop for funds, have been forced to postpone weddings and consider withdrawing children from schools.
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The Cylinder and the Chulha: From the Distant Gulf War to Kashmir's Kitchens

The Cylinder and the Chulha: From the Distant Gulf War to Kashmir's Kitchens

share.google — In Kashmir, the rising cost and uncertain supply of LPG cylinders are forcing residents like Parveena Begum and Naseema to revert to traditional cooking methods using firewood. The geopolitical tensions affecting global energy routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, have led to increased prices and shortages, causing panic buying and long queues at gas agencies.
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Nishasta: A Summer Ritual That Feeds Kashmir Through Winter - GOYA

Nishasta: A Summer Ritual That Feeds Kashmir Through Winter - GOYA

Goya Journal — Every summer in the upper reaches of Kashmir, families begin preparing for winter. Wheat is soaked, ground, washed and strained until only its starch remains. This becomes nishasta - a pantry staple that will reappear months later as a warming halwa, eaten in the cold for strength, recovery, and hea
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https://feminisminindia.com/2026/03/11/israel-iran-war-and-local-consequences-kashmir-under-restrict

https://feminisminindia.com/2026/03/11/israel-iran-war-and-local-consequences-kashmir-under-restrict

Feminism In India —
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https://kashmirtimes.com/news/kashmiri-women-stir-quiet-revolution

https://kashmirtimes.com/news/kashmiri-women-stir-quiet-revolution

Feminism In India —
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Reviving Kashmir's Wicker Heritage: A Craft Worth Preserving

Reviving Kashmir's Wicker Heritage: A Craft Worth Preserving

beenest.in — From Willow to Wonder: The Journey of Kani Kaem
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Empty Hotels, Ghostly Houseboats, Stationary Vehicles and Lost Jobs: The Economic Toll of 95% Tou...

Empty Hotels, Ghostly Houseboats, Stationary Vehicles and Lost Jobs: The Economic Toll of 95% Tou...

Kashmir Times — The tourism industry in Kashmir has been severely impacted by recent security incidents, resulting in a dramatic 95% decline in visitor numbers. This downturn has left hotels empty, caused significant job losses, and paralyzed the transport sector. The ripple effects are felt across the region, affecting houseboats, shikarawallas, and migrant workers.
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We Just Want to Come Home: Kashmiri Students Trapped in Iran Plead for Evacuation Amid Escalating...

We Just Want to Come Home: Kashmiri Students Trapped in Iran Plead for Evacuation Amid Escalating...

Kashmir Times — Kashmiri students in Iran are pleading for evacuation as they face the terrifying reality of war. After an Israeli missile struck near their hostel in Tehran, the students experienced chaos and fear, with some sustaining injuries. Despite being relocated to a safer area, their anxiety persists, and they urge the Indian government to expedite their return home amid escalating Iran-Israel tensions.
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https://kashmirtimes.com/news/fear-and-trauma-continues-to-haunt-tribal-women-weeks-after-womans

https://kashmirtimes.com/news/fear-and-trauma-continues-to-haunt-tribal-women-weeks-after-womans

Kashmir Times —
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Threads of Heritage: Threads of Heritage: Kanihama's Fight to Save Kashmir's Kani Shawls

Threads of Heritage: Threads of Heritage: Kanihama's Fight to Save Kashmir's Kani Shawls

www.beenest.in — In the shadow of the past and the pressure of modernity, the weavers of Kanihama fight to keep alive the painstaking tradition of Kani shawl weaving-a heritage rich in craft, culture, and identity....
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Life Without Parental Love!

Life Without Parental Love!

alfaazthewords.in — To the world they are just two people but to me they are my entire world Umer Farooq My parents are my backbone. They always have been, and they always will be. They are the most precious diamonds in my life-always supporting me, whether I succeed or fail.
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Post Pahalgam, a new crisis is brewing in Kashmir

Post Pahalgam, a new crisis is brewing in Kashmir

India Development Review Online — "I have been selling falooda ice cream here for 10 years, and I have never seen a situation like this," says Shahnawaz. | Picture courtesy: Muazam Mohi Ud
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Nargis's Story: A Family's Road To Survival Ends In Loss In Uri Shelling

Nargis's Story: A Family's Road To Survival Ends In Loss In Uri Shelling

Feminism In India — Nargis's story is not unique, but the family's loss is a reminder of the cost civilians bear in times of conflict.
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Kashmir border residents return home after ceasefire, but haunted by fear and ruins

Kashmir border residents return home after ceasefire, but haunted by fear and ruins

Greater Kashmir — Fear still lingers, with locals worried that cross-border shelling could resume at any moment, forcing them to flee once again
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Ground Report: Tribal Women Bear The Brunt Of Kashmir's Border Violence

Ground Report: Tribal Women Bear The Brunt Of Kashmir's Border Violence

Feminism In India — Uncover the heartbreaking stories from Kashmir as residents abandon their homes due to the relentless threat of violence and shelling.
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LoC Residents Who Fled The Shelling Can't Go Back, Those Who Did Saw Only Ruins In Place Of Homes

LoC Residents Who Fled The Shelling Can't Go Back, Those Who Did Saw Only Ruins In Place Of Homes

Kashmir Times — In the aftermath of the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire along the Line of Control, residents from villages in Uri and Gurez are unable to return home due to the devastation left by shelling. Many villagers find their homes reduced to rubble, while unexploded ordnance poses a significant risk.
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Kashmiris outraged by public alcohol consumption amid tourism boom

Kashmiris outraged by public alcohol consumption amid tourism boom

Maktoob — Two wine shops stand side by side at Dalgate on Boulevard Road, along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, a bustling tourist hub in the heart of Kashmir. alcohol consumption, Kashmir, Tourism boom Recently, public outrage has intensified following reports of tourists openly drinking in Srinagar's streets, acts widely perceived as a violation of the region's spiritual values.
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Motherhood, Belonging, Betrayal: Pakistani Women In Kashmir Ordered To Leave

Motherhood, Belonging, Betrayal: Pakistani Women In Kashmir Ordered To Leave

Feminism In India — 21 Pakistani-origin women in Bandipora face deportation after over a decade of life in Kashmir, as families plead for compassion.
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Amid over 17 attacks, Kashmiri Students Abandon Studies or Live in Fear

Amid over 17 attacks, Kashmiri Students Abandon Studies or Live in Fear

Kashmir Times — In the aftermath of the Pahalgam violence, Kashmiri students across India face a critical dilemma between continuing their education and ensuring their safety. With over 17 incidents of harassment and attacks reported, many have abandoned their studies to return home, while others remain trapped in fear, questioning their future and personal security amidst societal tensions.
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I could not save Adil, but I saved 11 tourists: A story of courage from Pahalgam

I could not save Adil, but I saved 11 tourists: A story of courage from Pahalgam

Kashmir Times — In a harrowing tale of bravery, local guide Nazakat Ahmad Shah saved 11 tourists from an unexpected attack at Baisaran Park in Pahalgam. Despite the chaos and danger, Nazakat led the group to safety, shielding children and ensuring their escape.
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Half-ticket 'Paper Promises' Compel Students to Drop out of Studies or Face Humiliation

Half-ticket 'Paper Promises' Compel Students to Drop out of Studies or Face Humiliation

Kashmir Times — In Jammu and Kashmir, despite multiple government orders mandating a 50% fare discount for students, poor enforcement has forced many to drop out of education due to financial strain and daily harassment. Students face humiliation from bus conductors who often refuse to honor the discount, turning the simple act of commuting into an insurmountable obstacle.
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Symphony of Flavours and Spice: The Pickle Makers of Kashmir

Symphony of Flavours and Spice: The Pickle Makers of Kashmir

Kashmir Times — In the bustling markets of Srinagar, the rich aroma of mustard oil and Kashmiri spices fills the air as generations of artisans continue the centuries-old craft of pickling. From Ghulam Qadir Senoo, the 'Pickle King' with over 100 varieties, to young entrepreneurs like Mohammed Altaf Pandith and Musaib Fayaz, pickling is more than just a business; it's a legacy of taste, culture, and tradition that binds the community together.
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Essay | Kashmir's dying springs: A call for environmental action - Planet Forward

Essay | Kashmir's dying springs: A call for environmental action - Planet Forward

Planet Forward — In the Northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent, volunteers are working to restore the area's drying springs.
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Railway of Ruin? Rafiabad's Orchardists Resist as Development Threatens Livelihoods

Railway of Ruin? Rafiabad's Orchardists Resist as Development Threatens Livelihoods

Kashmir Times — In the verdant landscape of Rafiabad, North Kashmir, the government's plan to extend a railway line threatens the livelihood of local orchardists, who have tended apple groves for generations. While officials tout the project as a step towards modernization, residents fear it will sever them from their heritage and economic stability, sparking deep anxiety and resistance among the community.
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