In this episode, we are joined by Asif Tariq Bhat to discuss the importance of conserving and promoting the Kashmiri language and its rich literary tradition. Alongside this conversation, we explore his book Khwaban Khayalan Manz and reflect on dreams memory, and inner life as sources of creative expression. A thoughtful discussion on language, literature, and why Kashmiri continues to matter.

In this episode, The Art of Carrying Across, we sit down with educator, author, and translator Neerja Mattoo to explore the power of translation in keeping culture alive. With over three decades of teaching experience, works published by the Sahitya Akademi, and a fellowship and visitorship to Oxford awarded by the Ministry of Education and the British Council, Neerja ji has dedicated her life to carrying Kashmiri literature across languages and generations.

We talk about what it means to translate not

just words but worlds, her journey as one of the few Kashmiri Pandits who remained in the valley post-1990, and the responsibility of preserving the essence of voices that go back centuries.

For our very first episode, I sit down with Mehak Jamal — a powerful young voice in Kashmiri writing.

We talk about her journey as a writer, what inspires her work, and how literature can capture love, loss, and the everyday realities of Kashmir.

This conversation is not just about books, but about memory, identity, and finding your voice in the middle of silence.

Tune in, and don’t forget to follow the podcast for more conversations with writers, poets, and storytellers from Kashmir and beyond.