What is it? Think Tanks often feel like distant ivory towers, but Sulah Varta is different. Launched officially in 2025 by Dr. Kartikeya Raj, it is a specialized action-oriented initiative focused on understanding and resolving conflicts in the Indian Subcontinent, with a specific lens on Kashmir.

Why it’s Different Most policy is made "Top-Down"—decided by the State and pushed to the people. Sulah Varta flips the script.

• Bottom-Up Approach: They use deep ethnographic research to understand the lived reality of people on the ground first.
• Bridging Gaps: Their mission is to bring conflicting communities, civil society, and state actors (like police and DMs) together to solve specific issues.
• Beyond Op-Eds: It isn't just about writing articles; it's about creating institutional interventions that actually build peace.

What They Do The team, which includes historians, theater practitioners, and social scientists, works on:

• Deep-Dive Research: Understanding the psyche and identity of communities in conflict.
• Newsletters & Workshops: Publishing researched insights and hosting Peace & Conflict workshops.
• Upcoming Podcast: A 10-episode series releasing this summer analyzing the stories of Kashmiri Pandits.

For Aspiring Researchers Interested in how national policy is actually influenced? Sulah Varta offers a highly selective 2-month Internship Program (Summer & Winter).

• Not a volunteer gig: They focus on skill-building (editing, research, writing) and mentorship.
• How to join: They don’t hire full-time yet, but ambitious students can email their CVs to be considered for internships.

Key Takeaway Sulah Varta is building a space where research meets reality, helping young professionals understand that true conflict resolution starts with understanding people, not just policies.