Imtiyaz Ahmad Shah
Snow capped mountains surrounding and protecting old villages; rivers running calmly through forests and the air so fresh and crisp touches the edges of the endless paddy fields in shades of green scattered between winding paths and golden orchids. Night Skies filled with gleaming stars and the peaceful hum of nature disturbed only by the rush of everyday life, the occasional howls of wolves or the rustle of leaves by a passing wind. Wherever one gazes, there exists only beauty; yes this is indeed Kashmir.
Despite the magnanimity of nature and the splendid landscapes that we have here, today’s Kashmir is more about unrests, bloodshed, injustice and many such obscenities. Let us take a closer look and discuss some of these issues which seem to have plagued the beautiful Paradise.
Kashmiri’s – especially the younger generations, seem to be losing their sense of tradition and culture. Kashmiri culture, tradition and language is unique and fascinating in all aspects but sadly it seems to be fading away with the advancement of technology. Young people are losing respect and pride for their roots and heritage and are thus beginning to adopt western identities considering such foreign values as more superior to what is ours.
The safety and freedom of women is another major concern. It is tragic to see that our mothers and sisters cannot walk freely without facing the prying gazes of men staring constantly, without any respect to the traditional and cultural values that prohibit us to do so. Women seem to be living with a constant fear wherever they go, be it schools, colleges or even the marketplaces. It seems that we are fast forgetting the value system that was imbibed in us by hundreds of years of evolution!
Coming to technology and the use of it, we often tend to abuse, rather than use, the technological advancements. Internet, let’s say, is a blessing when used correctly and judiciously. But the same becomes a crime and an immoral practice if used for dark and ghastly purposes.
Our civic sense has also degenerated drastically as we leave no stone unturned when it comes to spoiling the much hyped beauty of Kashmir, our villages, our city, our Mohallas and our lanes are all but trash bins and the trash doesn’t come from any unfavorable heavens but straight from our homes. We have made it a point that our rivers, lakes and ponds are chocked completely and dried into stanching pits of human vandalism. Unfortunately, we tend to ignore all such gross errors and continue to live our lives without any regard to the place that has been often praised for its beauty.
It is said that Education is the greatest source of change and transformation. The system of education however remains plagued with weak performance and structural lacunas in the valley. Thus, this institution is also of no, or less, use when it is characterized by such fundamental flaws. We have not been able to educate people about the immediate environment and how to maintain balance, how can we claim that we are educated lot!
Children must be taught HOW to think rather than WHAT to think and if a society understood this statement, it would only lead us to greater success. People try to force their opinions and way of thinking onto others without considering any other perspectives and such behavior results in a closed minded society dominated by judgmental thinking, destructive criticism and hatred. Society and the way of thinking within society plays a major role in the success of any country, but unfortunately there are many faults to be found within the Kashmiri society in general.
Although we are living in the 21st century, it still seems as if Kashmir is stuck in some ancient time; a forgotten paradise. Due to the political unrest, war as well as the ignorance and closed mindedness of people, Kashmir is still way behind when it comes to accepting modern ways of thinking. Forced marriages, cast systems, lack of education especially for girls, poor development, corruption, competition for wealth and jealousy as well as greed in general are very common among us. It is important to fix these issues for a better community and country.
Once again, due to the war and unstable conditions within Kashmir, success and development is threatened. The international media in my opinion fails to highlight the situation of Kashmir to the world. Many people abroad do not know much about the situation and circumstances within Kashmir nor do they know anything of its unique culture and history. We need to take responsibility and start taking Kashmir to the world, despite all odds.
The writer is 1st year Mass Communication student at Degree College, Baramulla