The beauty, struggle and hope that is Kashmir

Kashmir is a breathtakingly beautiful tourist destination in India. Surrounded by the Himalayas, this beautiful valley is all about natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage which is a very aesthetic blend of mostly Indian and Persian influences. And that’s because Kashmir has witnessed an inflow and outflow of population from multiple religions and ethnicities. While I’ll refrain from getting into the details, it’s for certain that the region has seen several hands trying to shape it’s destiny more due to power play than anything else, and maybe the obsession to own the “Paradise on Earth”.

Revocation of Article 370: This infamous article granted Kashmir autonomy of internal administration, allowing it to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. In 2019, this special status was revoked. As soon as revocation orders came into effect, thousands of additional soldiers from the Indian army were deployed in the region and a curfew was established with immediate effect. What followed was a lockdown for the next 6 months, no access to internet and the outside world, no means of earning a livelihood.

Surviving Covid: Just before the world went into lockdown, Kashmir was already coming out of one. Kashmir had been in lockdown since August 2019 when direct rule from Delhi was imposed upon the region. And for the next 6 months, Kashmiris were under house arrest. And just when it seemed that normalcy could resume, Covid pandemic had enveloped the globe. Loss of livelihood, lack of food and access to basic necessities became the norm.
Over the years, I’ve been to Kashmir multiple times and there is a stark difference to what I’ve seen before and after Covid. People haggling for tips is the most prominent and annoying change from the pre-Covid era. But when there’s been zero means of livelihood for so long and multiple mouths to feed, can you even blame them.

These are just 2 of the most recent events which have shaken Kashmiris to the very core. But the troubles the region has had to face aren’t recent at all. In fact they’re perhaps as old as Indian mythology goes. And since 1947, Kashmir has been caught in the crossfire of claims and counterclaims by India and Pakistan. This geopolitical tug-of-war has led to several wars, ongoing militarization, and a continuous state of tension that has deeply impacted the lives of the local population. The constant presence of armed forces, checkpoints, and the regular imposition of curfews have become a norm, disrupting the everyday life of Kashmiris.

And in spite of all of this, the hospitality and warmth with which tourists are greeted is unparalleled. And if you’re curious about safety in the region, do understand that it’s all a facade created by news channels.
It’s a disputed region but the disputes are political.
There is stone pelting, but there has always been a reason for such an occurrence but those reasons are never cited in the news, and it’s never ever a tourist on the receiving end.
It feels uncomfortable seeing armed forces all around, but that’s just how it is. The locals seem to have gotten used to it, but the psychological distress and a future marred by uncertainty is not easy to live with.

(I’m not taking sides here. These are thoughts from my own experience of the region and population.)

Kashmir is a region of unparalleled beauty and cultural richness, yet simultaneously a land bearing the scars of prolonged conflict and turmoil. The story of Kashmir and its people is one of resilience and endurance amidst the challenges that have shaped their lives for decades. Despite all adversities, Kashmir and Kashmiris exhibit remarkable resilience and hope of a better future.

To conclude, I can only hope that every traveller venturing into this region keep an open eye, heart and mind and not go there with an already negatively biased thought.