Losing The Identity..... Kashmiriyat
Bhat Mujtaba Gurezi
Culture, beliefs, values, mores are what we get from the continuous use and disuse of principles of living and interacting. If we would go by the simple perception, the indian subcontinent as a whole is multifarous throughout its length and breadth. Whether it is social, cultural or physical dimension, the subcontinent is diverse, Kashmir being a segment of this huge geographical entity has not stood behind from being a blend of dissimilarities and distinctiveness.
The Jammu and Kashmir in sum total has individualized in social and cultural aspects. The three regions- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with respective religious dominations of Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism have flavours of their own with one contrasting from the other.
Kashmir so far concerned is the most Muslim dominated region and has an imprint of the Persian culture. Kashmiri cousine, habits of eating, ways of living, wearing style, the attire is what we got from the west Asian incomers who settled here and over the time added their respective tincture to local kashmiri culture creating a cultural and social rainbow whereby the different shades are enjoined by a single source of sunlight- the Kashmiriyat.
In consequence or thereupon, what we are using, what we are following from the very past is nothing but continuous exposure of Kashmiri’s to the foreign elements and subsequent adoption of the same. One thing that is atypical about kashmiris is that they are most radical when it comes to take anything novice upon themselves.
Taking religion as a prototype, the valley was once a jam-pack of Hindu population. Upon the arrival of Islamic saints, the Islam spread briskly. Nonetheless the hard efforts put together by scholars, an ordinary kahmiri was ultra in accepting, following and giving to him/her self the doctrines. The reason being the kashmiris were innocent, clear hearted and white, for they would believe anyone without investigating or sans any sort of preliminary examination, whether the decision made would go against or along with them.
With the advent of colonial powers into India. The winds of colonialism kissed the Kashmiri soil as well. Gradual imbibation of western socio cultural possessions snowballed into a trauma, a nuisance that has now cultivated the form of westernization or occidentalistaion.
There is no doubt the technological and industrial revolutions in the west raised their standards of living, their overall life style is adored by third world countries. They are cherished as elites there by imitating or self imposing upon themselves almost every facet of their lifestyle.
Kashmir valley could not shield itself from this sweet bane since it got injected into its social, behavioural and cultural core. The fact should never be denied, that accepting any scientific or technological boon should be morally and ethically permissible. This means if we are modernised with the use of technological innovations or with any kind of positive happening from the west is to be accepted, yet not at the cost of our own culture. Quoting Japan, the most developed and by the fact modernised in Asia, surely not westernised has never let the western cultural waves to modify their inherent cultural tinge.
With the dawn of social networking and increased connections with the rest of the world as a consequence of globalisation, the valley has witnessed a social and behavioural shift specifically among youngsters, that they have fallen into the western ways of living. Fast food addictions, hanging out late evenings, dressing up in a manner not intrinsic to kashmir are perceivable inklings of a habitual and social shift. The educational values are getting a backseat, the generation gap between elders and youngesters were there was a sense of respect and compassion has come to an end. Alcohol and other intoxicants are running in the veins of youth. The new generations are attracted to pop singing and could be seen on roads, cafes and canteens submerged in a social outfit that was never worn by a kashmiri. Rap singers and guitar freaks are on prowl. Love and a zeal for knowledge and literature is fading out and academics is getting a lower hand.
We are giving out a generation where we would have only a flock with meagre understanding of spiritual, religious, philosophical and ideological principles. The Kashmiriyat is losing its real occurance and is surviving only in art galleries, hospices (khanqah) architecture, shrines and a little among geriatric.
It is very aching to see the cutural thread woven a thousands of years ago is getting slackened as the days pass on, and in factuality may tear apart in near future. The need of the hour is to think and to act, somewhere in the rat race of westernisation we are shedding our bona fide cultral skin. The days are no far when we would be having only a population of westernised copy cats not a single person, Kashmiri in tone and taste.
Culture, beliefs, values, mores are what we get from the continuous use and disuse of principles of living and interacting. If we would go by the simple perception, the indian subcontinent as a whole is multifarous throughout its length and breadth. Whether it is social, cultural or physical dimension, the subcontinent is diverse, Kashmir being a segment of this huge geographical entity has not stood behind from being a blend of dissimilarities and distinctiveness.
The Jammu and Kashmir in sum total has individualized in social and cultural aspects. The three regions- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with respective religious dominations of Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism have flavours of their own with one contrasting from the other.
Kashmir so far concerned is the most Muslim dominated region and has an imprint of the Persian culture. Kashmiri cousine, habits of eating, ways of living, wearing style, the attire is what we got from the west Asian incomers who settled here and over the time added their respective tincture to local kashmiri culture creating a cultural and social rainbow whereby the different shades are enjoined by a single source of sunlight- the Kashmiriyat.
In consequence or thereupon, what we are using, what we are following from the very past is nothing but continuous exposure of Kashmiri’s to the foreign elements and subsequent adoption of the same. One thing that is atypical about kashmiris is that they are most radical when it comes to take anything novice upon themselves.
Taking religion as a prototype, the valley was once a jam-pack of Hindu population. Upon the arrival of Islamic saints, the Islam spread briskly. Nonetheless the hard efforts put together by scholars, an ordinary kahmiri was ultra in accepting, following and giving to him/her self the doctrines. The reason being the kashmiris were innocent, clear hearted and white, for they would believe anyone without investigating or sans any sort of preliminary examination, whether the decision made would go against or along with them.
With the advent of colonial powers into India. The winds of colonialism kissed the Kashmiri soil as well. Gradual imbibation of western socio cultural possessions snowballed into a trauma, a nuisance that has now cultivated the form of westernization or occidentalistaion.
There is no doubt the technological and industrial revolutions in the west raised their standards of living, their overall life style is adored by third world countries. They are cherished as elites there by imitating or self imposing upon themselves almost every facet of their lifestyle.
Kashmir valley could not shield itself from this sweet bane since it got injected into its social, behavioural and cultural core. The fact should never be denied, that accepting any scientific or technological boon should be morally and ethically permissible. This means if we are modernised with the use of technological innovations or with any kind of positive happening from the west is to be accepted, yet not at the cost of our own culture. Quoting Japan, the most developed and by the fact modernised in Asia, surely not westernised has never let the western cultural waves to modify their inherent cultural tinge.
With the dawn of social networking and increased connections with the rest of the world as a consequence of globalisation, the valley has witnessed a social and behavioural shift specifically among youngsters, that they have fallen into the western ways of living. Fast food addictions, hanging out late evenings, dressing up in a manner not intrinsic to kashmir are perceivable inklings of a habitual and social shift. The educational values are getting a backseat, the generation gap between elders and youngesters were there was a sense of respect and compassion has come to an end. Alcohol and other intoxicants are running in the veins of youth. The new generations are attracted to pop singing and could be seen on roads, cafes and canteens submerged in a social outfit that was never worn by a kashmiri. Rap singers and guitar freaks are on prowl. Love and a zeal for knowledge and literature is fading out and academics is getting a lower hand.
We are giving out a generation where we would have only a flock with meagre understanding of spiritual, religious, philosophical and ideological principles. The Kashmiriyat is losing its real occurance and is surviving only in art galleries, hospices (khanqah) architecture, shrines and a little among geriatric.
It is very aching to see the cutural thread woven a thousands of years ago is getting slackened as the days pass on, and in factuality may tear apart in near future. The need of the hour is to think and to act, somewhere in the rat race of westernisation we are shedding our bona fide cultral skin. The days are no far when we would be having only a population of westernised copy cats not a single person, Kashmiri in tone and taste.
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