Undeterred by Circumstances, Young Kashmiris Follow their Junoon
Youngsters in J&K are breaking stereotypes and trying to prove themselves by choosing non-traditional career options
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On the day of Eid, the Jammu and Kashmir government granted pardon to 634 youth accused of stone-pelting during clashes with security forces from 2008 to 2014.
The move is being appreciated in the Valley. The youth of Kashmir need better education opportunities, skill training and employment within Kashmir. As a retired judge once said to me, “Har Kashmiri mein koi na koi badmashi hai.”
Such is the mischief of language: his words can be interpreted wrongly.
My good old friend would be mildly offended if he was misinterpreted. The merry patriarch said this in a jolly, laughing manner. He meant that all Kashmiris have a spark inside them. The need is to enable them to find that spark.
New Generation of Aspiring Kashmiris
A Kashmiri girl volunteering with a humanitarian organisation had done her masters in linguistics. Her heart lay in designing and selling clothes. She spoke about it sometimes, and I always told her to follow her call. Eventually she did.
Yes, her fears came true. Many fellow Kashmiris called her a darzi (tailor). They ridiculed her for making clothes. But if her fears came true, so did her dreams. She is now a trendsetter in Kashmir.
In less than one year, this young woman has a flourishing clothing business. J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has worn her designs. She has supplied suits on demand to all parts of India, and even in Spain, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
A young doctor I know is working in a hospital in Kashmir. What he is happiest about is the swanky new café he owns in Bandipora.
Another friend, a chemical engineer by qualification, is now a self-taught web designer working from home. He is passionate about his work, is highly creative, and is making good money.
Non-Traditional Career Choices
In 2013, my non-profit organisation, ‘The Inner Call’, organised a ‘Mental Wellness Month’ in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. We also organised some contests for the youth at the same time.
One of the contests was for the best documentary. The youth who won the award had made a documentary for the first time. Today, he is a professional cinematographer, working in Mumbai. He was one of the crew members for Fitoor, the Bollywood film shot in Kashmir.
You just need to find that niche. That creativity which will set you afire and make you flow.
A Kashmiri friend did his MBA from London. He now owns a successful, upmarket eatery in Srinagar. Most people couldn’t figure out why he rejected offers in multinational companies and opted for this line of work instead. There was nothing wrong with him. He followed the calling of his heart. Turns out, he was right.
Chasing One’s Dream
A large percentage of bright Kashmiri youth continue to opt for medicine or engineering to fulfill the expectations of their parents or society. If their heart lies in being a doctor or an engineer, I am happy for them.
At the same time, it would be disheartening if they are snuffing out their own dreams and creativity. Many young Kashmiris tell me, “Hum ne majboori mein, society ke liye ye padhai kar li (We pursued this line of education for the happiness of our parents or society).”
Unchallenged by Circumstances
A
young Kashmiri constable, working with J&K Police, is studying hard to be
an officer in Kashmir Police Services (KPS) – the elite services of the state.
His passion drives him to study when he is not at work.
It is essential to find that one thing we want most. We must find our own path, heed our aspirations. Following our junoon gives us a high. It is what we call apni dhun mein. Following our own music creates a harmony within us.
This is the equilibrium that most of us seek inside us, and also with our society and environment. Living in that harmony, we are unchallenged by the circumstances around us. We see life not as a mountain to overcome, but as a journey of joy.
(The writer is a social activist from Jammu and Kashmir and can be reached at @AfanYesvi. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)
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