Fazul haq
Omar! “You Share Your Name with an ex-chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir,” remarked a tourist. A sigh escaped his lips and he frowned at the comparison. That was three years ago, when he had been forced to curtail his dreams and operate a shikara on the picturesque Dal Lake…dreams of showcasing Kashmirs famed beauty to the world, shattered by senseless violence, curfews and diktats of terror factions. In his early thirties now, Omar is a YouTube sensation. Aqsa Masrat recounts a similar story, while having gained fame now as the youngest social media influencer in the valley. Malik Asrar a budding photographer has garnered a huge fan following on Instagram, showcasing the pristine, unexplored beauty of Kashmir. Tasiya Hameed, 28 and her ‘Kashmir Food Forum’ has generated a keen interest in Kashmiri cuisine. A perfect blend of energy and originality, Tasiya has garnered over
1.5 lakh YouTube subscribers and 40k Instagram followers.
Battered by sponsored terrorism for over three decades, the youth have borne the brunt. Carefree banter, free thinking, spirit of adventure, leisure, art, creativity were all casualties. It all seemed futile and hope for a better tomorrow seemed a distant mirage. Kashmir today is in the midst of a resurgence. For Aaqaib Wani, 29, a fiery spatial, graphic & visual designer, being highlighted in the Forbes 30 list of designers was unthinkable. Rashid Mir, a social activist has been an inspiration for the youth, helping young men rediscover self-belief and their ability to make a difference in the world. The youth in Kashmir have taken up the cudgels to spearhead the positive change in the valley. They have been the driving force, in cleaning up a decadent system by promoting the rule of law while gaining the trust of the public at large. The valley, having long experienced fear and uncertainty seems to be exhaling in relief as Kashmir is steadily on track to discard the infamous tag of a terrorist hotspot.
Kashmir recently celebrated the ‘Boat and Shikara’ event in numerous lakes and rivers dotting the landscape between Srinagar and Ganderbal, a revival of a bygone era from ‘Zero Bridge’. Danish Mir, a travel blogger & Junaid Mir, an emerging social activist have notably changed the global perception of Kashmir and have been striving to turn the region into a tourist hotspot. The effect of the resurgence of youth is evident. The influence of local celebrities on social media and social activists have not only reshaped the mindset of the local youth, but also the country at large. Couples and children can often be seen enjoying the famed Kashmiri hospitality. Tourist spots are teeming with visitors. Shikaras are full and the roads have steady flow of MUVs bringing in tourists from all corners of the country. The restoration of the inland waterways, closely tied to Kashmiri trade, culture and travel is a positive sign. The revival of ‘Urs’ of the famed sufi saint Syed Qamar-ud-Din Bukhari shows a yearning for peace and return to sufi culture and pluralistic ethos. Time, they say is a great healer. One may not expect the effects of three decades of terrorism to be reversed in quick time. However, the signs are positive and Kashmir will emerge from the ashes as the proverbial phoenix.