In the paradise on earth, where beauty often mingles with pain, emerges a story of remarkable resilience, the story of Sajid Yousuf Shah. His book “They Snatched My Childhood” isn’t just another tale, it’s a raw account of a night that changed everything when a mother was brutally murdered and left a crying young boy to face the world alone.
But what makes Sajid’s story extraordinary isn’t just the tragedy he endured, it’s how he chose to respond to it. Instead of letting darkness consume him, he picked up a pen, a weapon mightier than any gun, to fight back against violence and extremism in Kashmir.
“When they took my mother from me, they thought they would break me,” Sajid once shared during a peace conference. “Instead, they gave birth to a warrior for peace.” These words perfectly capture the essence of a man who refused to let personal loss define his path.
Today, Sajid wears many hats, he’s an advocate by profession, a well renowned author, a thoughtful columnist and heads the media department for a national political party. But perhaps his most significant role is as the founder of TRK (The Real Kashmir News), a media house that strives to show Kashmir’s true face to the world.
His physical as well as intellectual involvement in initiatives like “Akhir Kab Tak” and “Tiranga on Clock Tower” stand out as beacons of hope in Kashmir’s journey toward peace. These weren’t just events, they were statements bold declarations that Kashmir’s youth choose peace over violence, unity over division.
“Akhir Kab Tak” became a platform where young Kashmiris could voice their frustration with violence and their dreams of peace. The “Tiranga on Clock Tower” initiative, meanwhile, showed Kashmir’s deep connection with India’s democratic values and peaceful aspirations.
I remember meeting Sajid bhai for the first time in 2017. His words sparked something in me, a desire to tell stories that matter. That meeting marked the beginning of my own writing journey. Today, as I near the completion of my first book, I can’t help but think of how one person’s courage can inspire so many others.
What makes Sajid’s work unique is his ability to speak hard truths with compassion. His media house, TRK, doesn’t just report news, it builds bridges of understanding. Through his columns and write-ups, he shows that Kashmir’s story isn’t just about conflict, it’s about resilience, hope, and the unwavering spirit of its people.
As an advocate, Sajid fights for justice in the courtroom. As a writer, he fights for truth on paper. As a media head, he fights for balanced narratives in the public sphere. But in all these roles, one thing remains constant – his commitment to peace.
“We can’t change what happened in the past,” he often says, “but we can certainly shape what happens next.” This philosophy drives his work with youth in Kashmir, encouraging them to choose pens over stones, dialogue over violence.
The success of his book “They Snatched My Childhood” lies not just in its honest portrayal of personal loss but in its message of hope. It shows that even from the deepest tragedy can emerge the strongest advocates for peace.
His work with various peace initiatives in Kashmir has created a ripple effect. Young people who once felt trapped between extremist ideologies and hopelessness now see a different path, one of constructive engagement and peaceful resistance against violence.
Through TRK, Sajid has created a platform that showcases Kashmir’s positive stories, stories of achievement, brotherhood and progress that often get overshadowed by conflict narratives. This media house has become a voice for those who believe in Kashmir’s peaceful future.
What makes Sajid bhai special isn’t just his achievements, it’s his accessibility and genuine desire to help others. Despite his busy schedule, he remains a mentor and well-wisher to many young writers and peace activists in Kashmir.
His journey from a traumatized child to a champion of peace serves as a powerful reminder that our response to tragedy defines us more than the tragedy itself. Through his work, Sajid has shown that the best revenge against violence is to create more paths to peace.
As Kashmir continues its journey toward lasting peace, voices like Sajid’s become increasingly important. They remind us that peace isn’t just the absence of violence, it’s the presence of justice, understanding and opportunity.
For someone who lost his childhood to violence, Sajid has devoted his life to ensuring other children don’t face the same fate. His story isn’t just about survival, it’s about transformation from victim to victor, from tragedy to triumph.
To me, and to many others in Kashmir, Sajid bhai represents hope. He shows us that even in our darkest moments, we can choose to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. His journey continues to inspire a new generation of peace warriors in Kashmir, proving that the mightiest weapon against violence isn’t another weapon, it’s the courage to choose peace, again and again.
ZAMAN NOOR
Writer is an Independent Public Opinion Analyst, Columnist and Actively Engaged in Peace Activism.
Can be reached @noor.penning@gmail
