KASHMIR – KASHMIRIYAT

Reflections After Pahalgam

By Upendra Kachru

“Gar firdaus bar-rū-e zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.”
“If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.”

These immortal words, attributed to Emperor Jahangir, capture the timeless beauty of Kashmir. But beauty alone cannot sustain a soul. Today, after the tragic Pahalgam killings, Kashmir’s soul—its centuries-old cultural identity known as Kashmiriyat—stands wounded again.

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The Beauty and the Ethos

From Kalhana’s Rajatarangini to the poetry of Lal Ded, Kashmir has been eulogized for more than just its mountains and rivers. Nestled between the Pir Panjal, Zanskar, and Karakoram ranges, Kashmir has dazzled travelers, poets, and emperors alike. Yet, what truly set Kashmir apart was its unique cultural fabric, woven from threads of Hindu Shaivism, Buddhism, Islamic Sufism, and a shared sense of community and compassion.

This harmony, which transcended religious lines, became the essence of Kashmiriyat—a pluralist identity shaped by shared geography, hardship, and an interdependent way of life.

🔶 Lal Ded – The Mystic Voice of Syncretism

“Shiv chhui thali thali rozan;
Mo zaan hyond ta musalman.”
Shiva abides in all that is; don’t say Hindus are different from Muslims.

🌿 This couplet cuts across centuries, reminding Kashmiris that the sacred resides in all. There is no room for religious division in a heart touched by Kashmiriyat.

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A Tradition Under Threat

The Pahalgam killings are not isolated acts of terror. They represent a direct attack on the spirit of Kashmiriyat, just as the 1990s militancy did, forcing the exodus of over 200,000 Kashmiri Pandits. My family’s story mirrors that of many. Our ancestral home in Habakadal, Srinagar, was abandoned overnight, and later burnt down. From that suitcase we carried into exile, we also carried the memory of a Kashmir where neighbors looked out for each other—Hindu or Muslim didn’t matter.

The social changes since then have been profound. The erosion of civil society, the rise of madrasa-driven narratives that emphasize exclusivist identities, and the politicization of religion have reshaped the landscape. After Pahalgam, the cracks in the valley's moral foundation seem even deeper.

🟢 Noor-ud-Din Wali – The Rishi of the People

“Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi.”
Food will last only as long as forests do.

🌲 Nund Rishi, Kashmir’s Sufi saint, bound faith with ecological wisdom and social harmony. His teachings gave moral legitimacy to Kashmiriyat—rooted in balance and reverence for all life.

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Has Kashmiriyat Gone Underground?

In 2003, Dr. Mir Zafar Iqbal conducted a sociological study that suggested that Muslims, Hindus, and even militants still resonated with the idea of a distinct Kashmiri identity. He found no strong inter-religious prejudice—a remarkable insight. Kashmir, he argued, was not an ethnic battleground but a nation in search of itself.

In the decades since, plebiscite politics and external influences—especially from Pakistan—have kept the valley on edge. The fear that demography and identity are being manipulated lingers in every corner.

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After Pahalgam: Where Do We Go From Here?

And yet, hope remains.

A new generation of Kashmiris—Hindus, Muslims, and others—are rising above past binaries. They are turning to art, poetry, and storytelling. Some are rediscovering the verses of Lal Ded and Habba Khatoon. Others are creating spaces—both online and offline—for shared heritage, shared grief, and shared aspirations.

“Zuv chum bramanas, musalmanas;
Zuv chum saanas sund gashtar.”
I belong to neither Hindu nor Muslim; I follow the path of humanity.
— Noor-ud-Din (Nund Rishi)

🕊️ This verse lights the way forward—a Kashmir where humanity, not religious identity, is the guiding force.

To bring back Kashmiriyat, we must:

• Restore civil governance rooted in justice, not fear
• Minimize external interference using diplomacy and technology
• Strengthen internal healing through education, culture, and moral leadership
• Rebuild cultural trust across communities through dialogue and shared remembrance

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The Soul of India

The tragedy is not just Kashmir’s—it is India’s. Our secularism, our pluralism, were inspired in no small part by Kashmir. Nehru’s faith in a diverse India was shaped by what he saw in the valley: a place where identity was layered and peaceful coexistence seemed possible.

Today, India must give back what it once received. Kashmiriyat needs not only to be remembered—it needs to be revived.

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Final Word: A Personal Remembrance

My grandfather and father held their Kashmiri identity with quiet pride. It was not a pride of power, but of philosophy. That memory lives on. But it must now move from memory to movement.

In the silence that follows gunfire, in the lull after every curfew, lies an opportunity—a space to rebuild. Let that silence be filled not with fear, but with voices calling for the return of Kashmir’s soul.

Author Bio

Upendra Kachru
Author of History of a Tomorrow
Website: www.upendrakachru.com