A land called Kashmir.
Most commonly known as the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, this
222,441 km² of Dogra Rajputs rule was formed from Jammu, the Valley,
Ladakh, Gilgit, and Baltistan. Today, Kashmir looks a lot different than
it was then. Kashmir is now commonly divided into six regions and three
political regions. In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, we have Azad Jammu
and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Neighbouring in Indian administered
Kashmir, we have Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. Up north in China’s
control is Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract. A lot of division and
area welcomes many cultures and religions. But when we usually picture a
Kashmiri in our mind, we envision the beautiful valley in the now Indian
administered Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri is commonly known as an
ethnicity that resides in the valley. A primarily Muslim population,
their culture is heavily entangled with the religion and sect beliefs
brought by Iran.
A greeting but in terms of food with cookies and saffron tea
I’m a Kashmiri Muslim from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. My
grandfather was born in the city and lived most of his life in it. But
to a Pashtun tribe, Kakazai. Later on, after many years of living in
what he described as “brutal” treatment of the Indian government and
its military, he chose to leave his family and everything he ever knew
and start living right across the border, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. What
happened then reflects on my relationship with my ethnicity. I always
wondered why my views and ways were so different from others in South
Asia. During quarantine, I started learning and leaning back into my
previous trips to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. I became linked with being
Kashmiri and grew quite proud of the fact. However, it all changed
when I started making Kashmiri friends online. Why are they so
different? Am I not Kashmiri enough? But doesn’t visiting Kashmir like
seven times prove that? Or maybe Azad Jammu and Kashmir is not
Kashmir? No, Iman, Azad Jammu and Kashmir are Kashmir, just “freed” by
tribes in the area.
Resistance against oppression, no matter what power stands against us
I think every child of an immigrant or mixed-ethnic child experiences
this phase at least once in their life. But this is so much more
common in Kashmiris. We are a group divided between three countries,
two of which are mortal enemies. It’s not easy being in such a
situation where the tensions between the same people but from
different religions and political beliefs can be tense. But there are
a few things we can at least start agreeing on.
Mosques representing the cultural melting pots in the region
To be Kashmiri is to be many things.
Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist. Etc
Koshur, Dogras, Balti, Pahari, Awan, Bakarwal, Hindkowans, Tibetans,
Shina, Burusho, Gujri, Ladakhi, Pashtun, Farsiban, and many more.
And in that is beauty.
The land which we call Kashmir is a connection between Central and
South Asia. Many present-day Kashmiris, such as myself, find heritage
from both sides of Asia. Centuries of external influences have changed
and diversified our culture. The neighbours of Kashmir in the other
parts of the Himalayas, especially the Tibetans, drew a close tie of
religion until the spread of Islam. From the Iranian Sufi Saints and
their message of Islam to the Pashtun Tribes and their horse-trading
who held the secret of their invasion. All of these events changed us
immensely. Change is often a scary notion to many cultures but
Kashmiris, we always saw it in a different light. Thanks to that,
today we are one of the most diverse regions in the subcontinent.
To be in love and seek shelter in handmade shawls from local artists.
The diversity in Kashmir is like none other; each region has a
distinct language and culture. You can not be Kashmiri or not be
Kashmiri enough. Kashmir is the name of the land on which we all
stand. A nationality all ethnicities can call their own. Many often
forget that notion after the instilled administered divide. But there
is one divide I think all Kashmiris approve of: the geographical
range. Due to its large size, Kashmir has a population situated along
the valleys and rivers flowing through the mountains where the other
set of the population lives. The difference of the people ranges from
culture and ethnicity but mostly, ways. Near the water, like any other
civilization, lives the city people, most of whom left their tribal
homes on the mountains now seeking a more relaxed and opportunistic
life. Upon the hills, the people living there enjoy a more ethnic and
tribal lifestyle connected with their families and environment.
Floral paintings and designs representing the adoration of plants
Kashmir is mostly entirely understood amongst its inhabitants, but
those who now live and were born afar still are misunderstood. Kashmir
is what I call an “unknown region” unless you are a South Asian
news-obsessed uncle, which I highly doubt. Until Kashmiris gain their
right to independence, this will probably still be the case. But I
think that can be changed. The Kashmiri population in Kashmir is
significantly less and a minority in all administering countries.
Plus, the overseas Kashmiri is even less and most of the time crawling
into the administered nation’s umbrella to secure their spot in the
country. Regardless, being Kashmiri is still an identity, and I
believe it can secure its spot where its most misunderstood, the South
Asian community. South Asia has always had a front seat to the present
situation in Kashmir. Other than that, the land of Kashmir has proved
to be a significant region of that part of Asia.
The art of papier-mâché work
It’s up to the average Kashmiri abroad to pick up the mantle and
represent the region to its best of ability in their own way. By
understanding how we all are Kashmiri is the way to be Kashmiri
together on an international platform. To accept each other’s
differences and celebrate our similarities.
At the end of the day, we are Kashmir, and we stand on the land of
Kashmir.
Resistance against oppression, no matter what power stands against us
I think every child of an immigrant or mixed-ethnic child experiences this phase at least once in their life. But this is so much more common in Kashmiris. We are a group divided between three countries, two of which are mortal enemies. It’s not easy being in such a situation where the tensions between the same people but from different religions and political beliefs can be tense. But there are a few things we can at least start agreeing on.
Mosques representing the cultural melting pots in the region
To be Kashmiri is to be many things.
Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist. Etc
Koshur, Dogras, Balti, Pahari, Awan, Bakarwal, Hindkowans, Tibetans,
Shina, Burusho, Gujri, Ladakhi, Pashtun, Farsiban, and many more.
And in that is beauty.
The land which we call Kashmir is a connection between Central and
South Asia. Many present-day Kashmiris, such as myself, find heritage
from both sides of Asia. Centuries of external influences have changed
and diversified our culture. The neighbours of Kashmir in the other
parts of the Himalayas, especially the Tibetans, drew a close tie of
religion until the spread of Islam. From the Iranian Sufi Saints and
their message of Islam to the Pashtun Tribes and their horse-trading
who held the secret of their invasion. All of these events changed us
immensely. Change is often a scary notion to many cultures but
Kashmiris, we always saw it in a different light. Thanks to that,
today we are one of the most diverse regions in the subcontinent.
To be in love and seek shelter in handmade shawls from local artists.
The diversity in Kashmir is like none other; each region has a
distinct language and culture. You can not be Kashmiri or not be
Kashmiri enough. Kashmir is the name of the land on which we all
stand. A nationality all ethnicities can call their own. Many often
forget that notion after the instilled administered divide. But there
is one divide I think all Kashmiris approve of: the geographical
range. Due to its large size, Kashmir has a population situated along
the valleys and rivers flowing through the mountains where the other
set of the population lives. The difference of the people ranges from
culture and ethnicity but mostly, ways. Near the water, like any other
civilization, lives the city people, most of whom left their tribal
homes on the mountains now seeking a more relaxed and opportunistic
life. Upon the hills, the people living there enjoy a more ethnic and
tribal lifestyle connected with their families and environment.
Floral paintings and designs representing the adoration of plants
Kashmir is mostly entirely understood amongst its inhabitants, but
those who now live and were born afar still are misunderstood. Kashmir
is what I call an “unknown region” unless you are a South Asian
news-obsessed uncle, which I highly doubt. Until Kashmiris gain their
right to independence, this will probably still be the case. But I
think that can be changed. The Kashmiri population in Kashmir is
significantly less and a minority in all administering countries.
Plus, the overseas Kashmiri is even less and most of the time crawling
into the administered nation’s umbrella to secure their spot in the
country. Regardless, being Kashmiri is still an identity, and I
believe it can secure its spot where its most misunderstood, the South
Asian community. South Asia has always had a front seat to the present
situation in Kashmir. Other than that, the land of Kashmir has proved
to be a significant region of that part of Asia.
The art of papier-mâché work
It’s up to the average Kashmiri abroad to pick up the mantle and
represent the region to its best of ability in their own way. By
understanding how we all are Kashmiri is the way to be Kashmiri
together on an international platform. To accept each other’s
differences and celebrate our similarities.
At the end of the day, we are Kashmir, and we stand on the land of
Kashmir.
Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist. Etc
The land which we call Kashmir is a connection between Central and South Asia. Many present-day Kashmiris, such as myself, find heritage from both sides of Asia. Centuries of external influences have changed and diversified our culture. The neighbours of Kashmir in the other parts of the Himalayas, especially the Tibetans, drew a close tie of religion until the spread of Islam. From the Iranian Sufi Saints and their message of Islam to the Pashtun Tribes and their horse-trading who held the secret of their invasion. All of these events changed us immensely. Change is often a scary notion to many cultures but Kashmiris, we always saw it in a different light. Thanks to that, today we are one of the most diverse regions in the subcontinent.
To be in love and seek shelter in handmade shawls from local artists.
The diversity in Kashmir is like none other; each region has a distinct language and culture. You can not be Kashmiri or not be Kashmiri enough. Kashmir is the name of the land on which we all stand. A nationality all ethnicities can call their own. Many often forget that notion after the instilled administered divide. But there is one divide I think all Kashmiris approve of: the geographical range. Due to its large size, Kashmir has a population situated along the valleys and rivers flowing through the mountains where the other set of the population lives. The difference of the people ranges from culture and ethnicity but mostly, ways. Near the water, like any other civilization, lives the city people, most of whom left their tribal homes on the mountains now seeking a more relaxed and opportunistic life. Upon the hills, the people living there enjoy a more ethnic and tribal lifestyle connected with their families and environment.
Floral paintings and designs representing the adoration of plants
Kashmir is mostly entirely understood amongst its inhabitants, but
those who now live and were born afar still are misunderstood. Kashmir
is what I call an “unknown region” unless you are a South Asian
news-obsessed uncle, which I highly doubt. Until Kashmiris gain their
right to independence, this will probably still be the case. But I
think that can be changed. The Kashmiri population in Kashmir is
significantly less and a minority in all administering countries.
Plus, the overseas Kashmiri is even less and most of the time crawling
into the administered nation’s umbrella to secure their spot in the
country. Regardless, being Kashmiri is still an identity, and I
believe it can secure its spot where its most misunderstood, the South
Asian community. South Asia has always had a front seat to the present
situation in Kashmir. Other than that, the land of Kashmir has proved
to be a significant region of that part of Asia.
The art of papier-mâché work
It’s up to the average Kashmiri abroad to pick up the mantle and
represent the region to its best of ability in their own way. By
understanding how we all are Kashmiri is the way to be Kashmiri
together on an international platform. To accept each other’s
differences and celebrate our similarities.
At the end of the day, we are Kashmir, and we stand on the land of
Kashmir.
The art of papier-mâché work