Kashmir’s Moral Reset: Reclaiming Our Values, Culture & Pride from Social Evils

Kashmir’s Moral Reset: A Valley’s Urgent Journey Back to Its Soul

By: Zulfikar Kashmiri | 25 September 2025

A Valley at the Crossroads: Echoes of Saints, Cries of Despair

Nestled amidst the pristine Himalayas, Kashmir has long been celebrated as more than a geographical location; it was a state of being. For centuries, it was synonymous with Rishi-Waari—the land of saints and mystics like Lal Ded and Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali, whose verses echoed compassion, tolerance, and an profound connection to the divine. It was a society where the scent of Kehwa mingled with the warmth of hospitality, where a stranger was treated as a guest, and where community bonds were the bedrock of existence. The concept of Kashmiriyat wasn’t just a word; it was a living, breathing ethos of shared humanity.

Today, that same valley finds itself at a profound and painful moral crossroads. The gentle echoes of our ancestors, who lived by codes of honor, humility, and hard-earned integrity, are being drowned out by a dissonant chorus of distraction, desperation, and decay. We are witnessing a silent, yet rapid, erosion of the very values that defined us. The vibrant tapestry of our culture is fraying at the edges, threatening to unravel completely. This is not an alarmist’s cry but a sober observation. If we, as a collective, do not pause, reflect, and course-correct now, the legacy we bequeath to our children will not be the fertile land of their ancestors, but a barren landscape of our silence, our contradictions, and our deepest regrets.

This article is more than words on a screen; it is a call to conscience. A heartfelt plea to every Kashmiri—from the bustling streets of Srinagar to the serene villages of Kupwara—to hit the reset button. It is a roadmap for reclaiming our values, resuscitating our culture, and restoring the pride that is our birthright.

The Fractured Compass: When Did We Stop Holding Ourselves Accountable?

Our moral compass, once calibrated by the timeless principles of our faith and culture, appears to be spinning uncontrollably. The non-negotiable tenets of respect for elders, compassion for neighbors, and unwavering integrity in public and private life have, for many, become optional extras—inconvenient relics of a bygone era.

Let’s look around with honest eyes:

• The Spectacle of Extravagance: The simple, profound ceremonies that marked our life events have been replaced by garish displays of wealth. Weddings, once a community celebration of modest joy, have become theatrical productions of one-upmanship, where the size of the Wazwan spread and the cost of the bridal attire overshadow the sacredness of the union. The meaningful ritual of the Wartav, a symbolic gift of financial support from the bride’s family, risks being reduced to a public transaction, stripped of its emotional essence.

• The Tyranny of the Virtual: Our rich heritage of poetic expression (Shruk) and nuanced conversation is being bulldozed by the crass vulgarity and performative outrage of social media. Platforms that could be tools for connection and learning are instead arenas for character assassination, the flaunting of immorality, and the erosion of language itself. The dignified Urdu and soulful Kashmiri we grew up with are being polluted by a hybrid slang that lacks depth and respect.

• The Abandonment of the Crown: From Family Pillars to Old Age Homes: Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking indicators of our moral decline is the silent crisis of elder care. In a culture where parents and grandparents were once considered the “crown of the family,” the ultimate source of blessing (Barakat) and wisdom, we now see a disturbing trend. The same parents who sacrificed their sleep, their comfort, and their savings to raise us are increasingly being viewed as burdens. The concept of old age homes, once unthinkable in Kashmiri society, is slowly creeping into our reality. Siblings argue over who will “take” the parents, as if they are an inconvenient parcel. This represents a fundamental rupture of our core value of “Tarbiyat” (upbringing), which inherently includes the duty of care and respect in their twilight years. When we outsource the care of our elders to institutions, we are not just abandoning individuals; we are severing the vital intergenerational thread that carries our stories, our values, and our very identity.

• The Misplaced Jewels: Pets as Status Symbols vs. Parents as Burdens: In a painful irony, as we sideline our elders, a new phenomenon is emerging: the elevation of pets to the status of “jewels of pride.” There is nothing inherently wrong with compassion for animals; Islam teaches kindness to all living creatures. However, the concern arises when this compassion becomes a curated, expensive status symbol while our own flesh and blood are neglected. We see lavish spending on designer pet accessories, gourmet pet food, and social media accounts dedicated to pets, all while a parent might be feeling lonely and unseen in the next room. This paradox speaks volumes about a shift in our emotional priorities—toward relationships that are less demanding and more easily controlled, and away from the complex, sacred duty of honoring our parents. It reflects a society increasingly drawn to superficial displays of affection over the deep, sometimes challenging, commitments of family.

• The Cult of the Shortcut: The dignity of hard work, a value instilled by generations of farmers, artisans, and traders, is being supplanted by a dangerous obsession with “smartness”—a euphemism for cutting corners, scamming systems, and prioritizing greed over genuine achievement. From securing a job to getting a driving license, the question has shifted from “Am I qualified?” to “Who do I know?” or “How much will it take?”

• The Sin of Silence: Perhaps the most damaging shift is our growing silence in the face of injustice. The adage “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” has morphed into a survival strategy, creating a culture of complicity. When we see a wrong and look the other way, we are not preserving peace; we are perpetuating the problem.

We must ask ourselves, individually and collectively: When did we stop holding ourselves and each other accountable? The first step towards a reset is this uncomfortable introspection.

Confronting the Hydra: A Detailed Look at the Social Evils Devouring Our Valley

The symptoms of our moral decay are no longer whispers; they are screams manifesting as tangible social evils. These are not isolated incidents involving a “few bad apples.” They are interconnected tentacles of a deeper malaise, a sickness of the soul that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment.

01. The Scourge of Drug Addiction: A Generation in Peril

This is arguably the most urgent crisis facing Kashmir. What began as a trickle has become a flood, engulfing our youth in a wave of dependency and despair. The substances of choice are no longer just cannabis; they include deadly opioids like heroin, Spasmo-Proxyvon, and a cocktail of prescription drugs easily available in a corrupt pharmaceutical landscape.

• The Scale: Rehabilitation centers are overwhelmed, with counselors reporting patients as young as 14. Families are being torn apart, not just by the addiction itself, but by the paralyzing stigma and denial encapsulated in the poisonous phrase, “Not my kid.”

• The Root Causes: This epidemic did not emerge from a vacuum. It is fueled by a perfect storm of factors:

  • Unaddressed Trauma: Decades of conflict have created generational trauma (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. For many youth, drugs are a desperate form of self-medication, a way to numb the unspoken pain.

  • Unemployment and Hopelessness: A staggering rate of educated unemployment leaves young people feeling worthless and without a future. Idleness and frustration are fertile ground for substance abuse.

  • Peer Pressure and Normalization: In many pockets, drug use is tragically “cool,” a rite of passage into a misguided notion of adulthood.

• The Way Forward: We need a multi-pronged approach: Awareness campaigns in schools led by recovered addicts, community-based de-addiction support groups to reduce stigma, and government policy that focuses on rehabilitation, not just punishment.

02. The Cancer of Corruption and Scams: Erosion of Public Trust

From high-profile job rackets (like the infamous Police Sub-Inspector scam) to petty land fraud and bribery in daily life, corruption has become a metastatic cancer. It erodes the very foundation of a just society: trust.

• The Manifestations: Fake NGOs siphoning off funds meant for development, online sextortion rings preying on the vulnerable, and a pervasive “bribe culture” that makes even basic civic services a transaction. The most alarming trend is the infiltration of this corruption into institutions once considered sacred—educational, religious, and judicial.

• The Impact: It tells our youth that merit is a myth and that honesty is for fools. It destroys ambition and reinforces the culture of the shortcut, creating a society where the corrupt flourish and the honest are left behind.

03. The Rise of Vulgarity and the Shadow of the Flesh Trade

The conservative social fabric of Kashmir is being撕裂 by an alarming rise in overt vulgarity and the clandestine world of flesh trade.

• Online Vulgarity: Social media is rife with explicit content, cyber-flashing, and the objectification of women, normalizing behavior that was once universally condemned.

• The Hidden Economy: More disturbing is the reported growth of underground escort services and human trafficking networks operating in urban centers. The commodification of human dignity, particularly of women, is a direct assault on the core Islamic and Kashmiri values of Haya (modesty) and respect.

• The “It’s Not My Problem” Fallacy: Many dismiss this as a “lifestyle choice” or something that happens “elsewhere.” This denial allows these networks to thrive in the shadows. The reality is that this trade is fueled by local demand and exploits economic vulnerability, making it very much our problem.

04. Road Rage and Public Violence: A Society on the Brink

The legendary patience of the Kashmiri is wearing thin, replaced by a hair-trigger temper. Violent altercations over trivial matters—a traffic dispute, a queue, a perceived insult—are becoming commonplace. Stabbings, mob attacks, and public brawls, often recorded and gleefully shared online, point to a society boiling over with unprocessed anger.

• The Psychology: This is not merely “bad behavior.” It is the external eruption of internal turmoil—pent-up frustration, economic pressure, political powerlessness, and the normalization of violence from years of conflict. The absence of healthy conflict-resolution mechanisms and accessible mental health support means that the street becomes the outlet.

• The Consequences: It creates an environment of fear and insecurity, where a simple drive to the market can turn into a life-threatening situation. It shatters the very idea of community.

05. Youth Delinquency and the Moral Vacuum

Beyond the headlines, a quieter crisis is unfolding: the drift of a significant portion of our youth into a world of delinquency. This includes:

• Pornography Addiction: Leading to distorted views of relationships and sexuality.

• Cyberbullying and Blackmail: Destroying lives from behind a screen.

• Gang Culture and Juvenile Crime: From school dropouts forming petty criminal gangs to rising incidents of theft and assault among minors.

06. The Crisis of Care: Abandoning Our Elders, Misplacing Our Love

This evil is less discussed in public forums but cuts to the very heart of who we are as a people. It encompasses the gradual erosion of the family unit and a redefinition of responsibility.

• The Slow Erosion: The abandonment of elders is rarely a single, dramatic event. It is a slow process of emotional neglect, conveyed through dismissive tones, making them feel like a nuisance, and prioritizing personal convenience over their comfort. The final step of considering an old-age home is often the culmination of this prolonged emotional distancing.

• The Underlying Causes:

  • Urbanization and Nuclear Families: The shift from large joint families to smaller nuclear units in urban settings has reduced the support system for the elderly.

  • Materialism and Time Poverty: The relentless pursuit of material success leaves little time or emotional energy for the demanding needs of aging parents.

  • A Cultural Shift in “Duty”: The concept of duty is being redefined around self-fulfillment rather than sacrifice for family.

• The Paradox of Pet Pampering: The treatment of pets as “jewels” is symptomatic of this shift. It represents a desire for unconditional love without the reciprocal responsibility that human relationships, especially with elders, require. It is a easier, more Instagram-friendly form of care.

• The Consequences: This trend devastates the mental and physical well-being of our elders, who suffer from loneliness and depression. It also sets a dangerous precedent for the next generation, teaching them that love is conditional and that the elderly are disposable. What goes around comes around; the treatment we model for our children is the treatment we can expect for ourselves.

This is what happens when a moral vacuum is created. If positive values, purpose, and guidance are absent, negative influences will rush in to fill the void.

The Guardians of Conscience: The Pivotal Role of Faith and Community Leadership

In this hour of crisis, the responsibility on our religious scholars (Ulama), community elders (Vader), and civil society leaders is immense. Their role must evolve from mere condemnation to proactive, compassionate leadership.

What is Needed Now:

• From Abstraction to Action: Friday sermons (Khutbas) must move beyond generic condemnations of “sin.” They need to name the specific evils—drugs, corruption, violence—and provide practical, faith-based guidance. What does Islam say about the dangers of addiction? What are the Islamic punishments for fraud? This requires courage and clarity.

• Mosques as Community Hubs: Our mosques should transform from being places of prayer alone to vibrant community centers. They can host counseling sessions for addicts and their families, skill-development workshops for unemployed youth, and open forums for dialogue on social issues.

• Digital Outreach: Our scholars must meet the youth where they are—on social media. Using the language of the young, they can create engaging, shareable content that counters the negative narratives and offers spiritual solace.

• Faith-Based Activism: As noted by esteemed voices like Dr. Firdous Ahmad Reshi, “The Ulama must guide society through Quran and Hadith, but also through action, advocacy, and education.” This means leading by example, organizing community watch groups, and partnering with mental health professionals.

The Unspoken Wound: Mental Health, Trauma, and the Culture of Silence

Behind every statistic of drug addiction, every act of road rage, there is often a story of unaddressed trauma and mental anguish. We have, as a society, weaponized silence, mistaking it for strength.

• The Legacy of Conflict: The psychological impact of decades of violence cannot be overstated. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are widespread, affecting not just those who witnessed violence directly, but an entire generation that has grown up in an atmosphere of chronic uncertainty and fear. This is generational trauma.

• The Stigma of Healing: While a physical ailment warrants immediate attention, a psychological one is shrouded in shame. The idea of seeing a therapist or counselor is often taboo, seen as a sign of weakness or even “madness.” This forces individuals to suffer in silence, leading to self-destructive coping mechanisms.

• The Crisis of Youth: Teenage suicide and self-harm rates are a chilling indicator of this deep distress. The pressure to perform academically, coupled with identity confusion and a lack of safe spaces to express emotion, is creating a desperate situation.

We must normalize healing. Talking about our pain, seeking professional help, and practicing emotional vulnerability are not signs of weakness; they are acts of profound courage. Breaking this silence is the first step towards breaking the cycle of despair.

Our Greatest Asset, Our Biggest Challenge: The Youth Caught Between Screens and Streets

Kashmir’s youth are not the problem; they are the potential solution. They are brilliant, resilient, and bursting with creativity. But they are navigating a world vastly different from that of their parents, a world full of traps and few guides.

The Challenges They Face:

• The Opportunity Desert: High unemployment, coupled with an education system that often prioritizes rote learning over critical thinking and practical skills, leaves them feeling hopeless and devalued.

• The Digital Double-Edged Sword: While offering a window to the world, digital addiction exposes them to misinformation, radical ideologies, and the corrosive culture of comparison and consumerism.

• A Vacuum of Role Models: When honest politicians, selfless community leaders, and ethical businesspeople are in short supply, who do our youth look up to? This vacuum is often filled by flashy, often immoral, social media influencers.

• Political Alienation: A deep-seated sense of political disenfranchisement leads to apathy or anger, disconnecting them from any sense of stakeholdership in the society’s future.

A Framework for Empowerment:

1. Education Reformation: Introduce skill-based education from a young level—coding, digital marketing, sustainable agriculture, artisan crafts—that leads to tangible entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

2. Creative Catharsis: Establish and fund platforms for spoken word poetry, theatre, film-making, and storytelling. Art provides a powerful outlet for processing trauma and expressing hope.

3. Structured Dialogue: Create youth-led reform councils in every district, giving them a legitimate platform to voice concerns, propose ideas, and partner with the administration on projects.

4. Roots and Wings: Launch “Cultural Revival” projects that reconnect them to their heritage—through language classes, traditional music and art workshops, and inter-generational storytelling sessions. To build a strong future, they must be proud of their past.

Reclaiming Our Soul: The Practical Path to Cultural Renaissance

Our culture is not a museum exhibit to be admired from a distance. It is a living, breathing guidebook for living a meaningful life. It’s time to move beyond the superficial symbols of Pheran and Wazwan and reclaim the deeper ethos.

What We Must Actively Reclaim:

• The Economy of Heartfelt Giving: Revive the profound meaning behind Wartav and Shagun Lifafa. It’s not about the amount of money; it’s about the emotional investment, the promise of support, the strengthening of bonds. Let’s consciously reject extravagant, meaningless gifting.

• The Rituals of Respect: Reinstate the beautiful customs of standing up for elders, speaking in respectful tones, and prioritizing community needs over individual greed. Teach these not as rules, but as expressions of love.

• The Power of Our Tongue: Actively promote the learning and use of the Kashmiri language. Encourage poetry competitions, storytelling festivals, and the creation of modern content in Kashmiri. A people that lose their language lose their soul.

• Re-weaving the Social Fabric: Revive the concept of Mohaalla cooperation. Organize community clean-ups, collective Iftaars during Ramadan, and support systems for families in distress. Relearn the joy of shared meals, shared grief, and shared joy.

The Reset Kashmir Blueprint: A Collective Action Plan

This reset cannot be a vague wish. It requires a strategic, collective effort. Here is a actionable roadmap:

1. Launch the “Reset Kashmir” Movement: A non-political, citizen-driven campaign with a clear logo and message. Use hashtags like #ResetKashmir to create a unified online and offline presence.

2. Content for Conscience: Produce high-quality, emotionally resonant content—short films, docu-series, spoken word poetry—that tells the hard truths but also stories of hope and reform. Partner with local artists and influencers with integrity.

3. Empower the Leaders: Provide training for religious and community leaders in basic counseling, digital media management, and community organizing. Equip them with the tools to be effective agents of change.

4. Institutionalize Youth Councils: Lobby for the formal establishment of youth reform councils at district levels, with a direct line to local administration to implement community projects.

5. Advocate for Policy Change: As a society, demand policy reforms that:

   • Integrate mental health education into school curricula.

   • Increase funding for rehabilitation centers and community health workers.

   • Create transparent and merit-based systems for employment and governance.

A Final Call to Conscience: Our Legacy, Our Choice

Kashmiris, look around you. Look at the pain, but also look at the potential. Look at the decay, but also remember the resilience that runs through our blood. We are not helpless. We are not broken. We are the descendants of Lal Ded, who taught us to seek the divine within; of Habba Khatoon, who turned pain into poetry; and of countless unnamed ancestors who built communities on trust and mutual respect.

We are the inheritors of Wartav, of dignity, of resistance. We have endured centuries of challenges not by surrendering our soul, but by clinging to it with ferocious love.

This is our moment of reckoning. The reset button is in our hands. It begins with a simple decision: to break the silence in our own homes, to challenge a wrong when we see it, to extend a hand to a struggling youth, to choose integrity over convenience.

Let’s stop saying “Not my kid” and start asking “How can I help?” Let’s reclaim our values, our culture, and our pride. Let’s ensure that when our children inherit this beautiful valley, they inherit a conscience strong enough to protect it, not the chaos we failed to confront.

The time for reset is now. Let’s begin.

Kashmiris, It’s Time to Hit Reset We’ve drifted. Our values—once sacred—now flicker in the shadows of compromise. Our morals are fading, our pride diluted, our culture commodified. This isn’t who we are. This isn’t who we were meant to be. If we don’t course-correct now, our children will inherit not just our land, but our silence, our contradictions, our regrets. Let’s reclaim what was ours: The integrity of wartav, the warmth of gulmuteeh, the strength of our spoken word, and the dignity of our dissent. Let’s rebuild—not just roads and homes—but our conscience. Let’s restore—not just rituals—but our reason. Let’s rise—not just in protest—but in purpose. Kashmiris, the reset begins with us.

کشمیریو، وقت آ گیا ہے کہ ہم نیا آغاز کریں ہم بھٹک گئے ہیں۔ ہماری اقدار—جو کبھی مقدس تھیں—اب سمجھوتے کے سائے میں مدھم ہو رہی ہیں۔ ہماری اخلاقیات ماند پڑ گئی ہیں، ہمارا فخر کمزور ہو گیا ہے، ہماری ثقافت بازار کی چیز بن گئی ہے۔ یہ ہم نہیں ہیں۔ یہ وہ نہیں ہیں جو ہمیں ہونا چاہیے تھا۔ اگر ہم نے اب راستہ درست نہ کیا، تو ہماری اولادیں صرف زمین نہیں، بلکہ ہماری خاموشی، تضاد اور پچھتاوے بھی وراثت میں لیں گی۔ آئیے وہ سب واپس لیں جو ہمارا تھا: ورتاو کی سچائی، گل متیہ کی گرمی، ہماری بولی کی طاقت، اور اختلاف کی شرافت۔ آئیے دوبارہ تعمیر کریں—صرف سڑکیں اور گھر نہیں، بلکہ اپنا ضمیر۔ آئیے بحال کریں—صرف رسمیں نہیں، بلکہ اپنی عقل۔ آئیے اٹھیں—صرف احتجاج میں نہیں، بلکہ مقصد کے ساتھ۔ کشمیریو، نیا آغاز ہم سے شروع ہوتا ہے۔