Anonymous Contributor

My family continues to live in Kashmir. I moved away from home to pursue my education. I first left Kashmir to attend college and have since remained away from home in pursuit of higher education.

My parents and grandparents mostly spoke Kashmiri among themselves at home. However, they spoke to me primarily in Urdu, so I am not very fluent in speaking Kashmiri but understand it fully. Kashmiri was also actively discouraged in our schools, which further limited my opportunities to learn and use it.

When I think of Kashmiri language, home and a sense of belonging come to mind.

Several sayings and stories come to mind. One saying I remember is "babbe baedtem khedmatah kartem," which roughly translates to "parents grow older, and still serve the children." My mother used to say this sarcastically.

Another story I remember is the creature called wai wof, who was supposed to be someone out on cold winter nights, discouraging children from going outside.

It felt less like something that was formally taught by one person and more like something I absorbed collectively through everyday presence, family life, and being part of Kashmiri culture.

Yes, I do think these traditions have changed. Rapid socio-political changes in the region have reshaped everyday social life, which has also affected how language, stories, and cultural practices are transmitted and sustained. The contexts in which these traditions were once shared have shifted, and as a result, their presence and meanings have changed as well.

Kashmir continues to be central to my life. My work, emotional world, and future aspirations remain deeply connected to Kashmir. The choices I have made in my education and work are, in many ways, an effort to stay connected to home and to the questions and struggles that shape Kashmir today.

It is important to keep Kashmiri culture and language alive while also allowing them to adapt to changing contexts. Beyond what is spoken or written, future generations should remember the less visible, lived aspects of our culture, including traditions of autonomy, resilience, and collective ways of being that have shaped Kashmiri life over time.

I have collected a lot of archival materials over time, especially books from my grandfather's personal library.