Opinion | Women as Cultural Ambassadors: Promoting Peace, Harmony and Kashmiriyat

The real identity of the valley is much deeper than its scenic splendour. The values of compassion, dignity, respect and co-existence form the core of the Kashmiri culture. All these values are encapsulated by the concept of Kashmiriyat, symbolising humanity against hate, understanding against division and unity against diversity. It is the women of Kashmir who have been upholding the cultural essence of the valley for generations through their strength, wisdom and commitment.

As soon as a child comes into this world, the mother begins to educate their child about right conduct and the values of life. She teaches children to speak respectfully and to address their neighbours. The child learns at an early stage to respect his elders and learn about people from other communities. Many of these values remain deeply rooted in an individual during the course of his whole life and make mothers and grandmothers very influential in bringing up good citizens.

The rich culture of Kashmir continues to prosper due to the efforts of women who preserve the tradition. These women maintain the charm of the Kashmiri language, songs, legends, festivals, food, embroidery, weaving, and crafts.

Women remain the custodians of the Kashmiri language, preserving local expressions, proverbs and oral traditions within families and communities. Through lullabies and folk songs, they pass cultural memories from one generation to another. Traditional Rouf performances during Eid celebrations and weddings continue to bring communities together and strengthen social bonds. Similarly, songs sung during marriages, paddy transplantation and harvesting seasons reflect the intimate relationship between Kashmiri culture and everyday life. The poetry and legends associated with Habba Khatoon, Raja Begum and other literary figures continue to survive largely because women have preserved and shared them across generations.

The womenfolk play an equally important role in the preservation of the festivals and food culture as well. The drying of tomatoes, bottle gourd, turnips, brinjal, and many other types of saag during the winter season is proof of centuries of indigenous knowledge and self-sufficiency of the people living here.

Similarly, the acclaimed handicrafts of Kashmir continue to survive by virtue of the expertise and hard work of women engaged in Sozni embroidery, Tilla embroidery, Aari embroidery, weaving, stitching, and many other crafts.

These rituals carry within themselves the legacy of their ancestors, memories, identity and heritage. Every generation inherits the priceless legacy from the devoted women who make sure that the traditions hold significance in the current context and inspire young people to embrace their roots.

The most commendable part about Kashmiriyat is the concept of harmony and peaceful co-existence. Kashmir is famous for providing an atmosphere to people of various religions who live together and share their space with mutual respect. The sounds of temple bells, the Azaan from mosques, and prayers from Gurdwaras collectively represent a tradition of respecting each other, which has inspired many generations. Women develop such spirit by performing acts of kindness and cooperation. Being involved in one another’s marriage ceremonies, festivals, and other forms of celebration has helped to build relationships based on trust, respect, and understanding between families and communities.

Assisting the neighbours in festivals and being by the side of their families in difficult times, women show that the realm of humanity becomes fortified through solidarity. Peace is not something that comes about through any treaty or any policy; peace emerges from behaviour and relationships. On many occasions, women have been peace brokers because they are able to reduce disputes through talks, patience, and wisdom. They believe in talks rather than disputes and forgiveness rather than resentment. This results in strong families, healthy communities, and a safer society. All of our acts of kindness contain within themselves the hope for a world that values talk over disputes and hope over fear.

Education has opened up new avenues of opportunity for women in Kashmir. Today, women are making significant contributions in teaching, medicine, research, enterprise, art, journalism, law, administration, and even as social workers. The success of women in their respective fields inspires young girls and gives them the confidence to enter the social arena.

Throughout the Valley, women have played an active role in improving programs that address issues such as education, healthcare, environment, skills and welfare. This has helped develop cooperation among the people of the locality and has led to people feeling responsible for their community’s progress. In these instances, individuals with different backgrounds have come together to achieve common objectives. This has led to the creation of a greater understanding and harmony between individuals. Their contributions are testimony to the fact that real development can only be achieved through participation, service and cooperation rather than rivalry.

Today, with the advent of technology, digital communication and social media, there exists another opportunity for women in the Valley. The use of tools like social media, literature, photography, filmmaking, scholarly work, and debate forums can be used to bring forward true stories of the Valley. Through literature, photography, filmmaking and social media platforms, women can showcase Rouf performances, traditional handicrafts, folk songs, local cuisine and the rich artistic heritage of Kashmir to national and international audiences.

Involvement in economic affairs further increases their contribution to society. Thousands of women earn their livelihood through handicrafts, farming, gardening, tourism, food processing, fashion designing, and running small businesses. This involvement retains traditional practices and creates opportunities for them to earn. Economic independence increases confidence and motivates them to participate more in decision-making. Successful economic activities make them self-dependent and strengthen the community on the values of pride and dignity.

The resilience that the women of Kashmir have shown must be greatly appreciated. Despite the changed conditions and tough times, these women kept educating children, maintained traditions, looked after their families, and made positive contributions to society. Such resolve shows immense courage and hope. Rather than being demoralized due to such conditions, they keep marching ahead with patience, diligence, and optimism.

The future of Kashmir relies upon development initiatives and upon the principles that bind its people. Empowerment of women means strong families, preservation of cultural heritage, promoting harmonious relations between people, and creating an inclusive society. Each one of those women, educating children, preserving the culture, promoting understanding, helping neighbours, and working for their communities, becomes a living representative of Kashmiriyat.

It is through their compassion, leadership, wisdom, and dedication that the ancient message is conveyed that the real glory of Kashmir lies beyond scenic beauty and humanity too. With women taking the reins in hand and being the leaders and inspirers of culture, Kashmir will continue to be presented to the world as a land of peace and harmony, proud of its culture and respectful towards each other.

mahboobahassan35@gmail.com