‘Kyah Karie Kourie Moul’ – An Empathic Chorus for the Daughters of Kashmir!

Coke studio Bharat has been trending on the recent song that is released very recently with the perfect blend of modern music, traditional chorus hymns and some rendition to folk music which very beautifully and perfectly narrate the social evaluation of the poor father who has marriageable daughters and the extravagant customs and trend that have been multiplying every passing day. These coveted competitions and modernized additions to a simple union of two compatible adults which are called marriage have burdened the thousands of parents of Jammu and Kashmir with hopelessness and helplessness. Entire Kashmir is haggling with an issue like late marriages along with many other social issues which are increasing immensely and spreading widely uprooting the ethical and moral fabric that has been spun by the former generations all through till now. There around about approximately 50,000 (fifty thousand) girls of marriageable age or more than that, in Kashmir who are unable to get married, reason being they are either unable to find a life partner because of being thirty years old or are not able to meet the marks set by society, be it in terms of catering, dowry, wedding trousseau, gifts for guests, Wazwan (Kashmiri traditional feast cooking). These all the elements have added to the plight of the daughters as well as their parents. The social activists, writers, multimedia, social media, influencers, writers, and educators etc. have tried their hard to be vocal about this drastically rising concern among our society but we still see that there is no stop to the innovative additions to the customs of the functions related to a wedding.

Music has a profound impact on human lives. Psychology has proven that music has helped human brains to maintain peace within. Simultaneously, music has helped the concerned artists to empathize with the victims of terror, bias, violence, exploitation and molestations. Kashmiri classic music, folk music and ballads have not been less educational, reformative and empowering. Kashmiri music especially Wanwun that is sung in weddings on the occasion of applying Mehandi on the hands of bride or groom, or at their shower taking time or at the time of welcoming a bride by in-laws or valediction of a daughter. Basically, Kashmiri songs are equally sympathetic and empathetic.
Kashmiri communities are nowadays seen gaga over the newly launched song by Coke studio Bharat and the renowned music star; Alif which is titled as “Kyah Karie Kaorie Moul” which has infatuated the people of all ages of Kashmir by its profound sentimental revelation of the truth of importance and manipulation of a girl child. The Climax of the song is the Wanwun in Kashmiri which denotes the significance of a girl, how important she is for a family and how beautiful she looks. It, moreover contains lyrics that are filled with an understanding and feelings of distress that a bride’s valediction carries along for her biological family and a narration of the agony that a girl has to settle for while adjusting at the new home willingly or unwillingly. The lyrics of the said song also reveal about the extravaganza Wazwaan that is traditionally cooked in weddings which nowadays is enhanced to look more dapper and classier by getting new varieties every new marriage. The varieties like different shapes, different non vegetarian vegetables or the plate covers of mutton etc. are some of the dominant changes that Wazwan gets added to.
The whole Kashmir and across the globe people who feel and understand this song are filled with gratitude for the platforms like Coke studio Bharat and the artists like Alif for endorsing meaningful content and setting a mark for artists to make a difference in the society.
– The author is a published author, ‘philanthropist’ and patron of Kashmir servers Foundation. You can reach out to her via refatwani@outlook.com with your valuable suggestions and feedback