Opinion | Chillai Kalan From Fear to Preparedness in Changing Kashmir

Chillai Kalan is invariably referred to as the most dreaded period of winter in Kashmir. It lasts for forty days from the last days of December to the last days of January. Conventionally it used to be a period of extreme cold, heavy snowfall and frozen water bodies resulting in long spells of isolation. The picture today is different while Chillai Kalan is respectful it is not something to be dreaded like it was decades ago.

Kashmir is renowned in the world for its beauty. Snow laden mountains, frozen lakes and white fields attract visitors every winter. Yet for local residents winter has never been about mere beauty. It has always been about survival. In earlier times Chillai Kalan tested human endurance at every step. Life slowed down. Movement became difficult. Resources were limited. People relied on patience, community support and experience.

In the old days snow would begin to fall in early December. The roads would remain blocked for weeks on end. The villages would remain cut off from the towns. Electricity was a rare thing. Communication too was practically nil. Houses too were constructed without much insulation. People would prepare in simple ways. Dry vegetables were stored. Firewood would be collected months in advance. Families would share the warmth in one room. All were equal at that level. Rich and poor hardly made any difference when it came to winter preparations.

That rude winter had one big advantage. Heavy snow acted as a natural reservoir. Snow melted slowly during spring and summer. Rivers, streams, and springs remained full. Agriculture benefited. Drinking water remained available even during dry months. Chillai Kalan played a key role in maintaining Kashmir’s water balance. People accepted the hardship because they understood its long term value.

Over the last twenty years one can notice a definite shift in this. Chillai Kalan is no longer as harsh or unpredictable as it used to be. The extreme cold spells still happen but their intensity and frequency have come down. The snowfall too has become irregular. Some years show less snow than it was expected to show. Frozen lakes and rivers are now a rare sight. While this change gives one serious reason to ponder the environmental questions this has reduced daily suffering.

The other big reason why Chillai Kalan is less fearsome today is improved preparedness. Modern housing is better insulated cemented walls, double glazed windows and improved roofing help retain heat. Electricity supply though still imperfect is far better than before. Mobile networks and the internet keep people connected even during inclement weather.

Heating facilities have changed life at winters. Hamams still warm up many homes the way they did traditionally. Bukharis remain a source of instant heat. Gas heaters and electric heaters centralized heating systems are usual facilities in urban areas. These facilities have siphoned off the compulsion for the family to crowd into one room they can spread over and various rooms. And the routines of life go uninterrupted as before.

The clothes have also bettered. The previous generations had to survive only with a few woollen garments. Today thermal wear, waterproof jackets and insulated shoes and modern blankets are available at all places. Although it may sound minor these changes greatly reduce the winter stress of humans. Children go to school more regularly, offices function with minimal disruption and healthcare services remain accessible.

The road connectivity has immensely improved. Snow clearance machines operate on major highways and inner roads. Emergencies receive faster responses from the administration. Supplies of food, fuel and medicines are maintained. Earlier people used to stock necessities for months. Today less panic buying because systems are more reliable.

Social attitudes to winter have changed too. For one thing Chillai Kalan used to mean confinement. People stayed indoors and waited for the season to pass. For many today winter is productive time. Students prepare for exams. Writers focus on reading and reflection. Tourism brings money. Winter sports have become popular in several areas.

But this comfort must not make man complacent. Less snowfall is impacting adversely on the water security. Farmers already report changes in crop cycles. In many villages springs are drying up. The traditional link between Chillai Kalan and summer water availability is weakening. Climate change is not an abstract idea any longer. It is a fact visible in daily life.

The elderly residents of Kashmir remember winters when the snow would reach up to the rooftops. They remember frozen hand pumps and silent nights with only crackling firewood breaking the stillness in the air. That is a reminder how once the Chillai Kalan was an agent of discipline, adjustment and resilience. Modern comforts should not obliterate that realization.

Preparedness today is stronger but it needs to be sustainable. Dependence on electric heating increases energy demand. Forests are harmed by excessive use of firewood. There should be a balanced planning approach. Traditional knowledge must go hand in glove with modern technology. Development should be nature respectful.

Chillai Kalan has not disappeared. It has changed its form. Infrastructure, administration and responsibility of an individual are still on test. It still reminds the people of the power of climate. And the difference lies in human response. It is better planning, improved facilities and shared learning that have reduced fear.

Chillai Kalan today is not the helpless season that it used to be. It has largely gotten converted into a season of adjustment. Comfort has risen. Risks persist. The challenge of today is to preserve the eco function of winter while shielding human well being. If handled wisely Chillai Kalan can continue to shape Kashmir without undue human hardship.

(Writer is An Author, Writer and Columnist hails from Boniyar Baramulla and He Can Be Contacted on mukhtar.qur@gmail.com)