Youth Changes Narrative In J&K

Jammu and Kashmir, from its negative image, is making its name across the globe while youth of the Union territory deserve all applause for ensuring change on the ground and putting an end to the negative image.
From stone pelting, militancy and other related things, the youth in Jammu and Kashmir have shown their inclination towards Music and many among the J&K youth have shined at various platforms outside Jammu and Kashmir.
It is known to all that Jammu and Kashmir is full of talent, but several youth, who kept themselves at bay for years together due to unfavorable situations, have now emerged as youth icons after showing their talent at different platforms.
Musical events are always an attraction for the common people, but hiding the talent due to non-favourable situations, left many talented youth to lurch.
The youth engagement programmes organized by the government as well as the Indian Army here in Jammu and Kashmir, helped many youth to outshine and show their talent.
In one such instance, the Army organized several musical events and festivals like the band musical programme, Junoon-e-Hunar, Son-èt-Lumière, one of the biggest music festivals of north Kashmir and many more.
Such events helped the youth to a large extent and many have been given the opportunity to showcase their talent at a higher level.
The previous ideology that remained the order of the day in Jammu and Kashmir for decades together, has only left thousands of people, especially youth, dead. The youth were always used as a tool to keep the pot boiling for many separatists.
The frequent calls for shutdown, protests, and stone pelting never helped the youth to attain their goal as the situation either kept them away from educational institutions or from following their career.
The youth couldn’t even bear the expenses of day-to-day family needs. The situation that remained for years in Jammu and Kashmir never helped a poor parent to ensure his son or daughter continues education. But several children remained away from schools because of the poor conditions, which continued for years due to the non-favourable situation.
In such a way, the future of youth never flourished, but was destroyed due to Hurriyat’s venomous ideology.
Now, as the situation is improving, another epidemic that has affected the youth is drug menace, which is increasing at a rapid pace.
Drug menace is not only affecting an individual, but the whole family, even the society as well. The government has been doing well to curb the menace, but the support and availability of the drugs continue to ruin hundreds of lives across Jammu and Kashmir.
Several events and camps were organized to create awareness among the youth about the ramifications of the drug menace, but besides the drug availability in J&K, the neighboring country too has been adding to the miseries by transporting drugs in huge amount illegally, which not only ruin the lives of youth, but also affect the future of country as well.
Power of mother’s call to bring back their sons from violence
As several youth took up arms, many among them were saved and were given a chance to live a happy life with their families.
The distressed call from their mothers helped in bringing back many youth from militancy, who are presently living a happy life and have become earning hands for their respective families.
The mothers were seen wailing on social media platforms, appealing to their sons to return home, which were heard by many militants, who dropped the guns and surrendered before the forces.
These youth too have been helped in earning their livelihood through different programmes by the government.
The events that have taken place since decades, have never helped a youth to think about innovations and creating an atmosphere of job providers instead of job seekers.
After the government intensified its support in Jammu and Kashmir, the youth came up with innovations, which were accomplished at various platforms. Some of the youth came up with innovations or showed their skill and brought laurels to the Union Territory.
In one such instance, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, hailing from Rajpora village in Southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district has achieved a great milestone and became a national level entrepreneur.
Ayoub Dar completed his matriculation (10th) from Government Boys Higher Secondary School hawal and despite hindrances Joined College but lack of finance, he left college and started searching Job to meet his family livelihoods.
During these days Dar took a part-time job and worked as an agent in LIC to make both ends of his family meet. He also worked as a reporter for a local daily English newspaper for three years where he earned a good salary. After that he reconsidered his decision and joined College again after completing his graduation.
In 2009 Govt. launched “Pachhar Satellite Fruit Mandi” in Dar’s Vicinity, he decided to visit and find an opportunity but there was only an opportunity to work as a Labour and he sacrificed everything and accepted work as labor. He worked for 3 Years there due his efficiency gaining knowledge in the Fruit Business which invoked his interest and he decided to start his own Fruit Business was successful in it, although it was on a small scale but he worked with full zeal and zest in it to make it a success. At present, Dar is Owner of Fruit Company namely Dar Fruit Company (DFC) which was launched in 2015. Currently his company provides jobs to more than 20 people.
Similarly, there are several youth, who have shined at different platforms.
The youth in Jammu and Kashmir are not behind the youth of other States or Union Territories as the youth here have showcased their talent not only at national level, but international level too.
Recently, Indian Para-Athlete Chandeep Singh created history by claiming a silver medal in Men’s plus 80 kg event at the 9th Para World Taekwondo Championships held at Istanbul, Turkey from 9th to 12th December 2021. The player did extremely well but lost in a close contest to a Russian opponent.
Chandeep Singh became the first Para Athlete from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to achieve such a feat at the World level. This also is India’s first-ever medal in the history of the Para World Taekwondo Championships.
The youth have shined on multiple platforms. Some have shined in sports, some in music while some in other platforms.
The talented youth of J&K have also come forward and participated in modeling events in the Union Territory. Aspiring to make their entry in Bollywood or music industry, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are working hard to achieve the target. Some of the names have become famous in the Union Territory for their talent. Singers from Kashmir mostly, have started journey towards Bollywood as they have recorded songs not only in Kashmiri language, but in other languages like Hindi and Punjabi too.
The youth have shown inclination towards music, Bollywood and adventure sports as well.
Moreover, the government as well as the Army organized several skill development programmes in the recent past, thus helping the youth to find means to earn their livelihood.
These training especially related to skill development have created job opportunities among the youth also, who have started earning their livelihood and are living a happy life.
(The writer is executive editor Lake City Times and can be reached at [email protected])