The celebrations that started in the evening of 31st December 2023 and went beyond the midnight at the Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk to welcome the New Year 2024 signified the mood of the people on the streets. It has sent many messages. After a prolonged lull of decades there is a will in the people to live lives full of happiness and prosperity. Dancing to the Bollywood tunes the youth are making a statement that Kashmir wants the best and its youth are not behind their compatriots in the rest of India. In the bone chilling and freezing night temperature that dips to minus the youth want a change. Change from regression to progression. More than three decades of conflict and bloodshed has fatigued the people. Today’s youth in Kashmir are well sensitized about the contemporary global trends. They demand upholding the best of human values. Kashmir was the destination that was not only sought in summers to escape the hot and humid climate of the Indian plains but invited the gaze of the people who wanted to walk on the boulevards covered by snow. This place consciousness and aesthetics was well captured by the yesteryears Bollywood film makers. No movie was complete without frame of Kashmir in its songs. Winters have always been source of trouble to common Kashmiris. As it demanded the sustenance amid the frozen water bodies and almost nonexistent electric supply besides the dearth of the day to day goods. Be it ration, fuel or vegetables. Inspite of this Kashmiris developed their life amid odds and devised novel ways to keep life going with joy. It included the innovation of dried vegetables (Hokh Syun) for winters when green leafy vegetables are unavailable. This spirit of devising own ways amid adversity has been the hallmark of Kashmiris to defeat sorrows. It would have been beyond dreams to anticipate that the youth will dance and sing in the Lal Chowk on cold winter nights. But time has mysteries hidden in its bosom. The black days of insurgency and bloodshed were indeed traumatic for Kashmiris. The youth of Kashmir have given the message of way forward from Lal Chowk that Kashmir wants to emerge as the cosmopolitan centre of India. Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk has been witness to political and social tensions that affected the entire Kashmir. Celebrations on the eve of New Year will mark a new beginning and hope for all who want Kashmir to reign the hearts of people all over India. Kashmir is bouncing back to street life though slowly. People who have strolled on the streets of Lal Chowk in 1980’s witnessing the hustle and bustle of its Sunday Market and the trade of its adjoining markets flaunting brands of all hues will be rejoicing. As it would have brought back the memories of their youth and childhood that was full of energy and satisfaction. Kashmiris of all hues want Lal Chowk to emerge as the centre of Kashmir’s peace loving and progressive culture, free from intrigues that brought bloodshed and pain to the natives. Fingers must be kept crossed as evil eyes have always cast glances of loot and plunder on the sensitive and beautiful people of the valley. The policy makers at the Centre and also at the Jammu and Kashmir UT level must harness this energy of youth that was seen in full bloom on the New Year eve at Lal Chowk to devise policies and strategies to involve youth in the nation building by joining hands with them to create a Kashmir that was known for intellect, scholarship, innovation, love for arts and crafts and above all simplicity of life. Let us hope that the New Year reinforces and establishes the Kashmir Valley once again as the Paradise on Earth. The message from Lal Chowk is that let us restore Kashmir as Paradise once again.
