From Turmoil to Transformation? Rethinking the 1990 Kashmir Crisis

 

The crisis that unfolded in Kashmir during the 1990s left behind wounds that remain unspoken. Entire communities were uprooted families torn apart, homes abandoned, peace shattered, and hunger became a tragic part of daily life. For those who managed to flee, memories of the valley still carry the warmth of a life that once felt complete. Even after 30 years of separation from their homeland, hope lingers: hope that one day the Kashmiri diasporic community might return to the place they once called home. But the question remains-can that truly happen today? The answer is complicated. Time has reshaped people, their lives, and their priorities. Many who built their futures far from their roots may no longer feel the pull to return. For some, Kashmir is no longer the thriving, laughter-filled place they remember. My uncle, who spent almost 30 years of his life in the valley before being posted to Jammu, returned years later only to find a place that felt unfamiliar-almost foreign. The bustling city markets, the joyful chatter of tourists, the familiar crowds-all replaced by a silence and a strangeness that reminded. him of that night of terror. When I asked my uncle and other family members if they would ever consider moving back, their answer was firm-no. It was surprising, even jarring, especially for someone like me who always imagined people yearning to return to their roots. But their reasoning made sense. Life outside Kashmir had reshaped them in ways they never expected. My father, who left even before the 90s violence unfolded, saw parts of India he never would have otherwise Old Delhi in the 90s, Bhopal in his early work years, and countless cities as he built a life for us across Delhi and NCR. While we grew up away from the valley. Our parents made sure 34 we understood our roots-teaching us the importance of family, tradition, and identity. Over the years, I often heard my family say that the '90s migration was, in a strange way. a blessing in disguise. It pushed them into a new world, beyond the predictable rhythms of life in the valley. They explored a new India diverse, dynamic, and full of opportunity. They grew in ways they never imagined, embracing traditions far beyond their own-Christmas Durga Puja, Garba, and many others-becoming part of a cultural mosaic they wouldn't have experienced back home. Interpretations of this journey may differ. but many from the community now agree on one thing: the life they have built today feels more secure, more prosperous, and more connected to a larger world. The idea of returning to the valley remains hazy, even distant. Recent cultural obsessions-like Netflix's Baramulla-bring these emotions back to the surface. The haunting portrayal of a family defending their home and children mirrors wha countless Kashmiri families lived through: holding their ground, protecting what they could, and losing so much in the process. Today, the community continues to protect its roots-not through land. but through memory, culture, and generationa legacy. They preserve their identity across India and the world, passing it down with pride. The valley will always be missed-its beauty, its serenity, its essence. But the life Kashmiris have built elsewhere, strengthened by resilience, opportunity, and cultural openness is perhaps better than what they might have had if they had stayed. The longing for home remains, but so does the acceptance that home, for many, has changed-and so have they.

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Courtesy: Vidushi Miya and Koshur Samachar-2025,December