One evening, as I hurried through the house juggling unfinished tasks and unanswered notifications, my grandmother looked up and asked gently, “Kya hua ? Why are you always in such a hurry?”

I brushed the question aside. She smiled  not dismissively, but knowingly.

“When you return,” she said, “I will tell you about our time. About the Kashmir we knew. You children are always rushing… life was not always like this.”

What followed was not merely a story, but a portrait of a Kashmir that lived differently – slower, simpler, and deeply connected.

There was a time when joint families were the foundation of society. Twenty to twenty-five members lived together under one roof. The head of the family held authority, but the household functioned with discipline and mutual respect. Responsibilities were clearly defined, and disputes were rare. Every individual had a role; every role had dignity.

Mornings began before sunrise. Waking late was unthinkable, and everyone’s presence was expected. The day opened with a simple breakfast: a steaming cup of noon chai accompanied by homemade sattu and fresh chapatis layered with butter and ghee prepared at home.

Even before breakfast, men tended to the livestock, while women........

© Greater Kashmir