By Mohammad Arfat Wani

Kashmir is changing. New buildings are coming up, young people are pursuing higher education, and technology has changed how we live. 

These changes are natural. People want better opportunities and a different future. But as we move ahead, we should also pay attention to what we are leaving behind.

Much of Kashmir’s heritage lives in the language spoken at home, the stories told by grandparents, the books written by local poets and the skills of artisans who have spent years perfecting their craft. 

We may take these things for granted today, but future generations may know them only through photographs and old accounts.

Our elders have a great deal to tell us about the Kashmir they grew up in. They remember what people ate, how families spent their time, how festivals and weddings were celebrated and how communities lived. 

These stories give us a glimpse of a past we never experienced. We should make time to listen, ask questions and learn from their memories while they are still here to share them.

Language is a good place to begin. 

Many families still speak Kashmiri at home, but some young people feel more comfortable using English or Urdu. There is nothing wrong with learning other languages. They help us in education and work. But our mother tongue also needs attention.

We should feel comfortable speaking........

© Kashmir Observer