In my younger days, the Mohalla of a given urban agglomeration in Srinagar city and its environs was the microcosm of Kashmir.

This was a region or even space where innocence, in relative terms, mutual bonds, affection, amity and brotherhood was normative. These normative themes cut across social boundaries, classes and even sects.

A given Kashmiri was not a Shia, a Sunni, a waatul, a shaykh, or a wealthy person. He or she was from either Zaene Kadal, Aeil Kadal, Bohir Kadal, Maisum, Safa Kadal, Sheshgaeir Mohalla, Fateh Kadal and so on.

This was the operating socio-cultural dynamic of the famed City of Seven Bridges, as I recall it.

Yes, sniping at each other and the locality that one lived in was usual, but it was good-hearted in the nature of small banter.

All this was jealously guarded and prized. The khoja, wealthy merchant, of a given locality was its patron, feeder of orphans and caregiver to the needy, the indigent and widows.

The sweeper or street cleaner swept streets and cleaned these not merely out of a sense of duty but an obligation and responsibility that stemmed from within. The corner store owner, Kaak, as most were fondly called, were stingy shopkeepers, but kept an eye on a Mohalla’s children and youth.

Waywardness meant a sneaky puff of a cigarette by a young man or stealing a furtive, shy glance at a girl or a woman.

A Kashmiri wedding, then a spartan and minimalist affair, was an event to be savoured and celebrated by all. The nosh, bride, was not merely the daughter of a given family, but the daughter of the entire Mohalla.

So was the zaamtur, groom, the honoured and respected son-in-law.

Time was kept and organized by the Mohalla........

© Kashmir Observer