Dr Raj Nehru
Colonial powers often enforced name changes for enslaved individuals, aiming to sever ties with their cultural and familial roots. This tactic sought to break connections with their heritage, making it challenging for them to maintain a sense of identity and unity. In the context of the transatlantic slave trade, enslaved individuals often had their African names replaced with European ones. For instance, Kunta Kinte, as depicted in Alex Haley’s “Roots,” had his original name changed upon arrival in America to Tobby. Similarly, in the Caribbean, many enslaved individuals underwent name changes, making it difficult for them to preserve their cultural identities. This practice by colonials was a way to diminish and erase the local cultures and identities that will eventually weaken the cultural bonds that tied the communities together. Altering names was also one way to symbolize a break from indigenous traditions and a conversion to new religion consequently leading to their existential and identity crisis.
Kashmir for millennials has been considered as a cradle of larger civilization and known for its rich cultural heritage. The region suffered badly, in last millennium, at the hands of aliens and infiltrators who were successful in disturbing, destroying, and distorting the cultural fabric of this society, resulting into existential challenges. In the recent past the radicalisation has further cemented certain beliefs and many pseudo intellectuals have started making Kashmiris to believe that the world around them is irrational and hostile and survival is possible only through resistance and separation. People crossed the borders and then rest is the history. The history of devastation that has made every Kashmiri to suffer be it killing of saner voices, minorities, their forced exodus, or suppression that further disturbed the rationality and diversity of thoughts thereby not only weakening the society but destroying the awareness and sensitivity towards their real identity and culture.
Perhaps when individuals and societies disconnect from their past culture and heritage, the impact can be profound, influencing their future in several ways. A disconnected society runs the risk of loss of their profound identity. In Kashmir, this disconnection is so widespread that Kashmiris do not even know that the surnames they use today are the ones inherited from their ancestors that have a profound meaning in it. The surname ‘Bhat’ has become ‘Butt’. This word Bhat is derived from the word Bhatta which originates from Sanskrit meaning “scholar or learned”. While the meaning can’t be changed its understanding and its profound origin is lost. Similarly ‘Dhar’ has become ‘Dar’ and many other similar surnames that have deeper meaning and connection with ancient lineages are used with distorted understanding or no understanding e.g Mantu, Ganai, Mattoo, Pandit, Yatoo, Munshi , Wani, etc. All these surnames have a great connection to their glorious past. Take the case of places in Kashmir. Srinagar in Sanskrit means “Shrinagara” (literally meaning ‘the city of prosperity), Baramulla in Sanskrit means “Varahamula” (the place of Varaha incarnation), Pampore in Sanskrit means “Padmapura” (the town of the lotus), Anantnag in Sanskrit means “Anantanaga” (the spring of Ananta the snake) and many such places that have their names having a deep-rooted connect with the ancient civilization be it Sopore, Gulmarg, Harmukh, Rajouri, Kulgan, Bandipora , Bijbehara, Ganderbal and Avantipora etc.
Unfortunately, people have stopped or forgotten to identify themselves with their historical connections.
In fact, I have also noticed people in Kashmir adopting Arabic names without realising that by merely adopting Arabic names does not necessarily make them Arabic. Arab identity is more geographical, linguistic, and cultural and they do not recognise and accept any outsiders. This dichotomy in social attitude breeds a kind of cultural duality where one will find hanging between two worlds. A world that is inside, that is real and has deep roots and the other one that is outside, that is forced. This inherent, sometimes unaware, conflict between conscious and subconscious leads to a kind of unconscious bipolarity and an identity struggle. While the subconscious wants to be authentic, the conscious action imposes unauthentic world over it impacting the overall personality of an individual.
This lack of identity or identity crisis can further lead to a sense of confusion and alienation among the population. The disconnection with their own cultural heritage and loss of historical connectivity can potentially hinder the understanding of societal evolution therefore making it challenging to learn from the past and navigate future challenges. The culture and heritage serve a glue to bind the society and community together and any distortion or disconnection can weaken the social cohesion leading to varied conflicts. Societies and cultures who are rooted in their civilizational values, irrespective of what faith they follow stay progressive and innovative and can sustain their societal development and for those who disconnect themselves face the consequences in the form of degradation in societal moral, ethical value that has far reaching impact on their collective behaviour and governance.
Perhaps Kashmir and Kashmiris are not alone in this crisis. If we look around the world and examine some civilizations, countries, societies, and cultures many great civilizations, countries like Cambodia, Iraq, Sind, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria and Tibet and many more have suffered through this crisis of cultural disintegration. In Cambodia, The Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s attempted to eradicate cultural heritage, resulting in the destruction of historical monuments, artifacts, and the loss of traditional practices. This led to a profound cultural vacuum and a disconnect with Cambodia’s rich history, impacting the societal fabric. The ancient Mesopotamian civilization, considered one of the earliest cradles of human civilization, faced significant damage during the Iraq War. The looting of the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad in 2003 resulted in the loss of important artifacts, impacting the preservation of their rich cultural legacy. The conflict in Afghanistan has led to the destruction of historical sites, including the Buddhas of Bamiyan. These colossal statues, dating back to the 6th century, were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, erasing a significant part of Afghanistan’s Buddhist heritage. The Syrian conflict has taken a toll on the country’s cultural heritage. Palmyra, an ancient city with well-preserved ruins, suffered damage from both intentional destruction by extremist groups and the impact of armed conflict, causing irreparable loss to Syria’s historical legacy. Tibet also encountered significant cultural challenges at the hands of Chinese that resulted in the destruction of numerous monasteries, temples, and religious artifacts, undermining Tibetan cultural and religious traditions
The forces behind such destruction have a clear agenda and that is to distort or destroy any evidence that may potentially lead to piecing together an ancient narrative and valuable information of one’s past, their ancestors, rich culture and heritage which can potentially create a sense of pride in who they were. This detachment with its core values, results into degeneration of thinking and takes away the individual’s wisdom to decide “what is good for him instead what actually is good.” While the autonomy to determine what is personally beneficial is crucial, the inherent subjectivity and distortion in one’s belief has created a layer of complexity. In some instances, personal perceptions and deeply held beliefs have led individuals to take decisions that are ultimately detrimental to entire society.
Looking back at Kashmir, there has been a consistent effort to keep the society unaware of its rich legacy of spiritual and philosophical contributions. Not many Kashmiris would be aware about the rich and deep scientific insights that their ancestors provided through their deep meditative powers and are documented in the Spandashastra, Pratibignya, Tantra, Trikha and many more. The ancient manuscripts and the documented history in the form of Neelmatpurana, Rajtarangini and Kathasaritasagar is not prevalent in the conscious awareness of the society. The thought provoking works of Somananda, Bilhan, Kalhan, Laleshwari , Vasugupt, Kumarjiva, Lalitaditya Abhinavgupt and many more, who stand as tall role models have been completely eradicated or distorted.
Kashmiri society is known for an inclusive culture that respects freedom of thought practices and beliefs. The sudden radicalization is a direct reflection of how much the society has been disconnected with their ancient culture and civilizational values of diversity, tolerance, and inclusiveness. This dissonance between the deeper cultural values of the society and the actions of its individuals has the potential risk to breed duplicity and manipulation. A civilization thrives on the mosaic of customs, languages, and historical legacies that define it. Detaching from these roots can result in a cultural vacuum, diminishing the unique contributions that each community brings to the collective social experience that is critical for existential needs. The dichotomy in thinking, actions and core values resulting from radicalization poses existential threats to individuals and society.
However, the immutable reality embedded in our nature, encoded in our DNA, remains impervious to such ideological alterations, and can be activated through a process of readiness to explore, acknowledge, and accept. A crucial antidote lies in the transformative journey towards self-awareness and social realization. This introspective process can act as a powerful counterforce, steering individuals away from the perilous path of radicalization. By fostering understanding, tolerance, and unity, this self-awareness becomes a shield against existential threats, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious existence for both individuals and society at large and will reduce tensions and mistrust between communities and save the society from existential crisis.
Given that Cultural transformation is a regenerative process. Once fault lines are recognised, the efforts for damage control and reversal are possible. I think the shared historical and cultural identity of the Kashmiri people emerges as a beacon of hope. The rich cultural heritage, traditions, languages, and a shared national history can serve as a unifying force, fostering resilience and a sense of community amongst Kashmiris. Drawing inspiration from the region’s historical resilience during various challenges, the Kashmiri people can find strength in their ability to endure. Lessons from the past can guide the way forward in overcoming current adversities. Revisiting traditional values, heritage can create a cathartic experience by allowing the connect with deeply buried generational emotions thereby bringing a sense of emotional healing.
Japan provides an example of a country that actively worked to reconnect with its cultural roots after a period of disconnection. Following World War II, Japan underwent a process of rebuilding and revitalization of its traditional arts, literature, and rituals. This cultural resurgence, known as the “Nihonjinron” movement, aimed to reaffirm and celebrate Japan’s unique cultural identity, hepled the nation regain a sense of continuity with its past.
Efforts to reconnect with cultural heritage are also evident in various Indigenous communities globally. Many have undertaken initiatives to preserve and revitalize their languages, customs, and traditional knowledge to counter the impacts of historical displacement that will mitigate their existential challenges
Embracing the historical fault lines that have damaged, diverted, and distorted the ancient culture in Kashmir, the people of Kashmir can summon the courage needed for sustainable progress and break free from their existential crisis. By acknowledging the challenges and fostering a spirit of unity with their ancient values, Kashmiris can pave the way for a brighter future.
Also recognizing the impact of geopolitical politics and its impact on our region’s cultural fabric and subsequently promoting open dialogue can be a step towards healing. Additionally, drawing inspiration from shared traditions and values can serve as a foundation for building a resilient and inclusive society.
In essence, confronting the complexities of the past can empower Kashmiris to forge a path towards progress, resilience, and a renewed sense of identity.
While the “Shit” has happened in Kashmir, the “Shuttle” is waiting to travel back and connect with our roots and have the melting pot of ideas bringing out our rich diversity that we were once known for and confront this existential crisis.
In the words of Victoria Schwab and Marigold Wellington “”Embrace the void and have the courage to exist. I don’t know who I am, and who I’m not, I don’t know who I’m supposed to be, and I miss who I was; ” “I live to enjoy life by the littlest things, feeling the grass between my toes, breathing fresh air, watching the wind sway the trees, enjoying the company of loved ones, a deep conversation, getting lost in a good book, going for a walk in nature, watching my kids grow up. Just the feeling itself of being alive, the absolute amazing fact that we are here right now, breathing, thinking, doing.””
(The author is Vice Chancellor, Shri Vishwakarma Skill University)
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