How Low Income Shapes Life In Kashmir

By Nusrat Hassan

I remember sitting in our living room, cardamom tea curling through the air, and watching my family speak in tones weighted with money, duty, and unspoken expectations.

My uncle, living outside and sending a steady income home, was welcomed with smiles and warmth that filled the room. My cousin, who stayed behind searching for work, leaned against the wall as if he were invisible. He spoke, and his words seemed to vanish into the air.

I watched them and felt the shift from valuing character to measuring people by money.

Kashmir carries contrasts deep in its bones. Uncertainty and loss have settled in our character. Young people drift from village to city, from hope to frustration, while families absorb the strain like old rugs fraying at the edges.

I grew up on stories of shared simplicity. Elders spoke of neighbours offering what little they had: a cup of flour, a handful of apples, and a hand to lean on. Fathers were judged by the integrity they carried home. Today, respect carries a price.

The son who leaves for a city job becomes a source of pride. The one who stays faces suspicion or silence.

I have watched friendships and family ties strain under this invisible weight. Weddings turn into contests of display rather than celebrations of union. Community gatherings hum with the unspoken question: How much do you have?

Cooperation turns to competition, while generosity becomes calculation. Conversations are scored by numbers rather than care.

Friends tell me they feel trapped, as if dignity depends on a bank balance.

This mindset sweeps through streets, schools, and homes. Young people belittle those who earn less, treating them as less than human. It leaves everyone diminished.

The Kashmir I remember was held together by struggle. Winters were harsh. Neighbours repaired each other's roofs, shared firewood, and pooled what little they had. Festivals were celebrated together, laughter louder than what anyone owned.

That spirit built resilience stronger than any currency. Respect opened doors, created trust, and helped communities grow together.

True wealth lives in dignity, recognizing humanity in every person, lifting someone without expectation and valuing presence over possessions.

When people measure each other this way, the community heals.

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