I don’t understand why the people of Kashmir, despite being the smartest, act like a herd of sheep. If one person starts doing something out of passion or compulsion, and others notice him earning well enough, then kaboom! Everybody starts jumping into the same field, even without any need or knowledge.

By Mahfooz Ahmad Bakshi

I don’t understand why the people of Kashmir, despite being the smartest, act like a herd of sheep. If one person starts doing something out of passion or compulsion, and others notice him earning well enough, then kaboom! Everybody starts jumping into the same field, even without any need or knowledge.

Earlier, I said Kashmiri people are the smartest, but that’s not what my heart wanted to say. We are, rather, the dumbest, maybe because we are so damn primitive. We do not let the new generation think outside the box, and we do not help them escape the matrix.

Someone from somewhere in Kashmir won this and that amount of money from gambling, online gambling, to be specific, and the media exaggerated and brought this news to the forefront. As you may have noticed, when a sheep strays a bit from the herd and smells something on the ground, the whole herd rushes toward it. Similarly, after hearing such news, from kids to adults, everyone started gambling. After that, the only things I began to hear from the media were stories of people losing this and that amount of money.

For instance, [according to the news sources] just a day ago a father of two children from south Kashmir lost the amount of 90 lakh rupees in just 5 months to online gambling! It’s jaw-dropping, he could have invested that money in any profitable business. There are videos of that person making rounds on social media, taking the internet by storm. In which he is seen crying. People are struggling to earn a rupee and that brat loses around a crore and he is trying to earn sympathy now! This is pathetic. Such losses not only impact individuals but also their families and communities, as in this case, with the man being a father of two children.

You see, our so-called influencers have no knowledge of the society they are living in. They promote such filthy and hazardous things! What can we expect from them?

Right now, the whole of Kashmir is covered with a white blanket. Snow has added to the beauty, and people from all around are flocking to the region to experience its winter wonderland. The famous Dal Lake, with its frozen surface, and the quaint wooden houseboats attract visitors. Right after the snowfall, everybody got busy clicking pictures, videos, and all that as part of their enjoyment—so did I. I even read the news that a couple from Punjab, I think, visited Kashmir for their pre-wedding shoot in the snowfall. It not only boosts the economy of the region but also offers important lessons that every Kashmiri needs to learn. But nobody cares about the lessons, as everybody is busy enjoying the snowfall. That’s why I said most of the Kashmiri people have a sheep mentality. Before I explain how, let me share what I’ve learned from the white gold.

Have you ever thought that snow, in its simplest form, is a paradox? It falls in silence and covers the world with a quiet stillness, yet it amplifies the emptiness it creates. Isn’t it both an element of serenity and harshness?

The snowfall taught me that things that once seemed pure, calm, gentle, or whole are inevitably eroded by time, just as things that once seemed cruel, harsh, or catastrophic are softened by it.

Anyway, whether snow is beautiful or harsh, it is destined to melt. This is enough to keep my feet on the ground. Being humble is the key.

So, while everyone is busy clicking pictures and enjoying the snow, did anyone think about those who lack the basic necessities like shelter, food, and clothing? We let outsiders stay inside mosques. We serve them well, and that’s good. I’m not against that, but I have seen some local families who do not even have enough to eat, and nobody is talking about them. Letting outsiders stay in the mosques is what everybody is posting about on social media. It has become a debatable topic. It’s trending, but alas, our financially unstable people are being kept hidden, suffering and dying during these 40 harsh winter days. Before showing hospitality to tourists, show some kindness to your neighbors! It isn’t fair that you spend thousands to serve outsiders—people who dance with bottles of alcohol in their hands on this pure land—and act stingy towards your next-door neighbors. Don’t be hypocrites.

I’m not against anyone. I just want everybody to be treated the same. Everyone should be able to enjoy the winter.

My column titled “Disadvantages of Being a Kashmiri” received a positive response from people. I got emails from people around the world, thanking and appreciating me for being honest. However, I feel ashamed. I should have written about the best things in Kashmir, but I’m compelled by the situation to write about the harsh realities. Unfortunately, this is the truth.

Anyway, what are the content creators from Kashmir doing? Showing off their brand-new vehicles. Isn’t it their responsibility to bring something fruitful to the table but instead a guy started filming himself while eating, and guess what? Everybody started doing the same. I mean, no one here wants to think differently, no one here wants to be original. I will be ruthlessly criticized after the publication of this column because nobody here wants to learn either. If you try to teach, they are ready to pull your leg and criticize. Kashmiri people are really good at criticizing, too. Isn’t this a sheep mentality?

The sheep mentality refers to a mindset where individuals blindly follow the actions, opinions, or behaviors of a group or authority without critical thinking, independent judgment, or questioning. It implies a lack of personal agency or the tendency to conform to societal norms or popular trends simply because others are doing the same, much like how sheep follow each other without thinking for themselves.

Instead of following the latest trends, engage in independent thought. Be willing to challenge the status quo when necessary. Develop critical thinking and seek evidence. Have the guts to question everything. You don’t have to do something just because everybody else is doing it. Always avoid peer pressure. And for God’s sake, never ever look for shortcuts—success has no shortcuts. You should be your own influencer rather than listening to morons! You must introspect and follow your passion. Do what makes you happy, and never do what makes your family unstable, whether financially or mentally.