A Chain of Kindness That Silenced Negativity And Revived Kashmiriyat

✒️:. Ikkz Ikbal

There are weeks that pass like any other, and then there are weeks that remind us who we truly are. This past week in Jammu & Kashmir was not merely a series of events—it was an emotional reawakening, a collective sigh of relief, a moment when humanity rose above every constructed wall and claimed its rightful place at the centre of our identity.

It all began when Kuldeep Sharma, a resident of Jammu, stepped forward after journalist Arfaz Ahmad Daing’s house was demolished by authorities. The demolition triggered debates, anger, and despair, but amidst that noise emerged a gesture so simple and yet so powerful that it instantly cut through the negativity: Kuldeep gifted 5 marlas of land to Arfaz’s family, without expectation, without condition, without calculation.

In a place where fault lines of region, religion, and politics are often amplified for convenience, this act stood as a reminder that people are far bigger than the narratives imposed upon them. It reminded us that compassion is still alive, beating quietly beneath the dust of suspicion.

What followed was even more remarkable. A businessman from Pampore—who chose to remain anonymous—came forward to gift one kanal of land to Kuldeep, a gesture of gratitude, a tribute to courage, and a reaffirmation of shared humanity. Suddenly, what started as a single act of kindness became a ripple that began touching hearts across the Valley and the Jammu plains alike.

Soon after, more voices joined the chorus. More citizens expressed readiness to help, support, or give in whichever way they could. Whether or not every circulating claim is formally documented is not the point; what matters is that the thought of giving re-entered the bloodstream of society. People began discussing hope again. They began sharing stories of unity again. They began imagining the possibility of a Kashmir where brotherhood is not nostalgia but lived reality.

The moment captured our imagination so deeply because it reminded us of something we almost forgot we had: our soul.

Kirkup said it beautifully:

“Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.”

Hatred is never an arrow; it is a boomerang. When we aim it at someone else, it circles back and pierces us first. Kashmir has witnessed too many cycles of suspicion and wound. But this past week broke that cycle, even if for a moment, and allowed us to breathe.

Centuries before Kirkup, our own Nund Resh captured the same truth with the gentleness of a sage:

“Mye chhui saariy navi taeth navi.”
All human beings are one family; all differences are illusions.

And that is exactly what this chain of compassion proved. It wasn’t a Hindu helping a Muslim. Or a Kashmiri returning the favour to a Jammuite. It was simply a human responding to another human.

This week was not about land. It was about reclaiming space in our hearts.

For decades, we have lived through phases where hope felt like a luxury, where headlines were soaked in tragedy, where the younger generation often wondered: Is compassion even a possibility anymore? But this week, Jammu & Kashmir answered with a resounding yes.

These gestures showed that the essence of Kashmiriyat—the cultural, ethical, and spiritual identity rooted in coexistence—is not dead. It may have been bruised, forgotten, overshadowed, but it is still there, waiting to be revived. And revival begins with exactly such small yet seismic gestures.

This is the first real step towards reviving the social fabric we once cherished. There was a time, not very long ago, when caste, creed, or faith did not divide us. People lived like extended families; neighbours looked after each other before tending to their own households. Festivals were shared, meals were exchanged, and grief was carried collectively.

These incredible acts of the past few days have rekindled those memories. They have brought a new ray of hope, reminding us that despite the overwhelming negativity around us, humanity still finds its way through the cracks.

It is easy to divide. It takes courage to unite.
And this week, Jammu & Kashmir chose courage.

Leaders, thinkers, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens responded with admiration and emotion. Social media buzzed—not with anger, but with gratitude. For once, we weren’t debating who was wrong; we were celebrating those who were right.

And that shift—subtle but profound—is how societies heal.

I sincerely hope that such acts continue. That this spark does not die. That we return to the golden days when our identity was shaped by harmony, not hostility. Days when our culture was an invitation to the world, not a caution. Days when we trusted easily, helped instinctively, and lived collectively.

Jammu & Kashmir has set an example again—one that the entire country, and perhaps the whole world, needs to witness. In an age of noise, it delivered a message of silence. In a time of division, it offered unity. In a season of pain, it gifted hope.

May we hold on to this moment.
May we nurture it.
And may we never forget that the land of Reshi-s and saints still knows how to love.

Ikkz Ikbal has a PG in Biotechnology and is Principal at Maryam Memorial Institute Pandithpora Qaziabad. He X’s at IkkzIkbal and can be reached at ikkzikbal@gmail.com.