Kashmir's Culture of Excess

How modern consumerism is hollowing out our values, traditions, and peace of mind.

- Mirza Arshad Hussain

Once, life was slow. Not because the world lacked speed, but because our desires had limits.

A Maruti 800 meant you'd arrived. A Nokia phone lasted forever, and no one questioned its wisdom. There was time for conversation, not just connection. There was contentment in enough.

Now, the world spins faster than we can breathe. We chase more. More things, more upgrades, more identity.

A new gadget doesn't just promise efficiency; it sells the illusion of self-worth. A school isn’t just for learning anymore; it’s a branding platform. Clothes aren't worn, they're broadcast. Meals aren't served, they're staged.

“You want the best for your child,” says a parent outside a Srinagar coaching centre, “so you give them everything.”

Her son wears a designer jacket, carries two phones, and dreads math class. “I just want him to feel confident,” she adds.

But it’s not confidence. It’s camouflage. What used to be about education is now about image. Coaching centres, once academic lifelines, are now lifestyle hubs.

At weddings, the change is even louder.

The bride arrives not to a prayer, but to a drone shot. Her entrance is rehearsed. Her lehenga weighs as much as a suitcase. The groom waits on a throne-like stage, under lights bright enough for a film set.

“We wanted it to feel cinematic,” says a cousin, adjusting her makeup in the reflection of a chocolate fountain. Every moment is curated for the camera. Every plate groans under excess.