Kashmir's Battle Within

An unspoken crisis of the mind is unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir, hidden behind taboos and unspoken fears.

- Er Navaid Runyal

Depression is often mistaken for sadness. People say it will pass, that it is just a phase, or that one should pray harder and push through.

Yet depression is far more than that. It reshapes how a person feels, thinks, and lives. It steals sleep, drains energy, dulls interest, and sometimes takes away even the will to go on.

This struggle is everywhere in Kashmir.

The valley known for its beauty effortlessly hides an inner storm. The young, who should be dreaming and building futures, are instead weighed down by fear, joblessness, and isolation. Talk to almost any student, and you will hear the same undertone: hope is slipping away.

Growing up here means growing up with uncertainty.

In 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, the region went through months of internet blackout. For students, it felt like their futures had been cut off. Those preparing for competitive exams suddenly found themselves directionless, left behind as the rest of the world moved ahead.