The Heart Behind Healing Hands in Kashmir

From football fields to home visits, one man's mission is to make physiotherapy accessible to everyone in Kashmir.

- Gowher Bhat

The clinic sits on a narrow lane in Srinagar's Bagh-e-Mehtab area, framed by walls that have seen decades of discord and daily life intertwine.

Inside, the air smells faintly of antiseptic, mingling with the hum of an exercise band stretching across a mat.

A boy limps in, clutching his ankle. Nearby, a labourer leans against a walker, unsure if he will leave upright. In the corner, Dr. Sameer Mushtaq kneels beside a patient, hands steady, eyes attentive. He adjusts a joint, coaches a movement, and reassures a frightened child.

Outside, Srinagar moves in its usual bustle. Shopkeepers call greetings, while the distant azaan drift over rooftops. But inside, time slows.

Pain is measured, movement is restored, confidence is rebuilt, and with it, hope.

Amir, a fourteen-year-old footballer, is one of the many whose lives have intersected with Dr. Sameer's hands. He arrived at the clinic after twisting his ankle during practice. His mother remembers the apprehension in his eyes, the fear that his season was over.

Weeks later, he ran across the field again, pain gone, confidence intact. "He helped me walk, then play," Amir says. "I'll never forget it."

Dr. Sameer's story begins far from Srinagar. He grew up in the city, witnessing people battle injury and illness with limited access to specialized care. These early observations stayed with him.