Elderly Oversight Vanishing in Kashmir

As Kashmir's elders fade into silence, the Valley risks losing its moral compass, cultural memory, and guiding wisdom

- Dr. Ashraf Zainabi

Once, every mohalla and village in Kashmir had its respected elders - the babs, kaks, tooths and sobs - who commanded influence, honesty, and authority.

Figures like Hassan Bab, Rahim Sob, or Assadullah Kak were not only known for their wisdom but also served as community judges, counsellors, and moral guides.

Today, that generation is fast disappearing. The grandfathers born before 1950 men who witnessed wars, transitions, and the evolution of Kashmiri society are leaving behind not just mourning families, but a Valley poorer in guidance, tradition, and moral authority.

In their later years, many chose silence perhaps out of fatigue or the realisation that their advice no longer held weight. Their passing has created a void that younger elders, shaped by different times and values, have struggled to fill.

The new generation, now in their fifties and sixties, grew up amid political turmoil, social fragmentation, and material struggles. Few possess the patience or influence to act as moral anchors, as their predecessors once did. The result is a visible social drift families more divided, disputes unresolved, and communities less cohesive.