Kashmiri youth shows way forward, becomes an inspiration for others

Fazil Qureshi

Delhi, June 18: For over three decades, much talk about the rise in the number of youth in Kashmir has been seen. But the contours of a youth in taking innovative and peace initiatives or the presence of youth leaders hadn’t emerged.

In recent months, however, these facts appear to be changing. To take one instance, Tariq Bhat has emerged as a youth leader. Bhat, of course, was relatively unknown even in Srinagar until he took charge of the positive narrative of Kashmir.

Earlier, he launched mobile radio android app to spread the love and communal harmony in Kashmir. in 2016, when the entire Kashmir was burning after the killing of Hizb leader Burhan Wani, Bhat was busy in making mobile android television which later became one of the most watched and favorite news channel in Kashmir.

 Bhat lost his father when he was class 12 student. still, he took the responsibility of family being the only male member in family after demise of his father. he continued his studies and also started part time job in local cable Tv channels as news caster. He became one of the leading and, trusted and integrated commentator, debater and news caster in Kashmir within shortest span of time. Within first year of his career in media, he was elevated as executive editor in one of the local channels.

Bhat later resigned from the post, citing reasons that “local cable Tv channels were promoting a particular section of people and “not doing good service to nation.”

His efforts for launching android mobile radio and Tv were lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat.

Bhat is also a chairman of trust—- South Asia Peace Movement, having more than ten thousand members, mostly Kashmiri youth.

Under the banner of South Asia peace Movement, Bhat engages youth from various districts in interactions, debates, seminars and also organizes various felicitation events to encourage youth who have outstanding performance in their respective fields.

His efforts are being lauded by locals and people from across their globe.

Despite having limited resources, Bhat is also providing employment to needy and educated youth of Kashmir.

Social networking users hail his efforts, Krishna Murthy a social Facebook user writes: “This man (Bhat) should be given financial aid to generate job opps in the valley, the Farooq and Omar(s) VVIP sec shd be taken off instead. (why waste tax payer money on separatists?) (sic).”

Another user DrVenkateswara Rao Korasiga from Hyderabad writes, “At least one sensible Kashmiri so far I have seen.”

Similarly, Himanshu Bansal from Yamunanagar, writes, “This guy seems to talk some sense. He is stopping the youth from getting radicalized in the name of Islam. The path on which some youth has started will only take them to their destruction.”

More and more youth are joining him in his efforts as he is always there to use his good offices to redress the grievances of common  people, especially Kashmiri youth.

“I am disappointed that state government is never serious to help those who want to work. In fact, they discourage youth like me in various ways. I have pinned hope on government of India and let me see what my hopes would turn into,” Bhat told Hindustan Age.

Professor Adil Ahmad at Kashmir University said that such youth need to be encouraged. “If we as a state fail to encourage youth like Bhat, we have no right to counsel those whom we want be get inspired by Bhat,” he added.