For Kashmir’s youth, English has become the language of ambition. Kashmiri, once the language of home, is now caught between pride, perception, and the pressure to “sound modern.”

For Kashmir’s Gen Z, language is no longer just about communication, it's more about identity, aspiration, and survival in a competitive world.
English dominates classrooms, job interviews, social media, and professional spaces, shaping how young people see success. In this race to move forward, Kashmiri, the Valley’s native language, is slowly being left behind.
Historically, Kashmiri carried the cultural and emotional life of the region. It was the language of
poetry, folklore, and everyday conversation. But over time, shifts in education, administration, and
global exposure changed its position. Today, while English is viewed as a necessity and Urdu as
functional, Kashmiri often exists on the margins spoken at home but rarely celebrated in public.
“The decline of the Kashmiri language begins at home,” said GM Mahir, a Kashmiri writer, the author of “Lafz Lafz Azab” and retired Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Baramulla.
“A stereotype is planted in a child’s mind very early that if they speak Kashmiri in school, they will be seen as ‘village people’ as less sophisticated. Language, unfortunately, has become a marker of class,” he said.
According to him, this mindset is reinforced by schools as well.
“I have repeatedly approached some of the most renowned private schools in Kashmir and asked them to introduce Kashmiri as a subject. The response is always the same. Schools say parents do not allow it. Parents fear that learning Kashmiri will affect their child’s credibility and that it will make them less competitive,” said Mahir,
According to Mahir, parents often justify this by citing academic pressure.
“They say children already have too much burden, so Kashmiri is unnecessary. But what they fail to recognise is that Kashmiri is not a burden it is our identity. The real problem is that parents themselves do not acknowledge the value of the language,” he said. “Kashmiri must be present in our homes, our schools, and in our everyday lives,” he added.
Many youngsters whom Brighter Kashmir talked pointed out that speaking Kashmiri in public spaces is often associated with a lack of sophistication while English signals intelligence, exposure and ambition.
In a digital first generation, perception matters, and language has become a social marker.
Gen Z’s ideology is shaped by global connectivity. They consume international content, follow global trends, and measure success through mobility and visibility. In such a landscape, English is seen as non-negotiable.
As one observer noted, without English, young people feel locked out of opportunities beyond the Valley.
However, decline of Kashmiri is not just about language choice, it reflects a deeper cultural insecurity. When a generation stops owning its language, it risks losing the confidence attached to its roots.
Experts argue that the issue is not the rise of English but the absence of balance. Modernity does not require the abandonment of one’s mother tongue; it requires the ability to move between worlds.
Some young voices are beginning to push back against this binary. Through music, poetry, online content, and casual digital usage, Kashmiri is reappearing in new forms less formal, more expressive, and adapted to contemporary life.
These efforts suggest that revival does not mean returning to the past, but reshaping the language. The question facing Kashmir today, is not whether English should be prioritised, it already is ! The real question is whether Kashmiri can be allowed to grow alongside it, without shame or apology. For a generation fluent in multiple worlds, preserving their language may not slow them down, it may finally help them stand firm.
Raahat, a young 17 year old Gen Z boy, “I never learnt Kashmiri because my parents didn’t speak it at home, and my school didn’t offer it. I grew up speaking English and Urdu”.
“This has put me into an identity crisis. The lack of exposure at home and in educational institutes contributes to the diminishing use of our language,” he said.
The decline of the Kashmiri language among Gen Z is a multifaceted issue. It reflects the complex interplay of class dynamics, cultural identity, and the aspirations of the community.
Preserving Kashmiri requires a collective effort, embracing both modernity and tradition.