To ask what it means to be a Kashmiri is to face a reality that is both beautiful and uncomfortable. Kashmiris are known for their warmth, humility, and hospitality. People here welcome others with sincerity, speak with respect, and carry a quiet sense of dignity in their everyday lives. Love, care, and a strong sense of community have always been part of our identity.

As long as we are without power, we tend to be kind and understanding. We speak about justice, about helping others, about standing with the weak. Many of us grow up dreaming of doing good in society. A student who wants to become a doctor talks about treating poor patients with care. Someone preparing for a government job speaks about fairness and honesty. A future teacher dreams of guiding students with compassion. At that stage, our intentions feel genuine.
When the same person actually reaches that position, the thinking often shifts. The doctor who once spoke about service may begin to charge high fees. Access becomes limited and care becomes more about money than responsibility. The person who once criticized injustice may start justifying it. This change is not always sudden, but it happens often enough to notice.
And it is not limited to one profession. It is something we see across society. People who were once powerless and spoke with empathy sometimes lose that sensitivity when they gain authority.
Part of it may come from the systems we have inherited. In the past, authority was often used to control people rather than serve them. Even though times have changed, some of those attitudes still remain. Power is still seen by many as something to dominate with, not something to handle with responsibility.
There is also a human tendency to change with power. When people gain authority, they often become distant from the struggles they once understood. Slowly, they begin to justify actions they would have once opposed. What used to feel wrong starts to feel normal.
Another problem is the environment around us. Society often respects power without questioning how it is used. There are always people who support those in authority for their own benefit. They defend them, praise them, and help maintain the same system. Because of this, those in power rarely feel the need to reflect or change.
The result is a growing divide in society. It is not just about money, but also about values. Respect is no longer based only on character. It is often linked to position and influence. And in this process, something important is lost.
The first step is to reflect honestly. We need to ask ourselves whether our earlier intentions were real or just words. Do we change because power reveals our true nature, or because we allow ourselves to change? More importantly, can we choose to stay the same person we once promised to be?
Power does not have to corrupt a person. It can be used to help others and to stay connected with people. A doctor can still treat patients with care. An officer can still act fairly. A person in authority can remain grounded and remember that position is temporary, but actions leave a lasting impact.
As a society, we also need to speak up when power is misused. Writing, questioning, and raising concerns are necessary. At the same time, we must stop blindly admiring people just because they hold authority.
To be a Kashmiri is not just about being known for kindness and hospitality. It is also about staying true to those values even when we gain power.
In the end, what defines us is not how we behave when we have nothing, but how we act when we have everything.

Email:-------------------wotmaroof@gmail.com