All of us owe a lot to our ancestors who were true guardians of cultural heritage. As Kashmiris, we can’t simply pay back to our elders who played a vital role in preserving and passing on to us our rich cultural heritage, traditions, customs, values and rituals from times immemorial that define ours society. Had those unsung heroes of our Valley not preserved artefacts for us, today our identity would have been something else. Even today, their rich contribution acts as a living bridge between past and presents–reminding us about the very significance of preserving our roots amidst the relentless tide of modernity. But how sad! In present era, we are so lost in the modern temptations that we seem to resemble least with them in any manner. As custodians of culture, history, language, and art, etc. what they had left behind to be preserved; we have neglected everything. It’s our mere fantasy and nothing else, if we are waiting for some foreigner to wake us up. We have to do it all by ourselves. Otherwise, they day is not far away when we won’t find any artefacts of our heritage in Kashmir except in museums.

Kashmir’s elders embody the essence of cultural preservation. Their role extends beyond wearing Kasaba and Karakuli. We speak Kashmiri, it’s because they safeguarded the........

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