We have developed a strange obsession in Kashmir: we desperately want people to believe that we are important, wealthy and powerful. Look at our roads. A VIP convoy arrives, sirens blare, pilot vehicles push ordinary commuters aside. Look at our homes. Bigger cars, bigger houses and expensive furniture have become measures of social status. And look at our weddings. What should be a simple celebration of two people coming together has become an exhibition of money, status and social standing. 

The question is simple: Why are we so desperate to show that we are something? We keep asking: “Log kya kahenge?” — what will people say? Those four words are powerful enough to make families spend money they do not have, borrow money they cannot easily repay and compete with people whose financial circumstances they may not even understand. 

From VIP Sirens to Luxury SUVs Look at what happens when a VIP convoy moves through Srinagar. Traffic stops. Sirens blare. Ordinary commuters are pushed aside. There may be legitimate security reasons for particular movements. But the larger spectacle tells us something about our relationship with status. It creates the impression that some people are more important than others. 

We do not need to copy London or Scandinavian countries. But we can learn something from the way public office is sometimes treated there. In London, mayors have been seen cycling or using public transport rather than moving around simply to demonstrate their importance. In Scandinavian countries too, senior politicians are often seen using ordinary public spaces and public transport. We should ask ourselves: Why do we feel the need to display power so loudly? Public office should make a person more conscious of responsibility towards ordinary people—not more distant from them. 

And this mentality does not remain inside government offices. It enters our personal lives. If the powerful demonstrate importance........

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