GANDERBAL, KASHMIR: With a flowing beard that speaks of humility and a passion for baking, Aamir Nazir, 29, presents a unique blend of ambition and disappointment. A graduate engineer from Kashmir University in 2020, Aamir now makes his living selling tea and pastries on the busy highway near the Ganderbal garage, a route frequented by both locals and tourists heading to Sonmarg. Reflecting on his situation, Aamir notes, “At least I’m doing something, but even the top students of my batch are still without jobs.” Like many others, Aamir remains vocal about the significance of Article 370.
The removal of Article 370, which provided special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir, remains a deeply emotional issue, especially as the region gears up for the 2024 assembly elections. For Aamir and many of his peers, it’s more than a political matter—it’s tied to their livelihoods. “Article 370 reserved jobs and land for us. It’s crucial for people my age,” he argues.
Across Kashmir, from Anantnag to Srinagar to Ganderbal, there’s growing frustration among young people about the job market. While Aamir feels unable to compete with engineering graduates from larger cities like Delhi, he believes the competition is now tougher with many job seekers relocating to Jammu for employment. The anger over the loss of Article 370 intertwines with this sense of economic insecurity, fueling a strong turnout at the polls.
While the legal status of Article 370 seems unlikely to change, Aamir and others in Kashmir point out that many Indian states, including Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, still have job and land protections. For Kashmiris, this loss of protection hits close to home. Beyond the cultural and social implications of Article 370’s removal, there’s a widespread hope that a new government will bring practical solutions, particularly for the unemployed youth.
As discussions about the future of the region’s political leadership continue, people like Mohammad Sultan, a transport union leader in Ganderbal, highlight the dire situation: “Jobs are scarce, prices are high, and life is tough.” The absence of an elected government for over six years has left many feeling disconnected from decision-making processes. Residents of villages and towns across Kashmir are eager to elect representatives they can turn to for help with issues like employment, infrastructure, and education.
The anticipation surrounding the October 8 elections is palpable. Sultan and others, like Abdul Qadar and Mohammad Yaseen, echo the sentiment that this election offers hope, however slim, for real change. “We want our own government and MLAs,” Sultan explains. This desire for accessible leadership and accountability resonates across the region, from Bijbehara to Srinagar. High voter turnout in Kashmir reflects this yearning for elected representatives who can listen to grievances and act on them.
Aamir himself has faced the struggles that come with unemployment. After working as a delivery driver for a year and a half, he saved Rs 60,000 to start his small roadside shop. Despite his efforts to find a stable career—he attempted the panchayat assistant exam, which was marred by allegations of a paper leak, and the engineer’s post in 2023, which he didn’t pass—he remains determined to carve out a path for himself.
Whether Aamir’s story is one of pride in his resilience or frustration with his circumstances, it’s clear that he, like many in Kashmir, is navigating a complex and uncertain future, all while holding on to a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow.
