Syed Nissar H Gilani
As I reminisce about my time as a guest speaker at the Revenue Training Institute in Bemina, Srinagar, I am often reminded of a specific photograph. In it, I am surrounded by a group of young, ambitious IAS officers with whom I shared my experiences on land revenue matters. Over a decade has passed since that day; I often wonder where those bright faces are now and hope they are thriving in their respective postings.
To our current generation of students, I say this: there is no substitute for taking your studies seriously. Carving out a niche for a successful career requires rigor. While it is a reality that not every brilliant mind will break into the elite services, there is immense dignity in the attempt. As the Persian proverb wisely reminds us: “Pyaye gada lung naist mull ki khodha tung naist”—the seeker is not handicapped, and God’s world is not limited to a few square yards. Persistence is the key that unlocks doors we cannot yet see.
However, we must confront a painful truth. In Kashmir, we have historically limited our dreams to just two streams: medicine and engineering. Parents often go to extreme lengths, both financial and emotional, to ensure their children become medicos or engineers. While these professions were once the gold standard, the landscape has shifted. Today, we face a “problem of plenty.”
Many medical and engineering graduates find themselves at a crossroads after years of grueling study, only to be met with a lack of job opportunities. This leads to a profound sense of disillusionment. When a young person’s best efforts result in unemployment, the transition from hope to depression is tragically short. This mental health crisis has, in many cases, manifested as an inclination toward drug abuse—a desperate attempt to escape the vacuum of an uncertain future.
The root of the problem often lies in our domestic culture: we let parents choose career paths instead of allowing individuals to explore their own passions. The government cannot employ every graduate, and political promises of unemployment schemes often turn out to be mere election gimmicks.
It is time for a change in mindset. We must look beyond white-collar aspirations and rediscover the value of domestic cottage industries and modern entrepreneurship. In the past, Kashmir did not rely on outsiders for trade, domestic help, or essential services; today, we import almost everything. We must ask ourselves: why can’t we produce our own poultry, fish, and vegetables?
Exploring honest means of living is not difficult, but it requires a change in outlook. For those who argue they lack the land, modern technology provides the answer. We can embrace poultry and fish farming on a small scale or venture into strawberry and vegetable farming. Even those in urban settings can utilize pot vegetable farming, where one doesn’t need vast acreage. With scientific care, high-yield organic vegetables can be grown in balconies or on rooftops.
We are now in the midst of an Artificial Intelligence and technological revolution—tools that offer a world of new avenues for those willing to break free from their cocoons. It is time for our youth to step out of the shadows of addiction and traditional expectations. Let us remember: God helps those who help themselves. The world is wide, and success is not defined by a designation alone, but by the resilience to forge one’s own path.
The writer is former Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Department, can be reached at (nisargilani57748@gmail.com
