Muhammad Elyass
The stunning valley and rich traditions of Kashmir, a land celebrated for its beauty, is sadly being stained by a persistent problem: the deeply entrenched and insidious practice of dividing people based on caste. This isn’t something we can just whisper ab~out; it’s an urgent crisis that demands open and honest discussion, followed by strong and immediate action. Only then can we build a truly fair, equal, and peaceful society. This outdated and damaging system casts a dark shadow over our communities, holding us back and making a mockery of our dreams for unity. The persistent social stratification, often unspoken yet acutely felt, often tied to those identifying as ‘Peer’ and ‘Shah’ castes in Jammu and Kashmir, leaves a mark on our shared conscience.
It feels strange and uncomfortable to criticize a system you’re part of. I myself belong to a family that carries the “Peer” name. Yet, instead of feeling proud, I often feel a sense of unease, almost repulsed. I actively avoid prefixing it to my name or disclosing it when introductions are made. This aversion stems not from a denial of ancestry but because I deeply disagree with and feel ashamed of the negative and judgmental attitudes that sadly some people from this background display. It’s a widespread and undeserved feeling of being better than others, a self-proclaimed purity, a belief in being naturally perfect, and a dangerous belief in being the sole custodians and truest practitioners of Islam. This inherited pride is so different from the humility and goodness that true faith teaches.
Think back to the early days of our communities. Systems of social organization, maybe the first forms of what became caste, probably started as simple ways to identify different groups based on the work they did. In their original, ideal form, they were just labels for jobs or family lines without any of the unfair ranking we see today. But sadly, over time, these labels were twisted and misused. They became strict, unchangeable ranks, causing unfair discrimination and building huge social walls that have no real basis in true morals, spiritual understanding, or the basic teachings of any real religion. Here in Jammu and Kashmir, this change has led to a harmful situation where certain groups, especially those with Peer and Shah surnames, are often automatically seen – and, even more worryingly, sometimes see themselves – as being on a higher, more privileged level in society.
This insidious perception of being inherently better isn’t just an idea floating in the air; it touches everyday life in many troubling and offensive ways. People from these self-appointed higher groups might, knowingly or unknowingly, act in a superior and condescending way. When they interact with those they consider to be from ‘lower’ castes, there might be a poorly hidden disrespect, a dismissive shrug, or even clear contempt that hurts more deeply than any physical wound. This kind of behaviour isn’t just a breach of social etiquette; it’s a deeply offensive attack on someone’s worth as a human being. More than that, it fuels a destructive cycle of inequality, anger, and social division, actively weakening the bonds that hold our communities together. It clearly goes against the main teachings of Islam, which strongly state that everyone is completely equal before God, irrespective of their lineage, ancestry, wealth, or social status. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself spread a message of universal brotherhood, strongly breaking down the pre-Islamic tribal claims of superiority.
A common argument used to defend these remaining social hierarchies is that the ancestors of families now known as Peer and Shah were very religious, wise, and spiritually influential people. This is often true in our history. These ancestors undoubtedly played important even heroic roles in shaping our region’s religious, cultural, and intellectual life. Their contributions are part of our story and deserve our respect. However, it’s a monumental and dangerous mistake in logic and faith to assume that their descendants automatically inherit their good qualities, spiritual goodness, or intelligence. Religious devotion isn’t like a gene passed down from parents to children, like eye colour or height. Each person stands alone before Allah, responsible solely for their own actions, intentions, and efforts to be good. The Holy Quran, our ultimate guide, clearly says that true honour, the only honour Allah recognizes, isn’t about who your parents were or theinherited prestige of a surname, but about ‘Taqwa’– righteousness, piety, and being conscious of God.
One of the most obviously damaging and socially harmful results of this deep-rooted caste mentality is the strong, almost unbreakable, insistence on marrying only within one’s own perceived caste – a practice called endogamy. This practice is often enforced with a lot of pressure from elder members of the community and family leaders. It creates a strong wall against social mixing. It severely limits the freedom of individuals to choose their own life partners, turning the sacred act of marriage into a simple transaction to protect a false idea of caste purity. It actively prevents the creation of a more united, integrated, and truly peaceful society by stopping marriages between different castes that could build bridges and encourage understanding. Even more sadly, it often leads to intense conflict, deep bitterness, and long-lasting divisions within families and entire communities when brave individuals dare to ignore these old rules and choose partners based on love, compatibility, and shared values rather than caste rules.
To give you a clearer picture of how deeply this problem runs, think about a recent situation in our neighbourhood. A family with the peer surname was discussing the marriage of their daughter. She had fallen in love and wanted to marry someone she had chosen herself, and her parents were happy with her decision. However, when other relatives heard that the young man belonged to the Mir caste and not the Peer caste, they strongly opposed the marriage. You can now better understand how far this prejudice reaches and how much it poisons our society, affecting personal happiness and social harmony.
Furthermore, the often intense and completely baseless arguments within the Peer and Shah communities themselves about who has “original” family lines and who has “copied” them, or claims of a more “authentic” ancestry, are not only clearly ridiculous but also very divisive and unhelpful. These internal fights over supposed levels of ancestral purity show just how weak the whole idea of caste superiority really is. The truth, as beautifully and clearly stated in the Quran, is that all human beings come from a single pair, Adam and Eve. The differences in race, tribe, nation, and family line were created by God so that we could recognize each other and appreciate the rich variety of human experience, not to create poisonous rankings of who is better or to claim special treatment.
It is also, if not more, worrying that this widespread social pressure and the perceived high status linked to these castes sometimes lead people from other social groups to feel they must falsely claim to be Peer or Shah. This situation clearly shows the deep-seated inequalities and the social value placed on these surnames in our society. It highlights the strong desire for acceptance and the wish to escape the negative labels associated with other castes. However, true honor, genuine respect, and lasting dignity can only be earned through one’s own character, noble actions, ethical behavior, and meaningful contributions to society– not by pretending to have a certain family history or falsely claiming a status you haven’t earned.
In the end, we are very late, and the need for change is urgent. It is high time for us, the people of Kashmir, to come together and firmly reject these outdated, un-Islamic, and deeply harmful social divisions that have held back our progress for too long. We must truly believe and actively promote the basic truth that all individuals are born equal in God’s eyes and, therefore, deserve to be treated with constant dignity, deep respect, and complete fairness. It is our shared, serious, and unavoidable duty to actively break down the subtle structures of inequality, both seen and unseen, that stubbornly remain in our society. We must dedicate ourselves to building a future where every single person, no matter their caste, surname, or social background, has the full opportunity to succeed, reach their God-given potential, and contribute meaningfully to the common good. Let us, therefore, promise to work tirelessly together – to encourage real understanding where there is ignorance, to develop tolerance where there is prejudice, and to build unbreakable unity where there is division. Let us try, with strong determination, to create a Kashmiri society where justice is not just a distant idea but a daily reality, and where true equality exists, not just in words, but in every part of our lives.
Muhammad Elyass can be reached at mohammadilyass5152@gmail.com
