Who Are They?

Of a total of 13 million, 0.4 millin Kashmiris are abroad [1]. Why do they leave? For many, the decision to live abroad is bolstered by economic stagnancy in Kashmir. While Kashmiris travel to various places, India and Pakistan are the most common destinations [2]. Due to undocumented travel, the actual numbers of Kashmiris in India is impossible to determine. Many young men leave to study in Indian universities, but most often men depart to seek work. Decline in tourism due to the India-Pakistan conflict in Kashmir has hurt many businesses. India's tourism market is appealing because it is close to home, so time commitments can be variable [3]. While merchants can make substantial profits, they also face many obstacles as strangers to the land. In many cases, these migrants also represent a religious minority. The shock of a new environment can be lessened by family connections. Young men are often sent to work for distant family members or family friends who have established shops in major tourist destinations [2,6].

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Why men?

Most Kashmiri migrants today are male. Kashmiri society follows a patriarchal model, allocating the role of breadwinner to men. As a result, most of the individuals who leave Kashmir are males, seeking economic support for their families. When Kashmiri Hindus were forced out of Kashmir in the 1990s, it was common for entire families to move to India[1].

Term of Stay

Term of stay varies for Kashmiri merchants in India. India's market for tourism is high, and its proximity to Kashmir enables merchants to migrate seasonally. Some sellers choose to visit popular tourist destinations during peak seasons, and then return to Kashmir for the rest of the year [3]. Most of the merchants I encountered stay for several years at a time before returning home to visit. Most individuals that I spoke with considered their stay temporary, but this is rarely the case. While many merchants intend to return to Kashmir, lack of economic opportunity keeps them in India.

Religion

At the start of the conflict in 1947, 77% of the Kashmir region was Muslim, and 20% was Hindu. [1] By the 1990s, religious separitism resulted in the death of thousands of Hindus. Those that survived were forced to migrate out of the area [1]. Today, Muslims represent more than 90% of the total population [2]. India is a plurallistic society that is generally characteristc of religious tolerance. Still, Hinduism is the religious majority of the nation. As such, many Muslim Kashmiris will be religious minorities in their new locations.

Obstacles

In many ways, the individuals who are able to leave the instability of Kashmir are lucky. They have increased work opportunities and have escaped the daily struggle of living in a divided nation. Still, Kashmiri merchants often feel restless and miss their families and homes. They face the difficulties of adjusting to new foods, new languages, and new environments. They are also exposed to ethnic and religious stereotyping and discrimination [2,6]. If not for economic need, it is likely that many men would have stayed in Kashmir with their families.

Language

Kashmir is a region of diverse language and dialect. Commonly spoken languages are Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, Pahari, and Ladakhi. These languages are understood in the northern regions of India, but not in the south. Many Kashmiris establish shops in southern tourist destinations such as Goa, Kerala, and Karnataka. These regions have their own languages that are not at all similar to those of the north.

During my time in India, I spoke with a Kashmiri merchant who had been living in Kerala for three years. He had not learned the local language, Malayalam, and felt much more confident speaking English with the locals.