Kashmir—majestic in its landscape, rich in heritage, and profound in its diversity has long been a home to voices that weave through different tongues, cultures, and traditions. In its essence, Kashmir does not just speak; it sings, through its cuisine, craftsmanship, saffron fields, and poetry. And perhaps most beautifully, it speaks through its scripts—two seemingly different worlds, yet profoundly intertwined in their lesson of unity.
The Language of Belonging:
The Devanagari script, used by many Kashmiri Hindus, has a rare characteristic “The half letters”. A half letter cannot stand alone. It waits, seeking connection, calling out to another letter to complete its purpose. Take “आधा प”, which finds its meaning only when it embraces “य” to form “प्यार” (love). It teaches us patience, the value of completion through togetherness. A half letter alone may seem incomplete, but its very nature is a promise—it exists to belong.
On the other side of the same valley, the Perso-Arabic script, used predominantly by Kashmiri Muslims, does not demand letters to change their essence. Instead, it allows each letter to flow gracefully through different shapes—initial, medial, final—never losing its identity but adapting to exist within the word. The word “محبت” (muhabbat/love) glides smoothly in Nastaliq calligraphy, never breaking its core, yet finding meaning through its presence in the whole.
Two scripts—one believing in connection, the other in fluidity, yet both forming words that define our deepest human emotions: प्यार and محبت. Love, in its own sacred forms.
A Lesson for Kashmir:
Perhaps the greatest lesson these scripts offer is not one of division, but of harmony.
We don’t need to be the same letter, the same script, or the same voice. We only need to be part of the same sentence-the sentence of belonging.
Kashmiris—whether singing the national anthem, standing proudly under the flag, weaving exquisite Pashmina shawls, or crafting their legendary hand-knotted carpets are like the letters in these scripts. Some bend to unite, some flow to coexist, yet all contribute to the beauty of their shared homeland. It requires the grace of Perso-Arabic script,where individuality is honoured but adapted for coexistence. It requires the humility of Devanagari—where unity is sought not out of loss, but out of completion.
Kashmir’s True Page:
In every saffron bloom, in every song that echoes through the valleys, in every artisan who is carefully weaving stories into the fabric of Kashmiri life—the letters of Kashmir whisper the truth:
“Whether ONE bends to connect, like प्यार, or flow to belong, like محبت, ONE must know that she/he is a part of the same page. And, together, that page will writes the new story of Kashmir—a land of beauty, resilience, and undeniable unity.”
Two Scripts, One Soul: A Lesson in Unity from the Letters of Kashmir
