Kashmir, a land of unparalleled beauty and spiritual heritage, has long been revered as “Peer Waer” the Valley of Saints. This sanctified name, bestowed upon it by revered mystics and spiritual luminaries, is an embodiment of Kashmir’s deep-rooted Islamic ethos. However, the unrestrained sale and consumption of alcohol in this Muslim-majority state is an affront to its very essence, a stain on its pious identity that demands urgent rectification.
A Government That Turns A Deaf Ear: Despite repeated pleas from religious scholars, civil society, and conscientious citizens, the government of Jammu and Kashmir remains indifferent to this glaring issue. The absence of a comprehensive ban on alcohol is not only a betrayal of Kashmir’s moral fabric but also a direct violation of the sentiments of the majority population. How can a state where Islam is the dominant faith, where the teachings of saints and scholars have guided generations, allow the rampant sale of an intoxicant that is explicitly forbidden in Islam? The Government, which has shown a keen interest in infrastructural development and boosting tourism, must realize that economic progress cannot come at the cost of moral degradation. While we wholeheartedly welcome advancements that uplift our state, we categorically reject anything that corrodes our values. It is both hypocritical and unjust to impose restrictions on practices deemed harmful to society while conveniently ignoring the perilous consequences of alcohol consumption.
The Menace of Alcohol; A Threat To Kashmir’s Social Fabric: Alcohol has been the root cause of innumerable societal evilsviolence, domestic abuse, accidents, moral corruption, and a general decline in ethical standards. In a region that has already endured decades of turmoil, can we afford another crisis in the form of substance abuse? The answer is a resounding NO. States like Gujarat and Bihar, despite not being Muslim-majority regions, have enforced complete prohibition on alcohol. Why then is Kashmir whose identity is deeply intertwined with spiritualitynot afforded the same protection? Why does the government, which claims to uphold the cultural ethos of the region, remain conveniently silent on this pressing matter?
“Kashmir’s sanctity, its history, and its cultural integrity are non-negotiable. Development is welcome, tourism is welcome, but moral degradation is not. It is high time that the government steps up and restores the sanctity of Kashmir by banning alcohol completely. The Valley’s prestige must be upheld, and its pious identity must be shielded from the corrosive effects of this social evil. Anything less than an absolute prohibition is a direct affront to the spiritual essence of Peer Waer. The call is clearban alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir now!”
A Sacred Duty To Uphold Kashmir’s Prestige: The name “Peer Waer” is not just a poetic reference; it is a solemn testament to the Valley’s historical and spiritual legacy. The saints who walked this land Sheikh-ul-Alam, Hazrat Makhdoom Sahib, Baba Payam Ud Din Reshi Sahib and otherswould never have envisioned their beloved Kashmir being tainted by an intoxicant so vehemently opposed in Islam. Allowing the sale of alcohol in this sacred land is not just a policy failure; it is a sacrilege against our spiritual inheritance.
If the government truly claims to work for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir, it must act decisively in banning alcohol. If legislation can be passed to regulate various aspects of Kashmiri life, why can’t it be implemented to rid the region of this menace? Silence on this issue is nothing short of complicity.
A Unified Demand: Ban Alcohol in Kashmir Now! The people of Kashmir demand nothing less than a total and irrevocable ban on alcohol. The government must recognize that economic incentives can never justify moral compromises. Kashmir’s sanctity, its history, and its cultural integrity are non-negotiable. Development is welcome, tourism is welcome, but moral degradation is not. It is high time that the government steps up and restores the sanctity of Kashmir by banning alcohol completely. The Valley’s prestige must be upheld, and its pious identity must be shielded from the corrosive effects of this social evil. Anything less than an absolute prohibition is a direct affront to the spiritual essence of Peer Waer. The call is clearban alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir now!
(The author a lawyer by profession is a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Advocate Sajad Paul
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