By Rishi Suri
In the years since the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new phase of development, one marked not by slogans but by visible change on the ground. What was once a region associated in headlines with turmoil is now increasingly becoming known for progress, opportunity, and youthful ambition.
From new rail links and road networks to startup accelerators and digital classrooms, the transformation is not just infrastructural, it is aspirational. And nowhere is this more evident than in the stories of young Kashmiris who are breaking barriers and defining success on their own terms.
A series of major infrastructure projects have laid the groundwork for growth. The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail corridor, which includes the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River, now connects the Valley with the rest of India year-round. Dozens of new roads, tunnels, and bridges have followed. Srinagar is also witnessing the rapid rise of smart-city projects, upgraded hospitals, and a vibrant tourism ecosystem.
Tourism has surged. In 2024 alone, over 3 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, a record number. The surge has created jobs, revived handicraft industries, and brought new business to hotels, houseboats, and transport providers. Behind this economic revival is a clear vision: development that empowers, rather than divides
Perhaps the most powerful shift has occurred in the realm of education. New institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campuses in the region have made world-class education more accessible to local students. Thousands of Kashmiri youth are now enrolled in professional courses, civil services coaching, IT training, and skill development programs.
The impact is visible. Young scientists, engineers, and designers from Kashmir are increasingly making their mark in national-level competitions, innovation expos, and academic research. They are no longer waiting for opportunities to come to them, they are creating their own.
Take Faizan Arif, a 22-year-old from Srinagar, who has become one of India’s most trusted independent weather forecasters. Through a combination of science, self-learning, and social media engagement, Faizan has built a platform that now serves millions across North India. He is regularly cited in leading news outlets for his accurate and accessible forecasts.
Kashmir’s youth are not just excelling in classrooms, they’re also starting businesses. In 2013, Mehvish Mushtaq became Kashmir’s first female app developer when she launched Dial Kashmir, a mobile directory app offering contact information for essential services across the Valley. Her innovation won her national accolades and inspired a generation of young tech enthusiasts.
Today, the region is home to more than 800 government-registered startups, covering sectors from handicrafts and e-commerce to agriculture and renewable energy. The government’s goal is to facilitate 2,000 new startups by 2027, with a focus on women-led and rural enterprises.
Another notable example is Kashmir Box, a platform founded by Muheet Mehraj that connects Kashmiri artisans and farmers directly with customers around the world. By blending digital tools with local traditions, the company has built a sustainable business while preserving heritage.
In the world of sports, Kashmir’s daughters are leading the charge. Tajamul Islam, who began martial arts training at the age of five, became a world kickboxing champion by the age of seven. Now in her teens, she runs a sports academy training hundreds of young girls in self-defense and competitive martial arts. Her mission: to give young Kashmiri girls confidence, strength, and global visibility.
On another front, artists like Mudasir Rehman Dar from Kulgam are using waste materials like plastic to create powerful environmental art installations. His work has been displayed in colleges, schoolyards, and public spaces across the Valley, spreading awareness about sustainability while redefining the role of art in social change.
The most profound transformation lies in how young Kashmiris are choosing to define themselves. They are writers, athletes, coders, doctors, pilots, and entrepreneurs, not victims or slogans. With better access to opportunity, a responsive administration, and platforms for expression, the next generation is no longer held back by the weight of conflict.
Challenges remain. Employment is still a concern and some areas face security anxieties. But the balance is shifting. More youth are choosing laptops over stones, startups over slogans, and solutions over blame.
This is not a sudden or accidental change. It is the result of a sustained push for inclusion, investment, and reform. It is also a tribute to the resilience of Kashmiris, who have chosen progress in the face of pain and purpose over politics.
Kashmir today is not just one of India’s most scenic destinations, it is a story of human potential being realized. Its young people are not waiting for peace to be handed to them; they are building it through their work, their creativity, and their courage.
This is Kashmir’s quiet revolution. Not waged in protest or violence, but through code, art, commerce, and education. A revolution that tells the world: Kashmir is rising, and this time, it’s on its own terms.
This oped is part of a series first published on Global Order.
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