Every part of world enlivens it’s life in it’s own customs,values,norms,beliefs which we collectively called tradition. No doubt, technology and fashion engulfed the globe but tradition is a part of living culture continued to follow for a long time. Same is the case with pheran which gives us unique identity and gained symbolic significance in itself. In winters ,kangri and pheran are the are vital to each kashmiri as it not only keeps us warm but made us unique from rest of the world. But unfortunately in recent times many attempts were made to put ban on it and in few days back the pheran ban make rounds on social media as security personnel get attacked by pheran claded men .And from that very day ,security personnel started frisking ,multiple crackdowns and checking the belongings of masses even told to put pheran on shoulders in order to pave them easy way to check.
On seeking this, it reminds me the crackdown days when security forces barged into houses and assemble men in playground even made them March past. I as a child couldn’t decipher then what is this drill etc? But now the terns like frisk,stop,action ,clampdown known to every child .But the questions here I want to ask if it’s cultural lineage to us ,why it is analysing as threat? Surely it’s difficult to sift who is attacker ,who is not,? But every pheran claded men is not an attacker. None can robe anyone of his /her cultural lineage. On the other hand, onset of spring is on cards obviously people switch to summer clothes. It would be all -in- vain to put ban on pheran . Govt must come up with a specific strategy which would preserve our cultural lineage in midst of this emerging threat because culture keeps a civilization alive.
(The Author has done masters in English language and literature from IUST Awantipora)
