From Degrees to Determination
Educated Youth Redefine Work Culture in Kashmir
TAUSEEF AHMAD
BANDIPORA, Dec 16: As unemployment continues to challenge Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, a quiet but significant shift is unfolding across the Valley. Increasingly, educated youth—once singularly focused on securing government jobs—are choosing self-employment, small businesses and informal entrepreneurship to sustain themselves and their families. Among them is Umair Mir of Bandipora, whose modest kehwa stall has become both a livelihood and a message of resilience.
A diploma holder in Civil Engineering, Umair represents a growing section of educated Kashmiris who, instead of remaining idle amid recruitment delays and shrinking job opportunities, are redefining work culture by embracing dignity of labour and economic self-reliance.
After completing his diploma from a polytechnic college in Ganderbal, Umair had plans to pursue a B.Tech degree. Financial constraints, however, forced him to discontinue his studies. Like thousands of educated youths in Jammu and Kashmir, he then invested several years preparing for government recruitment exams.
“I devoted nearly four years to exam preparation, but repeated cancellations, delays and controversies made me realise that waiting endlessly was not practical,” Umair told Kashmir Despatch. “I had responsibilities at home. I needed to earn.”
Instead of succumbing to frustration, Umair chose to work. Every morning at around 8:45 am, he sets up his stall at Gulshan Chowk in Bandipora, carrying a traditional samavaar filled with freshly brewed kehwa—the aromatic Kashmiri tea infused with saffron, cardamom and spices. In the harsh winter cold, his stall offers warmth not just in cups, but in spirit.
What began as a simple attempt to earn a livelihood has now turned into a popular stop for locals. Hundreds of customers visit his stall daily, appreciating both the traditional taste and the young man’s determination.
“I used to sell lassi and fresh milk during summers,” Umair said. “When winter arrived and demand declined, I switched to kehwa. People liked the traditional flavour, and gradually this became my main source of income.”
The stall today supports his family and allows him to continue preparing for exams without financial pressure. “Work gives you discipline and self-respect. It keeps you away from negative influences,” he said, urging other unemployed youths to start small ventures instead of waiting indefinitely. “No work is small. What matters is earning honestly.”
Customers view Umair’s initiative as a positive sign. Mohd Anwar, a regular visitor, said such efforts deserve encouragement. “Seeing kehwa served in a samavaar reminds us of our culture. It feels good that educated youth are preserving tradition while standing on their own feet,” he said.
Local shopkeeper Nazir Ahmad echoed the sentiment. “It hurts to see educated youth without formal jobs, but it is inspiring when they choose work over idleness,” he said. “This mindset can change our society if more people adopt it.”
Across Jammu and Kashmir, Umair’s story is not an exception. Increasingly, diploma holders, graduates, postgraduates and even research scholars are turning to street vending, traditional trades, service businesses and micro-entrepreneurship—fields once viewed as fallback options.
This shift comes against the backdrop of persistent unemployment. According to official data based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and shared in Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir’s overall unemployment rate stood at around 6.1 percent, higher than the national average of about 5.2 percent. The challenge is more acute among young people, with youth unemployment in the Union Territory estimated at over 17 percent, significantly above the national youth average of around 10 percent.
While the figures underline the seriousness of the employment challenge, they also explain why many educated youths are now opting for self-employment rather than remaining dependent on limited government vacancies.
Economists and social observers believe this emerging trend could be transformative if properly supported. Kashmir has vast potential in traditional trades, local food businesses, tourism-linked services, crafts and small startups. Encouraging entrepreneurship, improving access to credit and skill training, and changing social attitudes towards “small work” could create sustainable livelihoods.
Umair Mir’s kehwa stall, modest as it may seem, sends a powerful message: education does not lose its value when one chooses work outside government offices. Instead, it finds new meaning when combined with initiative, adaptability and courage.
As more educated youths follow this path, Kashmir’s employment story may gradually shift—from waiting for jobs to creating them, one small beginning at a time.
