Will you listen to us?: A study highlighting the voice of Kashmiri youth to understand what influences their moral decision making

Abstract

The world today faces varying forms of crises in every country – be it the global pandemic, religious conflict, or political instability. The impact of such crises is evident in learning spaces and lived experiences of youth in conflict regions. In this presentation, I highlight the influence of conflict and an unstable education system on the moral decision-making of Kashmiri youth. Based on a phenomenological framework and narrative methodology, preliminary findings from interviews on the experiences and opinions of Kashmiri youth, indicate that young people are leaving Kashmir in search of better education and a safer space to express themselves freely. The participants in my study highlight the impact of religion and biased governance in Kashmir that have exacerbated the social challenges faced by the youth. Echoing the findings of similar conflict studies, the Kashmiri youth emphasise that the discouraging education system, an uncertain future, and lack of avenues to express themselves have led to the active participation of youth in the fight for freedom and peace. There is added agitation in the youth due to their disconnect with the rest of the country and world. Studies suggest that educational instability and prolonged exposure to violence influence moral decision-making of youth (Ahad et al., 2019; Majumdar, 2019; Zucchelli & Ugazio, 2019). This research foregrounds the otherwise marginalised and silenced perspectives and voice of Kashmir’s youth. I suggest implications of this study for youth in other conflict regions.