Development is not a straight road leading to comfort and progress. It involves a complex and complicated process that should integrate traditional with modern, so that development enables sustainability and resilience, not dependence.
Kashmir, located in the Himalayan region, has never been an easy place to live. Its harsh winters and difficult terrain forced people to design systems that were practical and sustainable. These systems were not merely cultural habits; they are ways of life shaped by geography and necessity.
From Firewood to LPG
One such example is the traditional chulha (wood-fired stove), locally known as the Daan. For generations, almost every household depended on it. It was more than a cooking device. It provided warmth during winter, heated water, and served as the centre of domestic life. Most importantly, it ran on locally available resources like firewood, making households largely self-reliant.
Today, this system is quietly disappearing. Modern modular kitchens, designed for urban aesthetics, have replaced traditional setups. The Daan has no place in these kitchens. LPG gas has become the primary source of cooking fuel.
At first glance, this shift appears to be progress - cleaner, faster, and more convenient. But beneath this convenience lies a growing risk, guided by a changing mindset.
Many young people now see traditional practices as backward. Cooking on a chulha is often viewed as a sign of low status. As a result, people are abandoning these systems not because they are ineffective, but because they no longer fit into a modern image.
This shift is now revealing vulnerabilities. Due to ongoing tensions in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East, gas supply disruptions have become common. Prices fluctuate, and availability is uncertain. Households that depend entirely on LPG are the first to feel the impact.
A distant war is affecting everyday life. Many families, including mine, have faced situations where gas is unavailable when needed. Cooking becomes difficult, routines are disturbed, and a basic necessity turns into a challenge.
The real concern is that we no longer have alternatives. Traditional chulhas have been dismantled. What once provided resilience has been removed in the name of modernisation. We have moved from a system of local sustainability to one of external dependency.
Earlier, Kashmiri households were more self-reliant. Livestock was common, and basic needs were met locally. Today, people rely heavily on market-based systems for almost everything, from fuel to food. While this model works in stable conditions, it becomes fragile during crises.
The ongoing gas shortage is a clear example. It shows how quickly a dependent system can struggle when external supplies are disrupted.
The issue, therefore, is not about rejecting modern technology. LPG is efficient and useful. The problem lies in replacing traditional systems entirely instead of integrating them.
Need For Balance
A balanced approach is needed. Traditional chulhas could still serve as backup systems. Kitchen designs could accommodate both modern and traditional methods. This would not be a step backward, but a step toward resilience.
Development should not mean abandoning what works. It should mean improving it.
There is also a need to change our perception. Traditional practices should not be seen as symbols of backwardness. They represent knowledge developed over generations. Ignoring them weakens our ability to respond to challenges.
Policy-makers, too, must rethink development strategies. Regions like Kashmir have unique conditions that require context-specific solutions. Blindly adopting urban models does not always lead to sustainable outcomes. Development should increase and make us more self-reliant, not dependent.
The disappearance of the Daan represents the fading of a system that once ensured stability in uncertain times. It can be an important lens for examining crucial questions: Are we finding ourselves increasingly vulnerable to external shocks? Are we building a future of resilience, or one of dependency?
The answer will define the direction of Kashmir’s development in the years to come.
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