Srinagar, Sept. 10 -- Simplicity has always been the heartbeat of Kashmiri life. It breathed through the gentle rhythm of changing seasons, the warmth of neighborly bonds, the aroma of Noon chai simmering in samovars, and the serene hush of snow-clad evenings. In this valley cradled by poets, saints, and artisans, life once flowed with an effortless grace unhurried, unpretentious, and unburdened by the vanity of excess or the hunger for display. But as Kashmir walks into the tides of modernity, one cannot help but wonder are we quietly letting go of this treasured simplicity in our restless pursuit of sophistication? Kashmir's social fabric has always celebrated modesty.

Traditionally homes were small but filled with hospitality, neighbo...