In every society aspiring for growth and reform, critical thinking and constructive feedback are the oxygen of public discourse. In Kashmir, however, the absence of a healthy culture of feedback has become a serious civic issue. Whether in administration, healthcare, education, or municipal governance, every domain suffers when citizens lack a safe and respectful channel to voice concerns.
The right to point out what is wrong is not an act of rebellion—it is an act of responsibility. Yet, our institutions have become increasingly intolerant of scrutiny. A simple suggestion or question is too often perceived as defiance. This psychology of defensiveness marks the first sign of institutional weakness.
Civil society is not merely a network of NGOs or activists; it is the living conscience of a nation. Its purpose is to monitor, question, and guide governance, ensuring that the state remains accountable, inclusive, and just.
In Kashmir—where public trust in institutions has been strained by decades of instability and bureaucratic apathy—the role of civil society is doubly important. It must act as a bridge between citizens and governance, reflecting both achievements and failures with honesty and empathy.
One of the foremost duties of a concerned citizen is participation—not mere commentary, but informed engagement. Many of us lament civic problems without contributing to their solutions. Civic responsibility demands that we move from words to action: keeping our localities clean, following traffic rules, conserving the environment, and promoting transparency.
Citizen participation must evolve from social media outrage to real-world involvement—attending public consultations, supporting reforms, and engaging with local bodies. Silence, apathy, and fear-driven detachment are luxuries a society in transition like ours cannot afford.
Kashmir’s public space today is rhetoric-rich but courage-poor. Many choose convenience over conscience, aligning with prevailing power narratives instead of standing for truth. Integrity requires the courage to disagree when merit is sacrificed, when public resources are misused, or when the weak are silenced.
True reform begins with self-accountability. Moral courage is refusing corruption, resisting nepotism, and discouraging the casual misuse of authority that has become normalized in daily life.
A responsible citizen speaks from informed understanding, not emotion alone. Our discourse often suffers from hearsay and exaggeration. A strong civil society must be grounded in knowledge—of laws, rights, and responsibilities.
Educational institutions and media must promote critical thinking and civic literacy rather than amplifying noise or negativity. The strength of a democracy lies not in blind loyalty, but in educated questioning.
Government institutions must move beyond token consultations and establish credible mechanisms for public feedback. Citizens, in turn, should learn to critique respectfully—focusing on issues, not individuals.
Civil society should institutionalize dialogue through town hall meetings, civic audits, public hearings, and citizens’ report cards. Constructive feedback turns governance into a conversation rather than a command, replacing the culture of sycophancy with one of participatory reform.
A concerned citizen of Kashmir must recognize that civic duty includes environmental and cultural stewardship. We inhabit one of the most fragile yet beautiful ecosystems in the world. Our careless habits—littering, over-construction, pollution—are eroding its essence.
Civil society must lead campaigns for waste segregation, wetland protection, and sustainable living. Beyond the environment, there is a moral duty to preserve our ethos of compassion, coexistence, and tolerance—values that define Kashmiriyat.
Ethical responsibility also extends to digital citizenship. In an age of misinformation, promoting truth and empathy online is as vital as maintaining decorum in public life.
Civil society is not built on criticism alone, but on compassion in action. Every citizen can contribute by volunteering—teaching underprivileged children, assisting in healthcare, or supporting community causes.
Empathy is the soul of civic engagement. Amid poverty, unemployment, and rising mental health challenges, empathy bridges divides and inspires collective progress. A truly concerned citizen understands that personal well-being and social well-being are inseparable.
Before demanding transparency from officials, we must practice it in our own lives. How we treat workers, obey traffic laws, manage waste, or use public spaces—these reflect our civic maturity.
Blaming “the system” while neglecting personal responsibility is hypocrisy. Real reform begins at home, extends to the neighborhood, and matures in the public sphere.
Kashmir’s resilience has always stemmed from its sense of community. Our mosques, temples, shrines, and schools once served as centers of ethics and collective wisdom. Reviving this spirit of mutual help is vital to rebuilding trust.
Civil society members must act as bridges between generations, guiding youth towards service, empathy, and constructive engagement rather than cynicism or escapism. Only when citizens, professionals, and institutions work together can we restore accountability and hope.
A society’s greatness is not measured by its monuments but by the moral quality of its citizens. For Kashmir, progress depends not on slogans or blame, but on conscious participation.
Duties and responsibilities are not abstract—they are daily acts of integrity, discipline, and courage. Civil society is not someone else; it is you and me—ordinary people who care enough to make a difference.
If each of us begins by fixing the small things within our reach, larger reforms will follow naturally. It is time to replace passive hope with active responsibility. For Kashmir to truly progress, its citizens must reclaim their rightful role—not as spectators of governance, but as its moral partners.
Only then will our society breathe again—with the oxygen of accountability, empathy, and truth.
The writer is Senior Consultant Surgeon; Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Specialist drfiazfazili@gmail.com
