On September 8, the world once again marked International Literacy Day, a reminder that the ability to read and write is not a privilege, it is a right and the foundation of every civilized society. Yet in Kashmir, where the beauty of the land often overshadows the struggles of its people, literacy remains a battle that must be fought with urgency. The Valley cannot hope to secure peace, prosperity, or dignity unless every child, every woman, every man has the power of education in their hands.

The truth is uncomfortable: Jammu and Kashmir’s literacy rate hovers around 68 to 70 percent, trailing behind the national average. This number, while improved compared to decades ago, still exposes the gaps in our system. Cities and towns are doing better, but remote villages remain cut off from opportunity. Boys fare better than girls, but both fall behind when measured against the potential that Kashmir so clearly possesses. For every story of a Kashmiri scholar or professional who has broken barriers, there are countless silent stories of children who never made it to school, or young girls forced to leave midway because society or circumstance told them education was not their path.

Geography, poverty, and politics have all played their part in stunting the growth of literacy in Kashmir. Snow-blocked villages lose months of schooling. Families struggling to survive often push children into work instead of classrooms. And years of instability have left scars on the education system that are not easily healed. Add to this the gender divide, where girls are sometimes denied equal chances, and we begin to see how half the Valley’s potential is locked away. In a world driven by technology, many rural students are still cut off from digital resources, widening the gap between those who can keep up and those who are left behind.

But to speak only of problems is to miss the larger truth: literacy is the one weapon that can break every barrier Kashmir faces. Education builds resilience against violence and propaganda. It gives young people the tools to think critically rather than react blindly. It empowers women, and with them, entire families. It preserves culture by ensuring that the language, poetry, art, and history of Kashmir are not only remembered but carried forward with pride. And above all, it transforms the Valley from being seen only as a land of breathtaking landscapes into a land of enlightened minds—a Kashmir that shines as the crown of India not just in beauty, but in intellect.

Government initiatives cannot be dismissed. Schemes that offer scholarships, digital classrooms, and midday meals have laid important foundations. Campaigns like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have made education for girls a national priority, and NGOs working in remote corners of the Valley have shown that community-led efforts can bridge gaps where official machinery struggles. Yet, the fact remains that progress is uneven. In too many villages, schools exist only on paper, teachers are too few, and infrastructure is too fragile. Literacy cannot be allowed to advance in patches; it must advance everywhere, for every child.

This is where society itself must wake up. Parents must realize that education is not an option, it is the greatest gift they can give their children. Communities must build tuition centers and volunteer networks to ensure that no child is left behind simply because the system failed them. Technology must be harnessed—if young people can scroll endlessly on mobile phones, they can also be given access to digital libraries and learning apps. Religious and community leaders must remind people that education is not separate from culture or faith; it is part of it, a duty as much as a right. And most importantly, Kashmiri youth must step forward as torchbearers, teaching, guiding, and inspiring the next generation.

It is worth imagining, if only for a moment, a Kashmir where every child holds a pen instead of a burden, where women walk into classrooms with the same confidence as men, where villages resound not with silence but with the hum of learning. That Kashmir is possible, but only if we treat literacy as our collective mission. Education is not just about building careers; it is about building peace, equality, and opportunity. It is the bridge between the Valley’s painful past and its hopeful future.

International Literacy Day is not meant to be a symbolic date on the calendar; it is a call to action. For Kashmir, it is a call louder than ever. Literacy is the light that can finally scatter the long shadows of poverty, inequality, and unrest. The Valley deserves to be known not only for its mountains and meadows but for its educated minds and enlightened citizens. To ignore this truth is to betray the future. To act on it is to guarantee that the story of Kashmir is not just one of beauty, but one of brilliance.