Kashmir’s youth are stepping beyond traditional career paths and embracing the digital revolution, turning code, creativity, and global skills into new engines of opportunity.
By Aubaid Akhoon
Today’s era belongs to technology, and real success now rests with those who have learned to adapt and stay aligned with the fast-moving world around them. This urge to evolve is not new; it has echoed through history and been felt by every thinking mind. Allama Iqbal understood this better than most. His poetry offered both critique and celebration of change, reminding us that wisdom lies in knowing what to embrace and what to discard. His couplet holds a renewed relevance in the age we live in:
Allama Iqbal has rightly said:
“Mashriq Se Ho Bezar, Na Maghrib Se Hazar Kar
Fitrat Ka Ishara Hai Ke Har Shab Ko Sehar Kar !”
“Don’t shun the East, nor look on West with scorn,
Since Nature yearns for change of night to morn.”
Long before this generation picked up smartphones and screens, our ancestors grasped the quill, the compass, the telescope and the printing press — the cutting-edge tools of their own age. They did not fear new influences, whether from East or West, but sought knowledge wherever it flourished. Iqbal’s words, therefore, are not mere poetry; they are a reminder that change is Nature’s first law. Stagnant waters gather dust, but flowing rivers shape landscapes. Those who cling stubbornly to the past, avoiding new ideas or skills, risk being left behind when the world no longer waits for anyone.
In Kashmir’s classrooms and city streets, we see a generation brimming with talent, ambition, and anxiety. But many still clutch the same narrow list of career dreams — Doctor, Engineer, Teacher. For decades, these professions stood as the ultimate markers of success, and for good reason: they offered stability, respect, and a route out of economic struggle for countless families. But the world outside has shifted dramatically. The fourth industrial revolution is no longer a phrase in textbooks; it is the silent engine powering modern life. Invisible lines of code now drive industries, shape economies, diagnose diseases, and connect billions.
So the question arises: why limit dreams to old choices when the world has opened new doors? Why shouldn’t our young people explore the expanding universe of technology — a field where one can innovate freely, earn with dignity, and build solutions that touch lives far beyond geographical boundaries? This is not an argument against conventional careers; it is an argument for widening the horizon. Our forefathers never shut their doors to fresh ideas. They adapted, absorbed, and moved forward. This generation — the so-called Alpha Generation — must do the same, turning each dawn into an opportunity for new skills, creativity, and self-reliance.
In the serene valleys of Kashmir and the bustling lanes of Srinagar, a quiet but urgent question lingers in homes and school corridors: What next? The dreams that once came in just two shapes are no longer enough for a world that runs on digital engines. Today’s children are born into a world of screens, systems, and smart technologies. Coding has become their second language. Their classrooms stretch beyond walls, and their competitors may sit in California, Dubai, or Singapore. Yet, when it comes to careers, many are still guided by an outdated map in a world that has redrawn its borders completely.
The future is tech, and it has already arrived. Artificial intelligence is not a distant science-fiction concept — it is helping pilots navigate, helping doctors detect diseases faster, helping businesses analyse data, and helping students learn better. Cloud systems store mountains of information that once filled entire buildings. Digital payments have replaced queues. Marketing has moved from posters to online campaigns that reach millions in minutes. Industries across the world — healthcare, finance, education, hospitality, governance — now rely on technology as their backbone.
And in this new world, language matters — the language of code, design, data, and systems thinking. That is where the young minds of Kashmir need to focus. Tech does not just offer jobs; it offers autonomy. A young student sitting by Dal Lake today can teach coding to a client in Canada, build a website for someone in Dubai, manage social media for a business in Delhi, or design an app for a startup anywhere in the world. No long waits for degrees to translate into jobs. No dependency on a traditional employer. Technology allows people to become their own bosses, their own creators, their own institutions.
The skills that matter today are not abstract buzzwords. Data Science, AI, Cyber Security, App Development, Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing, Salesforce — these are gateways to careers that were unthinkable a decade ago. They offer financial independence, global exposure, and dignity of work without burdening families with long, expensive academic cycles. It’s not about replacing old dreams; it’s about upgrading them.
Kashmir’s education landscape is responding to this shift. New campuses offering globally recognised certifications, hands-on training, and mentorship from industry experts are emerging within the Valley itself. Students no longer need to travel thousands of miles to access world-class learning. The tools, the guidance, and the opportunities now exist right here.
The moment has come for parents, teachers, institutions, and students to acknowledge that the future will not be built by stereotypes but by skills. Medicine and engineering remain noble paths, but they are no longer the only pathways to success. A generation that carries smartphones in its pockets must carry digital skills in its mind. Knowledge today must be practical, employable, and empowering — the kind that brings not just degrees but dignity, income, and freedom.
The world is waiting for new ideas, new creators, and new innovations — from a new Kashmir. The Alpha Generation is ready. The only question is: are we ready to let them rise?
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of this newspaper. The author can be reached at [email protected]
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