Shifting identities: Kashmiri youth and the drivers of conflict
Publication Date
December 11, 2025
Creator
Abstract
The thesis explores the shifting identity of Kashmiri youth in the context of the ongoing conflict. These identities are impacted as a result of various drivers of the conflict, particularly the coercive nature of governance of the Indian state, lack of democratic processes, constitutional changes and technology-led processes like censorship and surveillance. The findings are based on a subjective evaluation of firsthand accounts from 35 Kashmiri youth, collected through semi structured digital interviews using a constructivist interpretive framework. The interviews highlight their experiences living through a conflict in general and particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. A recurring theme that emerged from the responses is the overwhelming sense of humiliation felt by the youth due to the extensive coercion, constitutional changes and severe state surveillance and monitoring through technological means like CCTV, and social media and censorship of their voices. This sense of humiliation is not merely a reaction to isolated incidents but is closely tied to a collective experience of marginalisation and disempowerment over the years, which has been significantly reinforced after the 2019 abrogation. As a result, Kashmiri youth are leaning towards a more self-enclosed and inward-looking identity.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Politics and International Relations
eprints ID
81250
UoN Repository URI
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Final Thesis- 2025- Tusharika Deka- after corrections- 19 May- clean copy.pdf
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