Abstract

Researcher: Huzaifa Imtiaz

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) is a historically war torn and militarized state that has suffered decades of political humiliation and military occupation, to become one of the most militarized regions in the world. Surveillance, limited movement, frequent curfew, and high military presence have characterized Kashmir since the late twentieth century. For young people growing up in this environment, such conditions are not occasional disruptions but an everyday reality. Life full of fear, uncertainty and political tension must have an immeasurable effect not only on their psychological state but also on their identity development.

The study is about an aspect that is a concern and yet seldom discussed of the Kashmir conflict: the impact of the occupation on the lives and perception of young Kashmiris. Though significant amount of research has been conducted witnessing political, economic and human rights effects of the occupation, surprisingly little research has been recorded on the effects the Indian occupation has had on mental health as well as its effect on identities. The youth of IIOJK have had to deal with an ongoing conflict between the historical narratives imposed by the occupier, and their own cultural, religious, and national identities that, in most cases lead them to resist and to develop a lot of trauma.

It is an important subject in conflict and postcolonial studies since it mediates the gap between structural oppression and the psychology of a person experiencing it. The way occupation influence youth identity is not an academic matter only, but also part of establishing interventional processes, which would benefit those living in conflict in terms of mental health and self-determination. It can also be applied to inform our more general discourse about how the generational identity could be influenced by historical tensions that might perpetuate a cycle of opposition, exclusion, and turmoil.

The proposed study will be inclined towards researching the psychological impacts of decades of military occupation of IIOJK on its young people by considering the Postcolonial Theory framework. The focus of the study is on mental well-being, struggles with identity, and forms of resilience or resistance. This research uses secondary sources like literature, reports, and media to explore how fear and control shape the inner lives of young Kashmiris, giving a perspective on the conflict that is usually discussed in political terms rather than personal ones.

Research Questions and Objectives

Research Questions:

1.      How does military occupation affect the self-perception and identity of Kashmiri youth?

2.      What psychological impacts do young people in IIOJK face under prolonged conflict?

3.      How do Kashmiri youth express resistance or redefine identity under occupation?

Research Objectives:

·         To explore psychological and identity changes in youth under occupation.

·         To identify forms of expression and coping mechanisms in response to trauma.

·         To contribute insights to academic discourse on youth in militarized zones.

Literature Review

Global Context: Psychological Impacts of Occupation and Conflict

The studies on countries that have been under long-term occupation, like Palestine, Bosnia, and Sri Lanka, always show increased psychological trauma in the young generation. For instance, studies from the Kashmir Valley report a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, linked closely to cumulative exposure to traumatic events, militarization, and insecurity.[1] These results align with larger patterns of conflict: previous incidences of trauma may last over decades, which has a strong impact on psyche and psychosocial status.

Beyond immediate psychological effects, conflict environments also shape the long-term trajectories of youth. Ongoing instability and experiences of perceived injustice intensify psychological distress and disrupt identity formation, as demonstrated in comparative research on various conflict-affected populations.[2] While global research highlights trauma’s psychological burden, less is understood about how these disruptions affect identity formation in youth confined to militarized or occupied regions.

Youth Identity Studies: Identity Formation in Adolescence

Adolescence is widely acknowledged as a critical period for identity formation. Erikson’s psychosocial theory identifies the stage of identity versus role confusion during adolescence, where individuals grapple with the question, “Who am I?” Successful resolution brings a coherent sense of self, while failure leads to confusion and instability.[3] Identity development is seen as both individual and social, a blend of personal choices and societal expectations.[4]

Longitudinal studies show relative stability in identity commitments during adolescence, while deeper exploration increases with age.[5] In conflict and diverse settings, adolescents face added complexity: they must navigate identity formation amid disruption, threat, and altered social paradigms.[6] These dynamics underscore how conflict can disrupt normal developmental pathways and complicate youth’s sense of agency and belonging.

Existing Kashmir Research: Political and Human Rights Dimensions

Studies on Kashmir often focus on the political conflict and human rights violations such as detentions, disappearances, restricted mobility, and abuse, including the specific targeting of women and children.[7] Reports note that ongoing exposure to violence and institutional oppression induces widespread mental distress across populations, with 47% trauma prevalence, 41% depression, 26% anxiety, and 19% PTSD among adults.[8]

These works detail the structural impacts of occupation but rarely center on how these external pressures shape youth identity internally. Instead, they emphasize systemic issues and adult-level trauma, leaving a gap in exploring youth identity trajectories in the face of sustained conflict.

Literature Gap: Youth Identity Formation under Occupation in IIOJK

While there is substantial literature on conflict-driven trauma and degrading human rights in Kashmir, there's a clear absence of focused analysis on how occupation affects identity formation among Kashmiri youth. Most studies address political, security, or societal-level concerns—but few investigate the psychological and developmental dimensions of identity under occupation.

By centering Postcolonial Theory, the proposed study aims to explore how colonial-style power structures disrupt youth's internal sense of self. Through analyzing secondary narratives such as literature, media, personal accounts, and reports, this research will examine how youth reconcile imposed identity frameworks with their own cultural, communal, and self-defined identities. It will explore the psychological struggle between internal coherence and external oppression, a dimension largely unexamined in existing scholarship.

Theoretical Framework

This study adopts Postcolonial Theory as the lens to analyze how prolonged military occupation in IIOJK shapes youth identity. Central to this theory are themes of power, cultural suppression, identity formation, and resistance. It frames occupation not as a temporary disruption but as a pervasive structure that constructs subjectivities and governs modes of self-expression.

Two leading thinkers in postcolonial theory, Frantz Fanon and Edward Said, offer crucial insights. Fanon’s work, particularly Black Skin, White Masks, explores how colonial domination fractures the self, as colonized individuals internalize inferiority and adopt "white masks" to survive in a hegemonic culture. His later text, The Wretched of the Earth, argues that true decolonization emerges through struggle, where literature, culture, and revolutionary praxis shape a new national identity rather than nostalgic returns to a romanticized past.[9]

Edward Said’s Orientalism critiques how Western power constructs the "Orient" as inferior and static, a process that legitimizes domination.[10] Said shows how these hegemonic narratives distort colonized identities, leading to internalized alienation and fractured self-concepts, a dynamic with deep psychological consequences.[11]

Applying these concepts to IIOJK:

·         Occupation functions like colonial rule, imposing identity through surveillance, control, and cultural narratives that frame Kashmiri youth as 'other'—dangerous, backward, or suspect. This mirrors Fanon’s "white mask" phenomenon and Said’s processes of "othering."

·         Youth identity becomes a site of contestation: Kashmiri youth may mask or suppress their authentic selves to navigate authority, while internal identity struggles parallel Fanon’s descriptions of alienation and inferiority.

·         Resistance expressions such as poetry, social media storytelling, cultural reaffirmation, constitute decolonial identity work, reminiscent of Fanon’s vision of combat literature and national culture forged through struggle.

By centering Postcolonial Theory, this research explores how occupation molds psychological experiences and identity formation among youth, not merely through trauma or repression but through resistance, cultural assertion, and the contested terrain of self-definition.

Methodology

This study employs a qualitative research design, with a focus on content analysis of secondary sources. Since direct fieldwork such as interviews or surveys is not feasible in the current context of IIOJK, the research relies on existing scholarly and documentary evidence to capture the lived experiences of Kashmiri youth.

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Data Sources: This study relies on a broad range of secondary sources, including peer-reviewed articles, books, human rights reports, psychological research, news media, autobiographical accounts, documentaries, and social media narratives. Together, these materials offer important perspectives on the psychological experiences, identity challenges, and resistance practices of Kashmiri youth living under prolonged occupation. In particular, social media has emerged as a contemporary platform where young people express trauma, resilience, and cultural identity through creative forms such as poetry, art, and digital activism.

Data Analysis: The study employs thematic content analysis to identify patterns, recurring issues, and underlying meanings within selected texts. Emerging themes will be coded into key categories such as psychological distress (e.g., trauma, anxiety, depression), identity struggles (e.g., cultural suppression, alienation, resistance identity), and coping or resistance strategies (e.g., activism, community support, religious faith). Through this analytical process, the study seeks to demonstrate how occupation not only impacts mental health but also reshapes processes of identity formation among Kashmiri youth.

Limitations: This research is limited by its reliance on secondary data, which cannot fully capture the personal nuances of lived experiences. The absence of direct interviews or surveys restricts access to the richness of firsthand perspectives. Nonetheless, the triangulation of multiple sources enhances reliability and provides a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Analysis and Findings

Psychological Distress

The Kashmiri youth in IIOJK are under extreme psychological distress that exists due to high levels of militarization and structural oppression. A recent study revealed that 100 percent of young adults recalled experiencing traumatic events, such as anxiety caused by curfews, fear of crackdowns and witnessing violence.[12] Mental health data highlights high rates of psychiatric conditions: depression prevalence at 55.7%, especially among those aged 15–25.[13] Another survey indicated 45% of adults with probable psychological distress, with 41% facing depression, 26% anxiety, and 19% PTSD.[14]

These statistics reveal traumas that are simultaneously personal and collective. Repeated lockdowns, pervasive surveillance, disrupted education, and the erosion of personal security, often manifested in panic attacks and the breakdown of daily routines, underscore the profound emotional instability characterizing the region. One girl, Aasiyeh, reports how delays by military convoys caused her the greatest anxiety, interfering with her exam schedule and daily life rhythm.[15] From a postcolonial perspective, such distress illuminates how occupation structures are not merely political, they are intimately psychological, instilling fear and undermining youth’s agency.

Identity Struggles

The long term occupation has affected the identity of the youths through culture erosion, internalized alienation, and conflicts between tradition and modernity. A substantial number of young Kashmiris are at crossroads between their rich culture and the cultural homogenization that is imposed on them by state propaganda and digital westernization.

One anonymous youth wrote: “I feel a deep sense of disheartenment… they are desperate to be anything but Kashmiri… the first stage of cultural death is the loss of language.”[16] Similarly, tensions between tradition and digital modernity sharpen identity dilemmas: “They are Kashmiri in heart but global in their habits… This dichotomy fosters… a subtle disconnection.”[17] These ambiguous identities reflect what Postcolonial Theory identifies as “othering” where young people struggle to reconcile imposed identity structures with their cultural roots, leading to identity confusion and internalized pressure to conform to externally defined norms.

Coping Mechanisms and Resilience

In the context of Kashmir’s protracted conflict, formal mental health services remain scarce and stigmatized. Many young people self-medicate with prescription antidepressants, sedatives, and illicit substances to address anxiety and insomnia, as mental health professionals are scarcely accessible and culturally taboo remains strong.[18]

Traditional and community-based coping mechanisms persist despite the lack of institutional care. Six focus group discussions in Kashmir revealed that communal spaces, shared chores, cultural practices, shrines, and faith healers serve as important emotional support systems and resilience resources.[19] Social rituals and religious engagement mitigate the experience of distress by offering social connectedness and culturally rooted solace, echoing global findings on the mental health benefits of religiosity.

Economic adversity further compounds psychological strain; studies show that unemployed youth in Kashmir experience significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress compared to their employed counterparts.[20] Despite these stressors, strong familial bonds and peer networks bolster emotional stability. A quantitative study of young adults exposed to conflict highlighted that perceived social support from family, friends, and community was positively associated with resilience, particularly among those optimistic about Kashmir’s future resolution.

Expressions of Resistance Through Art, Poetry & Social Media

Kashmiri youth have turned to art as both a means of healing and a form of political resistance, using creative expression as a tool of dissent under occupation. One of the most influential voices in this movement is MC Kash, whose 2010 rap I Protest (Remembrance) became an anthem during the Kashmir unrest. The song’s powerful message captured the spirit of collective defiance and strongly resonated with young Kashmiris searching for a voice against state oppression.[21]

More than just rap, graffiti and street art have also served as silent yet potent tools of protest. During the 2008–10 uprisings, walls across Srinagar and other towns were adorned with slogans like “We want freedom” and “I Protest,” embodying a vivid, grassroots resistance even as authorities attempted to erase them.[22] As one café owner in Srinagar observed, “We always had art in Kashmir, but recently young people started using it to protest,” noting how poetry, music, cartoons, and murals have become essential platforms amid censorship and surveillance.[23]

This form of creative resistance resonates with Postcolonial Theory, particularly Fanon’s concept of combat literature, in which cultural production serves simultaneously as a psychological outlet and a mode of political struggle. Kashmiri youth resist imposed narratives by employing art to assert their identity, articulate experiences of trauma, and challenge institutional control. Their creative expressions serve not only as acts of resilience and collective memory but also as a means of affirming culture as a foundation for resistance and self-determination under occupation.

Linking to Postcolonial Theory

The findings with the prism of the Postcolonial Theory show that the process of occupation dominates Kashmiri youth both politically and existentially. The climate of fear reflects Fanon’s notion of internalized oppression, while the identity confusion mirrors Said’s “orientalization,” where imposed identities disrupt self-understanding. At the same time, cultural rituals, poetry, and music act as decolonial practices that affirm identity, provide psychological relief, and help Kashmiri youth reclaim their narratives.

Table 1 Summary of Findings

Conclusion

The occupation youth identity analysis in IIOJK reveals that the long-term nature of militarization, which goes beyond politics and economics, has a profound impact on the self-image of the younger generation, their society, and the future. Kashmiri youth face significant psychological distress, including trauma, anxiety, and depression, which disrupt normal identity formation. Simultaneously, they feel alienated culturally between state-imposed narratives, the global influences, and their cultural traditions.

Yet, the study also highlights resilience and agency. Regardless of the repression, young people turn to cultural practices, community relationships, and imaginative expressions in form of poetry, music and digital activism. These outlets provide psychological relief while also serving as platforms for asserting identity and reclaiming narrative. Viewed through the lens of Postcolonial Theory, such acts reflect the struggle of the colonized to resist imposed otherness and reconstruct identity on their own terms.

The findings suggest that resolving the conflict requires more than political negotiations, extending to mental health support and youth empowerment. Addressing breaches of cultural identity, along with the resulting despondency and self-distrust, is essential to break cycles of alienation and depression. Ultimately, the experiences of Kashmiri youth reveal both the destructive psychological impact of occupation and the enduring resilience of resistance rooted in culture and identity.

References

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