“World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” A Moment of Reflection for Kashmir

 “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day”

 A Moment of Reflection for Kashmir

Peerzada Mohsin Shafi 

June 15 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a date recognized by the United Nations to highlight the plight of older individuals suffering from neglect, mistreatment and humiliation, often at the hands of those closest to them. Around the globe, this day is observed with campaigns and awareness drives to call out the silent epidemic that is elder abuse. But more than just a day of statistics and slogans, it serves as a moral checkpoint, asking us how do we treat those who raised us? Are we protecting them or pushing them into corners of abandonment and ridicule?

This question becomes all the more urgent when asked in the context of Kashmir—a region once known as "Peer Waer", the garden of saints, revered not only for its natural beauty but for its deeply spiritual and humane values. For centuries, Kashmiri culture has been rooted in reverence for elders, for knowledge passed down through generations and for the sanctity of age and experience. Elders were once the backbone of families and the keepers of tradition. Yet, today, that image seems to be fading rapidly.

In today’s Kashmir, the signs of cultural erosion are visible. Elder abuse has become a silent crisis in our society. It’s not always about physical harm or visible violence. More often, it’s emotional neglect, abandonment, disrespect, and worst of all, mockery. And with the rise of smartphones and social media, the nature of this abuse has taken on new and disturbing forms.

A particularly painful example that made the rounds on social media last year was that of a hearing-impaired elderly man. Clutching a passbook in hand, he visited an office to enquire about his pending pension. Instead of being guided or treated with patience, he was met with ridicule. A man behind the camera kept sarcastically repeating the phrase, “Su waate gharrai”—“It will reach your home.” The video was posted online and quickly went viral. But instead of evoking sympathy, it became fodder for memes, reels, and laughter. A man simply seeking his rightful pension, battling age and disability, was turned into a joke.

Not long after, another humiliating video circulated, this time involving a septuagenarian man who had recently undergone surgery for piles. A woman in the hospital asked intrusive questions about the surgery, filming the encounter. The old man tried to respond with dignity, but that dignity was shredded the moment the video hit social media platforms. Viewers laughed, shared and commented, forgetting entirely that they were watching a person, someone’s father or grandfather being dehumanized for amusement.

What do such incidents tell us about our current state as a society? Where has our sense of adab, our traditional respect for elders gone? Have we in the name of modernity and digital entertainment, lost our humanity?

This societal shift is even more alarming when we consider the teachings of Islam which form the moral and spiritual compass for the vast majority of Kashmir’s population. The Quran is explicit in its guidance regarding the treatment of elders, particularly parents:

“And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:23)

This verse doesn't just advise kindness butit commands it. It forbids even a sigh of annoyance or disrespect toward aging parents. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) further emphasized this in countless hadiths, including

“He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young and respect to our elders.” (Tirmidhi)

Yet, what do we see today? Our actions stand in stark contradiction to these divine instructions. The very people we are meant to honour and uplift are being mocked in public spaces and on digital platforms. Their frailty, confusion and health issues are turned into comedy. Their wisdom is ignored, their stories cut short, and their presence often treated as an inconvenience. In homes, many elderly parents are being emotionally sidelined, their opinions no longer sought, their routines seen as a burden.

There was a time in Kashmir when no important decision was made without the elder’s nod. The family meals would not begin until the eldest had broken the bread. Children were taught to stand up when an elder entered the room. These weren't just manners; they were expressions of a shared culture rooted in spirituality and moral consciousness. Today, however, that legacy is crumbling. While technology and modern lifestyles bring certain comforts, they also threaten the fabric of intergenerational respect that once defined Kashmiri society. Elders are increasingly being pushed into silence. Many live in isolation, even within homes full of people. They sit quietly in corners, yearning for conversation, warmth, or simply a moment of recognition. Some are denied medical care; others are financially manipulated. But perhaps the most devastating form of abuse is the erosion of their dignity.

On this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we must ask ourselves uncomfortable but necessary questions. What kind of community are we becoming? If today we laugh at the expense of our elders, what can we expect for ourselves tomorrow? If we continue down this path, we are not only failing them we are failing ourselves.

This day should not be reduced to social media posts or symbolic candlelight vigils. It should spark real change. As families, we must recommit to caring for our elders with patience and reverence. As communities, we need programs that offer support for aging individuals helplines, healthcare access, community centers, and legal protections. As individuals, we must challenge the trend of public humiliation masquerading as humor. Every time we come across such a video or meme, we must ask: is this the kind of society we want to live in?

It is time to remember that a society is judged not by its wealth or technological advancement but by how it treats its weakest members especially its elderly. Let us not wait until we are old and frail to understand the pain of being unseen, unheard, or unloved. Kashmir was once a land of saints. Let us not allow it to become a land of shame. Let this day be not just a day of awareness, but a day of awakening.

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