From Sweden with Love for Kashmir
From Sweden with
Love for Kashmir
“@Nehabiho carries Kashmiri language and traditions into daily
life far from home. Her videos show the contrasts between Sweden and the valley
with clarity and warmth. Through these reflections, Kashmir is urged to learn,
preserve its heritage and embrace positive change.”
Peerzada
Mohsin Shafi
Nehabiho, the woman behind the Instagram handle @nehabiho, has
managed to carve out a unique space for herself in the vast landscape of
content creators. Originally from the beautiful valley of Kashmir, Nehabiho now
lives in Sweden with her husband and two beautiful children. Unlike many
content creators from Kashmir who focus on either showcasing the glamorous side
of life or indulging in trends, Nehabiho’s content stands apart for its
authenticity, simplicity and profound connection to her roots. Through her
posts, Nehabiho takes her followers on a journey that not only bridges the
geographical distance between Kashmir and Sweden but also invites them to
reflect on the values, traditions and lifestyles that define both places.
What makes Nehabiho’s content truly extraordinary is the way she
celebrates and contrasts her life in Sweden with her memories of Kashmir. In
her daily posts and videos, she highlights the beauty of small moments whether
it’s her children’s laughter, the natural landscapes of Sweden or the quiet
rituals of family life. But it’s not just the everyday activities that make her
content stand out; it’s her ability to infuse these moments with deeper
meaning. Nehabiho’s connection to Kashmir, despite being physically distant,
shines through in every post. She has not only maintained her Kashmiri identity
but has woven it into her content in a way that feels both nostalgic and
relevant to her audience.
A significant part of Nehabiho’s charm lies in her unapologetic
use of Kashmiri, a language that is slowly fading in the valley as English and
Urdu take precedence. In all of her videos, she and her children speak in Kashmiri,
even while living abroad. They proudly preserve their mother tongue, no matter
the distance from home. Yet here in Kashmir, many of us still feel hesitant or
embarrassed to speak our own language, despite being surrounded by our cultural
roots. In a world where many Kashmiris have abandoned their native tongue,
often due to societal pressures or a desire to integrate into the globalized
world, Nehabiho’s decision to speak Kashmiri in every video is a powerful
statement. It’s not just about preserving the language; it’s about reclaiming
it as a tool for storytelling, for expressing love, pain, joy and identity. By
doing so, Nehabiho is sending a strong message to the people of Kashmir particularly
the younger generation that speaking in their mother tongue is not something to
be ashamed of. Instead, it is a source of pride and a vital connection to their
heritage.
Beyond her use of language, Nehabiho's content offers sharp
observations and comparisons between life in Sweden and life in Kashmir. One of
the recurring themes in her videos is the contrast between the educational
systems in the two places. Nehabiho frequently shares her thoughts on the
Swedish approach to education, which she describes as more child-centric,
joyful and practical. In Sweden, children are encouraged to explore, learn
through play, and develop emotional intelligence, an approach that is markedly
different from the rigid and stressful educational system that prevails in
Kashmir. Nehabiho doesn’t shy away from calling out the issues she sees in
Kashmir's education system, such as the excessive focus on rote memorization,
homework and peer pressure. Through her posts, she urges parents to consider
the long-term mental health of their children, advocating for a more holistic
approach to learning one that values creativity, emotional well-being and
curiosity.
In addition to education, Nehabiho’s observations extend to the
small yet significant aspects of daily life that often go unnoticed. For
instance, she often compares the discipline and orderliness of Swedish life to
the chaotic, sometimes neglected state of affairs in Kashmir. Whether it’s the
cleanliness of public spaces or the way people interact with each other, Nehabiho
highlights how small changes in behaviour such as taking responsibility for
one’s surroundings can lead to a more harmonious and organized society. Her
videos on garbage disposal, for example, emphasize the importance of
cleanliness and how even a simple practice like waste management can make a
significant difference in how a community functions. She draws a clear line
between the well-maintained public spaces of Sweden and the unsightly piles of
garbage that have become all too common in parts of Kashmir. Through these
comparisons, Nehabiho not only points out the gaps but also challenges the
people of Kashmir to adopt better practices for the sake of their environment
and community.
One of Nehabiho’s most touching videos is about child
vaccination and patient care in Sweden. She contrasts the way children are
treated in Swedish healthcare settings where there is a clear emphasis on care,
love and making the experience as comfortable as possible with the often
impersonal and rushed nature of healthcare in Kashmir. Nehabiho's gentle, yet
insightful, commentary highlights the importance of compassion in medical care
and she calls attention to how small gestures of kindness can make a world of
difference in a child's experience with healthcare. Through her content, she
advocates for a healthcare system that places people’s emotions and well-being
at the center, rather than just focusing on the clinical aspects of treatment.
Nehabiho’s efforts to keep Kashmiri culture alive, despite being
far from home are particularly commendable. She doesn’t just share her
thoughts; she embodies Kashmiri traditions in her daily routines. One example
of this is the way she bids farewell to her children as they leave for school.
She says, “Naeer gass khudayas Hawaal,” a traditional Kashmiri phrase
that has been forgotten by many in the valley in favor of English phrases. This
simple act, capturing the essence of Kashmiri culture, serves as a beautiful
reminder of the importance of maintaining one’s cultural and religious
identity. It also shows the power of language in preserving cultural values
that might otherwise fade over time. By using her platform to promote these
small but significant aspects of Kashmiri life, Nehabiho is doing more than
just creating content she is safeguarding a piece of Kashmir’s soul for future
generations.
Additionally, Nehabiho’s explorations of Swedish tourist
destinations offer insightful reflections on how good planning and care can
transform even the simplest of places into scenic wonders. In one of her
videos, she takes her followers on a tour of a well-maintained park or village
in Sweden, drawing a comparison to the lack of infrastructure development in
Kashmir’s tourism sector. Kashmir, with its stunning natural beauty, is blessed
with incredible potential as a global tourist destination. However, much of it
remains underdeveloped, with little government intervention to promote
sustainable tourism or protect the environment. Nehabiho’s content brings
attention to this issue and calls for a collective effort to harness Kashmir’s
tourism potential, suggesting that small improvements in infrastructure,
cleanliness, and preservation could make a significant difference in attracting
tourists and boosting the local economy.
While Nehabiho’s videos are a personal glimpse into her life,
they also serve as a quiet but powerful call for change in Kashmir. She
encourages the people of the valley to reflect on their own lives, their
values, and the way they engage with the world around them. Through her small,
everyday actions, Nehabiho is making a big impact—not just by showing the
differences between Kashmir and Sweden but by encouraging a more thoughtful,
responsible and culturally grounded approach to life. Her work is a reminder
that we don’t need to make grand gestures or take monumental leaps to create
change. Sometimes, it’s the small steps, the everyday decisions and the quiet
commitment to preserving what we love that make the most profound difference.
Nehabiho’s content isn’t just about highlighting the contrast
between two places; it’s about starting a conversation. It’s about urging us to
think more deeply about our environment, our children’s future and our
responsibility to our culture. Whether she’s showing the joyful learning
experiences of Swedish children, emphasizing the importance of using Kashmiri
in daily life or highlighting the beauty of simplicity, Nehabiho’s Instagram
page is a place where the small, meaningful moments come together to create a
powerful narrative that invites us to embrace our heritage and work toward a
better, more mindful future.
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