According to recent surveys, only about 8.5% of men in Jammu & Kashmir get married by the age of 21, highlighting the delay in what was once considered a “normal” age to begin married life.  Meanwhile, the region’s total fertility rate has dropped dramatically: from 3.6 in 1991 to 1.4 in 2019-21. 

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In Srinagar and the valley beyond, thousands of women have crossed the commonly accepted “marriageable” threshold not because they lack desire, but because circumstances kept them waiting. Divorce and widowhood are part of the story too. Though the divorce rate in the 2011 Census for Jammu & Kashmir was low (around 0.34%), recent studies confirm a clear upward trend in marital breakdowns.  Research also reveals the heavy burden on divorced women: studies show they’re more likely to face emotional distress, single-parenthood burdens, and social exclusion. 
 

Then there’s the Kashmiri diaspora. With 5–7 lakh Kashmiris settled abroad, from the Gulf to Europe and North America, many face the challenge of finding a life partner who not only respects their faith, but also understands their Kashmiri culture, language, and family values. The cultural gap is real; matching faith is one thing, but matching heritage and identity is quite another.

 

Here’s what this means:

 

• Many young Kashmiris know someone their age who remains unmarried, not by choice but by circumstance.

• Many women who are divorced or widowed find it nearly impossible to receive proposals after that life change.

• Diaspora Kashmiris strive for a partner who ties together tradition and modernity someone who shares both the iman and the Kashmiri pehchaan.

 

The desire for Nikah remains strong, steadfast and sincere. What’s missing is a system that understands the unique intersections of faith, culture, identity and modern realities. A space where Kashmiri Muslims can seek marriage with dignity, without compromise.

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