Fast, False and Viral

In the bustling by-lanes of Kashmir, where even the pigeons pause to listen before they coo, the ancient art of dapaan thrives. It’s the local version of the universal sport of whispering, a masterful exercise in creating, embellishing, and transmitting information that has been fact-checked by absolutely no one. If you’ve ever played Chinese whispers and wondered what would happen if the game was turned into a full-time profession, look no further than Kashmir’s dapaan culture.

The Great Game of ‘Dapaan’

Dapaan operates like a rogue radio channel with no frequency control. A news item starts as a simple statement—say, “Ali bought a cow”—and by the time it reaches the tenth person, Ali has been arrested for cattle smuggling, the cow is a UFO, and there are eyewitnesses who claim they saw it abducted by extraterrestrials. Some would argue this isn’t misinformation; it’s creative storytelling at its finest.

Kashmiris have perfected this art. The golden rule? If it sounds dramatic, spread it like wildfire. If it sounds true, add some spice to make it more interesting. And if it has anything to do with politics, you better hold on to your kangri because the plot twists are about to get wild.

Once upon a time, dapaan was confined to cozy gossip sessions in village squares, shrines, and bread shops where even the naan seemed to be listening. But technology has blessed us with WhatsApp and Twitter, and now, misinformation can reach you faster than a power cut in the middle of winter. Gone are the days when one had to wait for a neighbour to whisper a juicy rumour; now, your uncle’s friend’s cousin’s neighbour can enlighten you with unverified “breaking news” at 3 a.m. There is a whole lot of varieties in dapaan world.

The WhatsApp Scholar – A relative who forwards messages with the disclaimer: “Forwarded as received”, as if that absolves them of responsibility. The Conspiracy Chef – Someone who blends a little fact with a whole lot of fiction, like adding chili powder to kehwa and calling it a new recipe. The Political Prophet – The guy who knows exactly what will happen next in the government, because “my friend’s uncle’s barber overheard it at the teashop.” The Breaking News DJ – The social media enthusiast who takes a 10-second clip out of context and captions it “Kashmir’s fate decided!” before running away from the comments section.

The Whispering Olympics

In Kashmir, the dapaan contest is ongoing. Who can come up with the most thrilling headline? Who can add the best credible source usually, “I swear by my neighbor’s parrot”? And most importantly, who can spread it the fastest?

A classic example is the perpetual “Curfew’s been imposed” rumour. Even if the only thing that happened was a cow sneezing too loudly near Lal Chowk, someone, somewhere, will declare a full-blown lockdown, complete with “confirmed” reports that even the air is under surveillance.

Another favourite category is “Political Sensation,” where minor government decisions are turned into full-fledged revolutions overnight. Did the municipal committee repaint a wall? Obviously, it’s part of a secret master plan for world domination. Did an official sneeze during a speech? He’s obviously sending coded messages to foreign agencies. And let’s not even start on the legendary result-date leaks, which have made generations of students lose sleep over exams they haven’t even taken yet.

While it’s fun to chuckle at these absurdities, the dangers of unchecked dapaan are very real. Rumours have caused unnecessary panic, fuelled conflicts, and even led to drastic social consequences. What starts as a whisper can end as an international incident. There have been cases where job opportunities, marriages, and even livelihoods were ruined because someone, somewhere, decided that a half-truth was too good not to share.

Worldwide, the whispering syndrome isn’t confined to Kashmir. The West calls it ‘fake news,’ the East calls it ‘gossip,’ and social media platforms call it ‘engagement metrics.’ No matter the name, it spreads faster than butter on a hot tandoori naan. The U.S. elections, Brexit, and COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies have all shown us that misinformation isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a weapon of mass distraction.

The ‘Dapaan’ Detox Plan

So how do we curb this glorious mess of misinformation? Here’s a foolproof plan.

1. Verify before you amplify – If someone tells you something sensational, pause and ask: Is this from a verified source, or is this just my uncle who still thinks the moon landing was staged?
2. Fact-check like a detective – If a piece of news seems too thrilling to be true, chances are it isn’t. Google it, check multiple sources, and—most importantly—don’t believe anything that starts with “I swear my cousin saw it firsthand.”
3. Resist the urge to sound important – Yes, it’s tempting to be the first to break ‘news’ to your friends, but spreading misinformation makes you part of the problem. Choose wisdom over momentary fame.
4. Unfollow the gossip kings and queens – If your social media timeline is a never-ending parade of conspiracy theories, maybe it’s time to cleanse your feed. Follow credible news sources, or at least someone who doesn’t get their facts from their dreams.
5. Teach the art of skepticism – Schools should include ‘how to detect nonsense’ as a subject. If we can teach kids calculus, we can surely teach them how not to believe that Mars is about to invade Earth.

Conclusion

In the end, whispering syndromes—whether it’s Kashmir’s dapaan or global misinformation campaigns—exist because humans love a good story. But when rumors replace reality, chaos ensues. If we want a saner world, we must choose truth over sensation, verification over blind belief, and wisdom over WhatsApp forwards.

Remember, truth takes its time, but whispers travel instantly. So, the next time someone shares a spicy piece of news with you, take a deep breath, hold onto your kehwa, and ask: Is this truth, or is this just another episode of the Dapaan chronicles?

Dr. Ashraf Zainabi, Teacher and Researcher Based in Gowhar Pora Chadoora J&K, and Advisor at The Nature University, Kashmir