The Horizon of Resilience

The scene in the villages of Kashmir has become a quiet testament to a new kind of determination. On a riverbank, I watched as a group of children, their hands smudged with mud, carefully planted a line of young trees. Their giggling was a sharp, hopeful sound against the murmur of the flowing water. These are the children of a new normal, a generation that has learned from a young age that the very land they stand on requires their care. They are a part of a community checking a simple, newly-installed water level marker—a humble, wooden pole near a bridge—not with fear, but with a sense of shared purpose.

For the past several years, the entire Northern Indian region, including Jammu & Kashmir, has faced increasingly volatile weather. The monsoon seasons from 2023 to 2025 brought with them unprecedented, above-average rainfall, flash floods, and landslides. This year’s rains tested our new resolve, once again demonstrating that the climate is changing and we must adapt. But what is different now is not just the water; it is the mindset. The narrative is shifting from one of victimhood to one of proactive resilience. The people of Kashmir are no longer waiting for the next disaster; they are quietly building a horizon of hope for themselves.

At the heart of this new approach lies a fusion of scientific understanding and community action. The devastation of past floods has underscored that a key part of the problem lies not just with the rivers themselves, but with the encroachment on natural floodplains and illegal constructions. In response, communities and civil society groups are now taking a firm stand, working with authorities to challenge illegal constructions on riverbeds and traditional flood channels, which act as natural sponges during heavy rainfall. This pushback against short-sighted development is a powerful and strategic solution, essential for ensuring natural waterways can do their job.

This pragmatic philosophy also extends to how people are rebuilding. In vulnerable hill areas, traditional construction methods are being re-evaluated. Builders and villagers are recognizing the need to shift their approach, with a focus on building designs that can better withstand land movement, using a blend of traditional knowledge and modern engineering principles. It is a quiet revolution in construction, a strategic pivot that recognizes the need to build with the land, not against it. These homes are not just buildings; they are shelters designed to flex and endure in an unpredictable environment.

Resilience isn’t just about physical structures; it’s about communication and a shared plan. The most inspiring change I have witnessed is the implementation of local, low-tech early warning systems. These systems are community-managed and simple, using rain gauges to monitor water levels. When water reaches a certain marker, a simple siren—a church bell, a school horn, or a community call—is triggered, giving villages precious minutes to hours to evacuate to higher, pre-identified safe zones. This is not a complex, government-funded system. It is a human-led, people-powered solution that relies on trust and shared responsibility. It is simple, but it is saving lives.

This entire movement is defined by a strategic shift from a top-down relief model to community-led adaptation. For years, the story of floods in Kashmir was about waiting for the government and aid agencies to arrive with supplies and support. While that support remains essential, the power dynamic has changed. Village committees are now taking the lead, mapping their own flood risks, identifying the safest evacuation routes, and conducting their own evacuation drills. This is empowerment in its purest form. It is the realization that the people who know the land best are the ones best suited to protect it.

Beyond the immediate need for flood protection, the communities are also diversifying their livelihoods. Some farmers are transitioning to less water-intensive crops that can better withstand erratic rainfall patterns. Others are moving away from traditional farming altogether and embracing alternative livelihoods, such as handicrafts or eco-tourism, which are less vulnerable to the disruptions caused by an intense monsoon. It is a recognition that true resilience is not just about withstanding a storm, but about building a life that can thrive in a changed climate.

This entire philosophy is beautifully captured in a local sentiment that I heard on my travels. One elder told me, “We now plant trees so our children won’t drown in mud.” This is more than just a statement; it is a profound testament to a long-term, intergenerational view of resilience. It is a vision that looks beyond the present pain to a horizon of hope, where the actions of today ensure a safer tomorrow.

This local adaptation is a microcosm of a global necessity. The lessons from Kashmir—a region often viewed through the lens of conflict or disaster—are directly relevant to other mountainous and flood-prone regions worldwide facing similar climate pressures. What is happening here is not just a local response to a local problem. It is a living laboratory of human ingenuity, a practical, grounded model for what climate adaptation can and should look like.

The people of Kashmir are showing us that our horizon should not be one of despair, but one of resilience. It is a story not of helplessness, but of quiet determination. They are proving that when communities are empowered to be the architects of their own future, they can build a more secure world for themselves, one small, people-centred step at a time. This is the new horizon we must all look toward.

 Arhan Bagati is a youth leader from Kashmir and the founder of KYARI, a non-profit organization addressing critical issues in the region. He is also the Awareness and Impact Ambassador for the Paralympic Committee of India and is currently pursuing a Master in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His commitment to social change was recently acknowledged when he was named a Hindustan Times “30 Under 30 – Social Impact Leader”. He was also conferred with the prestigious ET Indo Global Leaders Award for “Excellence in Social Impact” for his impactful work through KYARI. Additionally, he has co-produced the movie Ground Zero.