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Paper short abstract:

This research explores how the Kashmir's Hanji Community face a threat to their fishing and cultural traditions. it also explores how urbanization, pollution, and modernization threaten their livelihood, prompting resilient resistance to change and migration.

Paper long abstract:

The Hanjis or Heanz are the boatmen of community of Kashmir. They live in the areas around the Dal lake, Wular lake, Manasbal lake and along the banks of river Jhelum. They are a unique homogenous group that have distinct cultures and traditions, with many sub groups, categorised according to the work they do. This research focuses on the Ga’ad-Haenz community in Kashmir, investigating the imminent loss of their enduring fishing traditions. Employing ethnographic methods, including on-site participant observations, it explores multifaceted factors contributing to the decline of traditional fishing practices linked to livelihoods and cultural identity.

The results highlight a concerning trend where youth, grappling with uncertainties, abandon generational occupations. The community's forced migration from water-based ancestral homes to crowded urban spaces has led to a sense of detachment from cultural roots. Simultaneously, declining fish count due to pollution and habitat destruction from unplanned development contribute to reduced revenues. Consequently, they resort to low-income jobs like manual labor, exacerbating their vulnerabilities.

The study highlights the obstacles encountered by female fishers who confront problems in accessing markets lacking infrastructure. Poorly executed modernization plans displace communities, disrupting water-centric communal structures.

In the face of existential challenges, the Hanji community, demonstrate courage by steadfastly holding to their traditional fishing methods. The Hanji culture faces significant challenges due to discriminatory legislation and practices in the midst of rising urbanization.