Transition From Stone-pelters to Flag-bearers: A positive transformation in Kashmir

Omkar Dattatray

After decades marked by militancy, violence and political unrest, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a perceptible and encouraging change in recent years. The transition from stone-pelters to flag-bearers captures, in a powerful metaphor, one aspect of this changing reality. The sight of ordinary citizens, political leaders and young people carrying and waving the Tricolour and participating in public functions presents a striking contrast to the street violence witnessed in earlier years.

The Independence Day celebrations of 2026 offered a particularly visible illustration of this change. Across Jammu and Kashmir, people participated in official and community programmes, displayed the national flag and joined celebrations in a manner that reflected a greater emphasis on peaceful civic participation. The contrast is significant: people who, in earlier years, were sometimes seen participating in stone-pelting and street protests are increasingly being seen engaging with education, employment, democratic institutions, public celebrations and other peaceful avenues of expression.

This transformation has multiple dimensions and cannot be attributed to any single factor. Improved security, development initiatives, political processes, changing aspirations among young people, greater connectivity and the efforts of successive governments have all contributed to the changing environment. The Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pursued a strong policy emphasis on security and development, while the elected government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah since 2024 represents the continuation of democratic political participation in the Union Territory.

The contrast between stone-pelters and flag-bearers therefore represents two sharply different phases of Kashmir’s political and social journey. One is associated with confrontation, alienation and street violence; the other suggests democratic participation, national symbols, civic engagement and the peaceful expression of political aspirations.

The Era of Stone-Pelting

Stone-pelting became a visible symbol of street unrest in Kashmir during periods of intense political agitation, particularly around 2010 and subsequently. Young people throwing stones at security personnel, police vehicles, government installations and, at times, private transport became an unsettling feature of public life.

Stone-pelting was not merely an expression of anger or political dissent. It frequently resulted in injuries and deaths, disruption of normal life and damage to public property. More importantly, it created an atmosphere in which confrontation overshadowed dialogue.

The involvement of young people was especially disturbing. Adolescence and youth should ideally be associated with education, ambition, sport, creativity and preparation for employment. When young people become involved in violent street politics, the consequences are serious not only for them but for society as a whole.

Whatever grievances may have motivated such protests, violence ultimately narrowed the space for peaceful democratic engagement. A society cannot permanently resolve political disagreements through confrontation. Sustainable solutions require dialogue, institutions and the participation of citizens in democratic processes.

The encouraging aspect of the present situation is that stone-pelting has receded substantially from public life. The disappearance of regular street violence from the centre of Kashmir’s public discourse is itself a significant development.

The Emergence of Flag-Bearers

The sight of citizens carrying the Tricolour presents a dramatically different image. The national flag is more than a piece of cloth; it represents the constitutional framework, democratic institutions and the idea of national unity.

The growing visibility of the Tricolour in public celebrations in Kashmir can therefore be viewed as an important psychological and social development. Where confrontation once dominated some public spaces, national symbols, elections, development initiatives and ordinary civic activities have increasingly become part of public life.

At the same time, this transformation should not be understood simplistically. Carrying a national flag does not automatically mean that every political or social grievance has disappeared. Democracy requires space for disagreement as well as agreement. The real achievement will be when citizens can express their differences peacefully while respecting the Constitution, democratic institutions and the rights of fellow citizens.

The significance of the Tricolour is greatest when it becomes associated not merely with ceremonial occasions but with peace, opportunity, dignity, security and equal citizenship.

From Stones to Ballots

Perhaps the most meaningful contrast is not literally between stones and flags, but between violence and democratic expression.

A stone can injure a person; a ballot can change a government. A stone creates fear; democratic participation creates accountability. A stone thrown in anger lasts only a moment, whereas institutions strengthened through democratic participation can influence generations.

This is why strengthening democratic participation in Jammu and Kashmir is more significant than any single symbolic display. Elections, local self-government, education, employment, tourism, entrepreneurship and peaceful civic engagement provide young people with alternatives to confrontation.

The ballot is ultimately more powerful than the stone because it allows citizens to change political leadership peacefully, without destroying social order. The strengthening of democratic institutions should therefore remain central to Kashmir’s future.

The Youth Question

A young Kashmiri should ideally be seen carrying a schoolbag, laptop, book, cricket bat, professional toolkit or the national flag—not a stone or a weapon.

The transformation of youth energy from confrontation towards education, employment, creativity, entrepreneurship, sport and citizenship is one of the most important indicators of lasting peace.

Kashmir’s young population represents its greatest potential. If young people receive quality education, meaningful employment opportunities, opportunities for entrepreneurship and the freedom to pursue their aspirations peacefully, the foundations of lasting stability will become stronger.

The real measure of transformation will therefore not simply be how many flags are carried on Independence Day. It will be whether a young person can look towards the future with confidence and believe that education, hard work and democratic participation can provide a dignified life.

Beyond Symbolism

The journey from stone-pelters to flag-bearers should be viewed as a metaphor for Kashmir’s transition from prolonged street confrontation towards a more peaceful and participatory political environment. But symbolism alone cannot guarantee permanent peace.

The transformation will become durable only when it is accompanied by good governance, development, employment, justice, political dialogue, respect for democratic rights and equal citizenship.

The ultimate objective should not merely be to replace one street symbol with another. It should be to create a Kashmir where the stone has become irrelevant because grievances can find peaceful and democratic channels of expression, and where the flag is carried not merely as a symbol but as an expression of confidence, belonging and hope for the future.

The stone represents the politics of confrontation; the flag represents the possibility of reconciliation and democratic participation. But lasting peace will emerge when democracy, development and dignity make confrontation unnecessary.

A Changing Political and Social Landscape

The contrasting images of stone-pelters and flag-bearers capture a profound change in the public and political atmosphere of Jammu and Kashmir. The stone became a symbol of anger, alienation and confrontation, particularly during periods of intense street unrest. The Tricolour represents a different vocabulary—constitutional democracy, national identity, peaceful participation and hope for a more stable future.

The contrast, however, should not be reduced to the simplistic assumption that every stone-pelter represented one political position or that every flag-bearer represents another. Kashmir’s history is considerably more complex. Political grievances, social aspirations and individual motivations have varied across time and communities.

Nevertheless, the two images provide a powerful framework for examining changing methods of political expression. For years, stone-pelting became one of the most recognisable manifestations of unrest in the Valley. The larger concern was that young people were often at the centre of this confrontation.

That picture has changed considerably. The reduced incidence of stone-pelting and the increasing participation of young people in education, employment, sports, civic activities and public celebrations are encouraging signs.

The image of Kashmiri citizens carrying the Tricolour consequently has considerable symbolic significance. The national flag represents the constitutional framework within which citizens participate in elections, pursue education and employment, and approach courts.

The author is a columnist, social and KP activist, and freelancer.