Gund villagers open hearts & hearths to shatter closed mindsets on Kashmir

In a world often divided by misconceptions, the people of Gund village in Kashmir proved that compassion and humanity know no boundaries. When heavy snowfall stranded tourists, the community opened their hearts, homes and even the village mosque, offering warmth and shelter to those in need during a challenging and uncertain night.

Rajesh Gupta, a software engineer from Hyderabad, was visiting Kashmir with his wife and two young children to experience its famed beauty in winter. Their journey, however, took an unexpected turn on Friday when heavy snowfall blocked roads near Gund village in Ganderbal, about 30 km from Srinagar.

The family’s car was stuck on the icy roads as temperatures plunged and darkness fell. With no hotels nearby and their two small children trembling in the cold, Gupta feared the worst.

“We were scared and helpless. The snow was falling heavily, and the road had turned into a sheet of ice. Our children were crying, shivering in the cold, and we felt utterly powerless. I didn’t know how we would make it through the night. Just when we thought all hope was lost, a Kashmiri family came to our rescue. They brought us into their home, shared their warmth, and treated us like their own. It was a moment of incredible kindness that we will never forget,” Gupta tells Media India Group.

Gupta was among hundreds of tourists who found themselves stranded that harrowing Friday night. It wasn’t just Gupta’s family who were provided shelter. Practically, every tourist who got stuck was welcomed with open arms by the compassionate residents of Gund, ensuring no one was left out in the cold.

As the snow continued to fall and the cold intensified, the situation grew increasingly dire. Stranded families, including young children, huddled in their vehicles, hoping for a solution. Gund, a small village with limited infrastructure, suddenly found itself hosting an influx of desperate travellers.

In this moment of crisis, the residents of Gund displayed extraordinary hospitality. Many villagers opened their homes to the stranded tourists, offering them warmth and comfort. Among them was Tariq Ahmad, a shopkeeper, who invited the stranded tourists into his home.

“When we saw the tourists stranded, we didn’t think twice. By giving shelter to the tourists, we didn’t do something extraordinary. It is our duty as human beings to help those in need, especially in such difficult times. I remember seeing small children crying from the cold, and it broke my heart. We couldn’t let them suffer in the freezing night. We brought them into our homes, gave them food, and ensured they were warm and safe. This is what being human is about standing by each other in times of need,” Ahmad tells Media India Group.

To accommodate the large number of people who were stranded, it was not just the homes in Gund village that were opened, but even the village mosque was used to provide shelter for the night, even though traditionally, mosques are not open to women. But on this unusual evening, even this custom was cast aside for the sake of humanity. As a result, many tourists, including women and children, found refuge in the spacious Jamia Masjid, where the villagers ensured they were warm and comfortable for the night. The community worked tirelessly to bring food, blankets, and warm beverages to their unexpected guests.

Anees Sheikh, a resident of Gund village, explains why the mosque was opened up.

“When we saw that all the homes were filled, we knew we couldn’t let anyone stay out in the freezing cold. That is when we decided to open the doors of the masjid. It didn’t matter to us that some of the tourists were not Muslim they were human beings in need. We made sure they were comfortable and warm, even allowing women to stay in the mosque, which is something we rarely do. It was an emotional moment for all of us, seeing people from different backgrounds coming together and feeling safe in our care. It reminded me that humanity is above everything else,” Shiekh tells Media India Group.

Many tourists were initially scared and hesitant to accept help from the locals. Years of misconceptions and misinformed stereotypes about the region had made them wary. However, as the villagers extended their warmth and assistance, offering food, shelter, and comfort, their fears melted away. By the end of the ordeal, the tourists left with a new-found respect for the generosity and humanity of the people of Gund.

“At first, many tourists were hesitant to accept our help. Some were scared because they had a different image of Kashmiri people. But as the night went on, they realised we were only trying to help. We treated them like family, and by morning, many of them told us that their perception of Kashmiris had completely changed. It was heartwarming to see that our actions could make such a difference,” Shiekh adds.

Many of the stranded tourists admitted that they were initially afraid and reluctant to trust the locals. Misconceptions about the region and its people made them wary of accepting assistance but the hospitality and kindness shown by the people of Gund not only comforted the travellers but also helped change their perceptions, leaving them with newfound respect and admiration for Kashmiris.

“We were hesitant at first, unsure of how to accept the help extended to us. There was this lingering fear, a misconception that had been ingrained in us for years. The Indian media always painted the Kashmiri people in a certain light, portraying them as hostile or filled with hatred toward us, the people from the rest of India. It was a narrative that we, unfortunately, grew up believing, and it made us wary, even though we didn’t have any real reason to feel that way. But once we arrived in Kashmir, our entire worldview was turned upside down. The people we had once feared were the most welcoming, kind-hearted souls we could have imagined. They greeted us with open arms, shared their stories, and helped us in ways we hadn’t expected. We were treated not as strangers, but as part of their family. When we left, it wasn’t just the warmth of their hospitality that left a mark on us, but the generosity. They gave us apples, walnuts, and so many other thoughtful gifts. It felt like we were saying goodbye to family, not just strangers,” Gupta adds.