Peerzada Masarat Shah
In the hyper-connected digital era, slogans often outpace thoughtful discourse, morphing into tools for viral validation rather than genuine advocacy. The phrase “Mera Jism Meri Marzi”—translating to “My Body, My Choice”—emerged as a powerful rallying cry during Pakistan’s Aurat March in 2018, a feminist movement inspired by the global #MeToo wave. It was designed to champion bodily autonomy, combat sexual violence, harassment, and forced marriages, emphasizing women’s right to make decisions about their own bodies without coercion. Rooted in demands for reproductive rights and protection from abuse, the slogan symbolized resistance against patriarchal control.
Yet, in its modern iterations across South Asia, it has increasingly been co-opted—often stripped of its ethical core and repurposed to justify behaviors that prioritize shock value over self-respect.
Critics argue that this shift transforms empowerment into a façade for moral detachment. In Pakistan, the slogan has faced backlash for being perceived as promoting “nudity, shamelessness, or disrespect for cultural values,” with detractors claiming it undermines traditional societal norms. Religious and conservative voices label it obscene, associating the word “jism” (body) with vulgar connotations, leading to heated debates about intent versus interpretation. Actress Fiza Ali, for instance, has publicly criticized the slogan, asserting that feminists favor “bold and fashionable women” while ignoring those who uphold modesty.
This misinterpretation fuels a broader concern: what begins as a call for dignity risks becoming a shield for exhibitionism and provocation, commodifying the self in the pursuit of fleeting fame.
Social media amplifies this drift, turning personal choices into public spectacles. Platforms like Instagram and X reward outrage and exposure, with algorithms prioritizing content that shocks or titillates while sidelining substantive dialogue. Studies indicate that excessive social media use erodes moral values among youth, fostering depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and a distorted sense of self-worth tied to likes and views. More than 50 percent of respondents in a UK survey believe social media hinders young people’s character development, promoting unrealistic standards and normalizing indecency as empowerment. In this attention economy, modesty is derided as outdated, while restraint is equated with oppression—training generations to conflate visibility with validation.
A poignant illustration from India’s entertainment landscape underscores this trend. In Bigg Boss Season 19 (2025), Kashmiri peace activist Farrhana Bhatt, a Srinagar native raised by her single mother, entered the show as a contestant and quickly became a focal point of controversy. Evicted in the first week but dramatically reintroduced, Bhatt’s tenure was marked by heated clashes, foul language, and viral outbursts that drew reprimands from host Salman Khan. She mocked fellow contestants’ careers, faced accusations of favoritism, and sparked defamation suits after being labeled a “terrorist” in interviews.
While fans praised her “grit and realness,” critics cast her as a “villain,” with her abusive behavior and alleged ties to production insiders fueling debates over authenticity. Celebrated more for spectacle than substance, Bhatt’s portrayal raised an uncomfortable question: does this represent progress for Kashmiris, or does it commodify cultural identity for ratings? When visibility hinges on provocation, it risks eroding the dignity the slogan originally sought to protect.
Autonomy, however, demands accountability. Without it, freedom devolves into chaos, influencing societal norms where influencers normalize excess. Research links heavy social media engagement to declining offline moral behavior, including reduced empathy and heightened narcissism. Families and communities, fearing labels of control, often withhold guidance, while platforms continue to monetize division. This ecosystem dilutes responsibility, outsourcing conscience to viral trends.
History offers stark warnings about the glamour industry’s pitfalls. Icons like Marilyn Monroe endured exploitation, objectification, and substance abuse—her image relentlessly commodified by studios, ultimately leading to personal collapse. Judy Garland was drugged as a child star to maintain productivity, exemplifying systemic abuse in Hollywood. The #MeToo movement later exposed figures like Harvey Weinstein, revealing how power dynamics prey on vulnerability. In fashion, garment workers endure forced labor and poverty wages, mirroring a broader pattern where glamour masks grim realities. Fame built on ethical voids rarely endures; applause fades, leaving isolation behind.
Kashmir—historically a beacon of scholarship and spirituality—deserves better. From ancient Buddhist monasteries to Sufi saints like Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, the region fostered a syncretic harmony blending Shaivism, Buddhism, and Islam. It served as a hub for Vedic scholarship, Mahayana philosophy, and mystical poetry, drawing seekers of wisdom across centuries. Importing hollow trends without context risks diluting this legacy of refinement and moral depth.
This critique is not about curtailing agency but about rejecting self-erasure masquerading as liberation. True progress preserves the soul. May divine guidance steer our youth toward dignity and purpose—for freedom without values is merely an illusion.
For Kashmir, the question is not merely about slogans or trends imported through screens, but about the kind of society we aspire to rebuild after decades of loss, resilience, and moral endurance. This land has survived conflict not because it abandoned its values, but because it held on to dignity, restraint, and an inner compass shaped by faith, scholarship, and collective responsibility. Our youth deserve empowerment rooted in self-respect, not validation traded for momentary applause. True liberation for Kashmir lies not in louder visibility, but in wiser expression—where freedom walks hand in hand with accountability, and identity is strengthened, not diluted, by conscience. In choosing depth over display and purpose over provocation, Kashmir can chart a path of progress that honors both autonomy and its timeless moral responsibility.
