In a display of honesty and integrity, the people of Kashmir have once again proven their reputation for hospitality and sincerity.
Ms. Fiza, a tourist from Malaysia, found herself in awe of the honesty exhibited by the locals during her recent visit to the Kashmir valley.
Her admiration for the Kashmiri people stems from an incident that unfolded at a coat and textiles shop in Khanyar area of Srinagar.
While shopping, Ms. Fiza accidently left her bag containing more than 1.75 lakhs behind. Rather than seizing the opportunity, the shopkeepers, upon discovering the forgotten bag, chose to safeguard it, hoping for her return.
Expressing their concern, the shopkeepers waited anxiously, even though they lacked Ms. Fiza’s contact information. “We were not able to work or sleep because of this situation,” expressed one of the shopkeepers.
Fortunately, Ms. Fiza did return to claim her lost bag. Notably, besides the significant sum of cash, she had also misplaced other valuables, all of which were safely restored to her by the locals.
In a testament to the character of the Kashmiri people, Ms. Fiza shared incidents of lost items being returned during her stay.
She recounted the recovery of her lost drone in Gulmarg, as well as the return of a lost iPhone belonging to another guest.
Reflecting on their principles, the shopkeepers emphasized their commitment to honesty and hard work, eschewing deceitful means for success.
“We are hard-working people and do not believe in means such as this to achieve prosperity”, he added.
Ms. Fiza’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the integrity that permeates the fabric of Kashmiri society.
In a world plagued by mistrust and dishonesty, the actions of these individuals stand as an example of human decency and compassion.