Rehan Qayoom MIr
Srinagar: On a chilly winter morning, as the sun worse normally like the other days, over the waters of the river Jhelum, a group of young boys sits huddled on the stairs of Abi Guzar Bund. The bund which came alive with discussions, but amidst the hustle-bustle chatter, the conversation takes a sombre turn. Their focus shifts to a poignant topic—the fading glory of Srinagar’s “Wall of Kindness,” a once-thriving symbol of communal harmony and charity.
Inaugurated years ago, with much excitement and joy, the Wall of Kindness was inaugurated with a bang, and soon got highlighted and spread like a fire, locally as well as globally. This initiative, located at Abi Guzar-The Bund Lal Chowk, allowed people to donate clothes, and other essentials for the needy by simply hanging them on the designated wall. This wall quickly became a beacon of hope, drawing widespread appreciation for fostering a sense of compassion in the community.
Started by, “Who is Hussain,” an organization working globally for the betterment of people, back in 2018, and within just days the wall become an sensation and created a buzz on the internet. Soon after which people from different corners of valley started visiting it, and donating their clothes for the needy people which may benefit them. “The wall of kindness was established, on the outer wall of dilapidated multi-storied hotel that was destroyed in a fire on September 15, 2018. During the 2018, the wall of kindness emerged as a new and loving concept for people, who uses the ill-fated wall of building as a wall of hope and charity.
Soon as time passed, now in 2025, after nearly seven years this wall lost its “sheen” with today the wall stands same along with the people of J&K but today it paints a starkly different image, of lost glory and waiting for its revival. The spirit and the helping nature of people of Kashmir have seem to be lost. The once-crowded spot of Srinagar city, now holds dust and a long wait for its revival.
In the meanwhile, the locals attributed the decline of the Wall of Kindness, to cite a lack of proper maintenance and public awareness as key reasons, while many believe the wall needs a new location as in the centre of city and close to historic clock tower (Ghanta GHar).
A call from locals for shift or building more walls
The Wall of Kindness was a noble initiative, but its decline can largely be attributed to the lack of awareness among people, and a dwindling public interest. Many feel that the wall’s location, far from the heart of the city, might have contributed to its underuse. “People need easy access to donate items, and unfortunately, this was not the case. A new location, perhaps closer to the Clock Tower, could renovate the initiative and bring it back into the public eye,” said a Bhat Sahil resident. He said, if we can get another wall in the centre of city or that will be beneficial as it will easy for locals and tourist to contribute towards the noble cause.
Meanwhile its introducers to valley—the volunteers of “Who is Hussain” said they choose the location as that time The Bund of Abi Guzar had a good footfall and we tried other places as well but the authorities didn’t give us permission to set up this wall and as a result we setup the wall here.
Asgar Baba one of the volunteer from Who Is Hussain speaking with the Kashmir Times said, Wall of Kindness was an idea from us and we pitched it to public. The aim behind this wall was to make people feel free while donation or collecting clothes. “This wall keeps the identity of the donator and the needy one anonymous as one can visit the spot and donate whatever wants to, and hang the clothes at dedicated slot, from where the needy person collects the same,” said Asgar.
Asked about its location, Asgar said we planned to start this wall at different locations but the authorities didn’t allow us to do so, and finally we find the spot on Abi Guzar Bund.
It may be recalled, the role of social media in the initial success of the Wall of Kindness cannot be overlooked. As the wall was established in 2018, social media platforms played a significant role in its success and made it a blockbuster overnight. The pictures and stories of people donating clothes and essentials went viral, drawing attention from both locals and people outside Kashmir.
However, over the years, the focus on social media has faded, with presently there is a noticeable lack of online campaigns or promotions to sustain the visibility of the wall. “The absence of digital engagement has contributed to the decline in public interest, making it out from minds of people, left it vanishing from social media.
“The concept behind the Wall of Kindness was revolutionary, but it has faced many challenges over time. People forgot about it because there was no constant promotion or community engagement. We need to raise awareness, make sure it’s well-maintained, and maybe relocate it to a busier, more accessible spot. If possible we must build more such wall near the main city or other popular destinations to spread this noble job,” said Umer another local.
Notably, adding to the concerns, many people believe civic authorities could have taken a more proactive role in maintaining and promoting the Wall of Kindness. “Regular maintenance, awareness drives, and support from the authorities could have prevented the wall from losing its significance,” said Aazan a local. “The wall should have been maintained regularly, and its message should have been spread by the civic bodies through community engagement programs,” he said.
While the Wall of Kindness may have lost its sheen, its story is far from over and a recalling tale of renewal and rebuilding. With efforts and collective determination, it has the potential to regain its place as cherished place heart of the city.
