Kashmir has a recorded history of about 5000 years. Besides, it has a rich oral tradition of folklore in the form of puzzles, riddles, folk tales, songs for children etc. This creative art form is the product of the labor of love of many generations which has been handed down to us by our parents and grandparents.
The folklore preserves the unique identity, culture, values, narratives and the collective understanding of the Kashmiri ethos.
Some of us have been lucky to taste the sweetness of this oral tradition directly from our kith and kin. But given the nature and pace of the modern world, most of us might miss out on this treasure which has been nurtured and preserved and thus far. Moreover, many of us cannot remember or recall it in any concrete form that could be shared with our children.
If no action is taken to preserve and promote this oral tradition then this rich heritage will be lost forever. What a shame it would be to deprive our children from enriching and beautifying their lives with this creative art form.
The Kehnczha Mehnczha (KM) App project was conceived to address the need of preserving, promoting and engaging with our rich heritage in ways which are relevant & viable in the current times.
The word KM was inspired by the eminent folklorist of Kashmir - Mr. Ghulam Nabi Atish, who has rendered invaluable service to the Kashmiri folklore.
KM is a sweet Kashmiri expression which is untranslatable into any other language, including English.The literal meaning of the word Kehnczha is ‘something’ and Mehnczha is just a rhyming word.
Every one brought up in the Kashmiri tradition, knows the word KM and it brings a smile on his/her face. It is our sincere hope that the launch of the KM App will bring a bigger smile to the entire community.
Our Vision:
Through the Kehnczha Mehnczha (KM) App our vision is to bring the Kashmiri folklore back to life in the Kashmiri living room around the globe. History has condemned us to live in persistent pain which is our collective misfortune; yet, we owe it to ourselves to cherish and celebrate our colorful heritage and culture.
We want to help the parents transmit their culture, language and identity to their kids in an engaging and entertaining manner. Just as salt and pepper add flavor and taste to our food, this transmission will enrich and beautify the lives of our young.
We also want to bring families together across generations ( grandparents, parents and children ) by providing a platform on which all can connect - a platform which brings together Tradition and Modernity.
Our Team:
We are a team of Kashmiri entrepreneurs based in the Silicon valley (California) , motivated by a passion to preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage. We have been blessed with grandparents who handed down to us the priceless cultural treasure with immense love. As a humble token of gratitude we wish to pass it on to the coming generations.
We have partnered with a modest Srinagar based school - Smiling Buds (Nawab Bazar) to produce some of the assets of the KM App. Inspite of hailing from disadvantaged sections of our society, these children have exhibited great talent and have contributed immensely to the success of this project.
Proceeds from the sale of this app will go as a donation to the School which will enable it to continue its noble mission of educating the underprivileged. A share of the proceeds will go into the production of more content for the KM App.