Aqsa Masrat

Kashmir Magazine

 Aatif Qayoom

Kids today are extremely well-versed in the digital world, having grown up in a world where technology is advancing around them daily and never having known a world without social media, mobile phones or computers.

 

Not all children use social media to pass the time. A 10-year-old girl from Apple Town, Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla is creating interesting stuff and expressing herself through social media platforms named "What Aqsa Says". From chillan Kalan videos to social issues, the 10-year-old kid influencer Aqsa Masrat is entertaining audiences all over Kashmir. Her talent and voice have also managed to bridge the generation gap.

 

Aqsa said, "I have been very inquisitive from my early childhood." I was just 6 years old when I made my first video on "Chillai Kalan", in which I described what Chillai Kallan is. It was in January when Kashmir was under the cold grip of Chillai Kallan.

 

When Kashmir was under grip of cold wave, I decided to make a video on Chillai Kallan. The aim of creating this video was that children of my age would love it and, at the same time, they would be able to relate it to a real-life situation.

 

For my first random video, there was an unexpected response from the public. I was encouraged to make more such videos, not just to pass on the video but also to make the world aware of something that remains behind the curtains.

 

When I made my first video, I was so excited. I received positive response from all age groups. People also motivated me to make more videos because there was no one of my age making videos.

 

Besides making videos on several day-to-day issues, she is also highlighting the issues of her area on her social media. She has also produced videos that depict the cultivation to the harvesting process. The work of the teen influencer is being loved by people widely.

 

When I started making the content, I was aware that I would have to face the problems because no task in this world is easy. She stated, "I had to face a lot of trouble in the meanwhile”.

 

One thing that was always present in my mind was whether people would accept my musings because I was too young to comment upon the subjects that I had chosen.

 

To come out of this, I availed myself of all the options available; family support and most importantly my teachers who helped me through all this.

 

Being a child, it was not easy for me to be a vocal because girls here are being caged with concepts of how to become a doctor, engineer and teacher. I was fortunate to have my mother and maternal uncle stand by me and then my school.

 

At school, we are introduced to a multifarious number of opportunities that one can opt for. You just need to commit.

 

Defining her contribution, the 10-year-old influencer said, "no words." What my mother and maternal uncle are doing for me, no words can tell you. They are my real heroes, and I am proud of them. I wish every child got the parents that I have.

 

The budding influencer is in the 5th standard at Shah Rasool Memorial Welkin School in Sopore. She aspires to become an IAS officer while her hobbies are exploring new things.

 

She is managing both her studies as well as her content creation at the same time. When asked how she was managing both, she replied, "Yes, it is a tiresome thing to balance the things." Usually, I remain focused on my studies, and when it is time for leisure, I switch to making videos.

 

Her videos are always eye-catching, and some of her videos have gained more than seventy thousand likes, while others have had around 786K views.

 

The video on dog terror has also attracted a huge audience. In this video, the young influencer is playing the role of a journalist and is highlighting issues faced by people, specifically elderly people, due to the dog menace in the apple town of Sopore.

 

The way she has presented herself in reporting on the issue, no one can believe she is a 10-year-old girl.

 

Her latest video is on, "Wande Tchale, Sheen Gali, Beyi Yi Bahaar" (Winter will flee, snow will melt, spring will make its presence felt).

 

In her most recent video, she gives a tour of the Sopore Chankan Bridge while discussing the upcoming springs.

 

She is inspired by her maternal uncle, Nasir Kachroo, who is an international photographer whose work has been published by top media houses such as Aljazeera, National Geographic Traveler, and several others.

 

She continued, "There are many people around me who have inspired me for one good or another." My Mamu, an international photojournalist, was an inspiration to me when it came to making videos.

 

Aqsa is certainly a multi-talented and imaginative teenager. She is someone who has developed a thriving empire on social media and is ruling like a queen.

 

According to her maternal uncle, Aqsa is truly blessed with a plethora of creativity and talent, which has helped her capture the hearts of tens of thousands of people across Kashmir.

 

It's no surprise, then, that this Facebook user has thousands of followers on her Facebook page, "What Aksa Says." She keeps her followers up to date on what she's up to and how she's feeling regularly. But wait, there's more. She is also amazing at using such venues to instill principles in others. She believes it is the most effective way to reach out to a young audience and guide them in the correct direction.

 

She is astute in her life and job, and she does not take the title of "most inspiring individual" lightly.

 

She recognizes that this recognition comes with a great deal of responsibility. That is why, whether it is her own or that of others, her ideas and counsel are always backed up by knowledge and experience. She also believes in a practical attitude to life, which is becoming increasingly unusual in today's materialistic environment.