Srinagar, Dec 14: Much to the delight of Kashmir’s stressed lot, The Pavilion, first ever state-of-art gaming hub, in the heart of Srinagar city, is proving to be a major stress buster for not just adults but the children of conflict-ravaged valley too.
Credit goes to the hard work of Adnan Shah, a resident of saffron town of Pampore in Pulwama district, who during his visit to United Kingdom (UK), after visiting a gaming hub where adults, women and children were enjoying different games, though what if one such gaming arena opens in Kashmir. Little did he know that it would be he who has to start the gaming hub in the Valley, where half of the adult-population is suffering from depression and anxiety while every second child is having direct or indirect symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) owing to the three-decade long conflict.
Adnan has been into Ready-Made garment business for almost a decade but a few years ago, his trip to UK left him in deep thoughts as he would dream about seeing one gaming hub on modern lines, where adults, children and women would not just have fun but they should feel relaxed too.
“I never knew it would be me who would open the gaming hub in Kashmir. But I think, when I was thinking about it in UK, Almighty was perhaps listening and he choose me for it,” Adnan told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “Finally, I decided to go for it and today, thanks to Almighty, we are having a full-fledged state-of-art gaming arena under one roof that too in the heart of Srinagar city—Moulana Azad Road.”
He said children, women and men of all ages can come and enjoy playing the games of their choice. “We have almost 20 varieties of games for all age groups. We have Ten Pin Bowling 360 VR, which one can’t even find in India. We also have Car VR, two-seat VR, Basketball, Hydronic Car, Vibrator Bike, Funny ball, Monster Realms, Toy Catcher, Ball shooting, Disc Game, Hit the Clown, Moto GP, Temple Run, Rainbow, Transformers Shooting, two seat Bike Race and Air Hockey,” said Adnan. He said that the lowest ticket cost is Rs 40 and the highest is Rs 500. “These are all affordable games for poor, middle-class and rich families. When a person comes here, I am sure he will never be disappointed. I encourage families to come along with kids and enjoy all games under one-roof,” Adnan told KNO.
He said The Pavilion has been designed in a way that for a moment one never feels he/she is in Kashmir. “The place gives you a different feel as if you are out of Kashmir, far from stress, anxiety and depression. And when people start playing here, they forget everything, I think that is the best way to get destressed,” Adnan said.
Nasir Ahmed, a first time visitor, said that when he played Ten Pin Bowling VR, he forgot he was in Kashmir that too in the heart of city. “When I came here, my mind was pre-occupied with something and when I started playing the VR, I forgot everything. After finishing the game, I felt relaxed and all the anxiety that was in my mind was gone. Thanks to Adnan bhai for starting this wonderful venture for youth who are full of stress,” beamed Nasir, a student.
Tariq Khan, who along with his three kids had come to The Pavilion, said that it was wonderful to play different games along with kids. “Now we don’t need to spent huge amount of money to go to Delhi to play games and get de-stressed. Everybody knows that every single citizen of Kashmir is stressed because of the prevailing conflict of decades and the challenges thereof,” said Khan, a government teacher. “After spending an hour here, I felt my kids are feeling relaxed. I am myself feeling relaxed as there are games for all age groups. We desperately needed this gaming hub, this indeed is a stress buster.”
A study done by the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in collaboration with Kashmir University’s department of psychology and the state’s Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in 2015, stated that nnearly 1.8 million or 45% of the total adult population in the Kashmir, battered by 26 years of violent conflict, show symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study had covered 5,428 households in 399 villages across all the 10 districts of the valley between October and December 2015.
Shaista Gul, a house-wife, who along with her two children had come to The Pavilion said she has not seen her kids enjoying the way she has seen them at gaming hub. “There are different games available for children and adults as well. I also enjoyed playing ball shooting. The gaming hub is the best way to do away with the stress. Earlier we had no such option in Kashmir and now The Pavilion is a good choice,” she said. “My children were literally home-locked since Covid, rather post article 370 abrogation. They were totally confined to carom and mobile phones. But this gaming hub is a best choice for parents and I urge all to come here and beat the stress of their children and themselves.”
Talking to KNO, Dr Sheikh Shoib, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital (JLNM) Rainawari, Srinagar, who also runs a private Clinic Mind Wellness Centre at Nawabazar, Srinagar, said that there are many misconceptions about games, video games and their impact on the mental health of children and adults. “Video gaming can have a mental health effect and can help by providing way to relax, connect with others and feel competent. They can help in mental stimulation, feeling accomplished, mental recovery, social recovery and emotional resilience,” Dr Shoib said.
He said that in Kashmiri society where mental health distress is one a high note, because of multiple factors, gaming hub can play a role but “its stands with a caution.” “People should limit video games as a mood booster as such games are a double edged word. In one way, they improve mental health but excessive use of it can be dangerous as one can become addicted to it,” Dr Shoib warned.
He said different games like water guns, ball shooting etc can obviously reduce stress. “But we need to monitor ourselves and our children and ensure such games aren’t used excessively. If used in limits, it will indeed have positive effects and can do wonders for Valleyites,” Dr Shoib said—(KNO)
