The Last Ballad of Dardistan.

The article focuses on Yousuf Naseem, a Shina singer from the Dard-Shin community in Indian-administered Kashmir, who has dedicated over 30 years to preserving the endangered Shina language and culture through music amid ongoing conflict and displacement. Living near the militarized Line of Control between India and Pakistan, Naseem documents and performs traditional Shina songs, creating a personal script to safeguard the oral heritage that risks extinction due to geopolitical divisions and generational language loss. His work serves as a cultural archive and form of resistance, connecting fragmented Shina-speaking communities across borders while mentoring younger artists to blend tradition with contemporary influences. The article highlights the challenges faced by the Dard-Shin people in maintaining their identity in a changing world shaped by conflict, migration, and modernization.