Abandoned by modern medicine, Kashmiris turn to faith-driven bonesetters

Ghulam Muhammad sat in the corner of a small room, and his patients were waiting opposite. He had been treating people for free for more than thirty years. His popularity among the locals has earned his town the name “Watangor Mohalla” or “Bonesetters Village” in English. 

Traditional bone-setters are revered across Kashmir and often preferred over modern medicine. The idea is that bonesetters have a spiritual, healing touch. The craft is passed on through ancestral knowledge. Muhammad told FairPlanet that the craft is learned both technically and spiritually.

Bone-setters in Kashmir take a unique approach: They put their thumb on the affected bone and gently press it. This allows them to assess the extent of the damage and decide on the type of injury, whether it is a fracture, sprain, or something else.

Once diagnosed, the bone-setters massage the affected body part and bandage it tightly while reciting Islamic holy verses. These bone-setters charge minimal fees for treatment. They’re mostly home-based and convenient. As Kashmir grapples with economic challenges and rising unemployment, the accessibility and affordability of traditional healing have become crucial.

Modern medicine’s broken system

While consoling his younger brother, who had twisted his foot during work, Bilal Shafi waited his turn to see Muhammad, restlessly checking his watch. He needed to return to work as a daily wager in a nearby brick kiln.

"Initially, I took my brother to a primary healthcare facility, but they could not treat him due to a lack of orthopaedic facilities there and suggested I take him to a hospital in Srinagar. But going there meant more money and losing work. It can take a week to heal in the hospital, but it takes less time and less money here. I brought him here on the recommendation of a fellow worker, as we often suffer from fractures or sprains due to physical labour and can't afford the cost of modern treatments," Shafi told FairPlanet as he wiped drops of sweat from his brother's forehead.

Across India-administered Kashmir, there are hundreds of hospitals, but only one explicitly treats bone and joint illnesses. The Bone & Joint Hospital in Srinagar is overburdened due to a major fire in 2022 that reduced the hospital's bed strength from 200 to 150. The incident put a construction project on hold that was supposed to add 120 beds to the hospital in the same year. Instead, the completion date is expected in December of this year.

Doctors at the hospital have struggled to manage the large influx of patients. "The completion of the new building with modern facilities will be a relief for patients and doctors,” they told the media outlet Greater Kashmir. They added that the hospital’s outpatient department receives around 1,000 patients daily from surrounding regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

With limited healthcare access, Kashmir residents have increasingly turned to traditional bone-setters to relieve their pain. Despite the increasing demand for his services, Muhammad said he does not charge his patients. "[Most of the time] people give small amounts since they are happy [with my service].”

"Mostly, people from marginalised sections of society who visit me can't afford the private treatment that comes with advancements in modern medicine and technology, which makes it expensive and out of reach of common people. Thankfully, I am able to treat all the patients who come to me, and in some extreme conditions, I may ask a patient to visit a doctor.” Said Muhammad.

A recent self-assessment done by the Indian government shows that a large number of public healthcare facilities fall short of essential standards. Covering 200,000 healthcare facilities in India, the data issued on the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) dashboard revealed that just 20% of the evaluated facilities fulfil the required infrastructure, human resources, drugs, diagnostics, and equipment standards. It showed a drastic downfall in facilities meeting primary healthcare standards throughout major public health facilities in India.

A deteriorating health crisis

According to India’s National Family Health Survey conducted between 2019 and 2021, Jammu and Kashmir have seen an 11% rise in obesity in men since the last survey conducted between 2015 and 2016. 

Research conducted in India shows that obesity impacts bone health and that Jammu and Kashmir have the second highest prevalence of bone disease among females in India. Excess body fat can lead to a chronic state of inflammation, which can accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in older adults.

The region's increasingly harsh winter seasons leave its population more vulnerable to orthopaedic issues. Falls on frosted and icy surfaces cause both minor and major fractures, and low physical movement, atmospheric pressure changes, and reduced sunlight contribute to a rise in arthritis cases. Insufficient Vitamin D from reduced sunshine and intake further increases bone and joint ailments.

Mumtaza’s visit to Muhammad, who is her local bonesetter, did not just heal the 46-year-old homemaker’s spinal discs but her mental health issues as well. "My weight doesn't allow me to do much, and it had taken a toll on my back. I needed nurses and people to help me get up and go to the bathroom. Going to the hospital meant more medicine, which my kidneys can't handle. This is a medicine-free treatment, and after Ghulam Muhammad treated me, I was back on my feet," she told FairPlanet.

"I believe in Ghulam Muhammad's healing abilities. His hands are God-gifted; also, the conflict in the region had affected everyone, but in 2019, with prolonged communication gags and curfews imposed by the government during the abrogation of special status, my mental health got worse, but thankfully, that too got better with prayers here," said Mumtaza, smiling.

A practice of tradition and faith

Most of the bonesetters in Kashmir have learned the profession through their families, but Muhammad taught himself. “I have travelled rigorously to learn this tradition from various high spiritual personalities and spent my youth to learn it,” he said.

“I want people to learn these traditional methods, but unfortunately, our younger generation is not interested, and they don't have an idea that this art might be a lifesaver in the coming time. It isn't something one can put on a billboard or advertise. You have to earn this ability, both technically and spiritually," he said.

Ghulam Muhammad caters to everyone, from the wealthy to the poor. On multiple occasions, he has travelled to nomadic settlements to treat patients at his own expense. 

"Last year, twice I went to a nomadic settlement in the mountains where they had an emergency, and they didn't have many resources to travel to the city. I stayed there the whole day and ensured the patient received all the necessary help, and he was much better by the end of the day. Before leaving, I made sure to leave a few bandages and a few pieces of cloth if they needed it,” he told FairPlanet. 

“[It] is not about money, but it is about service to humanity. As long as people continue to believe in both the spiritual and the practical aspects of my treatment, I will keep offering my service to those in need,” said Ghulam Muhammad after treating the last patient of his day. 

“I am satisfied with my hard work, and with the help of the almighty, everything worked my way. When patients ask me how long it will take them to heal, my response is simple: ‘It depends. Allah knows best. I can only offer the treatment.’”  said Muhammad, smiling while wrapping a cloth around a patient's foot.