552 Days Without Internet
How I survived and thrived during the Kashmir internet shutdown, and what it taught me about resilience.
In August 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, Jammu and Kashmir faced one of the longest internet shutdowns in the world.
The Reality
For nearly two years, I lived without:
- Online learning resources
- Access to documentation
- Connection with the outside tech world
- Stack Overflow (yes, really)
Adaptation
When the world shuts you out, you build your own path forward. I learned to:
- Work offline - Downloaded documentation when I could
- Think independently - No quick Google searches meant deeper problem-solving
- Value constraints - Limitations breed creativity
The Lesson
If I could survive and excel during a 2-year internet blackout, I can handle any challenge thrown my way.
This experience taught me that excuses don't exist—only solutions.
The full restoration came in February 2021. By then, I had developed habits and resilience that most developers will never understand.