Srinagar, July 22 -- By Mohammad Ilyas Bhat

The other day I drove a friend's son to the airport. He was boarding a flight to Chennai, having accepted a position with a modest five-figure salary, more than half of which will disappear into rent alone.

He left anyway, because he believes an idle mind invites trouble.

Watching him walk through security, I understood something painful: our educated youth are not choosing to leave. Circumstance is pushing them out.

A demographic imbalance is forming gradually, and it should alarm anyone paying attention.

Young, educated people keep leaving, and what stays behind is an aging population and a shrinking pool of skilled workers.

When talented young people see departure as the only route to s...