Near-death narratives and transnational Shia media: A case study of Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi in Kashmir

Background: While existing scholarship highlights how post-revolutionary Iranian media fosters religious affect and moral instruction, little attention has been paid to its impact beyond Iran, particularly in contexts culturally influenced by Iran.Aims: This study examines the reception of the Iranian television programme Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi (ZPAZ) among Persian-knowing audiences in Kashmir.Methodology: Drawing on Diaspora Media Engagement Theory and Reception Theory, this research investigates how Kashmiri viewers interpret ZPAZ's narratives of near-death experiences (NDEs) and their theological implications. We employed a qualitative, audience-centred design, collecting data from ۴۰ Kashmiri participants (۲۹ Shia, ۱۱ Sunni) through semi-structured interviews conducted via encrypted digital platforms. Thematic analysis revealed six recurring themes: curiosity about the afterlife, accessibility of everyday Persian language, identification with narrated experiences, reduced fear of death, cross-border spiritual resonance, and reinforcement of Shia identity. Reception of the programme's explicitly Shia theological content varied by sectarian background: Shia participants frequently described a strengthening of religious identity, while Sunni participants more often reported new curiosity about Shia theology rather than reinforcement of an existing identity.Findings: Findings suggest that ZPAZ functions as a form of mediated spirituality, reported by participants as reducing existential anxiety and, for Shia viewers in particular, strengthening transnational religious belonging.Conclusion: Extending diaspora media frameworks to a “symbolic diaspora,” this study demonstrates how Persian-language religious broadcasting contributes to identity formation and cultural continuity in the Kashmir region.

کلیدواژه ها:

Iran ، Kashmir ، near-death experiences (NDE) ، Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi (ZPAZ)