In April 2018, I traveled to Rajouri in the Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir – a town that lies east of the Line of Control (LoC). My parents had always given me the freedom to travel alone and explore new places but this time, it was tough to convince them about my plans. To reinforce their faith in me to travel to a border area was difficult, even more so to reaffirm that I will be safe.
Upon reaching, I was greeted with green pastures surrounded by an expanse of meadows. Not shockingly, I was taken in by Rajouri’s exquisite beauty, and a history that harks back to many centuries; even finding mention in the travelogue of Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (who visited the town in 632 AD).
The same area (LoC) is now marked by conflict and encounters. There are militant activities in Rajouri district. Strident and grueling politics of the government has hardened the line of differences between locals and the Indian state. The unexpected presence of Kashmiri students in militant ranks has sparked a debate about the hostility against the State and the feeling of exclusion felt by Kashmiris.
A Learning Experience
I had expected to be presented with a reality which we seem to be familiar with – that there isn’t an inclination to study, and students are actively taking up arms against the web of deceit spun by the government.
I asked myself why. That query led me to a more pertinent question – was there widespread disappointment amongst the people regarding the educational development of the state?
I was eager to get these answers. Only, they were not what I had expected.
I spent some time at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU). Here was a university between lush green forests; disconnected from the city. It catered to a large number of students who were mostly from Kashmir, even its farthest corners.
Despite initial reservations from both sides, I started interacting with the students enrolled there. Little did I know, it would shatter my pre-conceived notions of what I had heard about the state.
Beyond the compassion and warmth of everyone I met, what I had learned (and unlearned) about Kashmir surpassed my expectations.
Our discussions varied from exposure to Kashmiri culture to recent agitations against political authorities. The latter required discretion from both sides. Yet, there was a consensus on the degraded condition of their education system. As a student told me,
“My admission got delayed because I received my degree certificates late. These late results amongst many other factors are reasons behind frustration amongst the student community.”
Another source of frustration is the difficulty faced by the introduction of English education to their system. English language is dynamic and evolving, I was told, while Kashmiri is static. As a result, people are getting disconnected with their culture. To overcome these challenges, doctoral students are taking it upon themselves to keep their native language alive.
A student told me, “since our language and culture is deeply embedded into our lives, some of the students are leading the programs of reviving their roots by teaching Kashmiri to primary and secondary school students.”
In fact, the university has a centre for cultural revival that teaches Kashmiri, Urdu and Gujjari as well.
The media reports often about the closure of educational institutions due to the subversive activities across the state, that causes instability and miseries amongst the people living in border areas. But there are various other lesser known problems.
For example, I was told that there is a lack of funds provided to the state universities, complicating the matter further. This has a damaging effect on the availability of standard reading material, which has made it difficult to sustain academic spaces.
It was shocking to learn that doctoral students had barely heard about JStor and Scribd, two online databases that us students liberally use back in Delhi for academic papers.
At best, I realised how modest and sincere Kashmiri youth were. They shared their sentiments with me through which I got a glimpse of their predicament and sense of uncertainty regarding their future. The reality of Kashmiri students and their plight is far detached from the drawing room conversations outsiders luxuriously indulge in.
There are many grievances which have to be immediately addressed by the Indian government since these activities are affecting the psyche of the Kashmiri students. Till then, through cultural revival and a diverse student body, these students bring alive their aim of nation building, finding light at the end of a long tunnel.
(The author is a student of political science at the University of Delhi. All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)
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