Category: KASHMIR

SRINAGAR: Keeping with its tradition of organizing annual Kisan Mela, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology or SKUAST- Shalimar Kashmir organized a mega two-day annual Kisan mela on the weekend in the first week of March drawing thousands of people, agriculture enthusiasts, agriprenuers and agriculture experts together from nook and corner of the UT.

Amidst an overcast sky, an elderly man walks brisk to reach a seed stall among hundreds of kiosks arranged in a pattern on the foothills of Zabarwan Hills on the outskirts of Srinagar. After searching through the scores of stalls, his search finally ends at a seed stall where he happily gets his share of Bean seeds. Mohammad Ismail Dar, a progressive farmer from Zewan Srinagar has come to visit Annual Kisan Mela at SKUAST Shalimar here.

On Sunday, March 4, the picturesque campus presented a festive look, as thousands of people visited the famed mela bedecked with hundreds of stalls displaying and selling new varieties of plants, seeds and even the fauna.

Every year, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology Kashmir holds Annual Kisan Mela at its main campus Shalimar. Mostly organized in the first half of March, this year the  event was held on 4th and 5th March.

Amidst the visible respite from Pandemic, the mela saw a heavy footfall of people, as hundreds of farmers, nature enthusiasts and even families along with children could be seen thronging the mela.

“Actually I had come here to get Kiwi saplings only. But after looking at the kind of new and hybrid varieties of different plants, I have now purchased almost six types of saplings ranging from flowers to fruits,” says an enthusiastic housewife Shahida Akhtar from north Kashmir’s Pattan area who has come here along with her family. “Though these are available at many places in the valley now, I think here I can get good and trusted varieties! After coming here I also came to know that there are many new varieties available these days which we could grow in our kitchen gardens,” adds Shahida while carrying a pack of flower saplings in a bag.

Hundreds of progressive farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, local and regional agricultural zones had setup stalls in the premises of the campus displaying their agricultural produce. From hybrid variety of flowers, apple, plum, peach, cherry, walnut, colourful corn, organic mushroom, honey, diary products, fowls and Australian sheep to high yield cows, the stalls displayed a variety.

“These type of fairs give us glimpse into agricultural activities of the valley. They reflect our cultural and agricultural diversity,” says one of the officials from SKUAST coordinating the annual mela in the campus.

“These stalls displaying the products derived from diverse flora and fauna of valley are a window to our primary activities. These moments enrich our experience. People should come and visit such fairs as the act encourages the farmers as well as the researchers. Moreover, such gatherings help in updating the knowledge regarding the modern trends in agriculture,” the official opined. 

“A stall setup under the banner of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ganderbal was among the focus of attraction. Apart from a range of organic products at display, the stall attracted droves of people for rootstocks of a variety of fruit plants. We have sold a good number of rootstock on the first day. We hope, by tomorrow we will finish the remaining stock,” says the In-charge of the stall.

While high yield variety seeds and saplings were the centre of attraction, display of modern technology used  in agriculture these days  at many stalls also added color to the fair. From newly introduced walnut dehuller, paddy thresher, bike tractor to integrated farming, experts demonstrated their use. Speaking to a group of people, Dr Waseem from SKUAST elaborated upon the ambience and applications of  integrated farming system.

In a live demonstration of system, the expert showed how a farmer can use his orchard for integrated farming mixing backyard poultry, dairy, agriculture crops and vermicomposting together besides growing fruits. Integrated farming is a latest trend that envisages both sustainability as well as more profitability. “By switching to integrated farming while the farmers can yield more from small land holdings, the vermicomposting and mixed agrarian activities ensure the conservation of the quality of soil.”

Apart from the stalls representing different agricultural zones of the valley, some farmers from neighbouring union territory of Ladakh also added to the rich culture of the fair. Tsering Dolma, a champion farmer from the 14000 ft high altitude Nyoma area of Leh had put a variety of local organic products on display. “All these products are purely organic in nature. We do not use any sort of chemical fertilizers, as all our products are grown with the help of vermicompost,” says Tsering while displaying a handful of barley grains to customers as people keep thronging the venue.

JAMMU, MARCH 20: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has extended his warm greetings to the people, especially the members of the Parsi community, on the occasion of Navroz, the Parsi New Year.

In his message, the Lt Governor said that the auspicious occasion of Navroz symbolizes new beginnings and celebration of seasons.

“May the festival bring happiness, health and prosperity to all,” the Lt Governor said.

Srinagar, March 20: President All J&K Shia Association and PC General Secretary Molvi Imran Reza Ansari extended his felicitations to people of Jammu & Kashmir in particular and throughout the globe on the occasion of Nauroz. Molvi Imran said that Nauroz-e-Alam comes with the vitality and freshness of nature and conveys the beautiful message of the green and blooming spring season.

“We are proud that this magnificent event is not only celebrated in Iran but also people in many countries around the world celebrate Nauroz which is also called the “Alam-Afrooz”, meaning a new day that brightens the world with its arrival”.

Molvi Imran said that Nauroz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. Besides holding different functions and cultural programmes, people also offer special prayers on this day.

Molvi hoped that the day will usher the state in a new era of progress and prosperity and people will stand united to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and amity while celebrating the festival.

In his message of felicitations, General Secretary All J&K Shia Association and Senior leader JKPC Abid Hussain Ansari, said that the festival has high cultural and religious significance. Abid said that Jammu and Kashmir is a symbol of a composite culture where people of different religions are living together in peace and harmony adding that this centuries-old brotherhood and communal harmony needs to be strengthened. He hoped that the day will usher the state in a new era of progress and prosperity and people will stand united to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and amity.

On this occasion JKPC Youth General Secretary Mudasir Karim while greeting people on Nauroz said that this auspicious day marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. Extending the greetings to the people of Mudasir Karim prayed for peace, development and tranquility in the UT.

SRINAGAR, MARCH 11: The Deputy Director Information PR Kashmir, Bilal Mukhtar Dar expressed grief and sorrow on the demise of Jabeena Akhtar, an international athlete from Treran Tangmarg of Baramulla district.

Bilal Mukhtar prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family especially to her husband Khursheed Ahmad to bear this irreparable loss.

He said she was courageous, talented and a master in her profession who played an important role to empower Kashmiri girls and bring up the hidden sportsmanship in them. She was an inspiration to Kashmiri girls, through her endeavours, to chase their dreams, he added.

Social Evils like Drug Abuse, Violence against Women needs to be eradicated for a better & normal Society: DC B’la

BARAMULLA, MARCH 01: Continuing its reach out to the people in distress, the District Administration Baramulla in collaboration with District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) today organized a daylong conference on Mental Health at Govt Degree College for Women Sopore.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar was the chief guest on the occasion.

The conference was convened under the banner of “Nayi Soch” which is an ambitious initiative of District Administration Baramulla for generating awareness about mental health and allied issues among the masses.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sehrish said that administration and people are on the same page in the fight against drug abuse. She proclaimed that district administration recently established a Drug De-addiction Center at PHC Singhpora which will cater the in and out door patients from across the district.

Dr Sehrish said that self introspection is vital for mental health and awareness among masses is the need of the hour to curb the menace of substance abuse.

She further said that the administration will go tough against those who are involved in trafficking of drugs and stringent laws will be executed in this direction.

The conference witnessed a huge gathering of students and youth of Sopore sub division.

Counselors and subject experts spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of psychological and social well being of a person.

SRINAGAR: Come winters and annually thousands of migratory birds visit Kashmir. But not all of them are lucky enough to enjoy the hospitality of their favorite habitat –the  wetlands as many such winged visitors get poached.

Braving the freezing cold of January, 12-year-old Farheen stealthily opens the window of her room to experience the soul soothing aura of central Kashmir’s Hokersar wetland, which lies just a few yards away from her house. Hoots, chirps and echoes produced by flock of birds is never less than a soulful treat for her or any nature lover.

From Water Ballards, Coots, Pintails and Teals to Shovellers, Gadwals, Tufted Ducks, Graylag Geese, Wigeon, Pochards and others, every winter thousands of birds take a long flight to comparatively less colder Kashmir wetlands from colder habitats in Siberia, China, parts of Europe and even Australia.

This annual migration, which lasts for about six months from October till March in the valley is always a treat to witness for any nature enthusiast, in particular the bird lovers.

Pegged between five to seven lakh, these migratory birds land in Hokersar, Hygam, Prichal, Shallabugh, Wullar and Dal Lake, the wetlands considered as a feeding ground for these birds.

Feeding on naturally available food present in the form of insects, worms and fish, the hovering of these migratory birds making patterns in the skies attracts attention of many birders and nature enthusiasts. 

“The birds are a prize to watch. Watching thousands of birds gliding up and landing down is always a momentous sight,” said Farheen.

However, after flying thousands of kilometers many of these winged guests only land in a deathtrap, as they get killed at the hands of poachers before their return.

Despite the government ban on poaching  and strict vigil by the government forces, killing of the birds goes unabated in and around the wetlands of Kashmir. Ducks, Geese, Swans to Mullards, for poachers all are in the target list.

Few years back, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology or SKUAST Kashmir, under an initiative to study the migration patterns of migratory birds in Kashmir wetlands, fitted PTT(Platform Transform Terminal), a satellite based tracking device on many birds to track their movement.

To every member’s astonishment in the research team, the results were shocking.

According to Dr Khursheed Ahmad, Principal Investigator, the track of many such birds fitted with PTT was lost within few weeks as the device either stopped to send signal or signal went stagnant. 

“For a stagnant signal, one can assume that the bird has suffered a natural death but  if it goes off altogether, there is every likelihood that the bird has been poached,” Dr Ahmad told Valley Observer. “Our team met with cases where poachers had damaged the devices after catching or killing the bird.”

Not only guns, people use traditional traps and other hunting techniques to catch the winged visitors.

Occasional bangs in late evenings and the early mornings in deeper belts of the paddy fields are allegedly a “normal”  for the people living around Shallabugh and Rambergarh areas, the villages marking the boundary between the capital city of Srinagar and  Baramulla in north Kashmir.

 “Since these areas are close to Hokersar wetlands, many birds visit these paddy fields for food and presumably get killed by poachers,” says a resident of Rambergarh Srinagar.

Admitting the poaching of winged visitors outside the protected wetland areas, Sajad Ahmad, Range Officer, Wildlife says that most of the poaching takes place outside the protected areas of wetlands, as the birds fly towards paddy fields and other cropping lands for the easy availability of feed.

“It is during these flights outside the protected areas, they get easily killed, as the poachers find it very easy to shoot them outside protected areas,” added Ahmed.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police are also keeping a strict vigil on the poachers. Some months ago, a person accused of poaching was arrested.

Poaching mainly takes place for adventure or money. It’s largely believed that the poached birds are secretly sold for around Rs 1,000 “per prey.”

Ironically, the place globally famous for hospitality –Kashmir isn’t that hospitable towards the winged visitors, who visit the Valley unmindful that their long flight could be the last!

SRINAGAR: Braving the biting cold, a middle-aged fisherman, Mohammad Sultan starts his day in the wee hours only to ensure that he returns home by noon to prepare  one of the cherished winter delicacy from his days catch –Phaire  or smoked fish of Kashmir.

Back home, his wife Saleema  carefully cleans the larger sized fish in a tub. After cleaning the stock, she slightly tilts the tub to let the water drain out. At a few meters, her husband, Sultan arranges the heap of special dry grass in layers to make a grassy platform in their backyard at Central Kashmir’s Anchaar area in Srinagar.

The husband wife duo places the cleaned fish on a platform of grass and torch it to produce flame, smoke and heat. In a split of time, a prized catch gets engulfed in fire and smoke. After hours of slow flame and dark smoke treatment, Kashmir’s prized winter delicacy, Phaire  is ready  for sale.

Phaire

A fish partially roasted in smoke and flame is widely consumed by Kashmiris, mainly during winters. Cooked with Haakh or collard greens, tomato, raddish, lotus stem or dried brinjal, the Phaire does not only fill the Kashmiri kitchens with aroma but also satiates the “gastronomical sense of every food lover.”

During winters, a traditional dish ‘Phaire Haakh’ made from smoked fish and collard greens is vogue in traditional Kashmiri kitchens.

“This is my favorite form of fish. My children are also fond of it. We usually wait for winters to come to eat this fish”, says Mymoona Akhtar, a middle aged woman from Dalgate area while buying the smoked fish at  Nowhatta in Srinagar.

Mymoona is a not the only customer. Another woman in her fifties, Haleema  standing besides Mymoona also waits for her turn to get hold of her pack.

The making

The process of making smoked fish requires efforts of many people and is quite interesting in itself. The fish are first caught usually from the Dal or Anchar lake, then the women who are expert in cleaning it, wash and remove the waste part. After washing, the fish are laid down on the wild dry grass interwoven loosely shaped in the form of platforms and then dried for a while after which the grass is torched to smoke the fish on it.

When the fish becomes dark brown in colour and are properly smoked these fish are collected in a willow trays or baskets  and then sold in the market.

Mostly the women sell the Phaire  in the market in traditional willow baskets. Interestingly they also play a significant role in the making of smoked treat.

“My wife and daughter help me in smoking the fish for weeks together. While I usually catch some stuff myself for days together and buy the bulk of it from the fishermen from Dal lake side, my wife and a daughter engage in the collection of a special dry grass,‘naar gaase’ from nearby wetlands used in smoking the fish,” said Sultan.

Sells like hotcakes in cold

The demand for the smoked fish increases during winters. There is a common belief that the winter delicacy is a source of warmth in the colder months of winter. The same is reflected in the increased sale of the specially made fish.

Mohammad sultan has been in the smoked fish trade for decades. “I have been smoking the fish since my youth. I have learned the art from my ancestors. Though its demand diminishes during summer, my sales increase exponentially throughout the winters.”

Despite availability of fresh foods throughout the year, the taste and cultural legacy keeps its popularity afloat.

Cultural Icon

Despite round the year  availability of fresh food  in the valley now, unlike the past when the people had to bank mainly on dried  vegetables during winters, the culture of relishing smoked fish still prevails in the valley.

Many believe that it “is the taste and cultural significance of this winter delicacy which lures the people for this traditional  feast.” Often, many people still invite nears and dears for its feast.

“A friend of ours is visiting us tomorrow. So we decided to prepare Phaire Haakh, a traditional winter treat for him, as he has returned after a gap of two years from a gulf country,” said  Tasleema  while buying  smoked fish from Saraibala market in Srinagar.

“Firstly I will remove the burned skin from the fish, clean them thoroughly and then mix the stuff with a blend of spices and Haakh,” Tasleema added while explaining the preparation of Phaire Haakh in Kashmir kitchens to the Valley Observer.

Amidst a variety of food including exotic pasta, pizza and mommo being sold in Kashmir, the traditional Phaire stands distinct as it continues to be a cherished winter delicacy in the valley.

NASIR YOUSIFI

Srinagar: Zaitoon Akhtar,  a 42-year- old woman from Devsar hamlet in south Kashmir’s Kulgam carefully segregates the dried  brinjals from the long thread like slices of sundried gourd before the local vegetable dealer weighs the stuff on his handheld balance and negotiates the deal.

Every year Zaitoon sundries the surplus produce from her vegetable garden and sells it during winters. “I have been making Al Hache, sundried bottle gourds and wangan hache dried brinjal slices for several years now. While I use some of the dried stuff in my kitchen, I am able to sell the rest of it to a dealer for good amount, as there is always a good demand for these dried vegetables in the market during winters,” she says while showing a tangled mass of Al Hache or sundried bottle guard.

About 90 kilometers away, Shahida Bano from Chadoora Budgam in central Kashmir has a dozen odd transparent bags filled with dried vegetables hanging on the attic of her multi-storied house. “During summers there is surplus production of vegetables in our vegetable gardens. Since the price of the same is very less due to surplus supply in the market, I prefer to sundry the surplus vegetables and sell them during winter months for a good return,” says middle-aged Shahida seconding Zaitoon.

Be it a sliced brinjal, laced gourd, tomato chops, turnip halves,  their sundried form is destined to be a part of Kashmiri cuisine in almost every household, scenting the surroundings with peculiar aroma and taste during winters with -Hokhsyun or sundried vegetables.

With the demand from every nook and corner of the valley, the sellers of the dried delicacies dot almost every major market in the Kashmir towns and cities. “I have been selling these vegetables throughout the winters for many years now,” says Fayaz Ahmad, while standing besides the mass of dried stuff, put for sale on a push cart adjacent to famous Jamia Masjid at Srinagar’s famous Nowhatta market  in congested downtown.

Asserting, though seasonal in nature, there is good demand for these edibles during winters, Fayaz says, while selling the slices of Ale Hache to a customer.

There are many customers from places like Kargil, Leh and Jammu as well. Kashmiri Pandit community in Jammu is also fond of Hokhsyun. “On an average, I send a consignment weighing hundreds of kilograms, comprising of dried veggies to these places by the end of autumn every year,” says Bashir Ahmad Dar a Hokhsyun dealer from Noorbagh area of Srinagar.

Lesser movement of people during winters, lack of proper agricultural activity and peculiar geographic location promotes the use of dried veggies in the region.

As the valley witnesses a good production of locally grown vegetables like bottle gourd, brinjal and tomato in summers, there is a tradition of sun-drying the surplus for the use in harsh winters. During the months of July and August, there is large scale production of gourds, brinjal and many other vegetables owing to increased trend of kitchen gardening and hybrid variety of seeds in the valley. “Growers or households, usually dry up the surplus produce for the winter use,” says, Ajaz Hussain, Agricultural Officer, from Jammu and Kashmir Agricultural Department, posted in Srinagar.

It is not only turnip, gourd, tomato and brinjal which are sun dried in large quantities, but people also sundry lotus stem, fish, pepper, spinach and  dandleon for consumption in winters. Though most of the vegetables are available in the valley throughout the year, some vegetables and fruits like gourd and pear are mostly dried as they are not easily available in the market during winters. 

Consumption of dried veggies has been a part of the Kashmir’s culture since ages.   Climatic conditions, geographic location and its unique culture are among many contributing factors as to why the people in this part of world still long for Hokhsyun.

According to Mohammad Ashraf, ex-Professor of History, in older times due to harsh winters, the movement of people used to get restricted. “Absence of any agricultural activity coupled by harsh life conditions imposed by the apathetic weather forced the people to pile the stock to survive those times.”

The tradition finds its followers in these modern times too, as the region still goes through the period of harsher colder days during Chilai Kalan, when the temperatures plummet to sub zero for scores of days together.”

Famines are also one of the reasons for this tradition, says the historian, while deliberating upon the main causes for the practice. “For the fear of famine in earlier times, people took to stocking the consumable stuff in the valley… One of the reasons why people have a stock of consumables for months together here.”

Other reasons apart, it is essentially the taste that drives the people to make the dried stuff still a part of Kashmiri kitchen.

Zoona, a sexagenarian  woman says though she does not eat much at this age, she often keeps asking for Hokhsyun varieties to her children for its aroma and taste.

Though medical fraternity raises concerns about the hygiene  of Hokhsyun, the use of winter delicacy goes on in the valley.

“When not dried properly, the dried vegetables can catch fungus, a source of toxins which are carcinogenic in nature. But if dried and cooked properly, these are quite safe to consume,” says Dr Abdul Gani Ahangar, ex- medical superintendent from the Health department of Jammu and Kashmir.

Amidst the Chillai Kalan, 40 days of harshest period of winter, cuisines in both urban and rural Kashmir aromatize with Hokhsyun to much delight of vegetable growers. People are enjoying the popular Hokhsyun dishes like Gogje Paneer, Alhache-Chicken and Hoggad chutney in the valley. Here Hokhsyun is a winter speciality!

NASIR YOUSUFI

SRINAGAR: On a sunny day in the first week of May, scores of people assembled in the outer edge of a village near a large spring. Equipped with wicker baskets and mosquito nets, they wade into apparently muddy waters of the spring. Amidst hue and chaos while pushing and dragging baskets and nets in the water body, hundreds  of people are actually celebrating the traditional festival of collective fishing in a famous spring of the village.

Situated in South Kashmir’s Qazigund on the foothills of Pir Panjal, Panzath Nag or  500 springs in local parlance is not only known for its aesthetic class and economic treasure, the water body has a mark of hosting one of the unique festival in the world every year.

Every year hundreds of people from Panzath and adjoining areas take part in a centuries old ritual of catching fish in a waist deep waters of Panzath spring. Called Rohan Posh,the festival of fishing is celebrated by hundreds of locals with zeal and fervour.  The tradition gains significance as the annual fishing festival serves the more larger agenda of environmental preservation. According to locals, along with fishing the people remove weeds and slit from the water body which keeps the water bodies clean. “These Springs are very sacred for us. They are source of our livelihood. Besides irrigating our fields, the water bodies are a source of aesthetic and recreational activities in the area, says  Zubair Ahmad, a college student from the area while referring to the famous spring in the area. According to legend the term Panzath means five hundred and nag means spring. It is believed that the area on the foothills of Pirpanjal mountains was a host to about 500 springs, majority of which have disappeared or dried up , Zubair explains. As our ancestors were very careful about the Mother Nature, they used to carry out annual cleaning of these springs. While removing slit and weeds in baskets, they used to catch fishes too. Thus the tradition passed onto new generations in the form of fishing festival, says Zubair while deliberating upon a major but unique festival in the area.

 As the hundreds  people split into groups pushing and dragging  the traditional fish catching tools collectively  to get their share, there is a friendly  competition among people  in waters  for the catch.

“I use to wait for this day throughout year. I have been coming to this festival since my childhood, says Abdul Majeed from adjoining village of Panzath, who has come this time along with his 10 year old son to participate in the annual festival. It is not only the fish that is our motive, the day provides an ample opportunity for  the people of area to mingle together  and socialize too, adds Majeed.

As the hundreds  people split into groups pushing and dragging  the traditional fish catching tools collectively  to get their share, there is a friendly  competition among people  in waters  for the catch. “we have been trying to catch the fish for half an hour, But so far of no avail, say two teenage friends equivocally. Fish or no fish, But we are enjoying the moment say the duo while pushing their wicker basket through the muddy waters of the spring.”

As most of the baskets or nets remain empty for  large number of catchers. Every participant may not able to get the fish but one thing is sure, every individual returns with a more valuable stuff, a basket full of weed, says Sajad Ahmad, a middle aged villager who participated in the traditional event. This kind of fishing is a unique experience as every participant in the event at least carries out the de slitting and de weeding of the precious water body in the area.

As the festival has cultural connotations, the preparations for the annual event begin days ahead in this South Kashmir village. From baskets, mosquito nets to availing leave from the routine work, people make special arrangements on the day. It is not only the men and children who take the centre stage, the women folk too make special arrangements for the day preparing delicacies and a variety of fish curry on the occasion.

We too enjoy the occasion. Along with the men folk, the females too celeberate the annual festival. Though, they do not go into water body for fishing , But they play active role in giving festive outlook to the village and occasion. Zaitoona Begum, a middle aged lady from the village says, the women always wait for the outcome of the event as men folk return home with baskets.

As the villagers enjoy the day in traditional way, the uniqueness of the approach to celebrate the cleanliness of the  water bodies makes the festival a precedence for sustainable life.

NASIR YOUSIFI

sRINAGAR: Braving hardships, a boy from interior habitation of Mir Behri Dal in Srinagar has fared bright in recently held JKBOSE class 10th examinations. Securing a place among the toppers, the feat of the young lad is seen as an achievement and a source of inspiration as he had to overcome many socio-economic hurdles to emerge among the toppers.

As the time slowly tickles to Post Meridian three in evening, a mark when the link for recently held JKBOSE examination result is supposed to open for public, the throbs, anxiety and nervousness among a group of students at a private tuition centre in the vicinity of Dal lake determines the significance of the occasion. Amid the curiosity and tense, the tense boy from the interiors of Dal lake throw his hands into air making a gesture of prayers as soon his friend announces his result. The fair complexioned boy has come off with flying colours.

Mudasir Hussain Bhat, a 14 year old boy with humble background has scored 490 marks out of 500. As per the result declared by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Kashmir, Mudasir scored  98% marks securing 11th position in matriculation examination.

“Right from the day one of the examination, I was hopeful of securing a rank as I wrote my exams  very well”,  says content Mudasir. I am very happy with the outcome of my hardwork. Thanks to Almighty , the results are as per my expectations, adds jubilant Mudasir.

Having read from one of the government run  school in educational zone Nishat, Mudasir was a student of Government High School Nandpora, Mir Behri Dal. Mudasir says this school has an important role in grooming his reading and learning skills. I am indebted to a selfless support from my school all these years.  Apart from teaching learning activities, the benevolent attitude of school has always been a morale booster, Mudasir says.

Born to a family with humble background, Mudasir faced multitude of hardships while continuing his studies in a local government school. From extreme poverty, dearth of resources to lack of modern day gadgetry like cell phone and proper data signal, the boy from the poor habitation of Dal had to face a stark reality of underprivileged life. Continuous closure of schools for pandemic COVID 19 added to the miseries of the impoverished boy, as he lacked the resources for any form of online education. Virtually living in a hardly accessible habitation of Moti Mohlla in the interiors of Dal lake, lack of regular power supply to the area also hindered his preparations, as Mudasir says he could not study during night hours properly under the candle light.

In addition to lack of resources, the boy has to take care of his bed ridden grandparents as his father goes to work.

 The  boy  with stark eyes reflecting confidence never allowed these hiccups to impede his studies. “He has  proved how hardwork pays in life. The resilient boy stood firm by his resolve and never let the odds to distract him from the track”, Says Mohammad Afzal , a college dropout from the locality while commenting upon the commendable achievement of the boy. According to Mohammad Qazim, 60 year old neighbour of the boy, Mudasir is the first student from the area to secure a rank among the toppers in matriculation examinations.

According to one of the teachers posted at government run school where Mudasir did his schooling, the boy is a brilliant student with a quest for knowledge. He is also an ardent fan of eminent scientist Elbert Einstein says the teacher who used to teach him from class 8th.

It is not that Mudasir is not interested in sports or hobbies, He too loves to play cricket. “He often helps me in daily chores and regularly fetches  the fodder for a goat  from surroundings”, says his father Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, a labourer by occupation. Bhat is hopeful that his son would accomplish more feats in the feature and would bring laurels for the family and mankind too. Mudasir’s mother a house wife is says that his son would excel in studies and turn out to be a game changer for the literally lagging habitation. She is hopeful that the government and  well off section from the society  will come forward to help her son to pursue quality education and career.

Mudasir’s achievement in examinations is doing rounds on social media too. A number of posts published from different social media handles praising the brilliant performance of boy outdoing poverty and resource dearth have went viral on internet, with many netizens pouring all kind of praises for the humble background boy. “You are really an inspiration for underprivileged class”, wrote a netizen on one of the posts on social media.