SINCE SCHOOLS are universally referred to as ‘temples of learning’, destruction of any educational institution is nothing less than an act of sacrilege that cannot be justified on any grounds. So while torching of schools in Kashmir continues unabated, the failure of the government, police and the separatists in taking steps to arrest this despicable trend is regrettable. And what is even more worrying is that even after more than two dozen schools in Kashmir have gone up in flames, the government and separatists are busy blaming each other for this!
In the first press conference after his release from detention, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik lashed out at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar accusing them of being “squarely responsible” for the burning of schools in Kashmir. However, the reasons he gave in support of his allegation weren’t quite convincing. Instead, by accusing them of trying to re-open schools by “hook or crook” just in order to convey an impression that ‘all was well’ in Kashmir had brought them in “direct confrontation” with students, Malik has unwittingly linked the burning of schools to the ongoing protests in Kashmir.
However, the JKLF chairman is not the only one who sees a connection between holding of school exams and the ongoing protests. A statement issued by the Hurriyat (G) faction on October, 20, says that after failing to forcibly “subjugate the population” to bring about “illusionary peace,” the government tried to “emotionally blackmail” the separatist leaders through open letters. And when this attempt received a “befitting reply from one and all,” the government was now using “schooling and examination as an instrument to achieve what they could not get by other means.”
While the separatist leadership may not have directly given any public call for attacking schools, its statements clearly send out the message that the government is using the school examinations excuse to break up the ongoing agitation. Many see this is an indirect provocation that has led to the school burning spree and those who believe so say that statics support their apprehensions. Speaking on the precondition of anonymity, a school teacher from Shopian who claims that there is a definite correlation between the school torching incidents and statements made by the separatist leadership came up with some rather interesting figures and analysis.
Saying that the first incident of a school being torched occurred on September, 6, at Mirhama, Kulgam nearly two months after the protests started, this school teacher pointed out before JKBOSE issued the class 12 exam data sheet on September, 23, the total number of school buildings burnt down stood at 4. Even after the JKBOSE announcement a total of 5 schools were set ablaze. However, after Hurriyat (G) issued the October, 20, statement accusing the government of using “schooling and examination as an instrument to achieve what they could not get by other means,” incidents of setting schools on fire showed a threefold increase, which as per the school teacher cannot be a mere coincidence!
Prolonged closure of schools has seriously impacted education in Kashmir and students have no choice to face the short and long term adverse effects of this. Burning down of schools is a reprehensible act and as the approaching winters preclude holding classes outdoors, the agony of Kashmiri students is further compounded. Recent reports in media about the granddaughter of a senior separatist leader taking her exams and mentioning names of other leaders whose children are studying outside the state and abroad, though uncalled does increase the agony of students and their parents. It also conveys a negative impression about our leaders’ commitment to the Kashmir cause and their concern for students. Therefore instead of trading accusations and making allegations the separatists need to clear the air by coming out in unambiguously condemning the burning down of schools!
Pervaiz is a class 12 student studying in the Higher Secondary school at Sumbal (Kulgam) who is bitter because his school building was burnt down by miscreants on October, 8. He strongly feels that the separatist leadership can easily ensure that incidents of torching schools stop in case it sincerely wants to do so. “If we can organise ourselves to ensure that no individual moves or vehicles ply during curfew timings announced by our leaders, we can easily mount vigils on schools in our localities to ensure no one dares to burn them down. All they (Resistance leaders) have to do is to say so!” Pervaiz opined.
Let not education become a hostage to the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir as students of today are the future of Kashmir’s tomorrow. School buildings have nothing to do with oppression and so why burn them down? As education in Kashmir has already suffered very badly on account of the prolonged curfews and strikes, burning down school buildings will only further aggravate the situation for our school going children. In case the Hurriyat feels that burning down school buildings is the work of the government or its ‘agencies’ there is all the more reason for the separatist conglomerate take measure to ensure that such a nefarious ‘conspiracy isn’t allowed to succeed.
And here a suggestion of Hurriyat leadership asking locals to mount vigil over school buildings to prevent arson may not be a bad idea after all!
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