BAPTIZING THE YOUNG MINDS

By: Irfan Kashmirie

On 2-11-2011 Kashmir Education Initiative observed its Annual Day in Gandhi Bhawan, University of Kashmir. KEI is a volunteer-driven philanthropic organization with an aim to support education of talented and deserving youth who can't otherwise support continuing their education on their own. On the occasion approximately 60-70 students (KEI Scholars) were awarded the scholarships. At around 12:00 noon all the participants were asked to come on dice, introduce themselves, share their thoughts and explain to the audience what they aspire to be.

A lot of students got up to the dice and most of the students wanted to become doctors, engineers, scientists, etc.

A bright kid from one of the backward areas of the valley also went up, introduced himself to the audience and said that his aim in life was to fight Indians for the freedom of Kashmir.

The hall reverberated with cheers and applauds to the young kid. Next was the young girl who aspired to pursue MMBS and a full time “dayee” to spread the word of Allah and organize congregations especially in Medical Colleges / Universities across valley.

Kudos to the young sister. After some time came the turn of another young brother who said that he will work and strive to expel American Zionists and Indians out of Muslim lands in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, etc. But this did not go well with the organizers and they immediately cautioned the students not to spill it anymore.

And this is how the people at the helm of affairs make our youth/Gen-Next morally bankrupt. The place which is supposed to produce thinkers/philosophers is just busy in molding the brains of the youth. Shame on university administration who suppress the emotions of the youth to keep their political masters happy. The place is supposed to be the hub of revolution / renaissance (like Osmania University Hyderabad) but unfortunately it is doing exactly the opposite of the same.

In another example, class 7 students of DPS Athwajan offered congregational mid day Zuhr prayers in the playground of the school. This came into the notice of the principal and next day a siege was laid in the ground by so called Muslim teachers of the school to prevent students from offering the Zuhr prayer. Most of the students who have kept beard are asked day-in and out to tri m it off or else face the consequences.

It must be borne in mind that no religious activity (including offering prayer) is allowed in the DPS campus right from its inception in the Srinagar. Although, students every now and then break these rules but this does not go well with the school principle and often the students pay price (in the form of fine and mental torture). Isn’t this interfering in the faith?? Why are Kashmiris silent over such issues, why don’t we launch a mass campaign against such cultural and religious aggression?? Or is it that we all have gone materialistic and await wrath from Allah (SWT).

Alhamdulillah these youth have raised some hope that our Gen-Next will be fertile brains and great thinkers/philosophers who will do everything possible to keep their religion as well as Ummah protected. May He guide us to the right path, the path which He has bestowed with His Grace and not of those who earn His Anger? Aameen Summa Aameen.