The state of affairs in Kashmir University; Perspective of a student activist.

With despair I compose this message to express the real state of affairs in Kashmir University as far as student activism is concerned. The activities of Congress backed NSUI & the statements made by the officials of KU are a matter of great concern to the stake holders of the varsity. I would like to convey my displeasure by the following points:

1. The recent press release of NSUI which was published in local dailies communicate that their membership drive was a success by recruiting 475 voters in KU. If you have a look at the official website of NSUI, you can find the member list of J&K and KU in particular, wherein the complete list of the students involved in this heinous affair is available even mentioning the department & the batch they belong to. It comes as a surprise to see that the total no. of students out of the 6000 plus students of KU is only 110. Out of the 110, only 37 votes have been polled. And out of these 37, 80% belong to a particular batch of Dept. of Law.

2. It is but obvious from the list that NSUI has published on their website that they have managed to rope in only one or two pro-active workers who belong to the particular batch of L.LB. Logical instinct leads me to believe that these pro-active workers either have a pro-Indian family background or have some support from a faculty member of the department.

3. The PRO of Kashmir University recently issued a press release wherein he mentioned that NSUI does not exist in varsity, based on the information found on the website either the PRO’s statement Is blatant lie or KU administration is not doing their job well.

4. Authorities in KU had banned every sort of student activism as they say it does pertain to academics. I would like to question what according to them comprises the domain of academic activism. Is it the unfair recruitments (an example being a student of home science being appointed as PRO), Is it the sponsored meeting of selected few with Indian ministers of the rank of Kapil Sibal & Rahul Gandhi or Is it the cases of alleged sexual harassment by officials of University (Zafar scandal) or is it the Christian conversion controversy with some professors being allegedly involved in it.

5. Talking of political activism which the authorities fear & over which the KUSU office was demolished, I want the authorities to make their stand clear whether they think protesting against the Shopian Double rape & murder case and killings of innocent school going youth amounts to politics.

6. According to my information the election of this 35 member voter list was held at the residence of a lady who calls herself Rabia Baji & claims to be a revert . She runs an NGO which facilitates social programs for CRPF & Indian Army. The recent Shehar-e-Khaas U-14 cricket tournament played at the Kashmir University grounds where General Hasnain & IG of Indian police SM Sahai were chief guests was also facilitated by her. I would like to question this “Baji” how in the world does she fit in, to facilitate NSUI elections.

7. Taking into consideration the volatile environment in Kashmir majority of the students cannot afford to put their careers & lives at stake by aligning themselves with the real representatives (HURRIYAT-G) of the people, for they have no desire to become a resident of another unmarked grave. So, I wonder what the KU administration is really afraid of. It’s but obvious the suppression of genuine student voice is a pretext to inhibit us from speaking on behalf of the people of Kashmir.

8. I honestly believe that even this voter list is fake & these 110 students in the list of NSUI have been fold into something they have no idea of. They should come out in public as far as their stand over this matter is concerned or else their silence will be taken as admission to the guilt they are involved in.

9. Some students pursuing MBBS in GMC & JVC are also a part of the voter list. It should be of no surprise that out of these students majority of them with their names like Rahul & Akash are from Jammu.

10. All these activities & the silence of local pro-Indian political parties compelled me to believe that it all is a part of big conspiracy which has been hatched to strengthen the roots of Indian military occupation in Kashmir & to show to the outside world that Indian sentiment is prevalent amongst the youth of Kashmir, with some important officials of KU being a part of this conspiracy.

It is my appeal to the pro-people intellectuals of Kashmir to speak & question the KU administration on my behalf, for their silence will amount to acceptance of defeat.

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.

Academic dissent stifled in Kashmir by India

By : Haroon Mirani


Kashmir University, one of the largest universities in Indian-administered Kashmir, is also one of the most watched universities in India to ensure not a whimper of academic dissent emerges. But there are signs that the political climate may be changing.

Some Kashmiri academics say now is the time to speak out because the Indian government does not want to be embarrassed internationally as it emerges as a potential superpower.

Some 43,000 people have lost their lives (As per Indian government's stats, actual figures of killings are more than the double of stated figure) in the last two decades of insurgency in Kashmir, according to government figures, and this is regarded by human rights organisations as a conservative estimate.

Yet Kashmir University (KU) in Srinagar rarely allows research to be published on these burning issues.

The state suppression of academics is intended to prevent the emergence of authentic literature on Kashmir's contemporary history, where India often appears in a negative light, experts say.

And although violence in Kashmir is at the lowest level since its eruption in 1990, fear of reprisals still rules. Even seminars and workshops at KU are on strictly a-political themes and research students are encouraged to pursue 'safe' topics.

"We have books depicting Pakistan's point of view and the Indian point of view but our academics don't produce research papers, theses and books from the Kashmiri point of view, even though Kashmiris have suffered the most," said Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a law professor at Kashmir University.

New university departments have been created such as the Kashmir Institute. Prior to its establishment at KU in 2008, the institute was an independent body that produced commendable work often critical of the establishment. "It was a brilliant institute and had produced at least three dozen academically-acclaimed papers," lamented Showkat. Now it is entirely pro-government.

In 2010 the government banned a postgraduate course in human rights in KU without giving concrete reasons. Insiders say the government was embarrassed by research papers that emerged from the department, which squarely blamed the Indian army for gross human rights violations in Kashmir.

After much public outcry the department was allowed to resume work this year, albeit under scrutiny by the university authorities - those who express critical views of the government forego promotions or are thrown out.

Mohammed Yousuf Ganai, a history lecturer and president of the Kashmir University Teachers' Association, said: "If anybody talks openly, even if it is based on research, knives are out to harm him either professionally or personally"

"Such is the situation that even victims refuse to mention their ordeal as they fear it will invite more wrath," Ganai said.

The problem is widespread in all universities in Kashmir. "They are all same, with KU being the leading example of big [academic] resources rendered wasted by state control," said Parvez Imroz, a human rights activist and president of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies.

Despite burning issues related to the conflict like mass graves or the high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and other conflict-induced phenomenon that need analysis and investigation, "no research dealing directly with the Kashmir conflict is coming out of KU".

Imroz pointed out that his coalition receives students from major universities like Harvard and Yale who want to research the Kashmir conflict, often on the very issues Kashmiri academics will not or cannot touch.

Instead, Kashmiri academics "choose neutral and safe topics like orphanages, culture, roads, architecture and climate change," Imroz told University World News, adding:

"Academics don't want to come out of their safe zone and assert their position. The fear of even remotely displeasing the state and the possible repercussions scares them. Nobody in academia is ready to fight and take on the state head-on over these visible and invisible curbs."

But not absolutely everyone is content to remain within their personal safety zone.

Hamida Nayeem, a professor in KU's English department, has had her passport impounded by the government for the past three years, for her outspoken criticism of government policies. She continues to speak out.

Nayeem said academic dissent was necessary. "It is they [academics] who can show dissent using proof and historical evidence, and reach to the bottom of truth with free and fair investigation of things."

But it is not easy. During the last 20 years the government has managed to handpick professors and lecturers in KU, according to Showkat, the law professor. "These people are not worthy of the position and to continue their prime position, they become easy collaborators."

According to many academics, the government has cultivated a wide network of sources to keep an eye on them. And action can be swift.

Last December Noor Muhammad Bhat, an English lecturer at a KU, was arrested on charges of sedition after he had set an examination paper in which one translation question included a passage related to youths stone-pelting Indian forces in Kashmir.

The police accused Baht of setting an 'anti-national' and 'anti-establishment' exam paper. Bhat was later granted interim bail by the high court after 23 days of detention, causing a huge outcry in Kashmir. Many academics came out in his support.

"The police have no role in matters of academia. It is for the university to see whether a passage is controversial or otherwise," Bhat told local reporters on his release.

Also in December, the police registered a case of obscenity against KU professor Shad Ramzaan of the department of Kashmiri studies, although they did not arrest him. Ramzaan had taken a passage from a book about the evolution of mammary glands of females for a translation examination paper.

Shad called the charges against him "academic terrorism".

"I took this paragraph from a text book of Unani (traditional) medicine. The police should first book the author [of that book] and then they should book the people who prescribed it. They should also ban medical colleges and MBBS course because it is all being taught there," he told a news agency.

Ramzaan was stripped of his post as head of KU's Kashmiri department and blacklisted from setting exam papers for 10 years.

But some academics feel now is the time to speak out. English professor Nayeem felt things had changed in the last five years in Kashmir, primarily due to the decline in the armed insurgency.

Previously at the height of the violence the government was quick to brand academics 'anti-national' if they spoke out, claiming it was curbing militancy. But now if academics speak with one voice, the authorities might not dare to act against them. "They can punish us singly but not entire academic community," said Nayeem.

Many academics are optimistic, citing the decline in violence, India's rising superpower status and, most crucially, the country's democratic image as the biggest deterrents to persecutions similar to those that took place during the worst times, particularly the early 1990s.

"India won't like to be internationally embarrassed in this era of mass media by persecuting intellectuals," said Showkat. "There is hope that if academics rise to command authority and freedom of expression at this juncture, we will see a big change in Kashmir University."

But Nayeem pointed to the continued timidity of the academic community after years of repression: "Unfortunately academics are not coming forward," she said.

This article was originally published at UNIVERSITY WORLD NEWS