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Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 28
Last month a historic educational institution was burnt to ashes in south Kashmir’s Anantnag town in a mysterious inferno, a reminiscent of the early 1990s when an institution like Islamia College in Srinagar was gutted.
Two dozen schools have been set ablaze in the Valley in the past over three months of unrest. The incidents take me to the early 1990s when colleges and schools were being set afire in Sopore town.
There was a growing concern among residents in my native town, Baramulla, who feared this could also happen in their area. That was the time when militancy had just erupted and militants were holding sway as the government institutions were defunct.
However, a concerned lot of teachers and academicians in Baramulla, led by Prof Showkat Ali Mir, the then Principal-in-charge of Government Degree College, Baramulla, gathered to discuss the situation and devise ways to safeguard the schools and colleges in the town. Nobody knew who were the arsonists and what were their motives but what was happening was worrisome.
The paramount concern was to safeguard the educational institutions. Showkat Saheb, as he was fondly called commanded respect in the entire area. A proficient teacher of chemistry and the seniormost faculty member in the college, he had taught thousands of students, some of whom had joined militant ranks.
At the meeting, it was decided to send a word to militants that schools should be safeguarded. If they sent the word that schools were required even after ‘azaadi’, it would make sense and people would come forward to save the educational hubs and arsonists would not go scot-free. The task to meet the militant commander of the area was given to late Professor Showkat.
Professor Showkat embarked on the mission with his trademark wit and clarity. On the way, he met one of his students, a militant, who was reverent towards his teacher. “We could have come to your place if you wished to meet us,” the student told the professor.
The professor reached the old town to meet the commander, who had set up his office in an abandoned Pandit house. Interestingly, the commander turned out to be a known figure.
In a feeble voice, the professor explained the purpose of his visit. He explained the necessity of safeguarding the educational institutions and said that for ‘freedom’, the boys and girls had to study.
The militant commander was equally respectful. He told the professor that they were ‘mujahids’ (holy warriors) and had embarked on the path to liberate Kashmir. “We don’t burn down schools. Why should we? But we cannot assure you of the safety to schools. This is not our domain,” he told the professor.
When the professor left the meeting room, his old student was waiting outside and could sense that the meeting was not fruitful. Out of respect for the teacher, he heard him again and then promised him that they would deploy their men around academic institutions to safeguard them. The assurance was what the professor needed. The militants kept their word and the professor held his head high.
Not a single educational institution in Baramulla was burnt down in the early 1990s, unlike what was happened in neighbouring Sopore.
Protecting schools, colleges a concern
In the early 1990s, Prof Showkat Ali Mir, the then Principal-in-charge of Government Degree College, Baramulla, approached militants in order to safeguard educational institutions in the area. He was promised by his militant student that they would deploy their men around academic institutions to safeguard them. The militant kept his promise and not a single school or college in Baramulla was burnt down in the early 1990s. Twentysix years later, there is a similar concern to safeguard educational institutions across Kashmir.
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