They came, they taught, they conquered
KP girls spend vacation teaching Kashmiris in Ramadan, win hearts
While the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits is making headlines, away from the limelight, two female Pandit teachers are in the Valley teaching children and training the teachers.Jeewika Bhat and Jigyasa Labroo, two Kashmiri Pandit youth are stationed in far-flung areas of Kashmir valley, not to enjoy natural beauty as tourists but to teach students and train teachers about new teaching techniques.
The duo works as fellows for ‘Teach for India’ in New Delhi.
When the two fellows had their summer break this year, they decided to move to Kashmir to assist teachers in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district for the ‘New Leaf Initiative’.
‘Teach for India’ is a movement of outstanding college graduates and young professionals who commit two-years to teach full-time in under-resourced schools.
The ‘New Leaf Initiative’ was launched by the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shah Faesal, after recording poor performance in government schools.
For the purpose, experts prepared a ‘Basic Minimum Learning Module’ with which students should be able to read and write with ease and be able to do basic mathematics besides other co-curricular activities.
The basic aim of the initiative was to improve the learning level of students in government schools and for this purpose, government sought the help of NGOs including ‘Pratham’ and ‘Teach for India’.
Jeewika was six-months-old when her family migrated from their native village in Baramulla in late 90s.
After completing her post-graduation in Environment Management, she worked for two years in an environmental consultancy in Pune before joining the ‘Teach for India’ campaign.
She teaches under privileged, students of low income private school in Delhi.
When the school was closed for summer break, Jeewika decided to continue her endeavour and returned to her roots in Kashmir.
She is stationed in north Kashmir’s Bandipora town to assist the teachers in teaching and also to teach new ways of participatory learning approach to make the process of teaching friendlier.
The young fellow was delighted to be back to the Valley.
“Besides doing my job, I’m also happy that I’m doing this in my own Valley, where my parents once lived,” Jeewika said.
Jeewika had never visited Kashmir after her parents migrated but that has not prevented her from speaking fluent Kashmiri and she prefers to talk in Kashmiri here.
“It shows a sense of belonging and whenever I spoke Kashmiri, people here would feel happy to know that I’ a Kashmiri Pandit and would invite me over a cup of tea,” she said. “People here are so warm and hospitable.”
Like Jeewika, Jigyasa Labroo too decided to utilize her vacation for some good cause and decided to return to her roots.
Lagoo’s grandfather lived in Aali Kadal area of Srinagar before migrating to Delhi in early 80s.
Jigyasa was born in Delhi. She is an engineer by profession who decided to work as a fellow for ‘Teach for India’ to do some social service as teaching interests her.
She makes educational videos for students to make learning process participatory and more interesting.
In Bandipora, Jigyasa is part of IQRA campaign launched by the State government for illiterate adults of the district.
The young Kashmiri Pandit goes door-to-door in search of illiterate women who cannot write their names.
She hands them a pen and teaches them to write their name and shun the tradition of thumb impressions.
On the concept of ‘Each One to Teach One’ policy, schools in every village will give a community service assignment to all students from 7th standard and above to teach at least five uneducated persons in their village.
Jigyasa coordinates these events and works herself in the field.
Iqra campaign was first of its kind in the entire State and at the end of Ramadan, Bandipora will be first district where every citizen will be able to sign instead of using thumb impressions.
For this campaign, Jigyasa also composed a song ‘Kynki Unghutai Pai Siyahi Achi Nahi Lagti (Ink on thumb doesn’t look good)’ and played it on the strings of her guitar.
Jigyasa said she had heard a lot about the place being ‘insecure’ for Kashmiri Pandits but had found things entirely different on the ground.
“I was welcomed by all and loved by all. The scene was totally different than the impression I had,” she said.
Working for your roots is the biggest joy that these Kashmiri Pandit girls realized this summer.
They used the times, they could have used to get away from the humdrum of busy life, labouriously to yield something beautiful that may glow for years to come.
“These two girls gave their best to teach us as well as children who share their roots. They come from different backgrounds but they have one mission, to teach the Gen Next,” said a group of teachers in Bandipora.
On her return from Kashmir, Jigyasa, who also taught poetry to children, said, “Kashmir Sei Tou Hum Rukhsat Lel Lenge, Par Ay Firdous-e-Kashmir, Kya Ek Kashmiri Se Kashmir Ko Rukhsat Dilwa Paovge. (We may bid adieu to Kashmir but O’ Paradise Kashmir, Can a Kashmiri Part Ways With Kashmir?)”
