Srinagar, Sept 11: In Gandhi Bhawan of Kashmir University when Taloot Talib, a frail high student of 8th standard from an private school in Islamabad advocated violence for achieving freedom, a man in the audience questioned the logic of advocating violence from a Hall named after Gandhi. Taloot was probably facing such a big audience for the first time and showed slight nervousness while framing a reply. And then he blurted out his answer: “By violence I mean organized mass protests.” For him freedom was the most important issue confronting the youth today.
Bisma Fida, a 9th standard student of Mallinson Girls School was frailer than Taloot. She declared she was a born rebel and she seemed to disagree with everybody. She split the audience into two when she, while referring to her fellow Kashmiris as “you people”, asked them be “honest and admit you have no moral values. Your state has been ranked as the second most corrupt state...” Her caustic remarks on the state of Kashmiri society drew tremendous applause. She also drew sharp reprimands from fellow students and some audience members.
Amber Ahmad of Presentation Convent said Kashmiris need exposure to the outside world; lack time and space for recreation; were quite disenchanted with the society; and were pitching their future lives in the US after education from Ivy League Universities of US. She gave examples from her encounters with youths in India. Wearing jeans and a shirt, she said she was proud of being a Kashmiri. “Wearing jeans doesn’t mean I have forgotten my moral values my family has taught me,” she said. She is 14 years old.
Taloot and Bisma, and Amber were speaking at a lively function, the prize distribution ceremony, organized by Greater Kashmir Welfare Trust at Gandhi Bhawan on Tuesday. The prizes were being given for essays written by the students on what they felt was “the most important issue facing the youth”.
The students brilliantly enumerated the ills of Kashmiri society like professional orators. And when audience posed them difficult questions, they fumbled, and honestly answer: “I am too young to suggest solutions.” But the confidence and the level of awareness at such a young age were quite remarkable.And everybody in the audience agreed when Aashna Jamal, student of Presentation Convent, was declared the winner of GK Annual Students Essay Writing Competition for the originality of her ideas about what is the most important issue for young people of Kashmir. She said in the absence of peace, the youth were caught in a web of uncertainties.
The audience, many of whom were the parents of the students who participated in the competition, thanked Greater Kashmir for organizing such a competition, saying it brings best out of their children. The students also lauded the GK for giving them a platform to talk about the issues facing the society.
Out of the 250 hundred students that participated in the competition, ten students were short-listed and asked to speak briefly about what they had written.Arshad Hussain Kaloo, Managing Editor Greater Kashmir; Muzamil Jaleel, Bureau Chief Indian Express; Showkat Ahmad Motta, Bureau Chief G.K; Riyaz Masroor, Political Editor G.K; Hilal Ahmad, Associate Editor G.K; and Shafat Rasool, Chief Sub-editor G.K. formed the panel of experts to judge and select the finalists.Taloot Talib Wani of Rosy Tots Institute, Islamabad, was awarded second prize of Rs 5000.
Amber Ahmad of Presentation Covent School got the third prize of Rs 3000. Fourth prize of Rs 2000 was received by Banooqa Hissam Banday of Presentation Convent.
Bisma Fida of Mallinson School got the fifth prize of Rs 1000.
Consolation prizes of Rs 500 each were given to Asma Rafi of Mallinson, Adnan Mushtaq Khan of Burn Hall School and Uzair Ashraf Mir of Tyndale Biscoe School. Sadaf Khursheed of Govt Girls Higher Secondary Sopur, Sana Maqbool of Mallinson School.
Apart from the ten short-listed participants, Adnan Qadir of Yateem Khana, Bemina was given a special prize of Rs 3000.
Muzamil Jaleel said it was very difficult for him to choose the winner and that every one among the participants deserved the first prize. He added that he felt proud while watching these kids speak so brilliantly on important issues.
The man behind the initiative, Arshad Hussain Kaloo, said his aim was to bring the young minds to be able to write about the issues of Kashmir. He said that they wanted to involve the young people of both rural and urban areas. He said it was just a beginning and they will continue to have such kinds of programmes in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Riyaz Masroor, advised the school children of Srinagar city to travel to villages and have the feel of how most of the people of Kashmir are living and facing hardships.
The editor of Greater Kashmir online edition Javaid Malik and correspondent Arshi Javed conducted the proceedings.
Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=12_9_2007&ItemID=36&cat=1
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