Wakeel Ahmad Mir
The COVID-19 pandemic has disturbed almost every walk of life. It has disturbed the universe both physically and mentally. Like a sanguinary terrorist it has not only terrorised the population but has also been able to snatch thousands of beloveds from their lovers. There is hardly any social class that has not been disturbed by this pandemic. Its unexpected rise roasted the public as well as private life. Like other demographic units of the country, the UT of Jammu and Kashmir too came under its claws. The Jammu and Kashmir which was already in the evil shadows after its demotion from statehood to Union Territory, was trembled by the unevenly wide spread of Corona Virus. More or less every class of the society got distressed by this virus, but one of the unfortunate classes which have been almost ruined by this pandemic is the student fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir. Using 2G internet services with overloaded mental trauma in their heads makes students of Jammu and Kashmir different from rest of the world. In order to overcome the losses, every professional is paying out his time and money in these prevailing circumstances. Politicians are busy in their politics. Businessmen are trying to tackle the barriers which are hindering their business. Carpenters and Masons, taking extra wages instead of the lunch offered to them by their customers, doing the job on their part. Employees are always busy in meetings online or offline with their bosses to make run their offices with more or less perfection. Wholesalers and retailers busy in sailing their items from the emergency doors of their workplaces. In these circumstances we see a section of people who seem to be lacking the courage and rhythm and are looking tired, that is none other than the student section. Though there are a number of students who are brave enough to defeat these resistances and are proving their best as the real truth seekers. Much praise for those brave hearts. But what I am mentioning here is the student as a whole and my main focus is on the conditions of students of Jammu and Kashmir. Being myself a student I can understand rather I am experiencing the tragedies. The politics is being implemented in the studies, in the syllabus and curriculum. The heart breaking incidents of shouldering the coffins of our classmates has almost become a daily routine. We are being dictated to compromise with our choices. The sudden changes in our job policies are like sprinkling salt on our wounds. The low speed social media sites are continuously haunting us with some myths and facts. We are forced to compromise with the limping speed in our online classes. No one can deny these facts. They are manifest like the light of the day. But the question is what we have to do..? Are we so weak that we will so easily accept our defeat and give up this reverent mission? When all the people, as individuals and groups, are working with alternatives for their materialistic motives, don’t we need to discover the pavements and ways for our noble and eternal cause. A student is the cream of the society. He is the one who dares to take the future of the society on his shoulders. So cowardliness never suits a student. Let me remind you a verse from Holy Quran; “Indeed with hardship is ease.” (94:6)-So we have to hope for the best. Pessimism is never an option. Studying does not always need a specific platform. We can seek knowledge in the home, in the fields, in the deserts, in battle fields and wherever not. We are not meant to accept the negativity. We are born to change and modify the system. So let’s take it as a challenge. We can do it. Let us be hopeful and never give up.
Like the bunch of tulips in the cradle, we will again see our small kids with some multi talented poses enjoying their journey in the school buses. Like the spring of water our mentors will again bestow us with their knowledge and experiments. Like the continuity of water we will be connected again with our friends. Let’s believe it; we will flourish with zeal and fervour.
One of the positive aspects of this lockdown is that the process of self studying which was at its dying stage would get a boost. That would in turn help in diminishing the heavy economic expenditures spent on education on family level and obviously on national level too. The dearth of scholars and think tanks in our society would also be fulfilled in this way. No doubt it is not so easy. There are jumble of difficulties which we are facing and which we have to face. But we should know that there is not a single problem which has not a solution. This happened to we people because we have the capability to tackle it. It is our responsibility and we are accountable for it. This encouraging couplet of Allama Iqbal is a healing remedy in these times.
Nahin hai na-umeed Iqbal apni kisht-e-weran se
Zara nam ho to ye mitti bahot zarkhaiz hai saqi.
(But of his barren acres Iqbal will not despair; A little rain, and harvests shall wave at last, oh Saki). A student is like a plant in the garden. The plant is survived by the water, air, sunlight etc. These are all favourable for plant growth. Now if some unfavourable winds blow someday in the garden, does the plant surrenders itself before these winds, does it stop its growth? No, never. In the same way we as students have to stand firm against the contemporary natural as well as artificial challenges. Soon the weather will be pleasant and the clouds of fear will be eliminated. Like the chirping of birds we will again listen the beautiful songs of love and affection from premises of schools and colleges. Like the bunch of tulips in the cradle, we will again see our small kids with some multi talented poses enjoying their journey in the school buses. Like the spring of water our mentors will again bestow us with their knowledge and experiments. Like the continuity of water we will be connected again with our friends. Let’s believe it; we will flourish with zeal and fervour.
( The author is a student at the P G Department of Islamic Studies at IUST Awantipora . Views are his own) [email protected]