Quantum of Distress from our Academic Atmosphere

Man is a social animal. If he lives out of society, he is either a beast or an angel (Aristotle).
Out of 4.9 million animal species present on the surface of earth, homo sapiens are the only creatures who are superior to all not because of any specific trait or characteristic but only because of their ability to think, communicate, decide and behave in a superior manner. In fact, it is the amalgam of these traits which makes this social animal unique and different from others in crystal clear manner and provides meaning and value to its being.When we lose the ability to maintain a balance between these traits and the associated roles, we fail to consider ourselves as human beings. Alas! We become more dreadful than wild beasts. A recent scuffling episode from Kashmir University that has become talk of the town from a couple of days and is discussedon every common table in the seats of learning as well as on social media is one such shocking example. Being associated with the teaching fraternity, It is indeed very unfortunateto come to know about a serious fight between two senior professors on a petty issue that landed the duo in nearbypolice station after lodging FIR’S against each other. Such incidents are not only shocking and worth criticism but also discouraging. These reflect a dismal state of affairs and cut a sorry figure which invites nothing but disgrace to the institution and distress among the fraternity. There is not an iota of doubt in the fact that the academics all over the nation and more particularly in our union territory is saturated with loopholes and bottlenecks. We see research scholars most often getting scolded and tortured by their supervisors, junior faculty members looked down by the senior ones in an inferior way and contractual staff sailing in the same boat with innumerable grievanceswhich makes this oppressed and subordinate lot to dance at the whims of their permanent and senior bosses.Besides, we are also witness to the lobby system in different colleges and universitieslike JNU, DU, JMI, AMU, BHU and KU etc. as well as to the common scuffles between the faculty members and the headof departments (HOD’s) which not only gives birth to the notions of “departments within departments” but alsobreeds occasional antagonistic tendencies and fatal outcomesas well. All this is prevalent and has been in vogue since time immemorial. The irony is that its roots are encroaching deeper into our academic seats of learning and becoming more widespread day in and day out. The question that strikes one’smind is that being teachers what are we providing and promulgating in our students and our junior fellows? Is this what we are being appointed for? Where are we leading our youngsters and in which direction? Do we deserve to call ourselves as true mentors or in that case who is responsible to spoil our future generations and our academic atmosphere?
All these are the questions that need to be looked into so keenly with much seriousnessand broader perspectives by each one of us. Above all, these are the reflections of narrow approach, myopic vision and blurred outlook. When we intend to harm or even think or speak untoward about any fellow being, we are in turn harming none but ourselves only. Suchideas and incidents of scuffling, backbiting or indecent showofflast for few moments only but the after shocks that these waves develop attain permanent and disastrous nature and become eternal narratives for future. Thereafter, we are always looked upon in the context of these distasteful and bitterepisodes only. Rather we become their brandambassadors and epitaphs, wherever required, for the times to come. It leaves a bad impression on others and that too at the cost of our character and reputation as well as passes on detrimental under-currents into the coming generations which breeds further antagonism,indiscipline and disorder into the system. All this must be stopped and penalized.An appropriate policy to deal with such episodes at respective levels of hierarchy is the need of the hour. A healthy academic atmosphere free from bias, prejudice, ego or any other superiority- inferiority complex should be given chance to flourish. We must not involve ourselves in maintaining any false narratives or status quo of impatience and uncompromise as it hampers not only our progress but also halts the process of our individual as well as collective development. All this is possible only once we prioritize the etiquettes of cooperation, mutual respect, coordination and compromise over all the other vociferous tendencies. Let’s give patience, positive attitude, broader outlook, and hope a chance to act and try to become role models and lighting lamps for others. It is high time to wake up and keep aside all our grudges and indifferences for the sake our institutions which are the greatest resource as well as glory of our own nation and generation.
(Author teaches Geography at Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. Views are his own)
Dying Irrigation Kuhls & changing land use patterns by farmers
Bilal Bashir Bhat
Irrigation Kuhls/canals the community-owned irrigation channels of Jammu and Kashmir, now have lost their importance over time. It is because people have illegally encroached and filling them for their own use. These kuhls once irrigated thousands of agricultural and household needs of the villagesare now dying. Farmers in J&K have for centuries relied on community-managed kuhls systemsfor irrigation channels for their rice farming, wheat and other livelihood household activities. Irrigation, the process of artificial supply of water to crops, is an age-old practice in the state. The farmers are quite conscious of the significance of ir-rigation as a means to achieve an effective break-through in the development of agriculture.Access to water is a significant factor for the survival of farmers and villagers as they are dependent on it. Irrigation plays an important role in the Agriculture and Horticultural sector of J&K economy.Jammu and Kashmir do not receive rain throughout the year,in valley of Kashmir it rains mostly in winter when temperature is too low for plant growth. When the temperature begins to rise in May and onwards, the rainfall decreases and except some showers of rain in July-August, most of the growing season remains dry. Since ages, the farm economy has been dependent on a single crop and the cultivator cannot take chances with it. The farmer always requires sufficient water supply for his filed, therefore, he depends mostly upon kuhls and canals for irrigation. The Zamindari canals, locally called as Kuhls are constructed and main¬tained by the farmers. The total number of such canals is 2,827 which irrigate nearly 60 per cent of the total irrigated area of Kashmir Division. Changes in the past few decades have posed a challenge to the functioning of the kuhls/ canals.With the passage of time these canals and Kuhls are encroached by the local people leading farmers to change their land use patterns from agriculture to Horticulture and other activities.
The small streams running through the village are decreasing in width and depth due to daily filling by the villagers without thinking of the poor farmers and other people who are totally dependent on such structures for their livelihood and these streams/ Kuhls are also the major source of drinking water for most of the people. These kuhls/ canals are now turning into drains where people dumping their daily waste making the water unfit for drinking and other household purposes. Over the years, wild growth, construction of new structures alongside the kuhls/ canals and earth overwhelmed it at most places, villagers get tap and well water at homes while agriculture is no longer a profitable livelihood option is another cause of lost and deterioration these irrigation structures in valley.People are now planting popular, willow and other tree species on the embankments of these Kuhls which become difficult for the authorities to clean and widen these kuhls. With passage of time we have lost hundreds of these irrigation facilities especially in villages of J & K. Many times, the Revenue, Irrigation and flood control, Jalshakti departments of J&K trying to recover the illegal encroached land of Kuhls but failed. I am an eye witness when few years ago these stakeholder departments jointly act and cut the trees alongside the embankments of these water bodies and then they have not come forward to widen and drugging these water channels and result was the continuous devastating floods in the Balkul channel in Pattan areas which destroys thousands Kanals of agricultural and horticultural lands of farmers. This leads to change the land use pattern by farmers as siltation has totally destroyed the agricultural lands in these areas. This happens when there is no proper planning and management by authorities. The stakeholder departments must come forward to protect these kuhls and canals with proper planning to further protest the encroachment in such crucial irrigation structures and those who deliberately occupy these structures should be punishable under law. So that in future no one dare to occupy and encroach these kuhls and canals which are lifeline for farmers and people who are dependent on them.
(The author is an Environmental Specialist J&K State Climate Centre J&K –DEERS. Views are his own)
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