The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Musuada Foundation, has initiated a "Career Counseling and Reorientation Workshop" for the youth of Pulwama district. The event, scheduled from February 26, 2024, to March 13, 2024, at the Government Degree College, Pulwama, aims to empower young individuals with educational resources, skill development opportunities, and insights into various employment avenues, including addressing the issue of drug menace.

Recognizing the pivotal role of youth in the growth and development of communities and the nation at large, the workshop seeks to instil a sense of nationalism and encourage active participation in nation-building endeavours, particularly among the youth of South Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Umar Jaan, a social activist and former BDC Chairman, emphasized the importance of constructive engagement in shaping one's future and realizing personal aspirations. He expressed confidence in the resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of Kashmiri youth, highlighting their potential to overcome challenges and contribute significantly to the nation's development.

Mr Umar extended gratitude to the Indian Army for providing an apt platform for the youth of Kashmir and effectively engaging with them to facilitate their growth and development.

KULGAM — Momin Ishaq Teli, a third-grade student hailing from Munad Gufan village in Kulgam, has captured attention for his innovative spirit by designing a multitasking machine aimed at providing timely alerts for fire and gas leaks while illuminating 20 bulbs.

While speaking to The Kashmir Pulse, Momin highlighted the prevalent use of traditional firepots and heaters during winters in his community, which increases the risk of mishaps.

The 12-year-old inventor detailed the components of his machine, which include a heat controller, sensors, humidity meter, and various home improvisations, including parts from an old TV set's box.

"The machine utilizes a fan pipe to remove gas or fog from the room and is rechargeable," Momin explained.

He dedicated four to five months to completing the project and expressed his aspirations to develop more machines beneficial to society in the future.

"So far, I have developed three machines, including a multifunctional freezer, cooler, room warmer, and a refrigerator. An egg incubator capable of hatching up to 50 eggs at once, and now, the latest multitasking machine aimed at preventing fires and gas leaks," Momin elaborated.

However, Momin's journey as an innovator hasn't been without challenges, given his economically modest background. "The government should come forward and help me so that I can contribute much more in the future," he appealed.

His father, Mohammad Ishaq Teli, expressed pride in his son's accomplishments despite financial constraints and emphasized the importance of supporting talented youth like Momin Ishaq.

"For the last few years, my son has developed three machines. Despite our financial challenges, I am striving to fulfil all his dreams of becoming a skilled innovator so that he can contribute to society," Mohammad Ishaq stated.

He urged the government to provide assistance to talented youth, including his son, as it would further empower them to make significant contributions.

PULWAMA — A youth from south Kashmir's Pulwama district has secured a position as a pilot in Air India. Raja Shahzaib Raza from Panner Jagir, Tral is the first pilot from his area.

Speaking to the news agency KNO, his father Raja Ishtiyaq Hussian, a retired Executive Engineer, shared the journey of his son's success.

“Shahzaib’s educational foundation began at Tyndale Biscoe School in Srinagar. Then, he pursued B.Tech in mechanical engineering from Kashmir University,” he said.

He added, “I initially encouraged my son to consider Civil Services, but he opted for a different path and got enrolled in the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy (IGRUA) in Ambedhi after completing B.Tech.”

After completing the course at IGRUA, Shahzaib applied for a pilot position, securing a coveted spot in Air India, Raja said.

"Currently in Delhi to join the academy, my son’s achievement is not only a source of pride for our family but also a reason for celebration in Tral, where the residents are jubilant over his selection," the proud father added.

Hussian said the youth of Kashmir are very talented and can compete at any level and achieve their goals. He said an increasing number of Kashmiri youth are venturing into aviation. “There is a great scope of opportunities in this field,” he added.

It is a cliché now that youth are the foundation of a progressive society. They are the past, present and future of a country. They are broad-minded and use their energy for the overall development of society. It is they who are supposed to carry on the legacy, left by their forefathers. In a nutshell, they are the custodians of a civilisation.

If we talk of the youth of Kashmir, they are like other youth. They have a strong desire to work hard and excel in every part of their lives. They have a goal in front of them and want to achieve it, though myriad obstacles are in the way. However, their potential is wasted in one way or another.

In Kashmir, their gushing rivers of emotions are drying with each passing day. Their creativities are neglected and they are staring at a bleak future. The educated youths are more depressed than uneducated ones. They have sacrificed everything to fulfil their dreams. Their family members sacrificed their happiness for their bright careers. However, at the end of the day, it is corruption, nepotism and other immoral practices that are waiting for them.

In the hope of becoming extraordinary, they have become so ordinary that they are called useless. The highly qualified youths are unable to stand on their feet. They can’t earn their livelihood. The ups and downs of life are alien to them. They are unable to solve them. In this atmosphere, they feel choked. They have become a burden on their families as well as society. They are mentally disturbed. Mental diseases are on the rise among them.

It was the collective work of the government and society to care for them. Avenues must have been created for them so that their ingenuity was not lost in the dreary desert of lawlessness. The government must have tried its best to help the youth at every step. They must have been given every kind of support. Whether it was financial or moral support, their raw emotions must have been sublimated and given a proper channel.

However, the government has done nothing substantial to save their future. Instead of supporting them, the alleged corruption in various institutions has reduced their horizons of life. They have faced every kind of evil practice to get thrown into a bottomless pit. Mere promises can’t do miracles, instead, proper implementation of laws and policies and a proper watch is needed to help them regain confidence in government institutions.

The need of the hour is to channel the energies of the youth into positive works. We can’t afford to see them getting wasted for nothing. Proper implementation of laws and sustainable policies can help us in this endeavour. All have to come forward in this regard.

Fraudsters who loot youth on different pretexts should be publicly punished. No country wants its youth to go astray. Who will lead society tomorrow when the present is full of despair? The question remains.

BIHAR — A local youth from central Kashmir’s Budgam district has been arrested by police in Bihar for his suspicious movement in Shaheed Chowk of Katihar. The arrested youth has been identified as Nasir Yusuf Waza.

Reports said that Muhammad Yousuf, the father of the arrested youth, had been killed in an encounter in Kashmir valley.

Media reports said after reaching Katihar from Nepal, the youth was going to Kolkata by train, but he missed the train. Therefore, he checked into a hotel at Shaheed Chowk in Nagar Police Station area. Locals informed police after they spotted him roaming.

Katihar SP Jitendra Kumar said, “A youth has been arrested under suspicious circumstances. In the interrogation, it has been found that he is from Kashmir. Something can be clearly said in this matter only after interrogation.”

Reports said that Nasir is married to a girl in Finland where he has been staying. Reports added that he couldn’t go back to Finland due to a Visa problem.

SRINAGAR — A youth from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has gone missing from Ludhiana city of the northern Indian state of Punjab.

Firdous Ahmed Peer, a resident of the Muqam Dardpora Kralpora area of Kupwara, went missing on February 17 this year and since then his whereabouts is unknown to his family.

The family members, including the mother and the sister of the missing youth, emerged in Press Enclave Srinagar to attract the attention of the media towards the matter.

“He was working in a hotel at Ludhiana where he had gone along with a friend from Anantnag. The hotel authorities informed us that Firdous is untraceable since February 17,” one of the relatives told the news agency KNT.

Another relative said that police in Ludhiana don’t take the issue seriously. “We repeatedly visited the police station in Ludhiana but the men in uniform are not giving serious heed and no efforts are being made to locate our missing relative,” he said.

The protesting family appealed to the Jammu & Kashmir Police and Kupwara district administration to take up the issue with the Punjab Police.

SRINAGAR — People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking about “future” of those J&K youth who are now being jailed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to preclude their chances of getting bail.

Mehbooba Mufti in a press conference at PDP office in Srinagar said that PM is talking of the future of youth who are being slapped with UAPA by them so that they would not get bail as was the possibility under PSA.

The Prime Minister is doing nothing when the largest minority community of India – Muslims are being bulldozed, Mehbooba said, adding, “J&K had extended its hand to a secular India in an expectation that Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians would live together, but nothing of such is happening right now.”

Regarding the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to J&K, Mehbooba Mufti according to news agency Kashmir Dot Com said that in the backdrop of bulldozing a minority community, the PM is visiting to J&K, which has been destroyed by them by leaving no stone unturned.

“J&K State has been downgraded to Union Territory, employees are being sacked, persons from outside are giving employment here by ignoring the locals… the future of J&K’s people has been destroyed,” said Mehbooba.

She said that the bulldozing process by Centre was started from J&K after the Constitutions of India, erstwhile State of J&K and democracy was bulldozed by them.

While questioned about Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about conducting elections in J&K, she said that they have not been apprised about anything regarding elections yet. “Amid keeping J&K’s everything on sale, the news about the elections has not been heard by us,” she added.

Replying to a question, Mehbooba said that BJP has stymied the Opposition political parties’ activities and has put an end to a political process.