The timetable is back in force. After nine long months, nearly 10 lakh children returned to school in the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday.
The happy moment of reunion, however, turned to be painful for some, as friends turned up with pellet injuries sustained during the spiral of violence in the aftermath of the killing of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Burhan Wani, last July.
Schools opened briefly in November for examinations. While over 80% of the students qualified in the Class 10 and 12 examinations, others were given mass promotion. The authorities later announced a winter vacation till March.
“I gifted a painting to my friend who I saw after four months,” said Anisa Bhaat, a student in Srinagar, who was happy to be back. “It’s a beautiful feeling to see my friends again.”
“Schools have finally reopened. Let us hope we have a normal session,” Justice Bilal Nazki, Chairman, State Human Rights Commission, wrote.
Muhammad Autha Hussain (17), who lost vision in the right eye after being hit by pellets, was happy to be back among friends in Class 11 at Mehjoor Memorial Higher Secondary, Pulwama. “I have taken up Arts as a subject after scoring 74 per cent in Class 10 despite my eye problem. My eye is showing some improvement. Around 30 per cent vision has been restored after multiple surgeries,” he told The Hindu .
However, Uzair Maqbool, 17, is sad that he could not join the classes on Wednesday. He is nursing fresh wounds in the eyes after undergoing a surgery in Amritsar two months ago.
“Education and political movement have to go hand in hand. One cannot give up education,” said Amir Ahmad [name changed], who was arrested last year.
