Ahmad Kashmiri
Indeed, beyond current affairs, 2010 witnessed many unique and extraordinary things. We wouldn’t be discussing individual subjects like General English, Psychology etc that were someway, subjected to ‘changes’, in the year 2010 but the whole academia which the authorities had put on a limit test in the funnel of Zamistaan (Winter). One fails to understand why the decision to keep schools open in Zamistaan, was taken when the stake-holders were natives who are aware of the syllabi of Zamistaan in Kashmir.
Winter-Schooling-2010:
Let’s have a look on the ‘syllabi’ of Zamistaan so that things become easier to ponder upon. Kashmir has a geographic peculiarity, on one hand its all seasons are charming and on the other the entire major four seasons possess an established identity and behavior, standing traditionally classified into three periods.
“Chillai Kalaan”, “Chillai Khurud” and “Chillai Bacha”. Chilla in Kashmiri means to remain at one place, confined to some particular worship. Kalaan, Khurud and Bacha, here depicts the degree and duration of periods as big, small and smaller respectively. Since winter is not the meaning of Taueer (cold) only. So could we, in defense, arrange warmers and heaters to defy it? Instead it is a complete, composite and comprehensive package called Zamistaan (the severe and composite winter-season). Wherein the lakes freeze, the flights get postponed, the roads get closed and even birds like Ababeels do not make courage to fly back to Kashmir.
The chilla family remains virulently active from 21st Dec to 28th Feb. During this period Kashmir remains prone to snowfall, chill, freezing and the consequences thereof, anywhere, anytime. Locally our elders say Hawahas Chhu Pevaan Teungul Kalaan Nerith, Zameenas Khurud Nerith, Te Aabas Bachi Nerith (Warmth comes in air after Kalaan, in earth after Khurud and in water after Bachi).
Practical: Winter Schooling? Was it because the students now were reluctant to mug up an age old essay, ‘Winter in Kashmir’, thus they were practically subjected to experience the extreme chill in schools.
Hukme Hakim Mage Mafajaat: Or was it a constraint for passing down an order called, “Hukme Hakim Mage Mafajaat” (what can not be cured must be endured) so all concerned obeyed.
Global Warming: Or was it the impact of global warming that people thought the arrival of Zamistaan is a bygone tale now. People have gone crazy! Winter, is a natural advice or a hint for ‘we the people’ to become self reliant in all respects.
Counter Stroke: Or was it a counter-stroke to the summer closure of schools to blissfully get satisfied that what if the schools remained closed in summer we have made them to remain open in winter.
Litmus Test: Ironically on one hand our people flee from Zamistaan to outside Kashmir but on the other we put our students to test by making them attend schools in harsh winters. Are they human beings or litmus papers, who can be used for experimentation? We have begun to use students to see whether we could defeat Zamistaan.
Coaching Centers: Or was it to counter the menace of coaching centers that beyond the merits of teaching syllabus has caused moral tremors in our yet modest society. But one wrong can not be set right by another one; like an incompetent effort of winter schooling. For last two decades private tuition centers or coaching centers have grown here like anything. It is not Kashmir specific but the present system and style of coaching centers here is much unwanted.
However, one wrong can not be eradicated or set right by another wrong. Systematic corrections can help to set it right.
Despite all odds, private sector has overrode the public sector in competence and performance. But these need to be properly regulated by setting laws and implementing them.
March Session of Examination: In the present scenario, the academic session for higher classes theoretically starts from March and ends in October that is for eight months but practically it remains functional only for seven months that is from March to September, as students use October for preparing for the exams. And then in the three months long winter vacation they go for coaching.
However, to make the best use of the winter period, there is much in holding exams in March. It would prolong the academic calendar at least by one month, that is to say it would start from April and end in November. On the other hand it would raise the preparation months from 2 to 3 (Dec. to Feb.). The other benefit of this strategy would be that many wrongs in private coaching will go right. Long back when Late Khawaja Ab Gani Lone was the state’s education minister, who can be said was the real native of Kashmir, had changed the exam months to March.
Hidden Surrender: The much hyped winter schooling started from 15th of December and right from its second day it came under heavy criticism from many quarters. Even students took to streets to protest against the decision. As winter schooling began to gasp for survival the state managed its survival till Dec 30.
Authorities apparently were waiting for the Chillai Kalaan to come with some snow to announce winter vacation. And once it is announced it can’t be withdrawn just like in our university days when we would get exhausted while preparing for exams and wanted to sleep, we waited for some pretension such as the electricity to go off and as soon as electricity was off, we would jump into our beds. Even if electricity would be restored within five minutes we would never awake till morning.
And finally Chillai Kalaan on 30th Dec, on its 10th day entered the valley with its ‘snow-bits’, called ‘Kath- Kush’ locally. On seeing the ‘Kath- Kush’, yet the ‘winter-schooling’ state actors did not surrender at once but announced a “unilateral-ceasefire” till further orders. Now it remains to be seen that under what conditions the ceasefire may be extended or withdrawn. Anyway, for the time being a hidden surrender has been made before Chillai Kalaan unavoidably.
Crude Joke: The government closed down the schools for winter vacation on Dec. 30 “due to unfavorable weather conditions in the valley.” Next day almost all newspapers published from Srinagar termed it a mockery on behalf of the authorities. It befits a crude joke to write “unfavorable weather conditions” in a season called locally Zamhareer (severe cold). In Kashmir when it is core of winter (Kalaan to Bacha), to expect sunny days and hot airy currents is to live in a fool’s paradise.
Tail Piece: The king along with his Darbar flees the valley, under the name and style of ‘The Darbaar Move’.
If Darbaar Move, at all is a constraint for the government, then why not move it to Jammu in summers and to Srinagar in winter. The government moves to Jammu when Kashmir shivering with chill and even drinking water freezes.
The government should stay in Kashmir in Winters and move to Jammu during summers when the people their really need them. Otherwise it is akin to rubbing salt in the wounds of the already wounded. To tackle the crisis, the government announces to keep open the ‘winter secretariat’, but every winter it only proves, “Hukme Navab Ta Dare Navab” (King’s commandment is obeyed till his door only).
