SHAMS IRFAN catches up with Kashmiri students studying in Delhi. Chatting them up, he finds it is hard to avoid talking about the Kashmir issue even though the purpose of their moving to Delhi is career and a free atmosphere.

Kashmiri students at Delhi University campus – Photo: Khalid Musanna

No matter how hard one tries to detach from Kashmir, the K-word somehow manages to crop up during our regular conversations even when we are outside Kashmir. In Delhi, before I went to meet some Kashmiri students at Jamia Milia University, I decided to keep the conversation limited to their educational experiences, expectations, goals, career preferences and a one liner about what made them choose Delhi over Kashmir for higher studies.

My friend who was about to take me for a quick tour around the campus and help me meet a few Kashmiri students there, was happier than usual. I asked him the reason of his happiness and he said beamingly, kal Pakistan ko England ne dhoya [Yesterday, Pakistan was thrashed by England in T20 cricket]. And today, India is thrashing Sri Lanka. The joy is doubled, he added.

I was in no mood to talk cricket so I sealed the conversation with a forced smile. But once we reached the Faculty of Arts building, the canteen where Kashmiri students were already waiting for me; Cricket, Pakistan, India and Kashmir became center of our conversation right away.

A heated discussion was already going on among Kashmiri students visibly upset about Pakistan’s poor performance against England in previous night’s T20 match. My friend who is a die-hard Indian cricket team fan added fuel to the fire by making a few remarks about Pakistani team in particular and Kashmiris in general.

Sensing danger, I quickly steered away from the topic and asked, “How different is it to be a Kashmiri student in Delhi?” “When you are a fresher in Delhi you tend to hide your preferences. But once you get some footing here you automatically shed your inhibitions and face the world boldly,” said Mudassir Nabi, who is from Kupwara and pursuing MBA in Jamia. “Now I can think of a future for myself without being dependent on government jobs.”

Another student, the wittiest of them all, told me that during an MBA coaching class in Delhi, the teacher asked all students to tell a lie about themselves. In response, one student claimed to be an introvert, another one said that he had not dated even a single girl in past one year.

But when, Majid’s turn came, he stood up and looked right into the eyes of the trainer and then with a smile on his face said, “I am an Indian.”

Since that day he got shifted from one section to another and became an alien instantly among his fellow students.

My next visit was to Delhi University [DU] where I was about to meet freshers from Kashmir. When I reached there I saw four girls and a boy waiting to meet a resident native Kashmiri.

“The reason we travel such a long distance to Delhi for quality education is its absence in Kashmir. There you have very limited options in terms of career opportunities,” said Imad-ul-Riyaz, a student of Applied Life Sciences at DU’s Ramjhas College.

Asma, who is pursuing English Honours at DU, was once stopped by a fellow student while on her way to class and asked; Are you a Kashmiri? Asma nodded in affirmation and he quickly snapped back with a surprised look on his face, “Then, why I am not afraid of you?”

“People here have preconceived notions about Kashmiris but after we interact with them and make them understand the whole issue they soften up their stance a bit,” said Asma. “But that does not mean at all that they agree with us on K-issue.”

“It’s because of misinformation that people have some prejudice against Kashmiris,” added Sana who is in Delhi since last five years and is currently pursuing M.A in History from DU.

“You come to know about your identity in a better way once you step out of your comfort zone. People around you remind you all the time about who you are,” said Usra Javed, a student of English Honours.

One thing that was common to all of them was that they were clear in their mind about their choice of coming to Delhi.

“After a point you feel like coming out and exploring the world as one gets saturated in Kashmir,” said Shazia, who recently got herself admitted in a B.A Programme at Stephens.

“No opportunities, no career growth, and on top of that every single sector of the society is so infested with corruption that you feel wasted there,” said Shazia.

However, most of the Kashmiri students at Jamia Milia Islamia or at Delhi University want to go back home once they complete their studies and use their knowledge for their own people.

“After completing my studies I will go back and work among my people. That would be the biggest contribution that I could make towards my society,” said Sana.

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