by Babra Wani
SRINAGAR: A 39-year-old teacher Sajad Akbar Rather from Sopore, Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA), a fellowship for educators and researchers.
Rather, who works as a teacher and teaches science and computer studies at Boys Higher Secondary School, Bomai, will begin his Fulbright journey in the United States in September–October 2026, after completing visa and medical formalities. “It is a long process, from application and interviews to TOEFL qualification. Alhamdulillah, I cleared each stage,” he told Kashmir Life in an exclusive conversation.
His programme is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administered by IREX.
Born and raised in Wadura village of Sopore, Rather completed his graduation in Science from Sopore College from 2003 to 2005, followed by a Master’s in Computer Application (MCA) from Dr APJ Abdul Qalam Technical University Lucknow in 2009. He joined the teaching profession in 2012 and has since carved a niche for himself as an educator who blends technology and innovation.
Currently, he not only teaches high school students but also mentors them at the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL), where he introduces students to coding and applied science projects. “As teachers, we have to be updated. Teaching today is not confined to classrooms, it involves research, innovation, and community involvement,” he said.
Rather’s selection did not come overnight. Over the past decade, he has won several accolades that strengthened his Fulbright candidacy. In 2018, his innovative teaching paper was selected for the National Award by NCERT, New Delhi. In 2022, he received the UT Best Teacher Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He has also presented three research papers at national conferences held in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and New Delhi, focusing on pedagogical innovation and community-driven learning.
These recognitions, along with his community-based initiatives under the National Service Scheme (NSS) including awareness campaigns, drug detection drives, and student mobilisation, made him stand out during the Fulbright selection process.
The Fulbright Scholarship, administered by the US State Department, is known for its stringent evaluation. Applicants are assessed across multiple domains, ranging from classroom teaching and research innovation to outreach efforts for girl students’ safety, localised content development, and technological integration in education.
Rather explained that he had applied once earlier but was not selected. “This year, I reapplied. After the interview and TOEFL, I received the confirmation mail. It was a moment of joy not just for me but for my community as well,” he said.
He particularly highlighted his work on localising educational content in Kashmiri language, which resonated strongly with evaluators. “They were very happy to see that such initiatives were happening in a remote place like Jammu and Kashmir. The NEP (National Education Policy) now talks about localised content, but we were already doing it back in 2018,” he said.
Rather views the scholarship as both an honour and a responsibility. He emphasised that the Fulbright experience will allow him to bring back global perspectives, digital teaching methods, and cross-cultural insights to benefit students in Sopore and across Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the achievement, Rather remains grounded. “At this age, I am satisfied that from awards to seminars, the journey has been fulfilling. But there is still a lot to do. In Sha Allah, this is just another beginning,” he said.
Rather expressed gratitude to his teachers, “I am thankful to my Principal, Abdul Qayoom Dar, for being a constant guide and for appreciating my efforts in carrying out various innovative techniques in my school.” Besides him, he expressed his gratitude towards Fulbright alumni, Waseem Aziz, Tajamul Naseem, Rameez Sudan, and Shaista Masoodi, for their timely guidance. He remains thankful to his family and friends for their support throughout his journey.
“Only a few close friends and colleagues know. It has not been widely shared yet,” he admitted, noting that he learned about the development through an email.
He also extended thanks to the School Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir, especially to the Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, Principal Secretary of School Education Department Ram Nivas Sharma, Director School Education Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo, JD North Hakeem Tanveer Ahamad and CEO Baramulla Peerzada Bashir Ahmad Shah, for always appreciating teachers for their innovative classroom practices
