SRINAGAR: Specially-abled students from various corners of Jammu and Kashmir have emerged as shining examples of what can be achieved despite systemic obstacles and personal adversity. Their remarkable performance in this year’s board examinations has sparked celebration and urgent conversations around the need for inclusive education across the region.
Among the standout achievers is Sadiq Sarwar Rather, a deaf and mute student from Chattibandi village in Bandipora district, who scored an impressive 436 out of 500 marks in the Class 12 board exams. Orphaned at a young age after losing his father in a 2012 road accident, Sadiq’s life has been marked by struggle and resilience. He has undergone five major surgeries, all while coping with the challenges of being hearing and speech impaired.
Deprived of access to special education facilities, Sadiq pursued learning visually, bolstered by the unwavering support of his family and teachers. His distinction marks are not just academic statistics—they represent a profound personal victory that has stirred pride and admiration in his hometown.
“Sadiq’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. It sends a strong message that with determination and the right support, no limitation is insurmountable,” said a neighbour in Chattibandi.
The Abhinandan Home for the Deaf and Mute in Rambagh, Srinagar is celebrating a landmark achievement—11 of its students cleared the Class 10 exams, with nine securing distinctions. The students include Nayilah Jaan (438), Muntaha Nuneer Dar (432), and several others who overcame physical disabilities to perform with excellence.
“These students have demonstrated that disability does not mean inability,” said Principal Mudasir Ahmad. “Their success is a tribute to their hard work, our teachers’ dedication, and their families’ sacrifices.”
Yet, behind the joy lies a sobering reality. Jammu and Kashmir currently has only two dedicated schools for specially abled children—Abhinandan Home in Srinagar and Zaiba Apa Institute in Bijbehara. This lack of infrastructure severely limits access for hundreds of children from remote and rural areas.
“There should be schools for specially-abled children at least at the district level,” said Misbah Farooq, sister of one of the achievers, who described the daily struggles of travelling from Baramulla to Srinagar.
Families are now urging the government to build specialised institutions in every tehsil and to create dedicated higher education pathways for students with disabilities. Without such interventions, they warn, countless capable children may be denied their right to learn and succeed.
Besides the specially abled students, many qualified the exams in extra ordinary conditions. In South Kashmir’s Tral region, another powerful story has emerged—Shabnum Sadiq, a tribal girl from the remote Paner area, scored a staggering 463 out of 500 in her Class 12 board exams, despite living in a makeshift polythene tent and without any access to coaching centres.
Walking several kilometres daily to reach her school, Shabnum studied late into the night in freezing temperatures. “I want to appear for the UPSC exams and become an IAS officer,” she said. “My dream is to develop our area so that no other child has to go through what I did.”
Her success has become a rallying point in her community, with residents urging local representatives to address the lack of road connectivity and basic educational infrastructure. “Shabnum’s hard work has made us all proud,” her maternal uncle said. “She’s shown what our children are capable of if given even a fraction of the support they deserve.”
