Be it sports, science, activism, photography or documentary making, a youth from South Kashmir is doing it all with style and substance. Saima Rashid & Riyaz Ul Khaliq sum up the budding spirit of the youth
He attained the real prestige in the inter-college/inter-university fest ‘Prestige-2014’ organized by Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora. In the documentary screening competition, Hangul’s Last Abode documented by Syed Abdul Mohsin Andrabi in 2012 was declared the winner.
“This world of digitization leaves no space for old stuff,” says Mohsin adding, “but my documentary left an eternal impression on the minds of audience and the jury.”
Mohsin hailing from Ratnipora town in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is pursuing bacelors at Government Degree College in the area.
Interestingly, coming from sports background with his father as Physical Education Lecturer and his mother a government school teacher, Mohsin has always won the laurels in the sports field. He was the youngest cricket player in the 15th All India Twenty 20 Cricket Federation Cup last year. He represented J&K State several times in many games held in mainland India. He was part of J&K Green Team in the 17th All India Twenty 20 Cricket Federation Cup 2013 in which 16 teams from all over India participated. His team J&K Greens qualified for Semi finals.
“My dad has been the inspiration and I have never seen a sports person like him in my life,” Mohsin asserts, “and mom always takes care of my diet.”
Not only cricket, but Mohsin has been playing Shooting Ball, Hockey, Football and Tennis as well. In 2004, he was awarded with the Youngest Athlete of The Year. He also carried Baton of Common Wealth Games 2010, New Delhi, in Srinagar.
After his schooling from Delhi Modern Public School Pulwama up to 10th standard, he joined Mehjoor Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School Pulwama. During his schooling, he represented the state in 38th Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition in Patna.
Year 2012 proved lucky for Mohsin. He got selected in the 99th Indian Science Congress and scored to count himself among the top twenty scientists of India. His projects were highly appreciated by many Scientists and Nobel Laureates including Dr APJ Kalam, Dr Richard R. Ernest from Zurich, Switzerland and Kurt Wuthrich (Nobel Laureates in Chemistry).
“It was really a great achievement of my life to stand with these personalities,” says Mohsin, “and getting appreciation from them was beyond my imagination.”
Mohsin has always wished his valley free of corruption, poverty and conflict. He joined Youth Parliament of Jammu & Kashmir in 2011 with a motto to be a part of their ‘solution’.
“I can’t close the chapter of conflict and social issues but at least can reduce their intensity,” feels Mohsin.
Being the nature lover and Wildlife Photographer, he managed many awareness campaigns to bring forth the importance of saving nature and its products. He campaigned for saving the National animal Hangul and became a young social activist. He is one of the founders of Youth Art Club which claims to work for the sake of providing platform to budding artists of Kashmir. He is also an Educator at Adobe Youth Voice [Kashmir], a programme of Adobe International.
Back in 2012, when Mohsin joined Adobe Youth Voice, he started film making: “As I said, digital world has squeezed the spaces. So, I thought of making films to showcase what it is our own.
Besides the latest screened Hangul’s Last Abode, Mohsin switched his lens to Karewa of Pampore: “Saffron – The Pride of Kashmir is my second film which is yet to be screened. The third one is What are Human Rights?”
It is not only Mohsin’s adventure with moving films but he has got many prizes in photography at school and college levels as well.
“No matter if it is humans or animals, I have equal concerns for both,” says Mohsin, adding, “to serve Kashmir in every possible way is my goal.”
Mohsin’s message to the growing buds of Kashmir is: to be ready for setbacks (they are a part of life), serve your habitat in every possible way, be helpful to the needy, full fill your dreams and make everyone feel proud.
“I have faced plenty of setbacks on the way to my achievements, but what helped me was the courage to get up again,” he says.
