RIYAZ UL KHALIQ
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
When politicians in Srinagar secretariat talk about touring Tral, the security grid is nervous. Reason: it is considered a militant infested belt. For most of the news that comes from the area, guns dominate.
This Tuesday, however, it made the news again. But for a different reason: two of its daughters from Dadsara village bagged two top slots in the tenth standard examinations, results of which were declared by the J&K Board of School Education earlier in the day. Both the students are from the same school and have bagged the top two positions.
Aneeka, the topper who secured 495 out of 500 marks is from modest economic background. Her father, Shabir Ahmad Rather, is a contractual draftsman with the state owned J&K Projects Constructions Corporation (JKPCC). Her mother, Fareeda, is a nurse in the local Primary Health Centre.
Shaheera Shameem is the second topper. Daughter of a lecturer, Shameem Ahmad, she has a better academic environment. Her grand father has also been a teacher.
Both the girls are students of Hajahad Public School in Awantipora. The schools, that a former bureaucrat is running, is considered one of the best educational institutions in the belt and the two positions are expected to improve its social profile in coming days.
The first three positions are shared by seven girls – all from private schools of the valley. The second position is shared by four girls with 491 marks out of maximum 500. The third position is shared by two girls who obtained 490 marks.
Incidentally, first 20 positions are shared by 182 students.
Cutting across party lines and ideologies, top honours by the two girls, is being celebrated in the belt. They are an instant hit on the social media. Javed Trali, a political activist and an avid Facebook user rang up Kashmir Life to share his happiness.
“This success means a lot for the whole area,” Trali said. “Till yesterday, we were known for other reasons, now, I hope results of Anika and Shaheera will help in changing the whole narrative.”
A teacher who is keen to stay anonymous said the success of the two girls is reassuring that education is a top priority. He, however, disagrees in making any comparisons. “People, you say, are behind the ‘other reasons’ were also students, at one point of time,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, another girl was killed in a gas cylinder blast at Shampora in South Kashmir’s Qazgund area as she was reportedly preparing a special dish for her parents after she passed the examination. Identified as Asifa Nazir, she had passed her examination in first division.
As she was busy cooking the meals, the gas leak led to blast in which three others were injured. Their house caught fire. The injured include two pedestrians and a load carrier driver.
Asifa had secured 327 marks.
