EDUCATION

Danish Zahoor, a Kashmiri from Srinagar's Soura area, has received significant funding for his research project from the University of Leeds Business School in England. The 33-year-old, son of retired government employees, secured INR 1.30 crores to pursue his research in Migration Studies. Danish's research will focus on the human rights issues faced by migrant agricultural workers in England, particularly the vulnerabilities of seasonal workers who lack political representation. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, he said, "I believe that research in the field of social sciences has the potential to change lives for the better through more informed policy-making and governance." Danish's academic journey started at Burn Hall School and earned a degree in Business Administration from the U...

On the anniversary of his tragic death, we remember the harrowing incident in Jammu when an extreme right-wing Hindutva leader brutally attacked the All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Ghani Lone during a news conference. Kalkiji Maharaj, Jammu Kashmir state president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) attacked Lone, while armed policemen, assigned to protect Lone, stood by silently. The incident took place in a hotel lobby where Lone was being interviewed. Maharaj, of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) — a militant wing of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janata Party — repeatedly slapped and pushed Lone. As he struck, Maharaj shouted, “You are anti-Indian. Your people are responsible for killing Hindus in Jammu,” despite the presence of armed police. B...

The Jammu Kashmir Samagra Shiksha Friday asked all Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to open bank accounts of all eligible students wherein it will transfer funds to the students under RTE act. Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Rakesh Magotra in a communiqué to the CEOs said that it will transfer the funds through DBT mode into the accounts of students from first primary to 8th class of government schools for free uniforms under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2024-25. The RTE Act mandates free and compulsory education for all children in government schools. The Scheme provides two sets of uniform to all girls, SC, ST and Below Poverty Line (BPL) boys at an average cost of Rs 600 per child per annum. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the project director in a com...

Amid controversy over objectionable content in a textbook, Jammu Kashmir School Education Department Saturday clarified that no such book was prescribed or developed by the board. In a post on X, School Education Department, also said that no such book or content has been developed by the NCERT. “There is some objectionable content page from a book being circulated on social media. As verified, from the textbooks prescribed and developed by JKBOSE, there is no such content in JKBOSE textbooks. Moreover, no book having such content has been developed by NCERT, nor has it been prescribed in any of JK schools,” it said in a post on X. It also said that the department was verifying the source of the video that was circulated on social media so that the law enforcement authorities can ...

In southern Kashmir's Pulwama district lies the Government Degree College for Women Pulwama (GDC Women Pulwama), where the tranquility of academia is now disrupted by the unrest among its contractual lecturers. The contractual lecturers of this institution find themselves embroiled in a struggle for fair compensation and the assurance of regular classwork. The recent decision by the J&K Higher Education Department to slash the remuneration of these educators has sparked outrage and concern, leading to a vociferous demand for justice. Initially receiving a monthly salary of Rs 28,000, the contractual lecturers had been advocating for a raise to match their counterparts in other states, who enjoy salaries up to Rs 50,000. However, their hopes were dashed when a new policy dec...

Last night, Iran launched dozens of aerial drones and missiles at Israel in a widely anticipated reprisal attack. This action has directly impacted hundreds of Kashmiri students studying in Iran, leaving some uncertain about whether to remain or depart, Kashmir Life reported. Earlier, the Indian government advised its citizens against traveling to Iran or Israel due to escalating tensions in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs issued this advisory and requested Indians in these countries to register with Indian Embassies. India has expressed serious concern over the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, which threatens peace and security in the West Asia region. "We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence, and return ...

Srinagar resident Tasneem Kawoos achieved the highest score in the 2023 Jammu Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) Examination, scoring 628 marks out of 208 candidates. Kawoos, an Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) graduate currently pursuing her LL M, highlighted the shift towards analytical skills over memorization in the examination. She stressed the importance of analyzing legal issues and understanding laws rather than relying solely on memorization. In an interview with Bar and Bench, she emphasized the need to stay updated on legal developments, recommending a disciplined study routine and the use of legal journals for efficient time management. She also praised legal journals for their condensed summaries of judgments. Alongside her success in the Civil Services (Judicial) Ex...

Bhawana Kesar, hailing from Nowshera in Rajouri district, has made history by becoming the first woman from her hometown to clear the Jammu Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) examination. Her achievement has garnered widespread celebration among her family and residents of the area, as her father is a tailor. Her parents, despite facing financial constraints, ensured she received the education she needed to pursue her dreams. She completed her schooling up to a higher secondary level at TMP School, Nawshera. Following her schooling, Bhawana went on to pursue a BA LLB degree from Panjab University. Her dedication and hard work paid off when she successfully cleared the civil services examination, marking a significant milestone in her journey. Bhawana's accomplishment serves as a...

Two days after the commencement of a new academic session, Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Wednesday constituted a committee to verify the complaints against private schools here. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), DSEK in an order said that it has been sanctioned to constitute a committee to verify different complaints against private schools in Kashmir division being frequently received at different quarters and appearing on the social media platforms. DSEK said that the concerned chief education officer, cluster heads and zonal education officers shall verify the complaint against the schools recognised by School Education Department and affiliated with JKBOSE. It also said that the concerned Chief Education Officer, deputy CEO, and one sen...

Jewish theology places special emphasis on the red heifer sacrifice because of its deep roots in the Torah and the Bible. The ancient records state that the ritual calls for the sacrifice of a red heifer that must meet strict requirements: it must be completely red, without a single non-red hair, and it must be blemish-free. Following the sacrifice, the ashes are used in a purification rite that is necessary for anyone wishing to enter hallowed areas or partake in specific religious rituals. The recent developments about this ceremony has recently gained worldwide attention. According to reports, plans are in motion for the sacrifice, which might happen as early as Passover 2024. Earlier The Kashmiriyat reported that, five blemish-free red heifers were reportedly shipped from Texa...