As KPs Leave Valley, their Children’s Education Hangs in Balance

Jammu:  It has been almost 10 days since the 48 -the year-old Kashmiri Pandit or KP has migrated from Kashmir valley to the Hindu-dominated region of Jammu for safety. He, along with two other family members, had left the Valley after Hindus were killed in separate incidents by suspected militants. 

“I was in class 10th when I witnessed an exodus in the 1990s and today my daughter is in Class 12th”, said a father (not wishing to be named), explaining how it’s the fate of Kashmiri Pandits, be it child, parents or a toddler, to face the tragedy of migrating from their own motherland.

Weeks ago, since targeted killings began in the Valley, the KPs, fearing for their life, started knocking on the doors of the government which apparently assured them security. They protested, sent notices, called the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, took out a rally, but all in vain.

After no concrete response from the authorities, Kashmiri Hindus started migrating out of Kashmir. Most of these were PM Package employees and some other families living in the Valley.

Around, 90% Kashmiri Pandits have left the Valley, and those who stayed back have multiple reasons for not leaving.  While some complain of the authorities locking them inside their own colonies, some others have chosen to stay back willingly keeping in mind the education of their children.

"We don't want our children's education to suffer even if we are forced to eat food only once a day," said Pintoo, a father.

NewsClick traced two such families and found them stuck in two very desperate situations, but both worrying about their children’s education. While one family, with nothing in hand, has migrated to Jammu, the other stayed back in the Valley.

“It was a life and death situation for us. We could have waited for the TC (transfer certificate) or saved our lives”, said a family member.

All the KPs who live outside the guarded accommodation have left the Valley. KPs who always consider education a top priority for their children, said they were compelled to leave everything behind and migrate. It was a life-threatening situation, especially for those staying in rented buildings. 

“I had to come back to Jammu with my family because I could have either waited for the due process in school or saved our lives”, said a parent, who wished to remain anonymous. 

Sangeeta (name changed) is a class 12th student of Delhi Public School. A commerce student, she has board exams this year and aspires to become a charted accountant.

While her father believes that her education is the family’s top priority, he feels hurt as they had to rush to Jammu disturbing her education in the middle of the term. It reminds him of how his own studies were disrupted in the 1990s amid the first KP exodus. 

“I ask this in full rage, do Kashmiri pandits have the right to live or not? Why are we always the target of such killings and sacrifices?” he said.

NewsClick tried conversing with Sangeeta but she was in a disturbed state of mind after seeing the way her family had to migrate amid a menacing situation. She right lives at her uncle’s place to cope with the trauma around her.

Sangeeta’s parents just wish that the coming days become peaceful so that their daughter can at least get done with her board exams. “She won’t continue to live in the Valley after her 12th because of the war-like situation,” her father said. 

Sangeeta’s parents said they were doing their best to keep her distracted and were motivating her every now and then. 

“She is not convinced about going back to school but we are encouraging her to go back to school. We are assuring her that once these tough months pass, we will get her admitted in a safe environment,” said her parents.

“When the government can abrogate Article 370 and make amendments to different laws, why can't they address our issues for our safety?”, they sked

Sangeeta’s parents are right now living in a rented room in Jammu. They have nothing of their own in the city. With no bed, utensils, or cooler to beat the heat, the family is living a difficult life.

“Even in the direst situation, we will not compromise on our daughter’s education”, her father said.

‘I am ready to do child labour, let’s leave Kashmir’

Sonu, a parent of a 10th grade kid (Akash, name changed) is currently residing in Sheikpura, Budgam pandit colony. Since the killing of Rahul Bhat, Sonu and his family have locked themselves inside their house because of fear and insecurity.

“I didn’t leave the Valley because we couldn’t get a transfer certificate (TC for his child). I tried contacting the school but found no help. I can’t waste a crucial year of my child and migrate to Jammu”, he said.

Sonu and some other families told NewsClick about their failed attempts to make schools understand their situation and importance of TCs for their children’s education. However, the authorities in Kendriya Vidyalaya denied TCs in mid-term, they said.

Akash has missed his mathematics unit test because of the prevailing fear in the Valley. Though they have security in their colony nobody can assure them of security outside the transit camp.

Sonu is a teacher and continues to teach and has been urging children in camp to take community classes. He told Newsclick that many children in his colony were facing mental trauma.

“My child is just not talking. He has always been a silent child but never an irritated one. The other children, too, are traumatised”, he said.

“Are we going to be alive? Will we ever be able to go back to school? Will we ever see normalcy here in Kashmir?” -- these are some questions that Sonu encounters from the children on a daily basis. 

Recalling a heart-breaking moment, Sonu said he felt like he has failed his son.

“I remember coming back from Lal Chowk after the protest, my son hugged me tightly and said “papa leave the job, we will go to Jammu, I will do child labour but let’s leave this place”. This was after Rajni Bala’s killing. His son felt that his father, too, was no longer safe in Kashmir.

Sonu vows that no matter what, he will ensure that his son’s education is not compromised. He holds the government accountable for not only the exodus of KPs, but also for ruining the lives and education of his children.

The writer is a freelance journalist. She writes on education, health and politics.