Sunday Editorial
By Mushtaq Bala
The past week in Jammu and Kashmir has been one of both achievement and adversity, offering us a glimpse of the region’s immense potential while also reminding us of its vulnerabilities.
On the academic front, NIT Srinagar’s 32nd position in the India Today engineering college rankings 2025 is a milestone worth celebrating. It underscores the growing reputation of our educational institutions, which are beginning to secure their place on the national stage. Equally encouraging was Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reaffirmation of a future-ready education system during the Educational Stakeholders’ Conclave at SKICC. His call to let students learn “history as it stands, not manipulated for political convenience” is both timely and courageous, given the role education plays in shaping an honest and inclusive future.
The natural environment, however, offered sterner lessons. Sonamarg received its season’s first snowfall, even as heavy rains lashed the Valley, triggering landslides such as the one on the Mughal Road and the collapse of Sarah Khad Bridge. These events disrupted connectivity and caused distress, highlighting once again the fragile balance between development and ecology. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s directive to put all departments on high alert was a reassuring step, but the challenge of building long-term resilience remains.
Culture and sports too had their share of bright spots. From Dal Lake hosting the Khelo India Water Sports Festival—where young local athletes shone on the national stage—to the soft tennis gold medal secured by Mohammad Qais, our youth are demonstrating that talent, when nurtured, knows no limits. The classical music festival at DPS Srinagar and the 339th session of the J&K Fiction Writers Guild reaffirm that literature and art continue to thrive despite turbulence, keeping alive Kashmir’s legacy of creativity.
In governance, the takeover of 215 schools previously run by the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) sparked both debate and relief. Minister Sakina Itoo clarified that no school would be shut, ensuring the future of over 50,000 students remains secure. This move, however, has also ignited political sparring, with leaders trading barbs over education and ideology.
The week also bore its share of human tragedy. The Kishtwar cloudburst left families searching desperately for missing loved ones, while the sudden mass food poisoning of over 100 film crew members in Leh reminded us of the fragility of life even amidst glamour. Equally poignant was the return of the mortal remains of a Kashmiri student from Iran—a moment that brought grief to a family and underscored the diasporic connections of our youth.
As we reflect on these stories, a pattern emerges: J&K stands at a crossroads where resilience, reform, and renewal must go hand in hand. Achievements in education, sports, and governance need to be matched by investment in infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and cultural preservation. The voices of our youth, whether on academic rankings, in water sports, or in literature, must be amplified and empowered.
This week, as the Chief Minister said at TEDx Jammu, the challenge is to go “beyond boundaries.” For J&K, that means daring to dream of a future where excellence is not the exception but the norm, where crises are met with preparedness, and where our shared heritage fuels both progress and pride.
Mushtaq Bala
Sunday Editorial – Kashmir Pen
