Killing of teenagers in cold blood, can shatter even a stone-hearted being. Every Kashmiri has felt and is feeling the pain of losing these young children. My heart too bleeds for those tender buds who were not allowed to see life in its full-bloom. Our valley is again pushed into darkness. We are again feeling the same pain as we used to. Deserted roads, haunted evenings and restless nights are the experiences of every common soul in Kashmir. We have protested in the past the same way we do today but has anything changed? What have we gained? Is this the only way left with us to show our concern and anger? I, as a common Kashmiri feel that our ways of protests are only consuming the lives of our people and the people in power, against whom we protest, are least bothered. After all, who is at the receiving end? Of course we the Kashmiris. We are sacrificing our lives and arrogant politicians don’t care. No compensation can replace a child.
I feel like a mute spectator to all the happenings around. In yesteryears these curfews have affected me as a student and today it concerns me because my students are suffering and bearing the brunt. No teacher would like his/her students to receive bullets in place of education.  I am concerned for my innocent souls whose eyes might be looking for me to come and give them their due. Oppressive forces have played and are playing their role but what good are we gaining by the ways of our protests. It is a Kashmiri who is soon going to perish – an endangered species as was aptly depicted by Greater Kashmir Cartoonist, I too want an end to all this commotion once for all but the way we are trying to end it is in no way justified. We are not gaining anything but definitely losing everything with every passing day. No doubt, we should try to rise above such personal interests but does the practical sense allow us to do so? Private schools have asked parents to complete the syllabus of their wards – good but to whom should I ask, as a government teacher, to complete the syllabi of my students. My students come from a very poor background. They all depend on us. Am I wrong to be concerned for them? From where will poor get money to earn bread for his family? How long can middle-class survive. How is it possible for us to lift veil of darkness of illiteracy from the face of our kids and save them from slavery in true sense in such circumstances? How can we live a life of honor and dignity in troubled times like these.
Sabeena Bashir
Government teacher

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST