Hashim Hassan Bhat: Reviving Education in Gurez
Aftab Shabir
In the remote Telail valley of Gurez, education is not just about classrooms and textbooks — it is about hope, opportunity, and a pathway out of poverty. Yet, despite its importance, the education system in this beautiful but neglected corner of Jammu and Kashmir is going through a silent crisis.
A disturbing trend has emerged in recent years: local officials and officers, particularly Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers — who were originally appointed under community-based schemes and now draw handsome salaries from the government — are reluctant to serve in their original places of posting. By one excuse or another, many have managed to abandon their responsibilities, leaving the very communities they once pledged to uplift in a state of neglect.
The result is grim. Numerous government schools in Gurez valley are running without Principals, while many suffer from an acute shortage of teachers. This is not just a staffing issue; it is a crisis of commitment. When those entrusted with shaping the minds of the next generation turn away from their duty, the education system collapses — and with it, the hopes of poor students who rely on government schools as their only chance at a better future.
“Irony is that when our own people turned away and left the system helpless, it was Hashim Hassan Bhat, Principal of Government Higher Secondary School Purana Tulail, who stood firm — embracing the very community others abandoned.”
At a time when apathy has become the norm, Bhat stands out as a rare example of integrity and dedication. Unlike many others who sought transfers to more convenient postings, he chose to remain in Purana Telail and serve the very community others left behind. His story is not just about performing his duty — it is about going beyond it.
Under his leadership, Government Higher Secondary School Purana Tulail has witnessed a quiet transformation. He introduced Smart Classes, replacing dusty blackboards with digital learning tools, opening up a new world of interactive education for students in this remote region. He made student attendance and discipline a top priority, ensuring that children not only came to school but came with seriousness and consistency.
Understanding that education must also build character, Mr. Bhat established the school’s first National Cadet Corps (NCC) unit, giving students a platform to learn discipline, leadership, and patriotism. He also launched the school’s first-ever magazine, a milestone that provided young learners with an outlet for their creativity and ideas — something long denied to them.
But what sets Mr. Bhat apart is not just his initiatives within the school walls. He regularly visits villages to engage with parents and local communities, reminding them of the power of education in changing lives. He conducts parent-teacher meetings to bridge the gap between families and schools, ensuring that education becomes a shared responsibility rather than just a government service.
His efforts extend beyond his own institution. As a Cluster Head, he visits nearby schools to motivate staff, assist them in improving teaching standards, and ensure full implementation of government schemes like the Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan). In collaboration with volunteers and educationist Mr. Kifayatullah Malik, he also mobilized resources worth over ₹1 lakh for distributing tiffins and stationery items to underprivileged children — a small but meaningful step in making sure no child is left behind because of poverty.
In today’s time, when indifference and selfishness have suffocated the education system in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Hashim Hassan Bhat reminds us that one committed individual can still bring change. His name resonates not only in the corridors of his school but also in the hearts of the people of Telail, who see in him a symbol of sincerity, sacrifice, and true educational leadership.
The story of Mr. Bhat should not just be seen as an individual achievement. It is also a message to our society: if more educators chose service over convenience, commitment over comfort, and sincerity over self-interest, the future of our children — and our nation — would be far brighter.
Author can be mailed at aftabshabir2015@gmail.com
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