In March, the Sunrise Higher Secondary School in Siligam, Kendriya Vidyalaya in Phalgam (PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti's constituency)were burnt to the ground and Al-Sarvat Senior Secondary School in Anantnag was partly burnt.  The Phalgam school, started in 2003 has classes from first to seventh and caters to the needs of 200 school going children. Its
three classes were functioning in a two room rented Panchayat Ghar. The building was burnt on the night of 24th March. "After 24th no one has come. Our session starts on 1st April and we are not sure how will we do that. We have only four rooms for seven classes", says the teacher. The parents are looking for alternatives now that the new session has  started." Some children from Batkot and Valgama are going to stop sending their children to the school as they are scared", says Ghulam Hassan a parent from Phalgam.

A horse contractor during Amarnath Yatra his four children study in the Vidyalaya.  Hassan shared that we received some letters asking not to send our children to the English medium school. The scare increased when apart from the school burnings one teacher Abdul Raqib Shah at the Army School, in Kundru, was shot on March 19-20 for teaching in a prohibited
school." We are soon going to a have parent-teacher meeting to decide future course of action", says Hassan. The reasons for the fatwa seem to stem from basically two factors--conversions and admission rivalry. It is being felt by some sections of the local population that some of the
evangelical Christian missionary schools are actually using their faith to propagate and spread Christianity in the guise of promoting literacy and the central schools are spreading Hinduism. Though there have been some unconfirmed reports of conversions in some pockets of the Valley,
for some residents the fear is that education itself is being used for a larger, "sinister" purpose.  Says Javed, a resident of Anantnag: "It is perceived that through the teachings of Bible and saying that Jesus is the only way to salvation, they are spreading their own beliefs, ideas and values in our society. By providing cheap education, they lure the poor for admissions in their schools." But there are few educational choices in the valley in the event thatthe Hizbul succeeds in implementing its diktat. The only alternatives are the low charging madarssas where the quality of education is narrow and whose curricula is qualitatively inferior to the English medium schools.  The only alternative available for parents who cannot give high fee are the madrasas which are no match in terms of curricula or the quality of education imparted
by the English medium schools. "The State government schools or madrasas do not offerquality education. In Central and Army schools, the teacher are dedicated and committed. And my only concern is to provide good education to my children", opines Hassan.

The issue, however, has seized the attention of Mufti Mohammad Bashir-u-din, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir and he has taken strong umbrage at Hizbul's diktat. Says Bashir-u-din: Conversions are a serious concern. However no one has the right or the authority to issue a fatwa other than a person designated and appointed by the community." The Mufti has been outraged that a militant outfit has dared to issue a fatwa. In charge of the religious affairs of the State it is through the Mufti that fatwas in the state get issued.

Adds he: "Any fatwa by militant groups or anybody else who claims to be an aalim is not authentic and therefore does not hold any value or credibility. Any suspicion regarding the functioning of English medium schools should be brought to our notice. We will do a proper investigation and issue a verdict accordingly. It has to be understood that for us the most important priority is the education and future of our children."

While the Mufti and the Hizbul engage in a clash of views, the parents are panicking for the future of their children. Says a parent in Aishmuqam, a quaint village near Phalgam: "In this globalized world when today's generation is moving ahead, we want our children to learn and know English. Then only they can compete with others. As a parent my aim is  to make my child worthy of facing the world. And in any case we do impart deeni (religious) knowledge to our children at home. They are aware of their culture and Islamic values. So to say that they will become un-islamic by studying in English schools is not right." In fact the Principals in many schools have introduced Urdu prayers to appease the militant group. Apart from Hizbul's stated objective in "saving" Kashmiri children from un-Islamic values, there seem to be other motives as well. According to some Anantnag residents, some "rich" public schools (those with an
annual fee structure of around Rs 20,000) in order to get more students enrolled in their school have taken the help of Hizbul to intimidate other schools, which attract more business because of their low fee structure. According to G.A Peer, Director School Education the proliferation of
private schools during militancy has seemingly led to a competition between them. "Many government schools were gutted during this period and the teachers did not turn up for security reasons and frequent bands (close downs). To fill in the void, private schools mushroomed", he says.

"However", adds Peer, "This issue has been seriously taken up at the State level. Education Act 2002 was passed by the State Legislature under which we are framing prescribed fee structure and regularizing the functioning of private schools". To address the problem of quality
education the State has now introduced English as a medium and added two more classes for beginners. "We are constituting a committee to grade the schools according to the standard, facilities, programmes and faculty they will offer", announces Peer.

Apart from Hizbul's stated objective in "saving" Kashmiri children from un-Islamic values, there seem to be other motives as well. According to some Anantnag residents, some "rich" public schools (those with an annual fee structure of around Rs 20,000) in order to get more students
enrolled in their school have taken the help of Hizbul to intimidate other schools, which attract more business because of their low fee structure. According to G.A Peer, Director School Education the proliferation of private schools during militancy has seemingly led to a competition
between them. "Many government schools were gutted during this period and the teachers did not turn up for security reasons and frequent bands (close downs). To fill in the void, private schools mushroomed", he says.

"However", adds Peer, "This issue has been seriously taken up at the State level. Education Act 2002 was passed by the State Legislature under which we are framing prescribed fee structure and regularizing the functioning of private schools". To address the problem of quality
education the State has now introduced English as a medium and added two more classes for beginners. "We are constituting a committee to grade the schools according to the standard, facilities, programmes and faculty they will offer", announces Peer.

Interestingly, amidst all this, it is the Lashkar group, which has come to the rescue of the people. A counter fatwa saying that the English medium schools can continue as they want their cadre and recruits to be well read. "Kashmir ki azadi ke liye har Kashmiri pada likha hona
chahiye"(For the freedom of Kashmir each and every Kashmiri should be educated) says the fatwa. Caught between the fatwa wars, a common innocent Kashmiri lives with day-to day uncertainty. In fact since militancy started in 1989-90, people have time and again had to bear fatwas and bans by militant groups. From a ban on availing family planning facilities, celebration of Urs at Sufi shrines and a diktat on dress code for women, Kashmiris have been terrorized into accepting norms and rules against their wishes. However people through organized or collective resistance have often defied unreasonable fatwas and bans. Says an agitated parent:  "The recent fatwa is about education of our children. At stake is their  future. What is the government doing?

They will have to look into this issue."  Till then, people hope that  at least the grand mufti will issue a fatwa for continuing the educationof their children and settle the controversy.

Meanwhile in Phalgam, the Assistant Commissioner, Education Officer,District Commissioner and the army has reassured the teachers and parents of rebuilding the school as soon as possible. "Even if they bomb or blast us, I will continue to send my children to the school which offers the best education", says Hassan. "This school has been the best gift to the people of this area. We will continue. But the world must know what is happening with us", says the Vidyalaya teacher.


(Cobrapost News Features)