By Moniba Iftikhar ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP):In the quiet corners of classrooms across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), countless young students continue to pursue their educational dreams. However, behind the "graveyard silence" of the valley caused by the ongoing oppression and suppression of Indian forces, there lie voices of young minds filled with dreams and ambitions which could hardly be materialized. For many young …
Dreams versus Reality: Kashmiri youth being faced with an uncertain future
By Moniba Iftikhar
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP):In the quiet corners of classrooms across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), countless young students continue to pursue their educational dreams. However, behind the “graveyard silence” of the valley caused by the ongoing oppression and suppression of Indian forces, there lie voices of young minds filled with dreams and ambitions which could hardly be materialized.
For many young Kashmiris, childhood has unfolded amid uncertainty. Alongside homework and examinations, they have consistently being faced with interrupted education, limited employment opportunities and the emotional challenges of growing up in difficult circumstances. Despite these struggles, their determination remains strong.
The morning sun rises over the valley as a young Kashmiri student walks towards the school, his worn backpack hanging from his shoulder and his notebooks pressed close to his chest. Every step takes him closer to the classroom, but his thoughts travel far beyond the school walls to the dark alley of an uncertain
future.
Inside those pages are lessons, formulas and assignments; inside his heart are hopes, fears and questions about tomorrow. He dreams of becoming someone who can bring pride to his family and serve society, yet he carries the uncertainty of a generation searching for opportunities to transform dreams into reality.
A teenage girl opens her worn notebook and traces Chemistry equations with careful hands. A young boy gazes at a classroom map, imagining himself as an engineer designing bridges and shaping lives. Another student revises medical terms, dreaming of becoming a doctor who heals others while carrying silent questions about tomorrow.
These classrooms are more than rooms filled with desks and books. For many young Kashmiris, they are spaces where dreams survive, ambitions continue to grow and hope remains alive despite the ongoing uncertainty.
At the backdrop of the so-called constitutional changes of August 5, 2019 (Youm-e-Istehsal) , the aspirations of Kashmir’s younger generation remain one of the most significant human stories of the Valley.
Behind every classroom desk sits a student whose dreams stretch far beyond examinations and textbooks, yet whose journey towards those dreams is often filled with unanswered questions. Will their education open doors? Will the existing opportunities match their ambitions? Will years of dedication finally lead them towards the future they imagine?
Talking to APP, Senior Kashmiri Leader, Altaf Hussain Wani described the challenges being faced by the Kashmiri youth are painful consequences of the prolonged conflict. He said that an entire generation has grown up amid uncertainty, political challenges and lost opportunities, carrying ambitions that often collide with difficult realities.
According to Wani, Youm-e-Istehsal is not only a reminder of the events of August 5, 2019, but also a moment to reflect upon the experiences of young Kashmiris striving for education, careers and a normal life while facing an uncertain future. “The pain of Kashmir’s youth cannot be ignored,” he said, adding that many young people find themselves caught between their dreams and the circumstances around them.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam said that behind discussions about the situation in IIOJ&K are personal stories of young people whose futures are shaped by uncertainty and challenges.
He said the developments since August 5, 2019, have created concerns among many Kashmiris regarding identity, rights and opportunities, stressing that the aspirations of youth should not disappear beneath the prolonged uncertainty.
“The people of IIOJ&K have endured decades of hardship,” he said. “Behind every statistic is a young dream waiting for the chance to rise”, he added.
Educationist and Kashmir affairs expert, Dr Awais Bin Wasi highlighted the emotional struggles faced by the younger generation of the valley, saying that behind the “graveyard silence” there lie countless stories of interrupted education, unfinished ambitions and uncertain futures. He said many young people carry burdens far heavier than their school bags.
While walking towards classrooms, they witness families affected by the years of uncertainty and shrinking opportunities.
Dr Wasi also highlighted the impact on affected families, including half widows, saying the consequences of conflict have left deep emotional scars across generations. “The youth are searching not only for jobs and education, but to live a life where dreams are no longer buried beneath the uncertainty.”
Analyst Dr Maria Sultan also shed light on the challenges being faced by the younger generation. She urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play a more proactive role by mobilizing international opinion, strengthening cooperation with human rights organizations and engaging policymakers worldwide on the peaceful of the longstanding issue of IIOJ&K.
Kashmiri student Fazila Alam said, “Inside our classrooms, we continue to study, dream and prepare for tomorrow,” she said. “But once we step outside, we are reminded that the road to those dreams remains uncertain.”
Another student, Tayyaba, shared the silent pain of many young people in IIOJK, saying that uncertainty after education can feel heavier than the challenges faced inside classrooms. “We carry dreams, degrees, and hopes, but many of us still struggle to find a path toward a secure future,” she said.
She added that the youth are not only seeking employment but also the freedom to speak, create and participate in shaping their future.
Many students believe that the Modi government’s policies on education, employment and opportunities have left their concerns unanswered. Behind every young face is a dream, behind every silence is a story and behind every unheard voice is a future waiting for a chance to shine.
“Some dreams are written on paper, some are carried in silent hearts but every young soul deserves a sky where it can rise freely,” she concluded.
