Scared of blood, biochemistry scholar Tanveer Ahmad decided to get into the sub-microscopic maze of genetic engineering and hunt for cures to critical diseases within the human cell. Two post-doctorates later, he is surely succeeding, writes Khalid Bashir Gura

Oblivious to Dr Tanveer Ahmad’s fears, his kith and kin wanted him to traverse conventional careers and become a doctor or an engineer. However, Ahmad was always scared of blood. He did not want to pick a surgeon’s knife. At school, his inquisitive mind wanted to discover something to help humanity.

Years later, the hemophobic boy is now working at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies (MCARS) as Assistant Professor and has led the research on an optogenetic tool that has the potential to be used to understand the basket of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, depression and schizophrenia. His findings are the outcome of collaboration between MCARS and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).  A biological science, optogenetics involves the usage of light in controlling the neuron activity in cells. Dr Tanveer, 39, had done two post-doctorates in the US before joining the MCARS and it was a key in linking the two institutions.

The Learning Curve

A resident of Srinagar, Ahmad joined Amar Singh College for BSc after his twelfth class.  “I did my masters from the University of Kashmir in Biochemistry. After qualifying for a CSIR examination, I joined the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology (IGIB),” Tanveer said, where he did his research under Dr Anurag Aggarwal, one of the prominent scientists in India. Dr Aggarwal was his guide in his PhD. “(with another scholar), we worked on a number of projects on genetic engineering of stem cells.”

Soon after completing his doctorate in four years, opportunities started knocking at his door. He joined his first post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester, New York. Soon after, he moved to NIH in the  USA for another post-doctorate.

“In November 2017, I got an offer from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). I joined as Assistant Professor as I am heading one of the six laboratories that are part of the MCARS,” he said. He is now guiding a group of PhD scholars who work on creating universal and affordable novel solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases.

Research

Contrary to many who are dispirited during the process of research, Ahmad recalls his journey infused with joy and curiosity. He feels privileged to have had access to the best infrastructure, a guide and resources. “I feel lucky that I had the right guide, lab, environment, and people around me,” Tanveer said as he explored respiratory diseases. “My inclination was always towards genetic engineering. I published 30 papers and the prominent among them is Mesenchymal stem cells wherein stem cells from bone marrow were isolated and through genetic editing, we made them more efficient to fight diseases.”

Tanveer insists that his research is the manifestation of his childhood dreams. Extracting the stem cells and making them powerful and relocating them back into the body has been his dream for a very long time.

When he finally started working on the project for his PhD, what the microscopes showed was amazing. These cells showed effective therapeutic effects for the treatment of respiratory diseases like inflammation in the lungs, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), and Asthma. These genetically modified cells showed immense therapeutic worth and successfully managed reversal of the lung inflammation.

Explaining the process, Tanveer said the genetically engineered cells are put in a co-culture wherein diseased cells are placed near them. “What was interesting was that the diseased cells started seeking help from healthy cells by developing tubes. The stem cells in turn help in the recovery of diseased cells,” Tanveer said while detailing his research during his PhD. “This was the first revelation in modern science.” This research was published in a reputed international journal, EMBO, and has more than 400 citations, so far.

In his postdoctoral fellowship, Tanveer followed up on his expertise and experience in genetic engineering at the US’s National Institutes of Health (NIH). There, however, he got interested in developing optogenetic tools that can help understand, diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Developing Tools

Tanveer’s laboratory has developed two major tools so far. One was at the peak of Covid19 when the laboratory devised a non-intrusive system that would help people self-test for the disease using saliva.  The bio-marker used CRISPR-Cas13 technology. Developed by Tanveer along with his aides Dr Mohan Joshi and Dr Javaid Iqbal, it was a chemical formulation kit which identifies whether the virus is present in the salivary sample of a person or not. “Some companies have taken the technology and it is being used at certain places but we are still waiting for the patent from ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) because it is a slightly time-consuming process,” Tanveer said.

The remarkable thing about the CASSPIT is that it is the first smartphone integrated Covid19 testing kit. The smartphone application MI-SEHAT (Mobile integrated Sensitive Examination and High-specificity Application for testing) developed by the trio uses artificial intelligence-based tools to determine the infectivity in the sample. This kit has a 98 per cent detection rate. “This tool suggested that Covid19 can be detected without RT-PCR,” he said, adding that this kit can detect other respiratory diseases as well.

The second tool that Jamia announced recently was the development of a tool for detecting brain turbulence. “Leveraging the potential of phototropic receptors known as light-oxygen-voltage sensing domains derived from the plant avena sativa (used to derive the common cereal oats, and abbreviated as AsLOV2) the researchers generated innovative chimeric molecular designs by conjugating a light-sensitive domain of LOV2 with a protein called neuregulin3 (NRG3),” Jamia said in a statement. “…diseases like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and depression have genetic polymorphisms in NRG3 due to which it is considered as a susceptible gene for these diseases. Using this innovative tool, the researchers discovered a new mechanism of protein trafficking in hippocampal neurons of the brain which they termed as ‘trans-synaptic retention’.”

Lab Preoccupations

His laboratory operating since 2017, Tanveer said, is using genome editing technique, the CRISPR-Cas to create next-generation therapies with a focus on developing engineered immune and stem cells and vector delivery to effect changes in organisms. Leveraging on the success of recent Covid19 vaccines, and direct in vivo-delivery of the CRISPR-Cas system in humans, the lab is exploring the idea to treat genetic disease and cancer directly without any manipulation of the cells outside the body. It is also working to use allogeneic (same species but genetically different) CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for the treatment of solid tumours, besides B cell malignancies. So far, the laboratory has two patents and many more are in the pipeline.

“All the members of the laboratory are going to be scientists in their own right,” Tanveer said. “We have enough resources and an excellent environment to work and deliver.”

Career Options

Offering his own experience, Prof Tanveer said that the new generation must follow their passions. “My parents and most of my relatives wanted me to be a doctor or an engineer,” Tanveer said. “It took a bit of time but I successfully convinced my parents that my interests lie elsewhere, although not outside science and that is what is helping me now to enjoy what I do.”

Tanveer said the knowledge economy is changing fast. “There are countless careers within science such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering and these are opening new windows for fresh minds,” he said.

Kashmir’s young quantum physicist, Rukhsan ul Haq tells Khalid Bashir Gura his long story from a dusky central Kashmir village to the IBM Quantum, explaining how mankind’s quest for understanding nature is giving machines basic jobs in order to spare creativity and exploration for the human mind

As the Covid-19 pandemic literally invaded earth, the world looked towards science for solutions against the fast mutating virus. Amidst its proliferation and initial mortality rate, mankind was desperate for the vaccine. But before providing an antidote it required understanding the invisible contagion. Institutions networked their giant computers to create supercomputers for understanding the genome of the virus. Supercomputers decoded the genome but they had their own limitations. It was the point when quantum computers took over.

Every form of life has a peculiar genetic code, the DNA that comprises a complex pattern of proteins. The human genome, for instance, has 3.2 billion bases of DNA, which, if printed, could become a 61-meter high stack of books that would take a century to read at the speed of a word per second. Reading these highly complex codes in the shortest time and offering an idea about how the molecules could pattern in the genetic helix requires high-power computers. So the spot where supercomputers slow down, quantum computers take over and help understand protein sequencing in the longest chain of life genome.

“We are in the infancy stage of quantum computing,” said Rukhsan-ul-Haq, a quantum physicist who is a Quantum AI Scientist at IBM Quantum, the American tech giant that gave the first computer to the world in 1981, and the first to build a Quantum Computer. “These complex machines did help in understanding the virus better.”

Though quantum computing is still in its infancy, the race is already there. With a 127-Qubit quantum computer, IBM apparently has the world’s most powerful quantum computing system. Google AI Quantum has a 53qubits, quantum computation facility and now Chinese scientists claim their Jiuzhang 2 can compute calculations at least 100 trillion times faster than Google Sycamore. The race is on.

Learning Curve

Before Dr Rukhsan became Kashmir’s first quantum physicist to join IBM Quantum, the tech giant’s quantum computing vertical, he had worked for years to understand and explore quantum physics. With data science (ML, DL, and AI) and quantum computation as core areas of his research and business interest, he is currently working on quantum AI, Quantum Natural Language Processing (QNLP), Quantum simulations and machine learning/deep learning.

“I have a strong background in theoretical, computational, and programming aspects of machine learning and deep learning and have carried out research on topological quantum computation with a proven track record for creating intellectual property and playing the leadership role of incorporating new ideas and techniques,” Rukhsan said.

A resident of Wadwan in Budgam, when Rukhsan was in twelfth class, Physics and Mathematics enamoured him. Unlike his contemporaries who failed to resist societal and parental pressure to choose conventional careers, Rukhsan decided to study both subjects after school level.  However, he had to face commonplace hiccups.

“As I joined Amar Singh College for bachelors in science, I was unable to get admission in mathematics because I had not opted for mathematics at higher secondary where I studied biology,” Rukhsan said. “Nevertheless, I convinced them.”

The limitations of the education system did not hinder his pursuits and progress, however. Even though his teachers were not able to help him technically, their experience and college library college helped him in expanding the canvass of concepts.

After his graduation, Rukhsan hoped to transcend the geographical and resource limitations in his academic career by studying abroad. However, his parents did not approve of the idea for various reasons. He soon came to terms with the idea of taking his passion to next level at the University of Kashmir.

“I studied quantum mechanics at Kashmir University. I was bewitched with its idea of mathematical beauty and conceptual structure,” Rukhsan said crediting his two years for helping him plug loopholes in properly understanding the quantum concepts.

Soon, he developed clarity in pursuing research as a career. He went to Bangalore where he got admission at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). He considers himself fortunate for getting a capable supervisor, Prof NS Vidyadhiraja, who provided all the freedom and support for pursuing new areas of research. In six years, he completed his PhD in quantum condensed matter physics.

Rukhsan said he had come across a book on quantum computing during his college years. But it was during his research he explored quantum computing. “I wanted to pursue research in quantum computing but had to ultimately settle down somewhere closer to it. I started exploring the topological quantum computing,” Rukhsan said. “During my PhD, I collaborated with two leading quantum physicists: Prof Louis H Kauffman, from University of Illinois, Chicago and Professor Michel Planat from France and with them, I made some important contributions to quantum computing”.

Topological Protection

The spark of talent in him was ignited by his research guides with whom he shared many contributions during his research.

The mind-boggling quantum computing capacity does not work at room temperature. Existing quantum computers, such as those at IBM, and more recently Google and Microsoft, have to be kept at ultra-low temperatures of –196.1°C, polar opposite to classical computer’s hard drive fans. This, he says is unlike classical information on hard drives of computers which is safe until physical damage is done to the hard drives.

“The fragile quantum information requires careful handling when it comes into interaction with the environment. The coherence level has to be maintained in order to prevent loss of quantum information which may lead to quantum decoherence,” Rukhsan explained. Though it can be maintained by applying thermodynamic laws but the real challenge is to prevent the loss of information through other sources of noise and make quantum computation smooth.

During the research, Rukhsan in joint work with his long-term collaborator, Prof Kauffman, proposed a new methodology to preserve information, what he calls preserving precious pearls through topological protection. “This was one of my main outcomes and a contribution during research,” he said. “The method is in vogue now.”

Unlike the classic computers in which the information is stored in bits, the quantum computing system uses a completely different set-up called qubits. Eight bits, for instance, is enough for a routine computer to represent “any number between 0 and 255”. Eight qubits, in comparison, can represent “every number between 0 and 255” at the same time. This adds massive capacity to quantum computing to the extent that a few hundred entangled qubits could represent “more numbers than there are atoms in the universe”.

As some parts of quantum computing can be simulated on classical computers, scientists in order to tackle simulation introduced a technique called magic state. “It is to create qubits on the quantum computer which cannot be simulated on any classical computer of world. These states are called magic states. I along with my guide Professor Mitchel Planat worked on these magic states for the quantum computing world,” he said.

Mathematical Method

Recounting his third contribution, he said that one of the textbooks written by IBM on quantum computing for users worldwide has a chapter to his credit in it is being taught now. “We gave a mathematical model to understand a qubit in a superconductor device. Technically it is called Schrieffer-Wolff transformation,” Rukhsan said. There is a reference to his paper in the book detailing the method in chapter six. (https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-quantum-hardware/cQED-JC-SW.html)

Meanwhile, as his journey from student to scholar was coming to an end, Rukhsan was not comfortable in his comfort zone. The stagnation scared him.  As he was living his dream of being a scientist and finding himself shoulder to shoulder with great scientists, he was filled with admiration and confidence for himself as he recalls his not-so-easy journey from his village to IBM.

Futuristic

After completing his doctorate degree, pressures resumed suggesting he return and serve back home. “I am more research-oriented and wanted to stay abreast with the latest developments,” Rukhsan said, insisting that he had to resist the temptations and pressures. During his research, he was fascinated by the idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. He wanted to explore it and shift from academia to industry as machine learning, though fledgling captivated him.

“I wanted to be somewhere in the big league of IBM, Google, and Microsoft who contribute immensely to research,” Rukhsan said.

First Foray

Post-PhD, Dr Rukhsan started working in the area of machine learning, the first opportunity that knocked on his door was from Johnson’s and Johnson’s .“I became lead data scientist in the project aimed at developing a forecasting platform for the company so that it manages its demand and supply chain better,” Rukhsan said. “The company’s conventional model of forecasting was resulting in losses as they were unable to predict abruptly surge in demand.”

The company while assessing its weaknesses realized the need for an AI-based forecasting model. Rukhsan had all the skills for creating this platform. When the product was finally applied, it led to a significant business impact. The appreciation for predicting demand accurately up to 90 per cent gave him the confidence to aim higher.

IBM

By then, Rukhsan was in Bangalore when another opportunity knocked at his door. He started looking for opportunities. “The IBM was looking for people based in Bangalore, having the quantum computing background, knowing AI and some industry experience,” Rukhsan said. It led him to land in IBM Quantum. “Currently, I am a quantum AI scientist. I do research, implement it, and also work on plans to enhance and upgrade the technology in software technology,” Rukhsan said. Illustrating his role by Covid-19 pandemic, he said there is a need to develop forecasting models, which can predict future pandemics. The forecasting models should be ready so that they can be run on a quantum computer in different fields of science.

Material Simulation

Many core quantum materials used in modern technology can be understood and developed with the help of quantum computers.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, Rukhsan said, had laid stress that any quantum material cannot be computed on a classical computer and needs a quantum computer. “In one of the conferences in the 1980s by IBM and MIT, Feynman had stressed the need of inventing and developing the quantum machine which can help in understanding quantum materials of different fields of science,” he said as this had acted as a motivational force to invent it.

As machine learning models are complex, they need highly sophisticated computing powers. “We have three levels of processors: CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs. CPU (central processing unit) is a generalized processor that is designed to carry out a wide variety of tasks.GPU (graphics processing unit) is a specialized processing unit with enhanced mathematical computation capability, ideal for computer graphics and machine-learning tasks. And TPU (tensor processing unit) is the latest invention, designed by Google in 2016 for use with neural networks and in machine learning projects,” he said.

Google uses TPU’sservers and utilizes its services for computing. However, it is expensive and leaves carbon footprints. To tackle its various limitations, he said, the domain of Quantum AI is of great help.“The quantum AI models are more efficient in terms of computing, consume fewer resources, and are faster and simpler,” Rukhsan said. Explaining the ease and efficiency of AI models, he said that medical images can be processed through the models and help overcome the limitations of its predecessor computing models.

Quantum Nature Language Processing

A component of AI, NLP essentially improves the relationship between people and their machines by enabling systems to more easily understand human language and decipher the meaning of the words and phrases used. “Most of our textual data like SMS’s, mail’s, news and other forms of texts can be processed through text modelling. Due to paucity of time, we can summarize the particular segment of a newspaper for us,” he said.

According to him, QNLP overcomes the limitations of classical NLP. “Quantum AI can also help understanding climate change. Mathematically, the climate is not easy to understand due to its non-linear system and there are complicated relationships between different variables,” he said.

Towards Miniaturization

Even though quantum computers may in the future look like today’s computers, Rukhsan said the classical computers will never be trashed. “They both will work in tandem and according to their strengths. Today’s quantum computers in the US can be accessed virtually from Kashmir by opening an account on IBM cloud,” Rukhsan said. “The Quantum Computers are not portable like classical ones, but in future, they see some miniaturization as technology is a continuous process,” he said. “Till then, people can access these giant immovable machines from their classical computers using remote login via cloud computing.”

As the world is getting more digitized, the scientist believes that quantum computers will ensure more secure financial transactions than classical computers and enhance cyber security. “People have started working on securing the virtual world,” Rukhsan said as people can access it freely, especially on IBM.

Replacing Humans

Since life was completely revolutionized by industrial revolutions, the third and fourth; in the last decade, AI is finally the new in-thing. “Earlier, the jobs performed by humans manually are now done by machines. But in AI, the intention is not to replace humans but enhance human efforts. It is to overcome manufacturing defects as humans are prone to error,” Rukhsan said. “Machines, unlike humans bring precision in manufacturing and other processes.”

Rushkan does not disagree with the dire prognosis that AI will replace humans in the job market as automation is revolutionizing the world. But now according to him, if automation may have adversely impacted some sectors of the job market, it is generating jobs also. “Data sciences and Quantum AI area are dynamic and booming job industry unlike a decade ago.  These lucrative occupations are considered the trending job of this century.” He dispelled the impression that machine takeover is reducing opportunities as the emerging technologies are creating new jobs at a much faster pace.

Countering fears that AI might replace humans, Rukhsan said these are just pieces of software programmed with learning behaviour. However, in future, as technology evolves and advances, it could become more intelligent than its creator. “It is designed to make life easier for people. We have the internet of things (IoT) these days to make life easy for humanity,” he said.

Sunrise Careers

As many students are blinkered not to choose beyond conventional careers, they despite bagging and piling stacks of degrees are unable to meet skills needed in the job market and end up jobless. Now made robotics, artificial engineering, data science, and quantum computing are the advanced skills that the new generation must start looking at.

“The preparation for the journey should begin by focusing on the subject of mathematics at the school stage,” Rukhsan suggests. “We have to start early and use the internet to stay tuned with the new programming languages, and identify mentors to follow.” People aspiring for careers in quantum computing must understand Physics better and Mathematics too.

The lack of infrastructure was the key brain drain factor as researchers would choose better global institutions for doing science. Under an impressive plan to ensure ‘brain gain’, the central government started funding the best researchers with brilliant ideas to return home and this led to the establishment of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir as one of Kashmir’s top two new institutions for science, reports Masood Hussain

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Dr Altaf Bhat. Born in remote Panchpora hamlet in South Kashmir, Bhat studied till his masters in the state-run educational infrastructure where English would mark an entry in sixth class. His life was full of surprises after he moved out as a young biochemist for his PhD in Canada.

Interested in the genetic interplay in the human body, Bhat was always passionate to understand how Epigenetic controls human physiology. Epigenetics is a comparatively newer science that attempts to seek answers to how individual behaviours or the surrounding ecosystem triggers changes that affect the way genes work. The whole idea is how to ensure reversibility, which is possible in such cases, unlike genetic changes dictated by inheritance.

DNA, explains Bhat, does suffer damage owing to a varied set of factors, both endogenous and exogenous. “If quick repairing does not take place, the damaged DNA gets transferred to the daughter cells thus impacting the whole biological process and eventually leading to different diseases,” Bhat said. “There are certain proteins which have the capacity to repair this damage. During my study, I located a set of events which are necessary for the recruitment of these proteins to the repair sites and once the damage is repaired then these factors need to be released.”

In sciences, a PhD is invariably seen as high-end sophisticated training. Real science actually takes off from the post-doctorate level, though there are countless cases in which the bright minds had more high-impact papers to their credit even at the PhD level.

From Canada, Bhat took off for a post-doc at Harvard University in Boston where he spent four years in research. Not moving away from his core focus, Bhat started hunting for answers to an enigma about how and why a certain genome is localized at the periphery while some part of it is present within the nucleus. “We already know that DNA is not present in the cells randomly and follows a definite shape and a particular configuration, which is key to its functioning,” Bhat said. “I studied the mechanism that positions DNA at various parts of the cell and if it is interrupted, how it affects the functioning of different types of cells present in various organs.”

In CIRI

Bhat’s research was in continuation of an intense genetic debate about how cells at their own level retain their identity and autonomy to a level while being part of a larger mechanism where the brain is the ultimate decision-maker.

By 2013, Bhat was back home, now as an Assistant Professor. Since 2019, he is the Coordinator of the newly established Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir, which is expected to be one of the two new addresses for the high-end cutting-edge science in Kashmir.

The CIRI is the outcome of the Government of India’s major policy intervention on how to ensure brain gain. For the last more than six decades, the better minds would seek spaces in the developing world, apparently because of better infrastructure, advanced research climate and better earnings. The government of India constituted two major fellowships – the Ramanujan Fellowship (piloted by the Science and Engineering Research Board) and the Ramalingaswami Fellowship (Department of Biotechnology) for bright scientists keen to return home as long as they have the best ideas to work on. They are provided with enough funds to pursue their research and after five years, they are adjusted as faculty. Since 2006, when the Ramalingaswami Fellowship was launched, more than 550 biotechnologists have returned home to lay the foundation of a robust biotechnology destination in India.

In the last three years, CIRI has got six scientists under the twin fellowships. They have worked in the best research institutions in the world and are now keen to encourage research. “CIRI serves two things – to develop a rich interdisciplinary research ecosystem in the University of Kashmir, to address scientific problems through a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approach and also to develop world-class scientific infrastructure so that our young scientists have an access to the state-of-the-art technology to do quality scientific research,” Dr Bhat explained. “In the last two years, we have succeeded in securing Rs 40 crore from different funding agencies to address various biomedical problems prevalent in the region and also to develop scientific infrastructure in the institute.”

CIRI is expected to be a major centre in the coming days, Bhat said within a year or so CIRI will be at par with the Harvard or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as far as infrastructure goes. This year, CIRI is taking around 10 PhD students. “The university aims to bring around 25 Ramanujan, Ramalingaswami fellows in a year or two so that it gives a push to the interdisciplinary approach,” added Bhat.

Strong Foundations

Setting up of CIRI, however, does not necessarily mean that science was not being done in the University of Kashmir. The departments of biotechnology, biochemistry, and pharmacy are dominating the overall Kashmir science pool as most of the scientists have had their basic education in this chain of departments. While the focus remained on fundamental studies, the research, off late, has taken off.

Mohammad Ashraf Dar was one of the biochemists that the department educated. Hailing from Chanpora in Bejbehara, Ashraf was always fascinated by the proteins as the building blocks, information codes and the workhorses of the cell. Post-masters, he moved to JNU and did his research on plasmodium, the malaria-causing pathogen. “During my research, I discovered a unique protein in the parasite, called DNA gyrase that, we understood, is basically controlling the DNA replication process of the pathogen,” Dr Ashraf said. “Later, we even identified the drug – Acriflavine, that inhibits this Malaria specific gyrase and this discovered led us to a global patent.”

After PhD, Dr Ashraf moved to the prestigious Mayo Clinic’s Biochemistry Department at Rochester. There, he pursued research on understanding chromatin biology. For the next four years in 2011, he joined the University of Virginia as a research associate scientist. “There, I discovered USP46 (ubiquitin-specific protease 46) as a potential drug target in cervical cancer. I elucidated out the molecular mechanism by which human papillomavirus hijacks host’s own protein (USP46) to promote cervical cancer,” Dr Ashraf said. “Synthesising drug molecule against USP46 will open up therapeutic regime against this cancer and will set an alternative route to the much lethal radiation therapy.”

By then, he had enough expertise and exposure to apply for the Ramalingaswami Fellowship, which he got in the first go. Now his laboratory is working on different aspects of ubiquitin, a regulatory protein found in nearly all eukaryotic organisms and is virtually identical across all forms of life – human, yeast, and plant. “We are working on this ubiquitin molecule in different contexts and its relevance to various issues including DNA damage, apoptosis, autophagy and cancer.”

Interesting Struggles

Every one of the scientists who has come with a grant to CIRI has an interesting story of individual struggle and success to his credit. They all have struggled in their lives and now wish to establish the centre as the nucleus of doing science at the University of Kashmir.

Dr Aijaz H Wani is one of them. Hailing from Dakhum, the picnic spot and the last Kashmir village on the road to Kishtwar, Aijaz studied in local state-run schools and did his master’s in biochemistry from the University of Kashmir. For PhD, he joined the National Centre for Biological Sciences at the TATA Institute of Fundamental Research in Bangaluru.

“I opted for Protein Biophysics and wanted to understand why the proteins have essentially to retain a 3D structure to stay relevant and active,” Aijaz said, talking about his PhD. “I found the proteins to be highly dynamic but wanted to understand the factors that determine its 3D shapes and how they are relevant to its functioning.” Using mass spectroscopy, many new things were revealed to Aijaz during the research. He found that sometimes proteins aggregate in situations other than phase segregation, and trigger a degenerative disease like Parkinson’s disease.

When Aijaz moved to Harvard for a post-doctorate, he opted for a ‘quantum jump’ and decided to get into genetics. He had, like many other scientists in different laboratories, one question to seek an answer to: “How does a cell structure barely a few microns size manage to accommodate the DNA that is even two million times longer than it?” Then there were related issues about if the peculiar packaging is disturbed in the cell, and how it exhibits its impact on the human body.

“Using very high-end technology, we could see that proteins play a key role in this packaging and any disruption in it manifests in skeletal deformities,” Aijaz said. “We were working on it when some Japanese scientists came with much clearer answers that it impacts rib cage and many other things.”

The genome eventually fascinated Aijaz so much that he wrote a project that Welcome Trust (UK) and DBT approved and gave him a grant of Rs 3.5 crore for further studies on the same subject in 2017.

“My team of researchers are addressing the same question, the packaging but we are trying to identify other proteins that contribute to this,” Aijaz said. “We have some very good leads and we are working on some molecules and soon we will be out with what we have found.” They are also looking at how certain diseases are linked with the disturbance in the DNA packaging of the cell.

Though it is already known that defective packaging can be inherited and that the genome is not perpetually insulated from the environment it exists within, Aijaz’s team is also trying to see how genome mutations are linked to food habits and other factors that an eco-system offers.

Understanding Genome

At CIRI, there is one scientist who has worked on proteins alone for his entire research career. It is believed that the human body has a set of almost 100 thousand proteins but science knows nothing beyond 20,000. So every laboratory across the globe is in the race to understand the proteins better as these are the workhorses and the building blocks of life. Dr Javaid Yousuf is one of them.

Hailing from Dialgam belt of South Kashmir, Javaid Yousuf studied biotechnology at the University of Jammu and then moved to Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangaluru for his PhD where he worked on Malaria with a focus on finding the similarities and dissimilarities between a particular enzyme that exists in the human body and the Malaria creating Plasmodium. That research project, Yousuf said is still going on in that laboratory and now has reached the drug discovery stage.

His major exposure to advanced science was in the seven years he spent at Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, in Germany where he focused on protein chemistry. “The most abundant protein in nature is Rubisco, which forms almost 70 per cent of the total protein in plants, but we did not know how it can be made outside the plants for biotechnological applications,” Yousuf said. “My small contribution was in finding that there are a number of proteins that help in its making and we eventually successfully demonstrated in E. coli the pathway needed for its generation and proper function.”

Besides, he worked on chaperone proteins, which are fundamental to conformational folding or unfolding or modulation of large proteins or macromolecular protein complexes. “These are like go-betweens; they help different protein molecules to get closer to each other and once this task is over, they move out and go for another task,” Dr Yousuf said.

Well trained in mass spectrometry and other protein analysis techniques, Yousuf moved to King Abdullah Research Institute in Riyadh but returned home within a year, as his proposal was accepted by the DBT, India. At CIRI, his team is still working on the chaperons as it is now fully established that these sub-super microscopic king-makers turn into a disaster if even one of the amino acids within them changes. At the same time, his team is studying the immunity and defence response about and around chaperons to diseases in rice with the hope that if they are able to understand the mechanism, it might help manage diseases in various commercial crops.

The Parkinsons Disease

CIRI has a full-fledged team working on the different facts of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by Dr Rafeeq A Mir, another south Kashmir biochemist scientist who has been working on it for more than a decade now. “We do not have clear data available about the incidence of the disease in Jammu and Kashmir but a broad estimation is that in every one lakh population that has crossed the age of 60 years, we must have 250 patients,” Dr Mir said. “The massive use of pesticides must be adding to this number gradually but there is no clear data.” Dr Mir said that the science has already established that PD is genetic in nature in merely ten per cent of the case and in the remaining cases DNA mutations take place because of external factors and pesticide use could be a major contributor. It is, after all, an age-associated brain disorder affecting the function of the nervous system causing uncontrollable movements, shaking etc.

Mir has been working on issues related to PD for a long time now. “In my post-doctorate, I have discovered a breakthrough where we have shown two factors (proteins) work in concert and are crucial for Parkinson’s Disease development,” Dr Mir revealed about his post-doctoral work at Mir later moved to the UK for his post-doctorate at Medical Council UK.

His PhD, at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, however, was around colorectal cancer, which is caused when cells in the intestine lining or rectum grow abnormally. “In my PhD, I have discovered that SATB1 important molecule required for packaging of DNA inside cells is crucial for colorectal cancer development by promoting cell growth and spreading of cancer cells,” Dr Mir said.

Back home his team is understanding mechanisms underlying PD, especially identifying novel molecular players and epigenetic modulators to locate signalling nexus that may be key in developing the disease. “We employ various biochemical and molecular tools along with in vivo systems to address these questions,” he said.

Molecular Genetics

Interacting with the CIRI scientists gives an impression as if every scientist is working on genetics. Though it is a fact, the larger reality, however, is that everybody has his sub-domain. The 2-meter DNA is so complicated a structure that even after managing to sequence it, science barely knows only a bit of it.

“At one point in time, we were told that the transcription initiation is the most important step in gene expression and once it takes place there is no regulation over the process,” Dr Abdul Wajid Bhat, another biochemist at CIRI said. “But now it is established that the transcription elongation is also very critical because if the chromatin does not restore itself to the original status after the process, the cell is doomed.”

Bhat, a scientist from Dadsara in Tral, did his master’s from the University of Kashmir and moved to the Indian instate of Science Bangalore as a scholar in Molecular Biophysics. He did his PhD from Laval University Quebec in Canada and flew home after his post-doctorate there. In his PhD, he determined a new function of a protein that helps in the process of gene transcription and restoration of chromatin structure, a subject he studied further in his post-doctorate.

“It is a very complicated process and we attempted to identify the factors that play a role in helping chromatin to restore to its original position after the information is expressed /transcribed,” Dr Bhat said. “The bigger mystery in the entire process is how the chromatin retains its integrity after its information is decoded.” The subject, he said, is being investigated by almost every major laboratory across the globe because it is the new thing in genetics.

“My team of researchers is working on the same subject – how genes express, how they decode, what are the complications of the process and which factors help chromatin retain its integrity,” he said. “A defect in this process has dramatic consequences for cellular functions and underlies many diseases.” His laboratory is using budding yeast to study how chromatin organization is established, propagated, maintained, and changed during various cellular processes.

 Chemistry Laboratory

The centre has an impressive infrastructure and within a year it is expecting some of the best machines it requires for research. However, it still is in its infancy. Though biology dominates the scene, scientists have started coming from diverse fields to join for research. Chemist Gulzar Ahmad Bhat is the youngest scientist from Kurhama Ganderbal who joined CIRI after his post-doctorate from Texas.

“I was the first to stabilize monoalkyl phosphates, and consequently produced them in multi-gram quantities. Using these alkyl phosphate ligands later a new family of single crystalline inorganic lamellar copper alkyl phosphates were synthesized to demonstrate how a crystal containing as many as 500 layers can be exfoliated to a single layer nanosheet via a facile and rapid solvent-assisted methodology,” Dr Gulzar said, about his PhD at IIT Mumbai. “Then, I studied the kinetics of exfoliation, which eventually revealed that with an increase in sonication time the thickness of nano-sheets can be reduced. Thus, when sonicated for 40 minutes a true single nanosheet of the thickness of 1.2 nm can be obtained, which matches with the thickness of a single nanosheet, as calculated from single crystal X-ray diffraction data.”

During his post-doc at Texas’s A&M University in the USA, Gulzar worked in the area of utilizing CO2 for making biodegradable plastics in a sustainable manner and developed a strong understanding and training in this new applied field of research. Back home, he is establishing the Inorganic and Polymer Chemistry Lab at CIRI, which eventually will address the capture and utilization of CO2 as a C1 feedstock for making biodegradable polycarbonate polymers in a sustainable manner.

A Future Address

“We hope that more scientists will join in the coming days, “Coordinator, Dr Altaf said. “In a few years’ time, the young scientists will prefer working back home as we will be having the state-of-the-art facility here”.

However, the real profile of CIRI will start building with the distinct papers that will be published by high-impact journals across the globe. Aijaz said that the outcome of the ongoing research will be visible in a year or so as research is going on uninterrupted.

At the same time, the centre is identifying the local issues that it wishes to address. Dr Altaf said the prevalence of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a major challenge within and outside Kashmir. “The biology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has not been understood by the scientists yet,” Dr Bhat said, revealing that his laboratory is trying to understand how epigenetic processes get misregulated or how they contribute to it. “We have identified an epigenetic factor which plays a very important role. We have done our experiment with different cell types. In our next phase, we are trying to test this hypothesis in animal models (mice) where we can induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and then test whether we can use the identified molecule as a therapeutic target to control it.”

The other major researcher in Dr Bhat’s laboratory is to understand the biology of Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in Kashmir.  “While the incidence of GI cancer globally is around 20-25 per cent, it is around 50 per cent in Kashmir.”

(Humaira Nabi contributes to the report)

After spending many years searching for plausible explanations for the make and break within DNA, Dr Altaf Bhat, the Coordinator at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir, has his own laboratory where he is trying to find answers for many questions. One question is why the incidence of GI cancers in Kashmir is almost double in comparison to any other place on earth. Read excerpts from Dr Bhat’s interview with Humaira Nabi

KASHMIR LIFE (KL): What are the major goalposts of genetic studies?

DR ALTAF BHAT (DAB): The major goal posts of genetic studies would be to understand how DNA regulates different cellular processes, how the genome regulates cellular identity and how we can use genomic knowledge to address various diseases that are prevalent in the world and also to develop better therapeutic strategies. So in terms of future aspects, I think the aim is to develop personalized medicines based on genomic knowledge and also how genomic variations make an individual susceptible to diseases and how he responds to medicines. This is because every individual would respond to diseases and treatment differently because the genetic make-up is different.

KL: Brief us on your educational process.

DAB: I was born in Punchpora village in Bijbehara (Anantnag). I did my schooling from there and completed my graduation from Government Degree College, Anantnag. Then, I joined the University of Kashmir and completed my Masters in Biochemistry. I moved to Canada where I completed my PhD. In PhD, the main focus of my research was to understand how Epigenetics controls our Physiology. Later, I moved to Harvard University in Boston where I did my post-doctorate. I was there for almost four years and then in 2013, I joined the University of Kashmir as an Assistant Professor. Since 2019, I am heading the newly established Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir.

KL: What were the major takeaways of your PhD?

DAB: I will not go into the technical details but broadly what we were trying to understand was how DNA repair occurs and how the ends of our chromosomes are protected. DNA gets damaged regularly in the cell by endogenous as well as exogenous agents like UV, and chemicals. Repair of damaged DNA is crucial for the cell and failure to do so will result in the transfer of damaged DNA to the daughter cells which would eventually lead to various diseases. There are set of proteins which are essential to repair this damage.

Since DNA is huge and tightly packaged in the cell, these proteins need to precisely find where the damage is and land there to repair it. I have discovered the signalling cascade that helps these repair proteins to recognise the break in DNA and once the DNA is repaired they are released from the break sites to function elsewhere in the genome. I have also discovered the mechanism of how the ends of our chromosomes are protected and what the proteins necessary for the stability of chromosome ends are.

KL: Since human bodies carry millions of genes, how is it possible for the repair proteins to take care of a large amount of DNA present in the cell?

DAB: The repair proteins are not retained at the break site indefinitely. They get recruited to the damaged site, repair it and then leave. All these processes are highly regulated and if something goes wrong in this process that would be detrimental to the cell.

KL: Are there methods to induce breaks at specific sites in the genome?

DAB: There are ways to induce breaks in the DNA and study how the repair process works. In small eukaryotes, we use engineered endonucleases which can be cut only at a specific site so we can precisely study the dynamics of the repair process. More recently CRISPR-Cas9 has generated a lot of excitement in the scientific community because it is faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more efficient than other genome editing methods.

KL: Tell us about your postdoctoral research.

DAB: My research focus has been on how epigenetics controls different biological processes. However, during my postdoctoral research at Harvard University, I was trying to understand how and why certain regions of the genome are localised and organised differently within the cell. DNA is not distributed randomly in the cell. It has a definite shape and a particular configuration. That configuration is important for its functioning. During my postdoctoral research, I discovered proteins and epigenetic processes that regulate the positioning of the genome and if we alter the genome configuration, how it affects the function of the cell. This has larger significance because the configuration of the genome in the cell also decides the cellular identity.

KL: Does this mean that the cells are self-regulating? If yes then does it challenge the cephalo-centric life POV?

DAB: It is an established fact that the brain is the centre of the human body. Most of our impulses, and thought processes come from the brain. The architect of the brain is such that it controls each and every organ of the body. At the same time, every cell has its identity and hence works in its own way. But in our body, nothing works in isolation. There is close coordination between different organs and processes. Even though each cell has its own autonomy, but that autonomy will get disrupted if other processes get failed.

KL: Since you completed your post-doctorate, what have you been working on?

DAB: At the University of Kashmir the focus of my laboratory is how epigenetics regulates our genes and how it contributes to various diseases like cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

NAFLD is a global health problem and is one of the most important causes of liver-related mortalities and will probably emerge as the leading cause of end-stage liver disease in the next decade, placing a significant burden on the healthcare system worldwide. Despite being a very common disease, the biology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is still not well understood. So one of the focus areas is to understand how epigenetic processes contribute to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease  We have discovered an epigenetic factor which plays a very important role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This epigenetic player could emerge as a potential therapeutic target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We will test this discovery in animal models (mice) where we can induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and then see whether we can use the identified molecule as a therapeutic target to control the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The other major research area in the laboratory is to understand the biology of Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in Kashmir.  While the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers in India or around the world is 20-25 per cent,  in Kashmir it is around 50 per cent.  We are trying to find out the reasons, and molecular perturbations for the high prevalence of GI cancers in Kashmir. We are trying to find answers to a set of questions. Are we genetically predisposed? Is it in our genes that makes us more prone to these diseases? Do the epigenetic processes get wrong in our population? These are the questions we are currently addressing.

KL: Why is the interdisciplinary approach the new in-thing in research?

 DAB:  Science for the future can only develop when we adopt an interdisciplinary paradigm of learning. If I, for example, come across a problem, I will always look at it from a biologist’s perspective. I will never look at it from a physicist, chemist or computational biologist’s perspective. Modern science is driven by an interdisciplinary approach which is characterized as a perspective that integrates two or more disciplines into coherent connections thus enabling to make relevant connections and generating meaningful associations. If you have a computational biologist, a physical therapist, and a biologist if they sit together they will have a much broader, comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing a problem. Therefore, to develop impactful science culture, an interdisciplinary approach is very important.

KL: How is the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research & Innovations (CIRI) working on the interdisciplinary approach?

DAB: To uplift the research and academia across the country, the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology, the Government of India launched the Ramanujan and Ramalingaswami Fellowships to bring back brilliant Indian scientists and engineers from abroad to take up scientific research positions in Indian universities and research institutions. These fellowships are very selective and are awarded to outstanding scientists by national-level selection committees comprising eminent scientists of the country. The awardees as per DST and DBT guidelines are equivalent to Assistant Professor or Scientist-D level and can supervise PhD students.

To benefit from this national brain-gain initiative, the University of Kashmir established, in 2019, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) housing these fellows with an objective to promote interdisciplinary research and education in line with National Education Policy 2020. It is an initiative to convert brain drain into brain gain and develop the University of Kashmir into a hub of scientific discoveries and innovations.CIRI is serving two purposes: to develop a rich interdisciplinary research ecosystem in the university, to address scientific problems through a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approach and also to develop world-class scientific infrastructure so that our young scientists have an access to state-of-the-art research facilities to do quality and impactful scientific research. Over the years several Ramanujan and Ramalingaswami scientists from reputed institutions like Harvard University USA, Max Planck Institute Germany, University of Virginia USA, MRC UK, Laval University Canada and the University of Texas USA are working at CIRI. These young scientists have already made their impact and immensely contributed to the overall upliftment of the university’s research and academic landscape.

KL: How many PhDs should we expect to come out from CIRI in the coming years?

DAB: This year, we have started an interdisciplinary PhD programme and to begin with we are taking around 10 students. In the coming years, we expect to have around 50 PhD students across various disciplines. The good thing about CIRI is that there are no disciplinary boundaries; any science student can apply here for a PhD.

KL: Does CIRI provide scholarships to deserving candidates?

 DAB: There are a number of scholarships provided to research scholars, by the Government of India like CSIR, UGC, ICMR, and JRF. We do provide scholarships to PhD students from our grants. Besides, the University of Kashmir also provides scholarships to the PhD students. With many funding opportunities these days, students can write small research grants which they get fellowships for and also money for research. We encourage our students at CIRI to apply for these grants and help them to develop good and competitive research grant proposals.

KL: How do young scientists rule out redundancy while choosing a topic for their scientific research?

DAB: In science, you do not know who is working on what problem but the originality of your question is very important. While framing a research question one must focus on two things: the question that needs to be answered and the significance of the question. The question could be having local, national or international dimensions. To frame a relevant question, one must read a lot.  Once you have a good understanding of the literature then only you will know about the gaps that need to be addressed.

by Vijay GarG

Fashion journalists are responsible for preparing editorials for fashion magazines, books, television, websites, blogs, and lifestyle sections of newspapers. Most fashion journalists end up working for the external media departments of design firms.

A fashion Journalist is a professional who constitutes a wide range of activities like writing and editing stories and articles, styling photo shoots, researching the current and future trends of fashion, along with public relations, interviewing, and designing. Fashion journalists review and report on emerging fashion trends as well.

The fashion journalist profession is a wide term that is generally used in direct relation to the fashion media. As the name suggests, this is a concept that includes everything related to the publicity of the fashion industry. The primary aim is to inform the common public about the trends in the fashion scene.

Fashion journalists are responsible for preparing editorials for fashion magazines, books, television, websites, blogs, and lifestyle sections of newspapers. Most fashion journalists end up working for the external media departments of design firms. However, some opt to become freelance writers.

A fashion journalist spends a lot of time researching and conducting interviews and it is essential that he or she has good contacts with people in the fashion industry, including photographers, designers, and public relations specialists.

Any graduate with a sense and knowledge of fashion and writing can become a fashion journalist. The professional should be imaginative, inventive, and organised, and should possess excellent abilities to look beyond their personal experiences and understand fashion in a wider and diverse context.

Fashion journalists need to acquire knowledge about the techniques of news gathering and reporting with an emphasis on expressing ideas and impressions. They need to have some decent English skills, the ability to string an interesting sentence together, and the ability to spot a trend. They should possess good excellent written and oral communication skills and a people-oriented disposition.

Studying Fashion journalism

There are a number of institutions where fashion journalism is being taught regularly.

International Institute of Fashion Technology – IIFT, New Delhi
Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore
Asian College of Journalism, Chennai
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi

One has to follow a series of steps to become a fashion journalist

Step 1

The first step in becoming a fashion journalist is to understand how the fashion industry works as much as possible. And then you should go through magazines and newspapers and do a bit of general research on the web regarding related topics.

Step 2

After passing the twelfth class, you need to have knowledge of fashion and writing. You can go for a graduation course and become a fashion journalist. And acquiring training in fashion merchandising or fashion design will be an added advantage for becoming a fashion journalist. Any course related to fashion journalism can be pursued to learn the basics and tactics of the fashion world.

Bachelor’s Degree Courses:

B Des (Fashion Communication)
BA (Hons.) (Fashion Media Communication)

The minimum qualification to become eligible for these courses is a 10+2.

Step 3

Candidates willing to have deep aspects of fashion journalism can go for further Master’s Degrees in a concerned subject like a Master’s in Fashion Communication. It also enhances their career prospects. Many institutes offer degrees in these subjects at both graduation and master’s level. Candidates must have graduated in fashion journalism and its related subjects to pursue a Master’s.

A fashion journalist’s job is to write about anything related to brands and styles, and fashion trends, and review and cover events with the right terminology, trends, fabrics, and styles. Several career pathways are available in this field, depending upon the strengths and interests of individuals and the publications which hire fashion journalists. They can seek employment in fashion critique and commentary programmes on television and the Internet. They can also try their hand at reviewing and reporting about the latest fashion on the ramp and red carpet.

Fashion journalists, initially, can expect a salary package of around Rs 2,00,000 or above per annum. As for gaining experience, their remuneration is likely to increase, depending upon the quality of work, rewarding in the form of handsome perks and incentives. Opting to work as a freelancer according to one’s pace and convenience is another great alternative.

(Vijay Garg, MSc, BEd has been a Punjab Education Service (PES) officer who retired as a Principal. He has authored a number of textbooks. He lives in Malout Punjab.)

A young Kashmiri, currently studying in the best institution in Hungary said he hopes to run a start-up that will help skill the already-educationte youth, Umaima Reshi reports

Srinagar-born young man, Sheikh Harris has got one of the top scholarships to study abroad. He has always been a big dreamer about his aims in life and wanted to accomplish something better. It was his dream to study abroad and he worked on this diligently and finally is studying in one of the best institutions.

Having a very usual upbringing, Harris was schooled at Vision School of Education, in Srinagar’s Lal Bazaar. He passed his twelfth grade from MPML Higher Secondary School, Bagi Dilawar Khan with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, locally known as non-medical subject group.

Later he passed the JEE Mains and got admission in Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Technology, University of Kashmir. It was there that he applied to the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, which offers opportunities for students applying for Bachelor, Master or PhD all over the world. After the application process was over, he was selected. This fetched Harris admission to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary.

Reading An Application

Admitting that the process was not so easy, Harris said he prepared himself for a year. Diligently, he created his portfolio with transcripts, recommendation letters, and application forms, and then finally went through the interview.

“I had an aim of achieving something big and the raw image of that got clearer and clearer with time,” Harris said. “I was always very keen on cars, so I decided to go into the mechanical sector only. After my graduation, I got a more magnified view of what to do further and gained more exposure.”

Harris admitted that his success has good contributions from the company he kept – his friends. “I made good friends and they have a huge contribution to my status right now. They also had similar goals and the shared zest to acquire good quality education and that was really a perk for me,” Harris said.

With good technological assets, Harris did a lot of research and gained as much knowledge as he could. He also took guidance from people who were already studying abroad through a fellowship or scholarship and prepared himself according to the same patterns.

Peer Help

“I had also applied to many places before Hungary. There were dejections but with awareness and tact to approach, bought me different opportunities as well,” Harris said. “And after I got the fellowship opportunity, it just needed some documentation verification and recognized degree certificates to start over my career.”

Harris said that young people need to only be shown a path and how to walk or work on it and rest is their own responsibility. “When I arrived in Budapest, I got to know about things that I was unaware off,” Harris said. “I had just learned about a drop of the ocean, but when I came here, I got a clear vision and exposure to different matters. I gained more confidence, and understood how to acquire knowledge in a more proper way,”

The difference in the approach that Sheikh Harris observed in Hungary was that every professional knew how to exercise their powers. With power comes responsibility and whether it was a student, a professor, or a teacher, everybody knew their roles properly. Everyone performed their duties very decorously and in an appropriate manner. For him, they are the model people with absolute belief in a system of ethics.

“We have never got an opportunity in Kashmir to upgrade our skills. People only emphasize degrees and grades,” Harris regretted. “In Budapest, we have had the best credit-based classes, projects, practicals, and semester-wise skill-based progression. There has never been an issue with marks. Back home, we have the requirement of degrees, while here we require skill and expertise. One of the biggest differences that have kept us behind from others is, rather than capability, the theory is given importance.”

“Apart from education, whatever voluntary work, hobby, or experience one has creates a balance and good opportunity for the future. The curricular activities, awareness programmes, funding, and intercultural competency also construct a good asset for people willing to attain better proficiency,” he added.

Harris had already prepped his mind and convinced his parents before opting for the scholarship. Europe has had a peaceful culture and environment which was a plus point for having no restrictions from his parents. He is looking forward to exercising the knowledge gained, in Kashmir, for the betterment of his own society and to contribute as a citizen of the country.

Helping Others

When he arrived in Hungary, he was the only Kashmiri, and later on, tried to tie up his friends as well for educational purposes. He believes that people especially in Kashmir should come out at least once in their life to see the progress of the world and compare what they still have to learn.

“For now I want to evolve in skills and be a job creator and whatever people in Kashmir are looking for, I would want to help them in setting career opportunities whether that from mechanical, electrical, civil or any other particular field,” Harris said. “People who are holding degrees, without jobs should have a way to exercise their capabilities and I will surely have a start-up in Kashmir which will take time but will surely have some benefit.”

With career options shrinking to quite a few in Kashmir, scores of students are attempting to achieve targets their parents failed to hit for one or the other reason. This has led to rise of a generation that lacks a passion in its profession or is gradually dipping into depression for living choreographed lives, reports Syed Shadab Ali Gillani

Policymakers say the life expectancy has improved significantly. The routine of life, however, is landed in such a fast and too-competitive mode that now parents dream of their children achieving what they could not. This has added a new segment of underdogs in which the new generation attempts to obediently live the lives their parents choreograph. They live but do not enjoy. They earn but remain dissatisfied. In the long run, it impacts their persona.

Parental expectation is a new norm that is being enforced in Kashmir. Deep-seated societal norms compel the younger generation to abandon personal passions, steering them toward conventional fields like medicine or engineering. This generates mental and emotional distress among ambitious youth in the region. It has started restricting professional choices and prioritising societal approval and prestige over individual talents.

The result: a generation is grappling with a moral dilemma between career options and familial expectations. This pervasive phenomenon not only hinders the aspirations of emerging artists but also dims the cultural vibrancy and creative potential of the region. The arts, unfortunately, become casualties of a system that elevates traditional vocations as the epitome of success.

The NEET Season

Zahira is 18 and slated to appear for her twelfth this spring. For the last two years, she is fighting frequent headaches. However, it has not impacted her studies. She prepares for the examination with self-study, group reading and online. She dislikes some of her science subjects but somehow manages to pick whatever she requires.

“I do not like the sciences but I am studying it because my mother wants to see me in medical school,” she said. “I know I am not incompetent. I will give it a try. If it could not manage NEET, I will give it up.”

However, reaching a level where she is working to live the dream of her mother is making a huge impact on her health. In case of failure, interestingly, she asserted she lacks a plan B. That could add to her worries.

The unfolding saga of the 2023 MBBS seat scramble lays bare dreams and hurdles. The NEET UG 2023 Jammu and Kashmir seat matrix reveals 1347 coveted spots dispersed among 12 medical institutions. Of these, 1047 seats reside in government establishments, while an additional 100 are nestled in the private precincts of regional medical schools. According to data from the National Testing Agency, a total of 34,615 students vied for these 1347 seats.

As competition intensifies, pursuing medical college admission transforms into a formidable journey. Faced with the daunting task of securing a spot within the country, some individuals are extending their gaze beyond borders. Amidst this narrative, Inayat Ahmed steps into the spotlight, offering a unique perspective that paints a portrait of resilience and determination.

Propelled by unyielding dedication, Inayat’s son invested heart and soul into NEET preparation. He could not make it. “My son dedicated himself to preparing for NEET and put in considerable effort for the examination, but unfortunately, he was not selected,” laments Inayat. The initial disappointment prompted consideration of the conventional path of pursuing medical education within India. However, the stark reality of exorbitant costs surpassed their budgetary constraints.

Undeterred by financial limitations and determined to carve a path for his son’s medical aspirations, Inayat and his family embarked on a journey beyond the familiar terrains of India. The pursuit of more affordable alternatives led them to explore academic landscapes in countries such as Iran and Bangladesh, where the pursuit of medical knowledge comes with a more manageable financial burden.

In the face of adversity, Inayat’s story mirrors the evolving landscape of medical education choices. It is a tale not just of challenges but also of resilience, as families navigate uncharted waters to ensure the flame of medical aspirations continues to burn brightly. Beyond the confines of NEET UG 2023 and the state’s seat matrix, a broader narrative unfolds—one of determination, exploration, and the unwavering pursuit of the healing arts.

Obligatory Compulsions

Contemplating the narratives shared by students navigating studies far from home, Sofiya, a 23-year-old from South Kashmir, currently pursues an MBBS programme in Delhi—an academic path not aligned with her true passions.

“Becoming a doctor was not my choice; I was compelled into this field by my parents,” discloses Sofiya. Influenced by her cousin’s success in securing a spot in a local medical college, her parents insisted she follow suit, despite her fervent desire to delve into English literature. The dream of a literary world was shattered when her parents dictated her education in Delhi.

Arriving in the capital in 2023, Sofiya grappled with panic attacks and severe bouts of depression. “The degree, the college, the people around me, the environment – none of it was my choice,” she lamented. “It all went against my will and preferences, and it took a toll on my well-being.”

Adapting to her new environment proved challenging, compounded by the pressure to meet her parents’ expectations. Struggling to articulate her emotions, Sofiya developed panic attacks. “As I kept my thoughts to myself and withdrew into silence, my inner turmoil intensified, resulting in panic attacks, mostly occurring in the confines of my hostel bathroom,” she explained.

Sofiya’s challenges extended to her relationships with roommates, who, unable to cope with her emotional struggles, opted to change rooms, leaving her isolated.

Asserting that parents should respect their children’s choices, Sofiya emphasised, “Even when I attempted to communicate my feelings to my parents, they consistently dismissed and ignored me. Now, I find myself in a situation where I lack enthusiasm for anything. At times, I contemplate running away to a distant place.”

Sofiya’s plight is not unique among those grappling with such challenges.

A Needed Homecoming

Amid entrenched family traditions, a growing cohort challenges age-old norms, advocating for autonomy in shaping their destinies. Saima, a 26-year-old from Srinagar, initially pursued a medical career but faced setbacks, leading her to study in Bangladesh.

After almost three years, she made the difficult decision to return home, leaving her MBBS studies unfinished. Saima’s choice was a result of a prolonged struggle with mental and emotional exhaustion, revealing the toll it took on her well-being, including panic attacks and health issues. Her story represents a subtle revolution against the scripted narratives handed down through generations, marking a growing dissent beneath the veneer of tradition.

“My mental state deteriorated to the point where I would skip classes and isolate myself in my hostel room,” Saima said while recalling that period. “I felt disconnected from people, even distancing myself from my family.” Saima’s suffering extended beyond mental strain, encompassing emotional and physical health complications. “There were days when I felt my heart sinking, and I even doubted waking up the next day.”

In the depths of her struggles, Saima grappled with suicidal thoughts, self-harm tendencies, and a torrent of negative emotions. Reflecting on the reasons for her misery, she acknowledged the immense pressure associated with the demanding MBBS programme. Besides, she felt homesick and mistreated in the unfamiliar environment of Bangladesh, lacking the exposure she needed.

After determining that returning home was her only viable option, Saima faced taunts, comments, and bullying from her extended family, compounding her challenges. “My family had invested significantly in my education, and my inability to continue created additional issues,” she shared.

Rebuilding her life entailed months of rigorous efforts, medical consultations, and professional counselling. Saima successfully regained normalcy by enrolling in a Master’s programme at a reputable university in Kashmir. Despite comments about her age from younger peers, she remains resilient; appreciating that she is no longer confined to a foreign country with unfamiliar faces. Saima embraces the positive aspects of her current degree, recognising its greater allure compared to the one she initially pursued, which required leaving her family and home behind.

Matrimonial Manoeuvres

In navigating familial expectations, parents strategically plan their children’s academic paths driven by societal norms and the pursuit of advantageous alliances. The focus typically revolves around lucrative fields like engineering or medicine, with the goal extending beyond professional success to establish favourable matrimonial connections with families offering desirable proposals.

Furqana, a 27-year-old caught in this societal web, was pressured into pursuing an engineering degree at a foreign university after falling short in the local entrance test in Kashmir. However, engineering was never her passion.

“I always wanted to study Urdu, but my father insisted on engineering due to its perceived better prospects and the belief that engineers often find suitable matches in higher social strata,” she reflected.

Enduring a four-year engineering degree in a foreign land where she felt disconnected from both people and culture, Furqana struggled to establish a social life. “My father’s words haunted me: ‘Become an engineer, a professional, and you’ll attract great proposals,'” she recalled. Alone in her dorm, she grappled with the incomprehensible coursework, often breaking into tears.

The consequence was a sea of backlogs in nearly every semester, a stark contrast to her once-brilliant academic record. Now a teacher, Furqana looked back on how her passion for Urdu literature, particularly Faiz’s poems, became her refuge during those challenging years. “I was in love with Urdu; it was my only escape,” she confessed.

Nightmares and academic setbacks transformed Furqana from an extroverted, cheerful individual into an introverted and timid soul. “Those failures led to self-esteem issues, and I became very dull,” she admitted. Attempts to discuss her struggles with her parents during holidays in Kashmir proved futile. “My father would dismissively say, ‘Just tolerate these four years, and everything will be fun afterwards,'” she recalled.

Fighting anxiety, Furqana faced a seemingly do-or-die situation. Despite obtaining her degree, job hunting proved fruitless. “Ironically, despite having an engineering degree, marriage discussions are centred around a businessman, not an engineer as my family envisioned,” she remarked sarcastically.

While the narrative might appear to disproportionately affect female students, Ruhaan’s testimony attests that the issue extends beyond gender boundaries.

Young Minds in Limbo

In the quest for advantageous alliances, parents often find themselves entangled in a web of predetermined deals, shaping their children’s destinies based on societal expectations. The outcome is a generation burdened by parental decisions that extend beyond individual aspirations.

Ruhaan, a 27-year-old from North Kashmir, is currently pursuing a medical degree offshore. For Ruhaan, this opportunity promised a chance to “shake things up, immerse himself in a different culture, and confront a myriad of diverse medical cases.”

Yet, societal pressures back home play out like a real-life chess game, as families meticulously plan entire lives, often overlooking true passions, he explained.

“Being in this entirely new academic universe far from home is challenging—balancing studies, adapting to a new culture, and overcoming homesickness,” Ruhaan said.

Psychologically, Ruhaan likened the experience to “navigating a roller coaster blindfolded. There are days when I question every life choice, wondering if I should have just stuck to my roots.” However, the love for medicine and support from friends keep him on the ride, a mix of self-doubt and pumped-up determination.

Emphasising that he is not alone in this struggle, Ruhaan highlighted that many friends and classmates grapple with similar challenges, “dealing with pressure, battling homesickness, you name it.”

The pressure to adhere to predetermined deals creates tension within families, forcing children to choose between personal passions and predefined paths. The once-innocent dreams of these youngsters are overshadowed by the strategic chessboard of familial alliances, turning careers into pawns in the game of societal expectations.

To cope, Ruhaan and friends formed a makeshift support group. They share stories and remind each other that “we are all stuck in this crazy roller coaster together. It is like having your little survival squad, and believe me, it makes a world of difference.”

Anxiety’s Stranglehold

This phenomenon not only stifles youth’s creative potential but also perpetuates a cycle of conformity that permeates personal lives. The tacit understanding that careers in medicine or engineering are not merely professional choices but strategic moves for future alliances adds complexity to the challenging journey of self-discovery.

Ali, an aspiring NEET examination candidate from Srinagar, grapples with tension as his family’s expectations collide with his aspirations. Raised in a family of doctors, he faces pressure to follow their path and pursue a medical career. Yet, Ali’s true passions led him toward literature and creative writing. “The burden of conforming to my family’s expectations weighs heavily on me as I navigate the conflict between filial duty and my dreams,” he confided.

Ali not only wrestles with NEET examination preparations but also with the decision of whether to conform to the medical field to satisfy his family or boldly embrace his ambitions.

The Kashmiri landscape reflects the dichotomy between tradition and modernity, embodying the internal turmoil Ali grapples with. The region’s enduring respect for the medical profession intersects with evolving societal perspectives on individual freedom and career choices. Amidst breathtaking valleys and ancient customs, Ali endeavours to reconcile his family’s aspirations with his fervent desire for self-determination. The NEET examination becomes more than an academic test; it becomes a pivotal moment in Ali’s journey toward self-discovery amidst cultural expectations.

In another alarming case, Ayesha, a 21-year-old medical student, shares stories of children forced to study against their wishes. “My friend is doing MBBS against her wishes, and being a single child, she feels the pressure to fulfil every family dream,” says Ayesha. Initially attempting to comply due to parental investment, her friend eventually stopped, engaging in detrimental behaviours, and distancing herself from her parents, blaming them for the imposed choices.

Navigating Emotional Currents

These career narratives encapsulate a generation’s pursuit of autonomy, self-discovery, and genuine happiness beyond predetermined alliances and societal expectations.

Dr Yasir Rather, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at GMC Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, sheds light on a prevalent phenomenon in the contemporary academic landscape. “Within our clinic, students studying abroad, particularly those pursuing medical courses, frequently grapple with mental health issues,” he observes. Notably, many of these students are from Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Dr Rather, a spectrum of mental health challenges plague these aspiring medical professionals, including homesickness, anxiety, depression, and a profound sense of isolation. “Factors contributing to these challenges span cultural adjustments, language barriers, academic pressures, social hurdles, and the conspicuous absence of familiar support systems. The amalgamation of rigorous medical coursework and adapting to a novel environment can significantly exacerbate these concerns.”

Despite these challenges, Dr Rather offers hope. “Navigating these tumultuous waters, seeking support from counselling services, and building a robust social network can serve as a lifeline, significantly aiding individuals in coping with the formidable challenges that accompany their academic pursuits.”

In the fabric of careers, these stories not only depict struggles but also highlight the resilience and solutions that emerge in the quest for personal and professional fulfilment.

Post-Graduation

Kashmiri medical students confront persistent challenges during their overseas studies and encounter intensified difficulties upon returning home, particularly post-graduation.

Dr Asrar Ahmed (name changed), a practising doctor from Kashmir, emphasised, “Upon acquiring a degree, the challenges of prolonged separation from home, exorbitant tuition fees in foreign universities, surmounting language barriers, and adapting to a new culture inevitably diminish. Nevertheless, the primary issue arises upon our return to Kashmir.”

He noted that even after successfully passing the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, a licensing examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations in India, students who completed their MBBS in Kashmir face disdain from counterparts who question their capability and often label them as “Bangladeshi Doctors who know nothing.”

Amidst the shadows of tradition and societal expectations, a new narrative is emerging — one that encourages individuality, honours varied skills and acknowledges the deep importance of artistic expression for both personal fulfilment and societal advancement. A renaissance is gradually unfolding in Kashmir as the youth dares to dream beyond the confines set by tradition. It is a narrative about overcoming adversity and breaking free.

Educational Exodus

Amidst the prevalent mental health challenges faced by students, a less-explored aspect of the narrative unfolds.

Many students, unable to find the subjects of their choice within Kashmir, venture outside Kashmir for their education. Shereen, a 28-year-old from Budgam district, chose Turkey to pursue her passion for fashion design.

Seven years ago, Shereen embarked on this foreign journey driven by a desire to live without regrets. “I had always been intrigued by clothes, their design, and everything else,” she said. “When I seriously started looking for a degree or an institute here, I was disappointed. So, my father told me to look for foreign universities.” Turkey, with its comprehensive offerings, became her destination of choice. “Turkey had everything I wanted to learn, and I don’t regret that choice. I have cousins opting for foreign universities as well, as the education of their choice is not available here.”

This educational exodus finds its roots in the limitations back home: scarce employment options, a faltering administration, postponed examinations, outdated teaching practices, a dearth of student-friendly policies, and an unparalleled political climate.

Official records from the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Departments reveal 208 private and 142 government degree-granting institutions within the erstwhile state. However, a significant number of students opt to leave due to the absence of their desired disciplines. Beyond the state’s borders, colleges and universities offer a broader spectrum of programmes, including specialised fields not yet available in Jammu and Kashmir.

Aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, robotics and automation, renewable energy systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cinema studies, sports management, and marketing are among the subjects drawing students away from the valley in pursuit of a more tailored and diverse education.

The post Kashmir: Career Coercion appeared first on Kashmir Life.

The only son of his parents, Ghulam Maya Din (Mohiuddin) wanted to be an engineer but landed in a medical school. While bracing for civil services, he cracked JKAS. Serving as BDO in Kupwara, he eventually cracked UPSC, reports Umaima Reshi

In the just released UPSC list, he falls at rank 388 but that is not the only achievement of Ghulam Maya Din. For a resident of Bharot, a distant mountainous village in Rajouri’s Thanamandi, this is the third career window he opened with consistent efforts and hard work.

Before his performance opened the federal civil service for him, Din had qualified for the JKCET in 2012, pursued a medical degree at Government Medical College Jammu, and passed the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) examinations. He was serving as a Block Development Officer (BDO) in North Kashmir when the UPSC results were made public.

“Beyond their foster, I would not have been able to accomplish this,” Din said. “It has not been easy, but their rapport has been very important. I do not see it as toil, but more like a cost that had to be paid to pass this examination.”

What makes his dazzling performance impressive is that the people hailing from his region have to handle difficulties like attaining quality education. Even though the facilities and allied infrastructure have slightly improved, it still lacks a comparison with the Jammu or Srinagar cities. A good chunk of the population finds education in their wards only possible when they migrate.

Family Story

“I am the only son of my parents, so I always had this notion that I must achieve something significant in life,” Din said. His father is a retired police inspector and his mother is a homemaker. With complete family blessing, he continued his studies with the sole objective of becoming a support to his family. “I thought civil engineering would be advantageous to stand on my feet financially. I excelled in Mathematics in my twelfth grade. But unfortunately, due to a lack of proper guidance, I missed out on attending counselling and failed to secure a place in an engineering programme.”

Perplexed, he took a gap year, during which one of his seniors suggested he pursue entrance into the medical field. “I successfully cleared the medical entrance and secured a place at GMC Jammu,” Din said. “As I progressed through my MBBS, I found the subject matter to be somewhat draining and toxic. During my second year, I even attempted the IAS examination, but the heavy study load proved too much to handle.”

A Doctor

After completing his MBBS, Din made the difficult decision to pursue the civil service examination. He decided against becoming a medical doctor, for the time being. Starting from scratch, he engrossed himself in studying newspapers and going through recommended books.

“While transcending at the Hamdard Study Circle, my first attempt for the civil services was unsuccessful. However, I found solace in the fact that I was making progress independently,” Din remembers. “My second attempt, conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, gave rise to other difficulties, and my performance in the CSAT section suffered. I then switched to my backup plan, which was to pursue the JKAS. I dedicated myself to this endeavour and, by the grace of God; I successfully passed the exam and was appointed as a Block Development Officer in Kralpora, Kupwara.”

Credit goes to Din for not giving up. While securing a place in the coveted service of Jammu and Kashmir, he continued preparing for the UPSC prelims and mains examinations, eventually achieving success. Throughout his preparations, Din said that almost everybody extended support to him in studying what he was keen on. Apart from his family, Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Sudan and Secretary, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary also helped him a lot, he said.

No Seclusion

Din cautioned aspiring civil servants about the misleading portrayal of success on social media and the internet, emphasising the necessity of innate aptitude for such a career path. Despite claims that anyone can embark on the UPSC journey post-examination, he highlighted the arduous and often unacknowledged journey required to meet the standard. He observed that some individuals, lacking a strong foundation, impulsively pursue the examination, leading to failure and subsequent mental health challenges, including stress and symptoms of hysteria, a concern he encountered frequently in his medical practice.

Besides, he noted the monotony inherent in civil service examination preparation, likening it to consuming the same food daily, which can breed frustration and hinder progress. “Just as we need a variety of foods and cannot ingest the same items every day, similarly, our minds also desire diversity,” Din said. “We cannot constantly feed our minds with the same information day after day, as during preparation, individuals may become frustrated with the same pattern.”

To maintain his mental well-being amidst the rigours of preparation, Din shared his coping mechanisms, such as watching comedy shows like The Big Bang Theory or FRIENDS and maintaining regular communication with his family.

Reflecting on his journey, Din revealed a childhood focused solely on the play until a teacher’s admonition in ninth grade spurred a shift towards academic dedication. He stressed the importance of maturity in understanding life’s purpose and the necessity of a balanced approach to both preparatory and non-preparatory aspects, including mental well-being and personal management, in achieving success.

The post Doctor’s Civil Service appeared first on Kashmir Life.

In Kashmîr, some brave men and women give up their jobs with disposable incomes and get into sustainable entrepreneurial activities. Babra Wani explores tales of resilience, determination, and the sweet contentment of choosing the less travelled path.

In Handwara, 30-year-old Nouman Dar has forged his path. Against the odds, he chose to leave his established government job to pursue his own business, now evolving into a thriving enterprise through his dedication and determination.

A football coach with the Sports Council since 2017, Nouman enjoyed the security of a government job with a substantial salary and perks. Driven by the desire to venture out on his own, he decided to quit. At 25, he quit his job, citing difficulties in travelling to Srinagar and a stronger connection to nature as influencing factors. He embarked on a new journey by starting a sheep farm.

Nouman’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore various ventures, including contract work, launching a tour and travel company, and establishing agricultural farms. “We had a piece of land on the By-pass, and there we started our fruit farm,” he said. “We are also considering entering the business of manufacturing pesticides and fertilizers.”

Desperate to retain his passion for football, he established a football academy and faced challenges in maintaining it. “I am also a football player; sometimes I still play.”

Transitioning to sheep farming was not without hurdles. “I did not know sheep or their rearing. Initially, I bought eight sheep, and later, twenty more,” he said. “Due to my limited knowledge, the mortality rate of sheep increased during winter. I did not know how to feed them, handle diseases, or provide proper treatment.”

With time and experience, Nouman took his challenge seriously. He credited his family’s unwavering support and financial backing for his success. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and several diplomas, Nouman invested all his earnings and savings into his business. Presently, he sustains himself and generates employment for four others. “I love to be free and not chained by a job, so I became self-sufficient. I am very content, very satisfied, and I have no regrets.”

Nouman is the only person who gave up lucrative government service and decided to create avenues for himself and others. Many people are looking for sustainable ventures instead of uninterrupted disposable incomes.

Into Nursery

Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat lives in Qaimoh, Kulgam. He left his police job after six years in 2006, shifting gears to oversee his father’s long-established nursery. After six years, he re-evaluated his career and immersed himself in his father’s thirty-five-year-old nursery. “We have had this nursery for almost thirty-five years now,” Mushtaq affirmed, “Alhamdulilah it is doing very well.”

At 47, Mushtaq’s fruit nursery thrives, producing over two lakh fruit plants of around 150 varieties. The expansive nursery spans over a hundred Kanals of land, employing over 50 individuals.

“Government jobs did not align with my aspirations; I desired greater heights in life,” Mushtaq explained his departure from the government job. “Hence, the transition from quitting a government job to venturing into the nursery, a part of my life since childhood.”

While acknowledging challenges with different operational approaches between him and his father, Mushtaq is content. “I do not have any regrets; Alhamdulilah I am doing very well in my business. And I am planning to expand it more.”

Banking to Business

In South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Sajad Bin Qadri, 55, a former banker, has transitioned from a lucrative career to successful entrepreneurship, garnering pride for himself and his family.

Having served the banking sector for over two decades, Sajad resigned in 2011 while heading the Andheri branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank. He cited the desire for a change and a break from a mundane routine as driving factors. “This routine job somehow looked boring, and then I decided that I should be an employer rather than an employee.”

Despite the financial stability and rewards associated with his banking job, Sajad harboured an innate longing to venture into independent business. The transition, however, was far from seamless. Lacking business knowledge and familial background, he faced the daunting task of starting a new enterprise.

Gaining the support and trust of his family was a crucial step for Sajad, who prepared them mentally and communicated his vision before getting into business. In 2012, he initiated the process, of securing land in Anantnag’s Industrial Estate for setting up a unit. The subsequent year saw the establishment of his full-time construction business, specialising in manufacturing bricks, hollow blocks, floor tiles, and more.

Sajad acknowledged the initial hardships, emphasising his mental preparedness for the challenges. He invested personal funds without resorting to loans, relying on family savings for financial backing. “We decided to be limited in our approach when it came to investing. We did not want to do more than what we could afford,” he said.

While grappling with challenges such as workforce recruitment and customer acquisition during the transitional phase, Sajad’s perseverance prevailed. Presently, he operates a unit in Anchidora, employing ten individuals. Despite earning less than his previous banking position, Sajad expressed satisfaction and emphasised the value of mental peace and contentment. “I do not regret quitting my job ever, even though at present, I earn less than what I used to,” Sajad said. “But I am hopeful that I would be able to manage to balance that too.”

Trip to Vlogging

Mian Imad u Rahman, recognized as Imad Clicks in Kashmir, has gained fame for visual content creation. Before venturing into vlogging and videography, Imad, a Srinagar resident, worked in project sales management and facility management in Dubai for more than three years. It was during this period that he discovered his passion for vlogging.

In 2018, at the age of 30, Imad resigned and flew home. “I had developed this passion for vlogging, and upon returning to Kashmir, I had nothing substantial to do, so I started vlogging,” he said. Imad aimed to showcase the culture, heritage, and lifestyle of Kashmiris to the world, driven by the scarcity of quality content on Kashmir available online. He purchased equipment and began pursuing his passion for vlogging.

The concept of vlogging and content creation was new in Kashmir in 2018. After more than a year of vlogging, suggestions from his audience led Imad to explore wedding photography and videography. “Apart from vlogging, I also did photography, so people suggested I pursue it professionally, and that is when I started doing wedding shoots, which was a new experience for me.” The positive response opened doors to offers for music videos and documentaries, eventually leading to the establishment of his full-fledged production company in 2020.

In 2022, Imad expanded his portfolio to include advertisement films, initially collaborating with local companies. After Covid 19, he ventured into pre-wedding shoots and started creating travel content. His work caught the attention of Bollywood, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Imad emphasised the unexpected transition from a passionate vlogger to a professional with monetary gains. “When people started enjoying my work and offering me opportunities, the idea struck me that if I can earn good money from it, why not pursue these opportunities since I don’t have a conventional job.”

Imad, who had a well-settled career spanning over eight years in Dubai, faced initial resistance from his family. With time, however, brand deals and a stable income from his work helped his initially sceptical parents recognise the viability of his career choice.

Ali’s Journey

Ali Ahmer Baigh holds a degree in IT and has roots in Hazratbal. He lives in Jammu. He embarked on a unique journey with experience in seven different careers, including over five years of work in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, at the age of 29, he flew home and established his outdoor company, specialising in leading outdoor activities like treks and hikes.

Though a field chemist, he is passionate about coordinating hiking activities. Upon returning home, he pursued certificate courses, and freelancing, and acquired the necessary skills for his profession before launching his own company. Leveraging his IT background, Ali independently set up his website and social media platforms.

Hailing from a middle-class family, Ali faced initial reservations from his family. For individuals from the middle class, the decision to quit is challenging. He acknowledged the tough phase without a stable income but highlighted the crucial psychological aspects of such transitions. During the challenging days, financial constraints and emotional dilemmas tested Ali’s resolve, but he persevered. Ali is now happy and content with what he is doing.

Giving up established jobs is not a male area only. There are women too.

From Dentistry to Calligraphy

Aqsa Nourain, 28, is a dental surgery graduate. She found liberation after giving up her profession. Drawn to calligraphy and resin art, she swiftly decided to pursue her passion and establish her own business. Aqsa, who had been working at a private clinic, expressed dissatisfaction with her dental job, prompting her departure.

Aqsa completed her BDS in 2020, worked from August 2021 to December 2022, and highlighted the inadequate returns on her time and energy investment as a contributing factor to her decision. “I was not that much satisfied with that job. So, I quit,” she stated, citing the lack of government posts for dentists and a sense of insecurity in the private sector.

Amidst personal challenges, Aqsa faced initial financial crises due to limited family support. Despite familial scepticism about her professional shift, Aqsa launched her calligraphy business gradually, starting with a small-scale operation. “I did not go for bulk produce, rather I began slowly. But Alhamdulilah the response was very good,” she remarked.

Social media promotion helped her get orders. She also delved into online coaching for Islamic lessons, expanding her business portfolio. Aqsa invested her savings to kickstart her venture, emphasising its profitability despite initial family reservations.

While her family has warmed up to her work, Aqsa acknowledges lingering scepticism due to her professional dentistry background. Notably, she successfully published a journal that gained popularity within her circle, further establishing her unconventional path as a thriving source of income.

“I am a doctor by education, I did not know anything about business or how to run it or the nuances of it, so that was a bit challenging,” Aqsa said. “But running a business is always a good option.”

Merry Mariya

Mariya Reshi, 31, lives in Srinagar and has carved her path to success, transitioning from a private job to the government sector and eventually establishing her business empire. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Mariya embarked on her journey by working as a teacher in a private school, followed by a stint in the government sector.

“I always had this feeling that I am not satisfied. I wanted to do something that would suffice me,” Mariya expressed. During her government job, she ventured into selling items like shawls and suits door to door, marking the inception of her entrepreneurial journey. The disruption caused by Covid19 pandemic led her to create an online platform on Instagram, resulting in a successful online business.

With her customer base expanding, Mariya opened a store in HMT in response to the demand, eventually leading to further expansion. “I went to Delhi and bought some good products of make-up, bridal lehengas, etc., over there,” she stated. In June 2022, Mariya established her makeup academy, driven by positive responses and the advice of her mentor.

Unable to work as a freelance makeup artist, Mariya aimed to assist others in earning their livelihood by starting the academy. Subsequently, she opened a boutique in May 2023 and plans to launch another one this year. Despite appearing smooth, Mariya’s journey faced financial challenges. “I left a good job of teaching, then I left the government job, and then I started everything on my own,” Marya said. “It was not a smooth sail, but with firm belief, honesty, and consistency, I was able to do it.”

Mariya confronted the challenges of working in a male-dominated field, but after more than three years, she now heads a 10-member team. Hailing from a business family, Mariya harboured a longstanding desire to start her venture. “I was not at peace in my jobs. I always wanted to start my own thing.” Initially, with zero investment, she relied on connections, but soon realised the need to invest her savings, marking a turning point in her business trajectory.

Despite the regret of starting her business late, Mariya appreciates the support from her family and in-laws. Now, Mariya is a lifestyle blogger too.

The post  The Road Less Travelled appeared first on Kashmir Life.

Schooled in South Kashmir’s Tral, Samiullah did his engineering and later pursued higher studies in nanotechnology. Currently a research associate at the UK’s University of Bristol, he is busy with a post-doc that may help manage industrial wastewaters better, reports Mujtaba Hussain

Tral-born Samiullah completed his primary education at the Madrassa Taleemul Islam (MTI) and pursued his secondary education at the Government Higher Secondary School Tral. Later, he joined the Modern Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), affiliated with Jammu University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Despite holding an engineering degree, Sami felt stagnant in his career. Although he aimed to start earning, his mother encouraged him to continue his studies. Following her advice, he enrolled in a Nanotechnology program at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi.

His two-year stint at JMI exposed him to various opportunities within Nano Sciences. “I applied for a PhD programme at National Tsinghua University (NTHU), Taiwan, and for the Chinese Government Scholarship for International Students. I was selected for both but chose to go to Taiwan,” Samiullah said. “There, I worked in the Department of Material Science Engineering for almost ten months on Material Science-specific subjects, especially 2D materials for batteries and super-capacitors.”

Later, Sami learned about the Zutshi Smith Scholarship offered by the University of Bristol in the UK, specifically for Indian and Kashmiri-origin students. He qualified for the IELTS exam while in Taiwan and applied for a doctorate in Functional Nanomaterials at the School of Physics at the University of Bristol. Leaving his Taiwan venture unfinished, he moved to the UK for a PhD in 2018. He now works as a Research Associate in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.

Achievements

While pursuing his Master’s at Jamia Millia, Sami worked on creating and manipulating things at the nano-scale. He spent 18 months as a taught programme learner and six months as a research applicant in a CSIR-affiliated lab in Pilani, Rajasthan.

Discussing his motivation for further research and pursuing a doctoral degree in Functional Nanomaterials, specifically focusing on the Functionalisation of Diamond Surfaces for Thermionic Emission, Samiullah described his early inclination and innate aptitude for the Natural Sciences. “The experience I gained during my master’s degree and the research work on Graphene-based gas sensors at the CSIR-associated lab deepened my interest in exploring new frontiers in Nano Science,” Samiullah said.

Samiullah’s thesis project involved studying Functionalised Diamond Surfaces for energy applications, particularly investigating sustainable and efficient means of terminating a diamond surface to produce low work functions for Thermionic emission. During his PhD, he learned various computational and experimental techniques alongside his core subject.

“The outcome of my PhD research demonstrated that diamonds could be used for thermionic emission-based devices and sustainably terminated using abundant, non-toxic metals,” he explained. “These metals effectively yielded negative electron affinity and lower work functions on the diamond surface in an inexpensive, sustainable manner.”

Guiding Offshore Admissions

Elaborating on how to approach the application process for admissions abroad, Samiullah said the students should seek what interests them and work diligently towards their goals. Studying abroad for a Master’s programme in Europe, the USA, or Australia can be costly, but many scholarships are available. These scholarships are competitive but achievable with a well-thought-out strategy.

“For Doctorate programmes, it is crucial to prepare documents and apply for scholarships during the final semester of the Master’s degree,” he said. “Shortlist professors to work with and email them directly. Candidates applying to UK or US universities should qualify for the IELTS/TOEFL before applying for scholarships. When writing to professors, show enthusiasm and exceptional qualifications so that they may recommend you as a potential candidate.”

Future Plans

“I have not yet achieved much in the field of Nanoscience, and I won’t claim that my research has brought significant change,” Samiullah admitted. “Many are working in this field, trying to create a positive impact. For me, there is still much to learn and accomplish.”

In his current role at the University of Bristol, Sami is learning about sustainable and biogenic ways of making nanoparticles. He is working on synthesising magnetic nanoparticles from industrial wastewaters using bacteria, a cause he finds fulfilling. Sami aspires to enter academia, sharing his knowledge in classrooms to serve society. Pursuing another post-doctorate to deepen his understanding of Nano Science is also on his agenda.

For Kashmiri Students

Samiullah encourages students to strive and struggle, regardless of tough situations or feelings of hopelessness. “Feeling anxious and depressed is natural, but growth always lies outside the comfort zone,” he said. “I used to think only the rich and privileged could afford quality higher education abroad. However, I have seen less privileged people from poor countries studying on fully funded scholarships in high-income countries. Perseverance, dedication, self-belief, and faith in God matter most.”

Sami advises Kashmiri students to explore numerous fully funded scholarships in the USA, UK, Australia, Korea, Japan, and other countries. “Getting out of their comfort zone and using the internet for their best interest is a better strategy that can yield the desired outcome,” he insisted. “Kashmiri students must strive for better opportunities worldwide to make life more convenient for themselves and Kashmir.”

The post Nano Aspirations appeared first on Kashmir Life.

Right decisions at the right time and a consistent effort at improving his profile helped Taha Mughal to study architecture at the best places on earth, writes Hashim Bilal

Taha Mughal, an architect and artist from Srinagar, has achieved remarkable success on an international scale. His journey from Srinagar to reputed global universities, supported by scholarships worth two crore rupees, is a story of dedication, interdisciplinary learning, and the value of mentorship. His educational journey began at Minto Circle and Tyndale Biscoe schools in Srinagar.

After schooling, Taha pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), graduating in 2015. His time at SMVDU was transformative, providing him with technical skills and theoretical knowledge.

Taha’s passion for learning and excellence led him to seek opportunities abroad. He earned an MPhil in Heritage Studies from the University of Cambridge in the UK, which deepened his understanding of architecture’s historical and cultural contexts. The academic environment at Cambridge helped Taha balance his academic pursuits with technical expertise, enhancing his overall approach to architecture.

Harvard and Pennsylvania

After completing his MPhil, Taha chose the University of Pennsylvania in the US for a Master of Science in Design. Reflecting on his educational choices, Taha recognises institutions like Harvard’s prominence and brand value. Despite Harvard’s global reputation, he chose the University of Pennsylvania because the programme offered at Harvard was essentially a continuation of what he had already studied in his MPhil at Cambridge.

“Harvard is a better brand than the University of Pennsylvania, but Harvard offered me a course which was a continuation of what I had already learned in my MPhil at the University of Cambridge,” he explained. This strategic decision allowed Taha to balance his academic journey, ensuring that he gained new knowledge and skills rather than repeating content he was already familiar with. His time at the University of Pennsylvania thus became a crucial step in his overall academic and professional development.

Interdisciplinary Approach

In addition to his work in architecture, Taha is also an artist and writer. He believes that creativity in one field enhances the other. His experience in writing fiction provides him with valuable insights into human behaviour and social dynamics, which he incorporates into his architectural projects. This interdisciplinary approach enriches his work.

“Practicing architecture and writing as a creative content writer has not bothered me at all,” Taha said. “My imagination in writing helps me to implement and create diverse outcomes in architecture. Whatever you learn in one dimension, you can implement in another dimension.”

Educational Systems

Taha contrasts Eastern and Western educational systems based on his experiences. He noted that Western universities offer robust support systems and continuous guidance from mentors, which were crucial for his academic and personal development. In contrast, he observes that Eastern education systems often lack such support.

Based on his experiences at Cambridge and the University of Pennsylvania, Taha found that Western universities view students not just as learners but as individuals with needs and challenges. This approach to education, which includes mental health support and personalised mentoring, was invaluable to him.

Ongoing Research

Currently, Taha is involved in several projects, including architectural documentation funded by the Barakat Trust UK and the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora. Besides, he is translating Kashmiri literature, aiming to make important works accessible to a broader audience and contribute to cultural preservation.

One of Taha’s significant achievements is the translation of the History and Culture of Baderwah, which earned him the Dara Shikoh Scholars Award in 2019. Taha credits his success in gaining admission to prestigious universities and securing scholarships to his strong writing skills and published works. He underlines the importance of writing in building a compelling application and academic profile.

Knowledge Advocacy

Taha’s journey has been influenced by the support and guidance of others. Introduced to scholarship opportunities by a friend, this played a crucial role in his academic path. This experience shaped his views on the importance of sharing knowledge, opportunities, and expertise with others.

“Opportunities unfold when someone decides to share them,” Taha admitted. “It is the only way to move forward.” Through his journey, Taha has experienced the positive impact of shared knowledge and support, and he is committed to paying it forward by helping others access similar opportunities.

Taha believes that sharing knowledge and resources can create a ripple effect, leading to collective progress. His success is a result of this collaborative approach, and he encourages others to adopt a similar mindset. He stresses that individual achievements are often built on the support and encouragement of others, and by sharing opportunities, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community.

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Sana Shah’s journey from Srinagar to a fully-funded PhD at Oxford is a tale of transition from non-medical studies to social science expertise, as detailed by Umaima Reshi

Hailing from Magarmal Bagh, Srinagar, Shah completed her primary and secondary education at Mallinson Girls School in Srinagar, Kashmir. Initially, she pursued medical and mathematics courses in higher secondary school but later realised her true interest lay elsewhere. This led her to shift focus to social sciences in college, despite limited opportunities at the time.

“Choosing humanities was somewhat an unfamiliar thing that came to my mind,” she recalls. “I graduated in social science from Women’s College on M.A. Road in Srinagar, with a focus on political science, history, and economics. Fortunately, I had excellent teachers who supported me throughout my undergraduate studies and encouraged me to pursue a master’s degree at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi.”

“While researching for the entrance exam, I was exposed to a different worldview. The approach to social sciences at JNU was transformative. Until then, we studied social science as a subject, but at JNU, it was presented as life itself. This new perspective changed my outlook and perception of everyday life. The ability to think critically is the major takeaway from the institution.”

Transformative Scholarship

During her master’s in political science at JNU, Shah developed an interest in political philosophy, political theory, and elements of history and literature. “For my MPhil, I explored the limits of liberalism and the challenges liberal countries face in accommodating religious diversity. My PhD then examined how communities interact with each other. Currently, my research focuses on the intersections of history, memory, and identity of communities.”

Sana Shah acknowledges the difficulties students face when applying to study abroad, emphasizing the importance of funding. “I could not have imagined pursuing education at Oxford or in the UK without funding,” she says, noting the value of the Felix Scholarship.”The process was rigorous, involving application screening by the university and subsequent interviews. I also applied to Warwick University, where I received the Chancellor’s Scholarship. My college offered various funding opportunities, but the Felix Scholarship covered the majority of my PhD expenses for three years.”

Additionally, there are funds for travel and conferences. The scholarship has been instrumental, not only in bringing me to Oxford but also in connecting me with other Felix fellows and scholars from diverse backgrounds.”

Educational Access

During her time at JNU, Shah worked with online platforms like Feminism in India, focusing on gender justice issues. “Working as a staff writer allowed me to highlight gender-related issues from my region, Kashmir, for a broader audience. This experience clarified my understanding of these issues. When I applied for education abroad and received the Felix Scholarship, I also joined Project Edu Access.”

This initiative aims to democratize access to education, which is crucial for individuals unfamiliar with the application process, research, scholarships, and proposal writing. Information is often scattered and difficult to access, especially for those less adept at navigating the internet. Edu Access unites these resources, helping to level the playing field for marginalized communities. “I am proud to be part of this effort to make the process transparent and accessible.”

Sana Shah identifies significant challenges in the field of history, particularly in verifying sources and filling gaps where evidence is scarce. “These issues are prevalent in the ancient history of Kashmir, where documentation is limited. Such challenges are common among historians,” she says. “The greatest challenge with history is the idea of how do we ascertain what happened in the past, how do we verify the sources, how do we fill the gaps where we have no material or evidence, and how do we conclude. There are many stop gaps like this found in the ancient history of Kashmir as well.”

Sana advises parents to allow their children to identify their aptitudes early on. “There are many career paths beyond becoming a doctor or engineer. Parents should give their children the freedom to pursue their interests, leading to a joyful and stress-free journey. Following one’s passion makes work feel less burdensome. While the journey may be difficult, the inner satisfaction is invaluable.”

She concluded by emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness. “Living in a bubble might lead to self-righteousness. It is essential to hold up with diverse worldviews, as this can foster humility and personal growth.”

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Kashmiri scholar, Taha Firdous Shah dared to defy conventions and explore the intersections of faith, culture, and identity through religious studies writes Mujtaba Hussain

Taha Firdous Shah’s journey began in Karan Nagar, a Srinagar neighbourhood nestled between the upper town and downtown, just 2km from the bustling Lal Chowk. She wrote her secondary school examination in the medical stream at Mallinson School.

However, a shift in interests led her to pivot towards humanities, specifically liberal arts. This new trajectory took her to Delhi, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and History from Delhi University’s Saint Stephens College. Her academic pursuits then led her to the UK, where she obtained an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from Cambridge University. Now, Taha is pursuing her doctorate in Religious Studies at Emory University in Georgia, USA.

Kashmir to Cambridge

Taha attributes her academic success to early planning and a clear vision. She recalled how her desire to study abroad crystallised during her undergraduate days at Delhi University.

“I started preparing a year and a half in advance, researching potential destinations, courses, and scholarships,” she explained. Her diligence paid off with a coveted spot at Cambridge University, where she secured a full maintenance grant, college accommodation, and partial tuition fee coverage.

Taha’s Master’s in Modern South Asian Studies at Cambridge was a transformative experience. She cherished the opportunity to engage with people from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. “Meeting individuals with different perspectives broadens your understanding of the world,” she observed.

As part of a diverse cohort of 13 students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, Taha explored the complexities of South Asia through various lenses – politics, economics, culture, language, religion, history, and anthropology. This enriching experience expanded her worldview and deepened her understanding of the region.

Religion and Sufism

Taha, a trailblazer in her family, defied convention by opting out of traditional career paths in medicine and engineering. “I was the first to venture into the humanities and liberal arts, a move that raised eyebrows in society,” she recalls. This bold step led her to Delhi, where she discovered her true calling in studying religion and Sufism.

Growing up in Kashmir, Taha witnessed the region’s complex narrative, torn between political and historical perspectives. Yet, she yearned to explore the uncharted territory of sociology, people’s experiences, and religion. Her parents’ outings to Dargahs and Khankas left an indelible mark on her memory. Later, while studying, she realised that these significant places had been overlooked in literature.

This knowledge gap sparked her desire to delve deeper. At Cambridge, Taha pursued a Master’s degree, focusing on the ethnography of women’s experiences in these sacred spaces. Her research revealed how women find solace and peace in these environments. This journey of discovery continues to shape her PhD programme, as she unravels the intricacies of religion and Sufism.

Cambridge to Emory

Taha’s transition to Emory University in the US marked a significant milestone in her academic pursuit of religion and anthropology. “While at Cambridge, I realised I needed a supervisor who aligned with my research goals,” she explains. “The US offered a unique opportunity – two years of coursework before starting my thesis.”

Taha applied to several US universities, securing scholarships from multiple institutions. However, Emory University’s Laney Graduate School offered her a full five-year funding package, supplemented by the prestigious Woodruff Fellowship. This sealed her decision.

“When applying for a specialised programme like a PhD, it’s crucial to find a supervisor with relevant expertise and a university that aligns with your research interests,” she advises.

At Emory, Taha is immersed in coursework, exploring religion, particularly Islam, in a global context. Her research focuses on the historiography of Islam, its trajectory in South Asia, and its significance in Kashmir.

“I’m investigating how Sufis have contributed to peace in Kashmir,” she notes. “My interests lie at the intersection of Islam as a religious study and its engagement with people and cultures, highlighting its role as a propagator of peace.”

Personal Journey

Taha’s academic exploration of religion and Sufism is deeply intertwined with her personal beliefs and spiritual journey. Growing up in Kashmir, she developed a profound attachment to Sufism and Islam, recognising the significant role Sufis played in introducing and propagating Islam in the region. Her childhood experiences at Dargahs, where she observed people’s prayers and interactions, sparked her interest in the subject.

As she delved deeper into her research, Taha discovered the importance of Sufism as a source of spiritual elevation, respite, and consolation, particularly for women. “I wanted to highlight the agency of Islam and Sufism in providing comfort and peace, not just socially and culturally, but also spiritually,” she explains.

However, Taha faced her own set of challenges. She navigates the complexities of biases and competing narratives, striving to remain neutral in her research. “As a scholar, I aim to do justice to my academic inquiry and present an accurate historical stance, while remaining true to my homeland and the academic community,” she says. By doing so, Taha hopes to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing debate among religious scholars and shed light on the lesser-discussed aspects of Kashmir’s history.

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