By Asma Khaki
Teachers are one of the most important members of the society and the practitioners of a noble profession whose goal is to impart education through wisdom, ability and dedication. They nurture and nourish young minds to realize their unique potential and thus contribute to the growth and development of entire society in all aspects of life.
“Teaching is a noble profession and a good soul is the result of a best teacher. Though I am still a student and finding my name in teachers rather best teachers is the result of good thinking of my community in which I seek knowledge and teach children. Sense of ownership of school assets, security of students in the present situations and involvement of community are the main components of education to make the school environment result oriented”
These were the words of a visionary social worker, my teacher and mentor, who taught me from his core of heart, active mind and creativity which I feel after reaching adolescence age. He is one among the 295 general line teachers, teaching in Govt. run schools throughout INDIA and one among four selected best teachers from Jammu & Kashmir who were awarded the National Award to Teachers 2016 on 5th of September 2017, the Teachers Day, at Prestigious Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi by the Honorable Vice President of India, Shri Venkayah Naidu at a grand function organized by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. The Honorable Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr Prekash Javdekar along with both Ministers of State HRD and other top officials of MHRD were present on the occasion. The programme was live telecasted by DOORDARSHAN from the Vigyan Bhawan on the said date. The Honorable President of India, Mr. Kovind Ram also invited the best teachers cum awardees to Rashterpati Bhawan on HOT TEA in Ashoka Hall on the same day. The award consists of a Medal, Certificate and Cash Prize besides other benefits for life time.
Belonging to a middle class family of Mohalla Mohammad Shah, in a remote village of South Kashmir District of Shopian, Hardoo Handew, Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani was born on 13th February 1965 as per school record. His father Late Khaki Nazir Ahmad Wani and mother Hafeeza Banoo have had a tough period to make their both ends meet but they did and took their children to school and got them qualified up to university level. Their only daughter and the younger sister of Awardee Teacher, Towheeda Kaunsar, now a teacher, was the first ever matriculate girl from the village, which shows that the great parents have had great thinking and shining futuristic approach. Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani and his elder brother Mr.Fayaz Ahmad Wani are the first ever post graduates of the village and both are serving the community in education sector. It is here to mention that Mr. Fayaz Ahmad Wani had been already awarded Best Teacher Award at District Level by the J&K Government at a function held in Jammu some years back.
Mr.Reyaz Ahmad Wani had his early schooling from Govt. Central School Hardoo Handew (now a Middle school) upto 6th and joined Govt.High School Barbug Imamsahib (Now a Higher Secondary school and the present place of posting of the Awardee Teacher) in class 7th. After passing matriculation examination, he joined the Government Higher Secondary School Shopian, the only HSS in erstwhile Tehsil Shopian and done his graduation from Government Degree College Khanabal Anantnag. Due to the political turmoil in 1986-87, the examinations and results were late, and Mr. Reyaz got admission in Government Industrial Training Institute Shopian and qualified Diploma in Stenography with good merit. In 1989, he did his Post graduation in Urdu from University of Kashmir. He had done Office Secretarial ship Certificate course from the same university while he was working stenographer to Late G. R. Renzu (Retd. Home Commissioner), the then Managing Director of Khidmat Trust Jammu and Kashmir. In 1998, he has done his B.Ed from University of Kashmir as well.
During the period of stay in the state capital, Srinagar, from 1988 to June 1990, he was associated with a number of newspapers like, weekly Chattan with Tahir Mohidin, Srinagar Times with G. M. Sofi, Aftab with Sanaullah Bhat, Muslim with Sofi Ahmadullah, Afaaq with Gh.Jeelani & Morifat Qadiri and Qaumi Awaz with Mohan Charagi, Khidmat with Nand Lal Watal and Nawai Subuh with Sheikh Nazir Ahmad. At the same time, he had worked as Sub-Editor, Reporter, Calligrapher, Desk Editor and even Plate maker in the Press and Printing houses. Being the son of a poet, Late KHAKI NAZIR AHMAD WANI (1940-2012), he is known as REYAZ KHAKI and is writing with this name. He has written a number of poems and articles on social and cultural issues, women empowerment and flora and fauna of Kashmir.
Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani was appointed as teacher by J&K SSRB Srinagar in early 1990 when the selection list was of abour 424 teachers was taken with held by the then Governor and Ruler Mr.Jag Mohan and was implemented by his successor Mr. G. C. Saxena. He joined the department on 06/07/1990 and was posted as Teacher at Govt Middle School Manihal Zone Imamsahib. The said school was understaffed and no physical infrastructure was available. The teacher made excellent efforts and involved the community which in result helped the school and the roll as well as the accommodation was raised to some extent. The open fields became the natural classrooms, and the flora and fauna turned into library and laboratory of the teacher. The annual results and practical student performance was commendable. Keeping in view his extra ordinary performance in school environment and active participation in teacher trainings, he was engaged as Teacher educator In DIET Shopian during winter vacations. Here his overall performance remained quite excellent and was deputed to reputed training institutions of INDIA like NCERT New Delhi , NIE Ajmeer, SIE Srinagar , CCRT New Delhi etc. During his 27 years of shining service, he has around four hundred trainings in his account. A number of NGOs including CHINAR International has also got his services officially for the upliftment of education in J&K.
After serving the remote rural area for eight years of turmoil period, the Awardee teacher was transferred to another farthest, remotest and non-accessible high school at village Munadguffan now in District Kulgam. The school was also a mixed one, imparting education in three small rented rooms. The building less school was over whelmed by a huge student enrolment from every nook and corner of the area. The people were once again involved here and a suitable land was allotted to school where nowadays there is a big building of HSS Munadguffan. The innovative and experimental education in natural climate, using no cost natural teaching learning material and involving the community with zeal and zest by the teacher, made him eligible for a Certificate of Merit which was awarded him by the then worthy Director School Education Kashmir in 1999.
The teacher was a known orator now, and his services were needed at DIET Shopian and he was transferred to that esteemed institution. Being a trained Key Resource Person in all segments and components of Education, he has rendered a good and commendable service in DIET Shopian and the then Principal of the said institution has given him an Appreciation Certificate in this behalf.
Keeping his extra ordinary social service and educational background, he was deputed as Khadimul Hujjaj where he served the kashmiri piligrims a lot and here also was accorded an Appreciation Certificate by Indian Haj Mission Makkah.
He has attended a number of trainings in Indian Culture and Heritage and SUPW at New Delhi, Shilong (Meghlaya) and Hyderabad (AP) organized by CCRT New Delhi. He has also attended a long training course on Womens’ Education Development and Empowerment at NCERT New Delhi, KRP Course for Urdu teachers at RIE Ajmeer and SUPW course at Hyderabad and a number of trainings at SIE Stinagar and DIET Shopian. He has rendered an excellent service in Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan from Zonal Level to District Level also. The Gender Component in the District is known to every one in every school as the art of community participation by the teacher is remarkable. In 2005, he was promoted as Master and posted at HSS Yourbaltak. From here he was transferred to BHSS Kargil and his services were also utilized by District administration in Government Degree College Kargil at the same time. Keeping in view his the extra ordinary service to student community at Kargil, the then head of the Institution and Chief Education Officer Kargil have also applauded his work in writing.
After serving the hilly Kargil, Mr. Reyaz was transferred and once again posted to another hill station in Shopian , Govt. High School Karewa Manloo, now Shaadab Karewa.
His services were applauded and as such he was assigned the duties to serve as Warden in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Shopian. Once again he by his nature, took it as a mission and the KGBV Shopian became the known model boarding & lodging school in the district in a short span of time. He also managed to get a suitable land measuring 20 kanals and five marlas transferred from State Land to Education Department for construction of KGBV Shopian vide Govt.Order No: 32 of 2013 Dated: 30/01/2013 communicated vide No: Rev/S/377/2012 Dt: 30-01-2013 which was impossible due to prevailing situation. The Kasturba Ghandi Balika Vidhyalaya Shopian became the symbol in J&K due to his efforts while making it a successful boarding school for girls during his two and a half years tenure
Keeping in view the overall performance during his near about 27 years service carrier, Mr.Reyaz has an excellent record of teaching learning performance. By using talented techniques, the overall results and all-round development of the students and schools he attended, are satisfactory in his entire service period. The success stories and appreciation certificates issued by his officers has made him famous in the entire area and is known as a visionary man with a missionary calibre. It is an accepted fact that he has a visionary view towards the community and has made a mission to serve where ever his services are needed for the welfare of common people especially downtrodden and weaker sections of rural areas. He is an asset in the department and needs to be preserved and utilised in future also.
The education setup has found him an energetic, young, dedicated, unpretentious, friendly, straight forward and punctual subordinate and an asset to Education Department as well as the society. So was he selected and awarded by the prestigious award at National Level. Presently the teacher is posted at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Bargbug Imamsahib and his contribution in this school is also applauded.
(The author Asma Khaki is a student in Department of Comparative Religion, at Central University of Kashmir Srinagar and the daughter of the Awardee Teacher)
