Fire Under Snowflakes: The Return of Kashmir University

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Fifteen years of turmoil in Kashmir Valley due to the Militancy had creped into every facet of life and Institutions of Kashmir. The University of Kashmir, the only general university for six million Kashmiris was also one of the badly affected victims for a few years. But the deterioration) which started with militancy in the academics and administration continued even when the campus was freed of this The university had literally closed its doors to outside world and a psychological barrier with false threat perceptions was erected in the minds of the government and rest of the country, presumably for convenience. Dr. Farooq Abdullah wanted to save this sinking ship and thought of experimenting with a Vice-Chancellor brought from far south of India, a place called Mysore. This book constitutes the memoirs of that Vice- Chancellor who entered Kashmir as a stranger from the point of his looks, culture, language. background and lifestyle. His journey had challenges such as his acceptance, cooperation funds for development, threats from internal under currents as well as outside forces besides the stupendous task of bringing the university back on rails. It is a narration of the success story as to how, in a of three years, the sinking ship was saved and in fact emerged as an accredited 'A' grade university. ranking among the top few University of the country. It is a story of the skills of a scientist turned administrator who not only became a darling of students and faculty within a short time but was called the Vice-Chancellor of the masses. It narrates the strategies he used to awaken the university from a deep slumber, to extract the best of the existing human resources and rekindle into them the aspirations of high goals and confidence to achieve them The author claims that while he successfully reopened the gates of the university to the world of academics across the country and the world, he feels it has contributed to the opening of Kashmir to common Indian tourists. The book also tells us that this journey was never on a bed of roses and he faced the ugly under currents which were active making unsuccessful attempts to tiger the fire of hatred for an outsider. He faced all opposing forces with valour, upholding the dignity of Vice Chancellor's chair, and opted to leave when he was in the peak of his popularity. The book makes an educating and thought provoking reading to everyone who is interested in Kashmir, its people, their culture, psyche and their aspirations particularly of the youth. It gives an insight into the dynamics of conflict areas. The book is written without inhibitions and attempts to bridge the gaps in understanding kashmiris by rest of the subcontinent.

DR. JALEES AHMED KHAN Tareen has been a professor of Mineralogy at the University of Mysore for over 20 years before accepting the invitation to serve as the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar A well known experimental mineralogist a designer of high pressure equipment for his research, he obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Mysore and Doctor of Science from France. As a researcher, he has published several research papers and books besides bagging national level awards He possesses rich experience of having worked in the Universities at France, Japan, Scotland and in African countries.

With his unprecedented success at the troubled University of Kashmir as Vice Chancellor he has emerged as an exceptionally courageous and a talented administrator, who could not only work in the difficult and challenging situations but also bring the desired results. He is now serving as the CEO of South Asia Foundation, India Chapter, New Delhi.

Fire Under Snowflakes-Return of Kashmir University, are not memoirs of my experience as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kashmir, but a reflection of the psyche of people who have gone through the turmoil of militancy for fifteen long years in the valley. The changing phases of the Pakistan supported freedom movement have been leaving behind the scars differently on the different sections of the society over a period of time. The perception of people about the Tahreek-e-Azadi or the freedom movement also has been changing The University was no exception as the militancy had penetrated into the system forcefully in its early years. The movement soon started to appear in public more as terror. The kidnap and torture of teachers and officers, jobs in the University and admissions to courses at gunpoint were reported during the first few years Even a Vice-Chancellor was abducted and killed. This tyranny was short lived in the University as the educated class and the academia rejected the so-called freedom movement in this form. But when this short duration, it had sufficiently damaged the entire academics, examination system and administrative machinery. The successive Vice-Chancellors spent all their energies to keep the University going. When joined in 2001 a three-year course was dragged to five years. There was dust everywhere you looked at and a total collapse of the system. The convocation of the University was held only once between 1988 and 2001 The worst of all, a psychological barrier had fortified the campus from the government and the common man. The then Chief Minister. Dr Farooq Abdullah who was also the pro- chancellor had not entered the University for 20 years and the Chancellor, Mr. Girish Chandra Saxena had not seen the University A monster in the campus was projected where there was none. This perception suited a few teachers and other employees as it was getting them paid holidays. A large number of them were silent sufferers and were helpless. Students suffered silently No one raised his or her voice against the system. Complacency at every front had shattered the system. On the other hand, you could see a hand full of teachers dictating terms, arm-twisting the Vice-Chancellor and holding the entire system at ransom to their gains.

**Contents and Sample Pages**