Srinagar: After the Centre decided to ban Jama’at-e-Islamia (JeI) in J&K for allegedly supporting militancy, concerns are growing in Kashmir about the future of thousands of students studying in the schools run by a trust affiliated with the organisation.
There are fears that the government may shut down these schools run by the non-political and non-profit Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). The trigger for the panic came from north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Friday, when a tehsildar sealed a school in Ajas village of the district.
While authorities later unsealed the school following an intervention by locals, the incident, for many in Kashmir, brought back memories of the emergency days in 1975 and 1990 when, after banning the Jama’at, the government closed down all schools run by it.
‘The situation is scary’
What has lent credence to fresh fears were orders issued by district commissioners in Kashmir seeking detailed lists of properties owned by JeI, also called Jama’at, including its offices and education institutions, in their respective jurisdiction. Many see these orders as the first steps towards the clampdown.
There are around 375 schools affiliated with the Trust, which provides education to more than 75,000 students including orphans. Apart from primary and middle schools, FAT runs high schools and higher secondary schools as well. Around 10,000 teachers work in these schools, apart from a large number of non-teaching staff.
A senior official told The Wire there were directions from the government for compiling a detailed list of all kinds of properties, movable and immovable, owned by the Jama’at.
Also read: Centre Bans Jama’at-e-Islamia J&K for Five Years – A Brief History
“We have to even provide locations of these properties,” he said.
Most of the top leaders of the Jama’at, including its Ameer (head) continue to be under detention after J&K police carried out overnight raids on their residences on February 22. Since then, the police crackdown has continued, and according to Jama’at, over 300 of its leaders and members have been arrested, following a suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy in Lethpora.
Amid these ongoing arrests, described by police as “preventive detentions,” the ministry of home affairs issued a notification on February 28, declaring Jama’at an “unlawful association” and banning it for five years.
A senior Jama’at member, who wished not to be named, described the prevailing situation as “scary”. “We are concerned about the future of thousands of students studying in these schools. They are our future and we expect the government will act judiciously,” he said.
Over the years, these schools have excelled and have given stiff competition to even some reputed schools in the state. During the recently announced class 10 results, at least 110 students from FAT-run schools shared the first top-20 positions in the region.
“Our focus has always been to impart quality education. We have nothing to do with Kashmir politics,” said a teacher of a school from Shopian.
‘Government won’t act in hasty manner’
A member of the trust said, that since Friday, many teachers have received calls from anxious students and their parents inquiring about “all sorts of rumours” circulating about the fate of the schools. “It is not only a question about future of thousands of students, but teachers as well,” the member said.
After the winter break, schools in Kashmir valley are set to open on March 11. But, now, there is uncertainty about fate of these schools.
Khursheed Ganai, advisor to the governor, said the government won’t take any decision in a “hasty manner,” but added that authorities will “ascertain” whether these schools have any link with Jama’at.
“I’m not saying that no action will be taken, but it is for district authorities to proceed under law,” Ganai, who is in charge of the education department, responded to a question.
He said the district magistrates can take help from J&K police’s CID wing and education department to ascertain whether these schools have some sort of connection with Jama’at.
“The schools don’t run under name of Jama’at-I-Islamia; they have different names. It is only when it is established that a particular school is linked to Jama’at-i-Islamia or funded or run by it, that action will be taken by district authorities as per the law,” said Ganai, who is one of the four advisors to the governor.
A senior police official feared that closing down the schools could “boomerang.” “We don’t know what is going to happen. All decisions, it seems are taken directly by the Centre and the governor’s administration and J&K police have been left to ensure implementation,” the official said.
‘We’ve no ‘direct relation’ with Jama’at’
While the chairman of FAT, Muhammad Maqbool, confirmed to a local news agency that authorities had sent notices to some of their schools, he insisted they have no “direct” relation with Jama’at.
“We are confined to providing education. Jama’at is a political organisation and those who have some kind of grudge against it should deal with them politically,” he said.
The Trust is also considering knocking on the doors of the judiciary for directions to state authorities to allow schools to functions smoothly. “Our schools are recognised by the government, and even our curriculum is approved by state authorities,” said Bhat.
‘Move will prove detrimental; hit poor students’
For the past two days, political parties have repeatedly cautioned the government against any action against these schools.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, whose party – National Conference – shares a hostile relation with Jama’at, said the decision to ban the group will prove detrimental for state’s educations sector.
“JeI is one of the socio-political organisations that have been contributing much towards the education sector in Kashmir… as per my knowledge, over one lakh students are currently studying in these (JeI) schools. I am of the resolve that the move will prove detrimental to the career of such students,” Omar said.
Another former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, warned the authorities against targeting the Jama’at-run schools, which she said, were producing meritorious students and providing education to poor students.
“Why are you [the government] targeting these schools? Where will these students go? They [the government] are playing with our future,” she said.
Also read: Valley Reels as Scores of Jama’at-e-Islamia Members Arrested in Overnight Crackdown
Past bans & impact on the schools
When the Jama’at was banned for the first time in 1975 by the Sheikh Abdullah-led government, the organisation had set up close to 120 schools across the valley, said another of its member.
That time, he said, the schools were run by Darsagh-I-Islamia – a Jama’at affiliate. The ban lasted for two years. “I remember that initially concerns were expressed by other schools to even give admission to the students who were studying in these [Jama’at] schools,” recalled the member.
Soon after the ban was lifted, the Darasgah was rechristened as ‘Shobaia-e-Taleem’. In 1988, two years before the Jama’at was banned for a second time, the responsibility of the schools was handed over to FAT, which was, till then, looking after the group’s publication and social services wings.
The number of schools had risen to around 220 by then. Since the ban lasted for five years, the teachers employed by these schools were later absorbed into government-run schools.
“The ban hit our expansion plans in the education sector badly, and the trust had to start from scratch again,” said the member.
He said that since 1997, when the Jama’at distanced itself from militancy following the killing of hundreds of its members and activists by counter-insurgent force Ikhwan, the organisations has shifted its focus entirely on education, welfare activities and relief, adding the group even expelled Syed Ali Shah Geelani, senior separatist leader (then Jama’at member) for advocating armed struggle.
“Today, with government of India seeming to have made up its mind to crush every Kashmiri, the situation again looks grim… let’s hope and pray that students are not made to suffer,” said the member.
