By Mool Raj –
I am not a think tank but simply a person who would like to express my opinion and thoughts on the opening of schools in Jammu and Kashmir through the medium of your esteemed English daily newspaper for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and for my student community in particular. I hope space is given to my thoughts in the newspaper.
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘳, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯, 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭!!
As the weather looks unprecedented and the temperature feels apparent, vacations are coming near to an end, and we are embracing the new academic year with a lot of flexibility due to the introduction of NEP 2020. Children throng the markets procuring new garments, school bags, and other essentials. Countless happiness and joy are depicted on the innocent faces of children and parents to commence the new academic session with a lot of hope and expectations.
Children clad in school uniforms and their giggling offer a poignant experience. Some may be preparing for pre-board examinations at their cozy places; others may be joining NEET, IIT, JEE, and other examinations with pre-determined goals. The scenario looks quite amazing in Jammu and Kashmir as and when the vacations come to an end. The bustling markets with school buses, scooties, bicycles, etc., reflect a pleasurable experience all around.
School Chale Hum term was pioneered by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the early 2000s. This song became a regular feature on both radio and television sets. Later, it became a TV ad campaign:
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘯𝘢, 𝘉𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘎𝘩𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘙𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘻𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘫𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘚𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘫 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮
𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮.
This melodious tune made us joyous and gave a delightful sense of euphoria.
Back-to-school time testifies to the charm and overwhelming joy on the cute faces of children. Students feel excited to meet their friends and teachers on the first day of school. It is quite evident that parents themselves can be nervous about the first day of school, especially if they are seeing their little one off for the first time or if their child is going to a new school. Back to school after a gap of three months presents a unique and charming scenario for every school-going child. As I recall my school days, we used to keep everything ready before school opened; we felt charmed, joyous, contented, and above all excited about the beginning of the new year. Another thing that still echoes in our minds is waiting at a particular point and marching in groups before entering the school ground.
As schools are going to open for children on February 23, 2026, for 9th to 12th classes and from 1st to 8th classes on March 1, 2026, a calendar of activities has already been formulated by the state government, like welcome day celebrations, clean and green campus drives, conduct of enrollment drives, setting up of the academic calendar, etc. As the new academic session is introduced, the initial days of schooling are gearing up for the summative assessment of different classes.
Undoubtedly, the prime responsibility and onus are on the teachers to keep the school and its surroundings in a good-looking atmosphere to captivate the students and give them a home-like situation. Distribution of candies and chocolates should be held in schools on the first day for new learners. This can trigger a boost in increasing enrollment in government schools at the foundational stage. There is further responsibility upon the teachers to guide the students and parents about the benefits of the new academic session; ambiguity must be eliminated among them. If we focus on the future with zeal and zest, nothing can stop us from excelling in our future endeavors.
To sum up, the first day of school is a sheer delight for all of us to begin with fortitude, hard work, persistence, and sincerity. It is a great day to take a pledge to work sincerely. The profession of teaching is not only prophetic but also most respectable as well.
All the best to new beginners and the teaching fraternity.
(Mool Raj is a columnist and a freelance writer)
