For Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, a resident of Chanderhama Pattan village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the government job letter he received on Wednesday was not just a document, it was a long-awaited recognition of a life marked by tragedy, survival, and perseverance.
35 year old, Khurshid was one of the 158 next of kin (NoKs) of terror victims who were handed appointment letters by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, under a special employment package for families affected by terrorism.
He was just six years old when unknown terrorists killed his father Ghulam Rasool Ganie, in 1996. He was village lumberdar ( Village Head).
Five years later, in 2001, his uncle too fell to terrorist bullets. The dual tragedies pushed the family into a deep crisis, emotional and financial.
“Those were the darkest years of our lives. I was too young to fully understand the loss, but I remember the fear, the silence, and the struggles we endured as a family,” Khurshid said.
Growing up in the absence of a father, Ganai and his three siblings had to fight for every opportunity. Only one among them was married at the time of the tragedy, and the rest of the family struggled for stability for years.
Despite the odds, he completed his Master’s degree and B.Ed., and stepped up to support the family, refusing to let circumstances define their fate.
After more than two decades of waiting, Khurshid was appointed to a government position in the Roads and Buildings (R&D) Department, a post he says brings not just relief but also dignity.
“This job is not just a livelihood, it’s a recognition of my father’s sacrifice and our family’s suffering,” he said with emotion.
Expressing deep gratitude to LG Manoj Sinha, Khurshid said for more than 30 years, we were voiceless. No one came forward to acknowledge our pain. But today, thanks to LG sahib, our silence has been heard. Our pain has been recognised,” he said.
35 year old Khurshid also acknowledged that this initiative wasn’t just for him alone. “This is not just about me,” he said.
“LG sahib gave hope to hundreds of other families like mine, families that were shattered by terrorism and forgotten for decades. His efforts have restored faith, not only in the system but also in justice.”
Khurshid added that there are many more like him who are still in pain.
“I hope the government continues this mission. It gives people like us not just support, but a reason to believe that our sacrifices were not in vain,” he said.
The government’s move to provide jobs to the families of civilian terror victims has been widely welcomed across Jammu and Kashmir. Many see it as an important step toward healing long-standing wounds in the conflict-affected region.
“For years, families like Khurshid’s suffered in silence. This step by the administration sends a powerful message that the government has not forgotten them,” said Farooq Ahmad, an elder from Chanderhama village in Baramulla.
