Srinagar, Sep 13 : In a remarkable effort to provide quality education in a secular environment, a native of Lucknow, supported by many, has successfully reopened the Arya Samaj School in the Saraf Kadal locality of old Srinagar, after a hiatus of over three decades.
Embarking on a mission to offer quality education to the children of the area, the school’s principal, Sameena, along with Arya Samaj Trust Chairman Arun Chowdhary, turned their dream into reality by reopening the school premises that had been closed for 33 years.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Sameena acknowledged the challenges of working with these children and the local community. She praised the support of the local residents and Arun Chaudhary in this endeavor.
Today, the school premises resonate with the laughter and voices of children, bringing much-awaited relief to the locals and the dedicated duo.
“We have undertaken a mission to provide quality education to all children in a secular and safe environment. Before the 1990s, Arya Samaj School was functioning normally here, and in fact, most of the schools operated under the aegis of Arya Samaj Trust. Almost all the schools were forced to close down in the early 1990s due to the turmoil in the valley. However, the DAVP School Rainawari and DAV School Jawaharnagar continued to operate normally all these years,” Sameena explained.
“Earlier, residents were hesitant about sending their children to this school. However, they later extended their full support to our efforts,” she said, emphasizing the crucial role of local backing.
Sameena revealed that this school had been vandalized since the early 1990s but had previously been one of the prominent registered institutions. She acknowledged that the reopening was only possible with the unwavering support of the local community. The people in the area were eager for the school to reopen so that their children wouldn’t be compelled to travel long distances for education.
“The school management took the initiative to get the school reopened. I met Arun Chaudhury in March this year, and since then, we have been working tirelessly to achieve this goal,” Sameena said.
She noted that regular classes resumed on April 10 this year, offering a sigh of relief to local parents who had few options for their children’s education.
“This school caters to children in the locality, including underprivileged kids who could not attend schools located far away. With the reopening of this school, children can now access education with ease and comfort,” said a local resident.
Sameena highlighted that they had also registered ninth and tenth-grade students in DAVP School Rainawari, all of which operate under the state board. Their primary focus is on instilling positivity and fostering personality development through extracurricular activities.
“I aspire for this school to reach new heights and match the level of education imparted in schools in Delhi,” Sameena expressed her vision.
“We have successfully restarted curricular activities under the guidance of Arun Chaudhury. I appreciate the dedication he has shown in revitalizing this school and nurturing the dreams of these children,” she added.
Presently, the school has 35 enrolled students, but there is optimism that the enrollment will increase in the days to come.
