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Revival Of VIDYA BHAVAN BATYAR Srinagar, Kashmir || By V.K. Wattal || LIVE IMAGE |
Kashmir Is On The Cusp Of New History. True Kashmiris Are Coming Out Together To Revive And Reclaim Its History, Heritage And Culture. In More Recent Years There Has Been A Concerted Effort To Rescue Some Iconic Institutions Of Common Heritage From Decades Old Neglect And Apathy.
A
case of this good example is the revival of VIDYA BHAVAN, BATYAR, Nawakadal
5th Bridge Srinagar The two storie building owned by the ALAK SAHIBA
TRUST , overlooking the River JEHLUM , is abode of Loed Shiva on one
side and Mata ROOP BHAWANI , the 13th, century saint who was born in this
area , on the other side. The credit for its gracious revival goes to Mr. Yasin
Zargar of INDUS DISCOVERIES , London. Now that the school is
back on its rails admitting only girls it might hence be worthwhile to recall a
brief history of the school and a brief about its founders.
Shri. DINA NATH KAUL ( D N KAUL), was born in
Batyar Srinagar. He started his career in the PWD department of J&K
State. A born social activist he resigned the job and pursued his passion of
SOCIAL SERVICE till his end. Ahead of times he broke the shackles of
conservative Kashiri Pandit society and joined the ARYA SAMAJ, which was
and is the modern conception of HINDUISM. A dyed in wool Arya Samaji and a
strict vegetarian he had very friendly relations CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES in Srinagar and
Baramulla. He had served in Christian Hospital in Dalgate for several years. He
had been entrusted with teaching KASHMIRI language to BRITISH Doctors who were
managing the hospital. He was the votary of WIDOW REMARRIAGES which was frowned
upon by the conservative society. He arranged the first Widow marriage (after
attending the marriage while returning home he was beaten black and blue by his
neighbours). He broke the convention of sending his only daughter to
the school in Shilwar and Frock instead of PHERAN.He would take
her to Arya Samaj (located in S R GUNJ, Srinagar) regularly on
SUNDAYS when HAVAN was conducted by the SAMAJ. It might be interesting to the
readers that Kaul Sahab was the only Kashmiri Pandit of the Samaj. The
conservative Kashmiri Pandit Society had total dislike for Arya Samaj . The
community was sure that Kaul Sahab would marry his daughter to a Non
Kashmiri.
He joined the Khadi Bhandar and became the head of the manufacturing
and administration in the valley.Khadi Bhandar had two huge manufacturing
units of woollen products — one located at Shahid Gunj
in Srinagar city and the other at PAMPORE engaging hundreds of
workers. This was followed by his joining the ASHRAM OF MAHATMA GANDHI at
SEVAGRAM. He is the only Kashmiri to have joined SEVAGRAM ASHRAM. During
this period he became friendly with head of the Christian Missionary Mr.
Moore.It was during this period he came into contact with SUSHILA DESHMUKH , a
teacher in a NAGPUR famous convent and married her after he had lost his first wife.
After the partition he was asked by Mridula Sarabhai, to look after the homes
for widows who had come from across the border after the 1947, raid.He served
at various camps in J&K( NIshatSrinagar, Delina , Baramulla and Kalakot at
Jammu) .
During their posting at DELINA , Baramulla, Mrs. Kaul took to teaching
the girls of boatmen staying in barges on River Jhelum As a social
work.. At this stage Sh. Kaul was nearing his retirement. Both of them started
toying with the idea of starting a Co -educational school once they
are back in Srinagar.They shared this conception with their close friends
who unanimously dismissed it not workable. All of them said the idea was
not sustainable because already the state Government was offering FREE
education till post graduation.But their advice did not deter him from the
concept. A Governing committee was constituted . Sh. N L WATTAL, the veteran
Journalist, as Chairman, Dr.P N Kaul, a bureaucrat , Sh. L N.Tikoo , a
businessman , and Sh. J N Kaul as members.
BIRTH OF VIDYA BHAVAN BATYAR
It was 1958
when VIDYA BHAVAN BATYAR was born.The school was
housed in one of the two houses owned by KAULS. A co -educational ENGLISH and
HINDI medium school charging Rs. 5.00 as fees. During its first
academic year it had only 3 students who were children of their close friend.
Mrs Kaul ( later known as BADI BEHEN JI in the whole area ) took to teaching
while the administrative job was looked after by Sh. Kaul ( Later on to be
known as PANDIT JI , in the whole area).Their friends and well wishers were
watching all this with bated breaths. The interest, sincerity and transparency
with which BADI BEHEN JI was imparting education spread like wildfire.The
admissions started pouring in like flooded waters . With the passage of time both
the houses were involved with the expansion. with more than a dozen staff it
needed to be shifted . The school hired the building of ALAK SAHIBA
TRUST adjoining the Lord Shiva temple. FRom 6th to 10th class were housed in
this building with more than 20 trained teachers in addition to more than
15 teachers looking after the Primary department. on its staff.
The school was recognised by the education department upto 10th.
class. It might interest the readers that when Badi Behan Ji would walk from
her home to the High school people on both sides of the road
would stop speaking and stand in respect to her.
Hundreds of students both boys and girls
passed out from the school and after getting higher academic
and professional degrees have spread in various parts of the country and
abroad.
This situation continued till 1990, when the
community left their homes and hearths in the face of terrorism. After the
death of Shri. Kaul in 1985 , Badi Behan Ji continued to run the school.
We had to leave the valley after my late father was warned by the terrorist
organisation to leave the valley after his live interview with BBC , when he
condemned the kidnapping of Mufti’s daughter and appealed for the restoration
of brotherhood and social fabric. We tried to persuade BADI BEHAN JI to
move but she declined, having given sweat and blood to the institution. Because
of lack of communication those days and having to look for our survival we lost
the connection.
Telling you frankly we had totally stopped to
think about it . It was last year when Sh. Parimoo and Sh. S N Pandita had been
invited as guest speakers at some seminar, it was Yasin Zargar one of the
participants who took them to the school. In fact they never
knew the school was founded by my grandparents. It was a
pleasant surprise for our family that the present management has maintained the
name of VIDYA BHAVAN. My wife also became emotional bcz she had
served the school for a decade in the present building.
We are not concerned about how the present
management got control of the school but it is a great source of
satisfaction that they have retained the name of VIDYA BHAVAN.
We are grateful to the management, to
Sh. Parimoo and Sh. Pandita who both have discovered it for us. Recently
we have come to know that the school and the building has been
declared as the HERITAGE BUILDING .
V.K. WATTAL
(Feedback at: vkwattal1234@gmail.com )
The writer is NCR/UP based and a regular contributor to this Website.
