Dr. Syeda Hameed, Sr. Vice Chairperson SAF-India and Member, Planning Commission of India visited UMIKS

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News Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India - 27th September 2013

Dr. Syeda Hameed, Sr. Vice Chairperson, SAF-India and Member, Planning Commission of India visited UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies.

 Dr. Syeda Hameed, Sr. Vice Chairperson, SAF-India attending meeting at UMIKS
Dr. Syeda Hameed, Sr. Vice Chairperson, SAF-India attending meeting at UMIKS

Dr. Sayeda Hameed intrecting with UMIKS Director and Students
Right to left: Dr. Syeda Hameed, Prof Gull Wani, Director, UMIKS and Students


Meeting attended by Dr Syeda Hameed
Meeting attended by Dr Syeda Hameed

Report by Dr. Syeda Hameed

I visited UMIKS on the 27th of September 2013. The institution is located at Nasim Bagh portion of Kashmir University campus.  It is a forest area, therefore any kind of concrete construction is not permitted. Such restriction permits only a certain development and is an impediment for conventional expansion.

Prof. Gul Wani, Director of the Institute, described to me the syllabus of the Post-Graduate programme which included courses on Kashmir and South Asian Studies, Gender and Society in South Asia, State and Society in South Asia, Political Economy in South Asia, Economy of Jammu and Kashmir, R(I)eshi Movement in Kashmir etc.

Thereafter, I had a brief but compelling interaction with some research scholars from different places; Husain Yaqubi from Afghanistan, Chinj Cha Thowin Narma from Chittagong Hill Tracts and Khan Tauseef Olsman from Chittagong (both studying in Dhaka University), Sanjeevi from Colombo, Samir Ahmed from Kashmir, Raja Nazakat Ali, Shabbir Ahmed from Srinagar, Bilal Ahmed from Bijbehara, Qaisar from Hazrat Bal, Fayyaz Hashmi, Dr. Mohd. Shaban from Awantipura, Humaira Shaukhat, Shabnam and Ishrat from Kupwara, Nadia from Lahore, Kashmir and Sakina. They were writing on topics such as Reform Movement in India and Sri-Lanka, India-Pakistan Trade, Changing Profile of Food Crops in Kashmir, Medieval History of Kashmir, Tales of Maulana Rumi, Kashmir Language and Literature, Caste Structures among Muslims in Kashmir, and many other fascinating themes.

 Some problems were identified by the students:

  1. There is no accommodation for Foreign Students because of which many of them are unable to apply to the programme.
  2. The University has identified a space adjacent to the Research College which can be used for constructing a student hostel. They promised Rs. 50 Lakh and SAF has been requested to sign a cost sharing agreement with Kashmir University.
  3. The problem of getting visas for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh is another pressing issue highlighted in the meeting.
  4. The present building does not have sufficient classrooms and the library space is inadequate.