Opinion | My First visit to Kashmir University on a Subject tour (Islamic studies)

EMBARKING ON A VISIT TO UNIVERSITY IS NOT JUST A JOURNEY THROUGH CAMPUS, IT’S A STEP TOWARDS UNCLOKING THE DOORS OF KNOWLEDGE, OPPORTUNITY AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

29th November 2023 (Wednesday) was the day when I got the first opportunity to visit University of Kashmir (KU) Srinagar on a subject tour. A visit to any place can be an amazing adventure as wherever you go it becomes a part of your life; but this tour nourished me: the aura of KU campus; the companionship of our beloved teachers, Dr. Tauseef Ahamd Parray (Assistant Professor, Islamic Studies), Dr. Rafia Wali (our Urdu teacher) and other staff members (Mr. Basharat Bashir, Mr. Aamir Suhail Khan and Mr. Aamir Sohail); and my colleagues/ classmates nourished and cherished my soul.
KU is a place where you will love to be lost. In this garden of knowledge, we first visited Markaz-i-Noor (SACMS) a centre dedicated to the exploration of the life, works, thought and teachings of Sheikh ul Aalam and other sufi saints. Here we were anazed to see a bunch of sufi manuscripts. We also interacted with Prof. ADIL AMIN KAK (Chairman, SACMS), who gave us a warm welcome and were briefed about the vision, mission and activities of the Centre by Dr. MUHAMMAD ILHAM. This was very fruitful for all the students. We also were gifted with copies of their annual journal, ALAMDAR, and a book was given to our teacher, Dr.TAUSEEF AHMAD, as a token of honour and love from SACMS.
We visited ALLAMA IQBAL LIBRARY (AIL) and it’s MUSEUM.a A cosmos of books stunned me. AIL is a well enriched library, with approximately seven (7) lakh books on different subjects/ disciplines. We witnessed the murmuring of words from all corners; readers reading their favourites in different sections of the library. Few were engrossed in preparing for competitive exams and many others could be seen in the browsing centre. It was blessed to have a look over the heritage of Kashmir in its museum embossed with kashmiri kani shawls, traditional jewellery, rare artifacts, all preseved in well manner.
Thereafter, we visited Shah-i-Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies (SHIIS) in the picturesque Naseem Bagh, where we were welcomed warmly by its HoD, Prof. SALAH-UD-DIN TAK, and his staff. As this was a tour of Islamic Studies subject, this place was meant for us. SHIIS library is elevated and enriched with books of the Quran and Hadith, legal thought, spirituality, modern issues, area studies, Islamic history and other areas of Islamic Studies. This library has a separate section on the MPhil and PhD thesis awarded by SHIIS over the last about few decades and has mBy manuscripts as well.Here we also had very good and fruitful interactions with the professors of the department, who briefed us about its history, achievements and legacy, the coursesand prgrams offered and future prospects for the students.
We also visited Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), where we were well hosted, served with tea and snacks and were showered with love and appreciation by different professers. A vast light was thrown over courses and programs like PG programs and Diploma and Certificate courses offered by DDE. Here we were happy to see and interact with Dr. SYED ISHFAQ, who hails from Sogam, Lolab. Thereafter we had lunch and the Dal scenes added relish to our food.
We are really grateful to our principal sir, Prof. (Dr) Shami Ahmd Dar, and other faculty members, especially our beloved teacher Dr. Tauseef Ahmad, for providing us such bounteous and generative opportunity. We also thankful to Mr Firdous Ahmad (driver) who picked and dropped us at our respective homes in early morning and late in evening and to all the staff members who accompanied us and ensured our safety.
This tour was profoundly beneficial for us. The aura we created with our professers is everlasting and eternal. The praise and respect shown to our own professors on every corner of the university motivated us to achieve the path and learned how to struggle for it. Indeed, we loved and enjoyed every moment spent in this graden of knowledge. It is rightly said: “I TRAVEL BECAUSE THE BEST EDUCATION IS ONE YOU EXPERIENCE”.
Azimah Aijaz is a 1st Semester student of Islamic Studies (Major) at Govt. Degree College Sogam (Lolab), Kupwara.