One Professor's Mission to Rethink Kashmir's Education

Prof Anunaya Chaubey leads a pioneering design thinking initiative in Kashmir, inspiring students and challenging outdated educational norms across the Valley.

- Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

There was a time, not too long ago, when asking questions in a classroom in Kashmir felt almost sinful. I remember my own school days clearly: critical thinking was unwelcome, curiosity was met with reprimand. Today, thankfully, the landscape is shifting. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 puts critical thinking at the heart of learning. But policies are only words unless they find meaning in the classroom and that's where design thinking comes in.

My own understanding of this began in 2020, when I joined the Anant Fellowship for Climate Action. It was a transformative experience. I had long been working on environmental activism, but this fellowship added a rich academic layer to my work. It made me realise how deeply intertwined design thinking is with activism, education, and public policy.

Since then, I've been fortunate to witness something remarkable. Prof Anunaya Chaubey, Provost of Anant National University in Ahmedabad, has made it a mission to reach out to Kashmiri students, engaging them in conversations about sustainability, innovation, and design.

When Prof Chaubey visited National Innovations Public School (NIPS) in Shopian last year, I watched the students react in disbelief as he spoke about the hazards of pesticides. In a region known for apple production, the use of chemical fertilisers has long been normalised. But for these students, it was a moment of awakening. They wanted to know: What are the alternatives? What can we do?