In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams

These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping

- Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth

Farzan Farooq commits 15-17 hours of his day to Cabin Number 99, reserved for him until May this year, at Baitul-Hikmah library, a private reading hall in Srinagar's Rajbagh area. A native of Kulgam, 70 km from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq is preparing for the national-level medical entrance exam, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG).

Despite residing as a paying guest in Srinagar, Farzan seldom utilises his room for anything other than sleeping and eating. Instead, he gravitates towards the nearby reading hall, a few hundred metres away. Much like Farzan, dozens of aspirants aiming for various exams like NEET, JEE Main and JEE Advanced for engineering, as well as government job examinations such as JKPSC, JKSSB, and UPSC, flock to these private reading halls every day to study. They provide a conducive environment for quiet study, shielding students from distractions and fostering an atmosphere that encourages focused and effective study. The surge in popularity of such private reading halls has increased in the valley following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I opted for the reading hall because it offers an ideal study environment. Once I step inside, the outside world fades away, allowing me to concentrate on my studies. Moreover, there are no external distractions in the hall," Farzan explained. "In addition to studying and watching online lectures, I carve out some time to discuss strategies and clarify doubts with my friends who are also in the same library. This is another advantage of being in a reading hall."

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