The Heart of a Kashmiri School

Amid the strain of teaching in Kashmir, one man’s compassion shows how empathy can heal even the most tired hearts.

- Muntashir Kifayat Hussain

Every morning when I walk into the staffroom of our high school in Narabal, I feel the weight that most teachers in Kashmir carry.

The day begins early and ends late, filled with lessons, questions, and noise.

Teaching here demands patience and a strong heart. By the time school shuts, the chalk dust on our sleeves feels heavier than it should.

In the middle of this daily grind, I found someone who makes work feel lighter. He is a master-grade teacher, my colleague, and a person whose presence changes the air around him.

In my eighteen years of service, I have never met anyone like him.

He can read people's tiredness like an open book. During his free periods, he walks through classrooms to check on others. If he finds a teacher struggling, he steps in without a word.