By Sahil Manzoor Bhatti
Today’s era demands creative minds.
Are we foolish or greedy?
Acquiring education never means getting it merely to earn a living. As far as I have understood, acquiring education means opening our minds and expanding our vision—an effective weapon for the eradication of evils from all corners of society. Education transforms the fate of a nation from the depths of despair to the highest peaks of success.
I am glad and deeply pleased that our youth are beginning to understand and enjoy the true essence of being educated. They no longer complain that there are no job opportunities in our nation or area. Our youth think differently now—their dream is to serve the world. As they receive basic education here and there, many go abroad to fulfill their dreams. Education has no limits; it grants immense rewards and opens countless doors. Where the mind stops, education begins.
I wrote my article “Role of Public Libraries” four years ago. At that time, what came to my mind was: why do I demand public libraries? In our remote areas, we are lagging behind in essential infrastructure needed to achieve educational goals. Many students are brilliant and dream big, but they have no idea how to prepare or how to achieve their goals smartly.
Today’s era demands smart work, not just hard labor. “Smart” means creative, innovative, and compassionate toward humanity. Education never supports the mean or greedy—it shapes character.
Education transforms one’s personality from nothing to a role model.
How does acquiring education help us reach the sky in any field?
First of all, real educators never support divisions of caste, creed, color, or religion. Real educators support humanity and teach valuable lessons even to those who oppose them. Education always finds a way for the good of humanity and uplifts those who do good for others.
Education teaches us how to build bonds with one another, how to grow in business, how to improve what we lack, what our society needs, and how we can play a positive role within it.
Nowadays, public libraries are becoming a key demand. Aspirants have started talking about them because libraries boost and enhance the knowledge of our youth, providing them with a hub of learning and inspiration.
Today, the world is filled with advanced, beneficial, and incredible technologies. We are surrounded by extraordinary inventions and massive machines. You might wonder why I am mentioning these incredible inventions here. The reason is clear: from the most educated to the illiterate, everyone knows the value of education. “Education is the powerful weapon that never discriminates.”
When we understand the demands of the time, why should we hesitate to act on them? Why not bring our genuine needs to the attention of those in power?
We know that education plays a pivotal role not only in personal growth but also in national development. Education is celebrated worldwide, and the world has produced renowned scientists, innovators, and thinkers in every field—from medicine to electronics. Every minute, new discoveries are being made.
In this article, I want to highlight how public libraries are essential for our youth, especially those preparing for competitive examinations. Many aspirants continue to struggle without proper study facilities.
In the Kashmir Valley, the education sector plays a pivotal role in bringing together talented students of all ages. It provides a platform where they can share their valuable thoughts on social, economic, educational, environmental, moral, ethical, health, and technological issues—and learn from one another.
Since 1989, the valley has faced tremendous challenges due to tensions between neighboring nations. The education sector—one of the most crucial for nation-building—has rarely enjoyed the freedom to flourish. Every time uncertainty arises, it directly or indirectly impacts education. Authorities at the state, district, and tehsil levels often order the closure of educational institutions in their regions.
Most people in the Kashmir Valley live in villages and hamlets where basic facilities are still lacking. Fortunately, the government continues to uphold children’s fundamental right to education, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, inserted Article 21-A, providing free and compulsory education to all children aged six to fourteen years.
But how can we truly educate all children up to the age of fourteen under such uncertainty and without indispensable facilities? In this era, we talk a lot about education, knowledge, and moral behavior, but often skip the most crucial aspects of implementation.
Students preparing for civil services and national-level examinations often prefer to go out of state—mostly to Delhi, which has become a hub for aspirants. Why must they leave their homeland and struggle for survival elsewhere? Because Delhi’s government and society cooperate and provide facilities.
Our administration must also encourage the youth of our state and provide them with adequate facilities so that they can acquire the knowledge they seek. There should be no hurdles in their pursuit of education—by any means, method, or medium.
At the district level, authorities should establish public libraries, so that aspirants are not left to suffer. They should be given every opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the progress of society.
