Fire Under Snowflakes by A K Tareen (1 results)

Hardbound. Condition: As New. New. Contents Foreword. Preface. 1. The journey begins. 2. The anonymous threats and challenges. 3. The opening up. 4. The visitors. 5. The convocation. 6. The straightening. 7. The opposite winds. 8. The KUTA kinetics. 9. Glimpses of accomplishments. 10. History repeats. 11. The paper war. 12. Count down. 13 Impressions. 14. Pick up from the whispers. 15. Education the only remedy. Fifteen years of turmoil in Kashmir Valley due to the militancy had creped into every facet of life and institutions of Kashmir. The University of Kashmir the only general university for six million Kashmiris was also one of the badly affected victims for a few years. But the deterioration which started with militancy in the academics and administration continued even when the campus was freed of this. The university had literally closed its doors to out side world and a psychological barrier with false threat perceptions was erected in the minds of the government and rest of the country presumably for convenience. Dr. Farooq Abdullah wanted to save this sinking ship and thought of experimenting with a Vice Chancellor brought from far South of India a place called Mysore. This book constitutes the memoirs of that Vice Chancellor who entered Kashmir as a stranger from the point of his looks culture language background and lifestyle. His journey had challenges such as his acceptance cooperation funds for development threats from internal under currents as well as out side forces besides the stupendous task of bringing the university back on rails. It is a narration of the success story as to how in a period three years the sinking ship was saved and in fact emerged as an accredited A grade university ranking among the top few university of the country. It is a story of the skills of a scientist turned administrator who not only became a darling of students and faculty within a short time but was called the Vice Chanecellor of the masses. It narrates the strategies he used to awaken the university from a deep slumber to extract the best of the existing human resources and rekindle into them the aspirations of high goals and confidence to achieve them. The author claims that while he successfully reopened the gates of the university to the world of academics across the country and the world he feels it has contributed to the opening of Kashmir to common Indian tourists. The book also tells us that his journey was never on a bed of roses and he faced the ugly under currents which were active making unsuccessful attempts to tiger the fire of hatred for an outsider. He faced all opposing forces with valour upholding the dignity of Vice Chancellor's chair and opted to leave when he was in the peak of his popularity. The book makes an educating and thought provoking reading to every one who is interested in Kashmir its people their culture psyche and their aspirations particularly of the youth. It gives an insight into the dynamics of conflict areas. The book is written with out inhibitions and attempts to bridge the gaps in understanding Kashmiris by rest of the subcontinent. 225 pp.