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Steeped in poverty and backwardness, and just one primary school, education is a long, arduous battle of managing finances, and grueling journeys in crowded buses for youth in Judinambal.
JUDINAMBAL (Baramulla): Where dreams often fade before they bloom, Rameez Ahmad Kumar stands as a beacon of hope. At 25, he bagged his post-graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Kashmir last year – no ordinary feat in a village where academic silence has been broken after 10 long years.
Rameez became only the second person in Judinambal’s history to reach such academic heights.
“The first person from here to pursue higher education graduated ten years ago,” Rameez shares, his voice carrying both the weight of his achievement and the burden of what it represents.
His eyes scan the horizon of his village as he adds, “I’m the second, but I wonder how many more will come after me.” In those words, lies both triumph and challenge.
In the quiet, remote village of Judinambal, situated in the Braman gram panchayat of Baramulla district, which is home to about 100 odd families for whom education isn’t just a distant dream—it is almost out of reach. Life here follows the rhythms of agriculture and horticulture, with the land providing sustenance but little else. Only 3% people are employed in the government sector.
Though the tehsil headquarter at Rafiabad is only 18 kilometres from the village, and the district headquarter at Baramulla is 26 kilometres away (almost an hour-long journey by car), it is steeped in a time warp. The literacy rate of the village is 47.22%. Of this, 56.22% are males and only 37.00% females are literate.
Growing Up in Judinambal
For Rameez, the odds were stacked high from the beginning. Growing up in Judinambal, where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, there was little emphasis placed on education. The focus was always on the next harvest, the immediate need for food, not the long-term investment of schooling.
“Most families here are struggling to survive. It’s hard to think about something like education when you’re trying to make ends meet,” Rameez explains as he gazes at the fields around him that have shaped his life. “Farming gives quick returns. Education……. is a long-term investment, and that’s hard for many families to manage.”
This mindset is reflected in the village’s literacy rate, which lags behind the erstwhile state’s average.
As of the 2011 Census, the literacy rate in Braman gram panchayat, which includes Judinambal, stands at just 55.03%. Jammu and Kashmir’s average is 67.16%. Braman, of which Judinambal is a part, is inhabited by 340 families comprising 2000 people.
With only one primary school in the village, access to quality education remains limited, and opportunities for higher studies seem distant.
Rameez’s own educational journey was far from easy. “There weren’t many people to guide me. I didn’t have peers pushing me, and I certainly didn’t have the resources other students in the city might have,” he recalls. But Rameez was determined.
His perseverance paid off when he completed his post-graduation in Social Work, but the victory feels bittersweet.
Those Who Continue Studies Beyond Primary Level
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but I’m worried. I’m the second person in ten years. What about the others? What happens to the next generation if things don’t change?” Rameez’s worry stems from a deeper concern for his peers. “It’s not just about me. What about the children growing up here with the same struggles and limited opportunities?”
With scarce resources available in the village, those wishing to pursue education after primary school have to travel to nearby villages. The nearest high school is located in Sailkote, just 2 kilometers away. But the real challenges arise after finishing high school. Higher Secondary school students embark on a daily 15-kilometer journey to Rohama-Rafiabad.
For families already living in poverty, the cost of education is a heavy burden. Every day, students must spend 80 rupees a day just to cover the Sumo fare. For many families struggling to purchase food and other necessities, this becomes a luxury.
Students determined to continue their studies beyond Class 5, sometimes opt for the bus, which is cheaper, but it comes with its own set of challenges. The buses are often overcrowded, where students are packed with other commuters like sardines, leaving little room to breathe or find any comfort. It’s a long, uncomfortable ride that only adds to the daily exhaustion.
Those pursuing bachelor-level studies must travel all the way to Baramulla – a journey that takes over three hours one way. The roads are long, and the buses, already overcrowded, become even more suffocating. Every day, students face the harsh reality of this exhausting commute, with many having to stand for hours, squeezed in with strangers.
Their dreams of a better future are the only thing that keeps them going, says Rameez. These students are fighting against more than just textbooks and exams—they’re battling long, grueling journeys, overcrowded buses, and financial strain, all in the hope that one day, their perseverance will lead to something greater.
Creating Awareness
Despite the challenges, Rameez remains hopeful. He knows that his success would inspire others, but there is more work to be done. “I want to show the younger generation that education is worth it. It’s not easy, but it can change your life,” he says, his voice full of determination. “If I can do it, they can too.”
Yet, Rameez knows that change can’t happen in isolation. He’s begun to speak to other young people in the village, urging them to consider education not as a luxury, but as a necessary step towards a better future. “I tell them, ‘If I can do it, so can you. There are opportunities out there, but you have to reach for them,’” he says, the resolve clear in his words.
However, Rameez also faces the harsh reality that many villagers are unaware of the educational schemes and opportunities available to them. “There’s no awareness about scholarships, government schemes, or even how to apply for higher education,” he says, his frustration evident.
“The government doesn’t come here, and the NGOs hardly make it to this part of the world. We’re forgotten,” he says, talking about his experience working with some not-for-profit organisations. “I worked with some in the hope that villages like ours could benefit,” he says. He pauses and then adds, “….but reality is different.”
Limited resources and the difficulty of access, especially during the harsh winter months when connectivity is often lost for up to two months, make it hard for NGOs to maintain their presence. The situation worsens during winters, when any illness can become even more problematic, with people left without proper medical care.
Sometimes, they have to rely on makeshift arrangements like the “charpayi” (a traditional cot) to be carried to the nearest medical facility for treatment.
Dream of Breaking the Cycle
Rameez’s fears about the future are shared by many in Judinambal. Without a focus on education, the younger generation risks being trapped in the same cycle of poverty and backwardness. “I’m scared for what the future holds for the kids here,” he says, his gaze heavy with concern.
“If they don’t get educated, they’ll just end up working in the fields, and the cycle will continue.”
To date, only one girl and five boys from the village have completed Bachelors level study. The first postgraduate from the village, ten years before Rameez, is Imtiyaz Ahmad Kumar, who aspired to start his own school in the village but in the face of lack of human and financial resources in the village, he ended up as a private school teacher in a nearby village.
Rameez refuses to accept that academic degrees will continue to be a rare achievement for his village. He is determined to be the spark that ignites change, to show that education can break the chains of poverty. “It’s not just about one person doing well. It’s about all of us. We need more people to see that education can lead to something bigger, something better.”
Some villagers agree with Rameez. Zubair Ahmad Najar, a carpenter from Judinambal is about Rameez’s age. While Rameez took to education, Zubair had to give up his dream and start earning. “I wish I could have studied like him. Today, he’s a role model for many of us and I hope the next generation benefits.”
“I hope my story helps someone else think differently about their future,” he says. “Education is the key to breaking free from this cycle. It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about freedom—freedom to think, to grow, to change your life.”
While Rameez continues to advocate for greater government action and better resources for education in Judinambal, he knows the fight is far from over. “We need to be seen. We need support. Our youth need opportunities, but they also need hope,” he says.
Rameez emphasizes the urgent need for NGOs to step in and conduct awareness sessions for the villagers. “We need organizations to come here and engage with the community,” he says.
“Their presence could make a big difference in raising awareness and providing the guidance we desperately need.”
Photos Courtesy: kashmirtimes
Courtesy: Kashmirtimes