Silent dreams, loud courage: Deaf-mute girl from J-K's Rajouri defies odds to keep learning

In the heart of the Pir Panjal mountain range nestled in the remote village of Dara in the Thannamandi block of Rajouri district a young girl has become a symbol of resilience and inspirationAfsana Kouser daughter of Mohammad Bashir is a deaf and dumb girl from a Below Poverty Line BPL family who has defied odds to pursue education and emerge as a role model in her communityAfsana successfully completed her 8th standard at Government Middle School Dara the last school in the Thannamandi education zone Her dedication and determination have earned her immense respect and admiration from the people of her village who take pride in her achievementsDespite her eagerness to continue her education Afsana had to quit schooling after 8th grade as there is no high school nearbyThe closest one is in Thannamandi approximately 8 kilometers awaya journey she cannot afford due to her familys poor financial condition She wants to continue her studiesAfter 8th class passed from Govt Middle School Dara Zone Thannamandi about 40 km from Rajouri HQLocal residents and teachers alike believe Afsanas story highlights the urgent need for accessible education facilities in remote areas Her passion for learning despite physical and economic challenges has touched hearts across the regionMohammad Bashir the father of Afsana stated that she is very talented and wants to pursue further studies but she is not in a condition to go outsideAdris Ahmed Dar a Teacher said There are many talented individuals here but because this is a farflung area their talent often goes unnoticed We had a student named Afsana Kausar daughter of Mohammed Bashir She was deaf and mute yet she supported us in many ways She completed her 8th grade two years ago Due to challenges related to her condition she had to discontinue her studies as the area was 57 km away making it difficult for her to attend But she was exceptionally bright She had the ability to understand and do everythingAfsanas neighbour said This girl is mute and so are her two brothers and other family members Despite these challenges it is by the grace of Godand the dedication of her father who is a hardworking manthat she has come this far She has studied up to class 8 with a strong mindset Those who have taught her and supported her have done an incredible job Look at her handwriting her expressionshe is truly inspiring I thank your media channel especially ANI for supporting us On behalf of our community I also thank the administration our Lieutenant Governor and the Government of India This is a remote area about 6 to 8 kilometers from the mountains I warmly welcome you all here Please highlight the achievements of girls like her in your reportsShabir Ahmed a social and political activist said I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the staff members for their dedication and service to deaf and mute children They have done remarkable work One of the students Afsana Kausar is a smart sharp and advanced learner She is an inspiration to others and I truly appreciate the efforts of the entire management for their hard workMohammed Usman a teacher at Government Middle School said We have several speciallyabled children in our school A live example is Afsana Kausar daughter of Mohammed Bashir She lives near our school and has passed her 8th standard Unfortunately due to her condition she could not continue her studies She belongs to a remote mountainous area which adds to the difficulty Still she has shown great determination Despite her disability she is quick to learn and understands everything Her journey is not only a matter of pride for us but for the entire communityHer family expressed gratitude to the Government of India for providing them with a pucca permanent house under PMAY a rural development scheme which ensured a safe shelter for the familyThe story of Afsana Kouser is not just one of struggle but also of strength and inspiration a call for better infrastructure and inclusive opportunities for the differentlyabled in farflung corners of the nationThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoeveratOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params