kashmirdiamond
Shakir Nissar
SRINAGAR JANUARY 16 (KD): The ongoing debate surrounding the proposed Law University in Jammu and Kashmir has once again highlighted a familiar challenge how development initiatives are often viewed through the narrow lens of regional competition rather than collective progress. As Kashmir Diamond observes, this approach risks diverting attention from the core objective of strengthening education for all.
Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo’s statement that the Law University can be established anywhere, while benefiting students across the Union Territory, is rooted in a principle that deserves broader acceptance: education transcends geography. A university’s value lies not in its physical location, but in its accessibility, academic quality, and inclusivity.
Kashmir Diamond believes that reducing an educational institution to a regional demand undermines its larger purpose. Universities today serve students far beyond district or regional boundaries. What matters is whether students from Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh will have equal access, affordable education, and a fair chance to compete and succeed.
The selective nature of protests also merits reflection. When premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) were established in Jammu, similar resistance was notably absent. That moment reflected an understanding that institutions of national importance serve the entire region, regardless of location. The same principle should guide the current debate.
Instead of focusing on where the Law University should be built, the public conversation must shift toward how it will function. Will it provide opportunities to students from remote and underserved areas? Will it uphold academic excellence and constitutional values? Will it strengthen the legal ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir? These questions are far more consequential.
Kashmir Diamond also notes the danger of politicizing education. Calls for multiple universities while seemingly inclusive require careful planning, resources, and long-term commitment. Without these, such demands risk weakening, rather than strengthening, the education system.
For a Union Territory navigating social, political, and economic challenges, education must serve as a unifying force. A Law University should symbolize shared progress, not regional rivalry. Its graduates should emerge as legal professionals committed to justice, equality, and democratic values across Jammu and Kashmir.
As the government moves forward, transparency, fairness, and inclusivity will be key. Equally important is a mature public discourse that prioritizes collective benefit over regional divisions.
As Kashmir Diamond sees it, development loses meaning when it becomes a contest of geography rather than a commitment to people. (KD)
