Kashmir pellet gun survivor Insha Mushtaq clears 10th board: Here's the man who helped her get there

It is a big day in the valley — the face of 2016 pellet gun victim Insha Mushtaq passed 10th board and her mentors don't know how to control the excitement
Muzzafar Bhat used to cover the three-hour long distance between Ananthanath and Shopion to reach her home twice a week
Muzzafar Bhat used to cover the three-hour long distance between Ananthanath and Shopion to reach her home twice a week

There is a curfew in the Kashmir valley today. Will be you be able to meet Insha today? "It doesn't matter today. I have to meet her," says Muzzafar Bhat while juggling the interview and booking a private cab that might take to his student — Insha Mushtaq, the face of pellet gun victims who cleared her 10th board examination today.  

"It's a double celebration for us because not only did she pass the exam but she cleared with a dignified 75 percent," informs Muzzafar. "I could not be happier.  It was my aim to see her pass the board. And it happened. I am very happy. I wasn't this happy when I got my own results," says Muzzafar as he tries not to break down. 

Made it: National Association of Blind's recent victory is Insha Mushtaq — the face of the pellet victims of 2016 — passed her X board exam | PIC: Twitter

While Muzzafar cannot contain his happiness today, things did not look very promising four months ago. "It was the most hectic job I have been on till date. She was not ready to study. She was not motivated. To get her ready for the exam was a big deal. I felt like I have built a building from scratch," he recalls. Insha Mushtaq was only 14 when she thought her life is over after she lost her eyesight during the Pellet gun attacks in 2016. 

But things changed during the course and how! "I have seen her grow as a person. From being uninterested to developing loads of patience and grit. The good part is that she was also hard working and there wasn't even a single day when she did not finish her homework," he says. 

Muzzafar lauds her for her accomplishment because as a blind tutor he knows that it is extremely difficult for a late-blind to get accustomed to the hardships.

Javid Ahmed Bhat, General Secretary of National Association for the Blind (J&K Chapter), an NGO helps the student-victims of pellet guns attacks so that they get back to school and get on with life, agrees with Muzzafar. "It takes a lot of counselling at home and school where we tell them to stay strong and think about the future. Only after this, we begin the actual training process where the kid takes another six months to adapt to the new format," he says

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