M S Nazki
Where silence finds a voice and challenges meet compassion! Presuming that a non speaking child has nothing to say is like presuming that an adult without a car has nowhere to go!
-Having a special-needs child didn’t just change you; it transmuted you, transported you to a parallel world with an altered gravitational axis!…………..
-Embrace the unique way your child is blooming — even if it’s not in the garden you imagined……
-When others focus on what your child cannot do, see it as an opportunity to focus on who God is and what he can do through you and your child. Sometimes inability is the vehicle for experiencing the blessing of God’s powerful presence and provision!
The lines which we got to write this story go something like this: Where silence finds a voice and challenges meet compassion. Udaan School, Drugmulla in the Kashmir Valley reflects Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity & care for especially abled children. A story of humanity in uniform!
About Drugmulla:
-Drugmulla is a highly important region in the Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir. Its strategic significance stems from its role as a key logistical gateway near the Line of Control, its critical alternative transit connections, and its focal position in regional governance and security.
- Gateway to the Border Regions: Situated along the Sopore-Kupwara road and NH 701, Drugmulla acts as a vital transit point for troops, civilian movement, and logistics heading toward sensitive border areas, including the Karnah and Teetwal sectors.
- All-Weather Infrastructure and Connectivity: The region’s importance is heavily reinforced by massive infrastructure developments. The development of alternative routes, including the Sadhana tunnel, ensures year-round, uninhibited connectivity for the region’s inhabitants and security forces.
-Furthermore, the construction of projects like the Drugmulla–Hatmulla Bridge significantly enhances local mobility, emergency responses, and access to essential services.
- Countering Narco-Terrorism: Drugmulla sits at the crossroads of major transit routes in North Kashmir, making it a critical area for operations against narco-terrorism.
-Law enforcement and the Indian Army maintain strong vigilance in the area to disrupt the cross-border smuggling of narcotics, which has been utilized as a strategic tool to fund subversive activities and afflict local youth..
- Socio-Economic and Educational Hub: As a growing administrative center, Drugmulla serves as an important base for development in Kupwara.
-The expansion of grassroots facilities, including the approval of a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Drugmulla, highlights the government’s push to empower the local population and integrate remote areas into the broader national educational and economic framework.
-Drugmulla is a historically and spiritually significant village in the Kupwara district of the Kashmir Valley, located about 5 km southeast of Kupwara town.
-It is deeply revered for its centuries-old Sufi traditions, syncretic cultural heritage, and an important role in local regional administration during the Dogra rule.
-Spiritual Heritage: Drugmulla is best known as the resting place of the highly revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Zati Shah Wali (RA).
-The Shrine: Built in the 16th century, the shrine is located in Muqam-e-Shahwali and is a symbol of Kashmir’s syncretic culture, attracting devotees from all faiths, including Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs.
-Miracles & Lore: The site features a fresh-water spring housing fish that are said to have been brought to life by the saint from dry, salted fish.
- It also features a historic mulberry tree propagated from a half-burnt branch planted by the mystic.
-The Urs: Every May, a vibrant three-day annual Urs (fair) is observed, drawing crowds from across the valley to offer prayers.
-Feudal and Political Legacy: Beyond spirituality, Drugmulla was a seat of considerable political and economic power in the region during the early 20th century.
-Early Settlement: The area was notably developed by Sanaul Lasha, the Zaldar (feudal administrator) of Drugmulla under Dogra rule.
-Regional Representation: Sanaul Lasha was an influential landlord who later became an MLA and representative for North Kashmir in the Praja Sabha around 1932.
-Historical Opulence: He was one of the wealthiest men of his era, and Drugmulla famously housed what is believed to be the first luxury car in the region (a Murray’s model, circa 1943).
-Architectural Marvel: Drugmulla is home to a magnificent century-old haveli. Measuring 125 by 40 feet, the mansion boasts vast verandas, grand halls, and intricate traditional wooden art and paintings.
-Geography and Connectivity: Nestled in the picturesque, mountainous Kupwara landscape, Drugmulla represents the classic rural environment of Kashmir.
A story that will move you:
Hameeda Begum is living with a stigma for the last two decades. When she gave birth to Hadiya, her elder daughter, she was not aware that her life was going to take a turn for worse. The couple had raised Hadiya as a normal child; that was till they discovered that Hadiya was not able to walk properly. They consulted a doctor who, after running some tests, diagnosed that Hadiya was suffering from Down’s syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder in which extra genetic material affects the physical and mental growth of a child. When Hameeda’s in-laws got to know that an abnormal girl was born in the family, they stopped visiting her and refused to take her back. Her obdurate husband stooped before the will of his parents and Hameeda was forced to live with her parents, a curse which she had to carry for two painful years. Seeing the plight of Hameeda, her parents consulted the village elders who convinced her in-laws to take her home.
“They did not realize that it was not in my hands. I have suffered for something I was not guilty,” she says. “My mother-in-law started torturing me. She used to curse Hadiya all the time. Once, on a chilly winter night, she forcibly threw us out of the house. For a long time, we were sitting in the backyard. When I realized that Hadiya was getting cold, I pleaded a neighbor to allow us in.”
When her husband got to know about it, they decided to buy a separate house. Some years passed and Hameeda, a resident of Taarhama, became pregnant again. She had expected a boy. The wish was granted and Salim was born. For a few weeks, he acted like a normal child. But his delayed speech and disturbed movement of eyes made Hameeda suspicious and they consulted a doctor who diagnosed that Salim, like his sister Hadiya, was suffering from Down’s syndrome.
Hameeda was shattered. Add to that, the society didn’t let her rejoice her motherhood. “For some time, I felt bad. I even cursed myself for giving birth to them. But then I realized that it was my fate, something that could not be changed. I lived with it.” The couple then decided not to have a third child.
Hameeda and her family are now living in isolation. Their relatives avoid visiting them and they are not invited to social gatherings. “Even my brothers and sisters do not contact us now. They don’t have any love or affection for my children. So what if my children are not normal. I can’t disown them,” says Hameeda, “I love them more than my life. For these two souls, I have disowned the world. I do not regret that. Hameeda’s is not the only case in Kashmir!
-About Udaan School Drugmulla:
The Udaan School in Drugmulla, Kupwara District (North Kashmir), is an extraordinary rehabilitation center and school dedicated to nurturing differently-abled children.
- Established in April 2010 under the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana, it remains the only institution of its kind in the region, providing vital education and therapy to special-needs children.
-Core Details & Features Mission: To impart training that helps specially-abled children cope with daily activities while enhancing their physical and mental abilities.
-Therapy Domains: The campus features specialized facilities for children dealing with visual and hearing impairments, as well as intellectual and physical challenges.
-Atmosphere: Designed to resemble a cozy, informal home rather than an intimidating institution to ensure a comfortable learning environment.
-Holistic Activities: Students engage in therapeutic and recreational activities, including yoga, animal interaction (such as the “Rabbit House”), and arts and crafts.
-That phrase beautifully mirrors the ethos of the Indian Army’s Udaan School in Drugmulla, Kashmir, which is dedicated to inclusivity and care for specially-abled children. -It reflects a profound mission to provide a voice to the unheard and offer deep support through empathy.
-This sentiment forms the core of several community-led initiatives, educational projects, and healing spaces.
-These environments are structured around a few key pillars:
-Active Listening: Creating a safe space where non-verbal or quiet struggles can be truly seen and understood.
-Tailored Care: Implementing specialized educational and therapeutic approaches (such as sign language or specialized Braille) for differently-abled individuals.
-Empathy-Driven Action: Offering hands-on, community-level support to navigate physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges.
-The Udaan School in Drugmulla, Kashmir is an initiative of the Indian Army under Operation Sadbhavana, dedicated to the rehabilitation and education of specially-abled children. The Indian Army has partnered with the Pune-based Indrani Balan Foundation to jointly run and upgrade the facility.
The school’s infrastructure and special-needs programs have also been supported and developed in association with the NGO, Initiative for Peace and Development (IPD), along with expert advisory assistance from the, dedicated to the rehabilitation and education of specially-abled children. The Indian Army has partnered with the Pune-based Indrani Balan Foundation!
–Other Schools:
-The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps and the Pune-based Indrani Balan Foundation partner to operate and upgrade the Dagger Parivaar School in Baramulla, Kashmir.
-The facility is dedicated to the rehabilitation and education of specially-abled children, offering specialized therapies and tailored curricula.
-This joint initiative provides specialized support for dozens of children, offering services like physical therapy, speech therapy, and skill development to help them integrate into society. The partnership ensures that specially-abled youth in the region have access to vital educational resources and a nurturing environment.
-The Dagger Parivaar School in Baramulla, Kashmir, is a specialized educational and care center dedicated to empowering and nurturing specially-abled children.
-Partnership: It is a joint initiative of the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps (Dagger Division) and the Pune-based Indrani Balan Foundation.Facilities: The school is fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including therapy rooms, special educators, and specially-friendly infrastructure.
-Mission: It provides comprehensive care, medical support, and education to help these children develop their skills and seamlessly integrate into mainstream society and regular schools.
-The Indian Army assists Kashmiri children through targeted educational initiatives, medical outreach, and youth engagement programs.
-Key programs include running dedicated schools, sponsoring scholarships, and organizing national exposure tours, all designed to bridge development gaps and foster a secure environment.
-Primary support initiatives include: Army Goodwill Schools (AGS): The Army operates dozens of these schools in remote and militancy-affected areas, providing thousands of local children with quality, affordable modern education.
-Specialized Coaching: Initiatives like them “Super-40” program provide underprivileged youth with free, rigorous coaching for highly competitive engineering and medical entrance exams (JEE and NEET).
-Bharat Darshan Tours: The Army regularly organizes educational and cultural tours across India for Kashmiri students, exposing them to diverse cultures and new career opportunities.
-Healthcare and Surgeries: Medical camps frequently visit remote villages to treat children, and the Army regularly facilitates critical, life-saving surgeries for children in major medical centers across the country.
-Sports and Skill Development: The armed forces sponsor local sports tournaments, distribute sports equipment, and provide vocational training to engage youth positively and deter unrest.
-For instance, a dedicated Army Goodwill School in Baramulla features specialized classrooms and has the capacity to teach 150 children with disabilities. Medical & Mobility Camps: Partnering with NGOs like BMVSS (Jaipur) and Spark Minda Foundation, the Army regularly organizes medical camps to distribute wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, and fit artificial limbs.
-Accessibility Drives: Troops actively facilitate physical accessibility by constructing accessible infrastructure and providing joy rides and learning centers.
-Kashmiri Youth have acknowledged the efforts being put in by the Indian Army:
-Kashmiri youth are actively acknowledging the Indian Army by participating in massive recruitment drives, such as the Agniveer inductions, and engaging in cultural programs like ‘Jashn-e-Kupwara’.
-This growing participation reflects a shift toward seeking career opportunities, vocational training, and integration into the national mainstream.
-The active participation is evident across multiple initiatives: Armed Forces Inductions: Hundreds of young men from Valley districts continue to officially enlist as soldiers and Agniveers through passing out parades at the JAKLI Regimental Centre.
-Skill & Career Building: The Indian Army conducts ongoing public outreachy events and creative workshops to foster career counseling and skill development.
-National Integration: Programs like ‘Mera Desh Meri Pehchan’ allow local students to interact with diverse cultures and appreciate the country’s diversity.
The final lines:
-It was all about release, about letting go of the unknown. I was having a disabled child and that was that. There were no hidden truths to discover. I would not know anything about her birth, her survivability odds, all her ailments, until her life actually unfolded……………….
-If you are sincerely looking for God, you are sure to find him because he will never abandon anyone who wants a relationship with him. In fact, your difficulties can help you look more intently for God so that you can see him- right by your side. When the human heart starts tightening under pressure, God’s heart releases love and grace. There is more than enough in God’s economy.,,,,,,,,This is what Udaan school preaches!
