Binoo Joshi
Afshan Ashiq, a young girl now the captain of the J&K football team dreaming high to score more challenging goals in her life is a new narrative from Kashmir where youth need opportunities .
At this moment when she met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh she personified hope, promise and ambition as a footballer who wanted to excel by her feat in the game . It is a great transformation of sorts. A few months ago Afshan was seen an angry young girl armed with stones targeting the police vehicles to given vent to her emotions . That was result of an atmosphere because the street turmoil had killed their hopes and the youth saw nothing great emerging for them as the stone throwing was the only art that they could perfect with devastating consequences . They were in search of opportunities.
When their streets were cleared of the stone throwing and the sports fields were opened for exhibiting their talent , they knew that the goal posts had changed . They were trying to make sense of their talent and live up to their ambition to do something .
Afshan is not alone . There are many, many more like her who want to shed the image of a stone thrower and come with their real image of an excellent sportsperson.
There is a need to listen to them. As she herself told media that her transformation came after she and others were heard out by the Home Minister and surprised them with his immense patience to listen to all what they had to say. “ It was a great feeling,” she told media in New Delhi on Tuesday after meeting the Home Minister .
Recently, when the Union Home Ministry and the state government decided to set free the stone pelters , the idea was not just to meet the demand of their parents and friends but also to chart a new course for them . That can come only when there are sufficient opportunities . All former stone pelters are not looking for government jobs, they have their passion for different professions. They need opportunities . That is what matters the most. Afshan has shown the way.
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