Zahida Akhter is a young and passionate woman from the outlying Singhpora neighborhood in District Baramulla. She lives with her parents and younger siblings in a small one-storey under constructed house. Her family has been involved in carpet weaving for generations, and she grew up watching her father interact with customers and dreamed of becoming a successful businesswoman someday. However, due to her family’s financial situation, she was never able to start her own business.
To achieve her dream, Zahida applied for CHINAR’s Small Business Support program and made it to the top 10. Once selected, she was provided both financial and technical support to start her dream business, “Palav Vaan” (a Kashmiri name which translates to clothing store). Today, Palav Vaan is distinctive in the crowded market of Magam town, and Zahida is highly known for her zeal and commitment. She has been able to support her family’s everyday necessities and has also employed two girls to help her with the business (Palav Vaan).
In addition to running her successful business, Zahida has been accepted into a graduate program. She is studying business management, which will help her further develop her entrepreneurial skills and achieve bigger goals. Zahida is also a vocal advocate for social issues, particularly those that affect women in society. Her passion for advocacy has inspired many in her community, and she continues to work towards positive change in the society.
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I am Ghulam Nabi (42) from Srinagar, I used to sell vegetables on a commission basis on a hand cart, barely making enough to meet my family’s daily needs. However, when the lockdown was imposed in Kashmir due to COVID-19 and following abrogation of Article 370, my source of income came to a halt and I found myself struggling to make ends meet. As a result, I had to rely on borrowing money from people to support my family. This was a difficult and stressful time for me, as I felt helpless and uncertain about my future.
In 2020, CHINAR International identified our family during an assessment survey and enrolled my two children in Child Development Program. My daughter, Nowsheen will be finishing 12th grade this year, and I am proud of her. Unfortunately, my son Nouman had to drop out of school to help pay off our debts and started working at a mechanic workshop. When CHINAR International found out about our situation, they immediately provided me with a roadside cart to sell fruits and vegetables. With this support, my son was able to return to school, and he is now in 10th grade.
Thanks to CHINAR’s support, I am now able to clear my debts and live independently while supporting my family. I am proud to be able to do something for my children and grateful to CHINAR International for changing our lives in so many ways over the last four years.
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#Ramadan2023
Naseem, a Kani shawl weaver from Pattan, Baramulla, was unable to start his own workstation due to financial constraints.Through CHINAR’s Small Business Support Program, he was provided with the necessary materials to launch his own venture. Naseem now owns a small workstation, earns a good income, and provides work to other artisans without exploiting them. CHINAR helped Naseem achieve his entrepreneurial dream, creating a better future for himself and his community.
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#Ramadan2023
Altaf Mir is a professional electrician who resides in Handwara, Kupwara, with his wife and children. He dropped out of school in 12th grade, to financially support his family and worked under a contractor who paid him Rs 4,000 per month for his electrical services. Despite working as an electrician for six years, Altaf always dreamed of starting his own business selling electronic items and providing services. Unfortunately, due to a lack of finances, he was unable to turn his dream into reality.
Fortunately, he learned about CHINAR’s Small Business Support Program and immediately applied. After impressing the experts with his idea during the due diligence process, Altaf made it to the final list. With CHINAR’s support, he was finally able to launch his business unit with the hope of generating a stable income.
Currently, Altaf’s business is thriving, and he has even managed to expand it to provide employment to two youths from his village. Recently, he has also developed the skill of making electrical power stabilizers for home appliances, which has significantly increased his business’s sales. With each passing day, he becomes more self-reliant and successful.
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#Ramadan2023
I am Mohd. Yousuf Wani (65) years from the remote village of Baghe Sangerwani in Pulwama district. I used to work as a manual laborer, mostly on agricultural land, to earn a meager income for my family. In 2014, my life turned upside down when my house caught fire and all my belongings and assets were reduced to rubble. I was left with nothing, and had to spend many days and nights under the open sky with my eight children, two of whom are mentally challenged. Later, with community support, I was able to start rebuilding my life, although it was filled with compromises and suffering.
My life took a new turn when CHINAR International visited our village in 2016 and identified my family during an assessment survey. They assured me that, with the help of Almighty, I could still live a life that I enjoyed decades ago. With their encouragement, I gained confidence to stand on my feet again and strive to live a better life. At that moment, they enrolled my two children, Farhad Ahmad, who is now in 8th grade, and Mudasir Ahmad, who is studying in 12th grade in Child Development Program. Within two years, my elder son passed his Class 10th exam with flying colors, and one of my daughters was enrolled in a skill center where she learned cutting and tailoring, which allowed her to earn an income.
Thanks to CHINAR’s support, my life is now back on track. I was able to construct a concrete house to provide secure shelter for my family. I am totally satisfied and content with the progress I have made over the last six years and will be happily graduating from CHINAR in the coming months. Without CHINAR’s assistance, I would not have been able to provide my children with education, and I am forever grateful for the help they provided me and my family.
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Javaid Ahmad Mir from a remote village of Shopian has been suffering from multiple ailments and is handicapped, which made it challenging for him to support his family. In 2018, CHINAR identified his family and enrolled his two children in the Child Development Program, which helped ease the financial burden on the family. Later, he was given livelihood support in the form of a grocery store, which enabled him to generate income for his family.
With CHINAR’s intervention, Javaid’s business is now flourishing and his children are excelling in studies. CHINAR’s goal is to empower families like Javaid to overcome their financial struggles and build sustainable livelihoods to become self-reliant.
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#Ramadan2023
Naseem (26) from Pattan, Baramulla has been weaving Kani Shawls since his teenage years. Inspite of putting in a lot of effort to meet his family’s daily needs and working on a commission basis for contractors, Naseem’s income was insufficient, and his skill was being constantly exploited. Due to lack of finances, Naseem couldn’t afford to start his own workstation.
After learning about CHINAR’s Small Business Support Program, Naseem quickly applied for it and was selected. He was provided with all the raw materials necessary to start his own venture, and he now owns a small workstation in his home where he works diligently to produce beautiful shawls.
With his hard work and determination, Naseem is now able to use his skills effectively and is earning a handsome income. He is able to support his family and his living standards have significantly improved. Naseem is also providing work to other artisans without exploiting them.
Through CHINAR’s Small Business Support, Naseem was able to access the right resources and opportunities to realize his entrepreneurial dream. Naseem is hopeful to create a better future for himself and his community.
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I am Abdul Hameed Khanday (56), from a remote hilly area of Chalyan Chotinard in Budgam where I live with my son and specially-abled daughter. Unfortunately, my wife passed away, leaving the responsibility of taking care of our daughter solely on my shoulders. As a result, I was unable to venture out to earn money to support my family’s daily expenses. Under such circumstances, it was difficult to prioritize my son’s education, and I even considered sending him to work as a laborer to make ends meet.
Fortunately, a team from CHINAR International visited our village in 2020 and enrolled my son in Child Development program. Thanks to their efforts, my son is now getting quality education from qualified teachers at a tuition center and is currently in 8th grade with dreams of pursuing higher education. He is being recognized as one of the well-mannered, hygienic and intelligent boys in the village. With the support of CHINAR International, I hope that my son will become one of the most educated persons in the area.
I am grateful to CHINAR International for the support they have provided us. Their assistance has eased my financial burden and allowed my son to receive a quality education. I am proud of the progress he has made, and I believe that he will achieve great things in the future. Thank you, CHINAR International, for making this possible.
– Abdul Hameed Khanday
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#Ramadan2023
During the holy month of Ramadan, CHINAR organized a special kit distribution for families enrolled in the Parvaaz project across three districts – Srinagar, Shopian, and Baramulla. These kits contained essential monthly supplies to ensure that our beneficiaries had access to sufficient food items during the blessed month of Ramadan. Over 100 families received these special kits.
Parvaaz is a community transformation project, funded by Irfan Kathwari Foundation, which aims to support vulnerable groups -children, youth, low-resource educational and community institutions.
Sharing the short video of a distribution event held at Baramulla.>
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Ummar Nabi, a postgraduate in Urdu from Pattan, Baramulla district comes from a low-income family and has struggled to make ends meet throughout his life. To support his family, his father worked as a labourer, and Ummar occasionally worked as a daily labourer to supplement their income. He even took up house painting jobs in nearby villages to earn some extra money.
Despite the financial limitations, Ummar always dreamed of opening a hardware store to raise the standard of living for his family. He conducted a poll in his area, which indicated that a hardware store would do well. Having a business concept and relevant data, Ummar could not secure the funding that he needed to start his business.
Fortunately, he learned about CHINAR’s Small Business Support program through social media and applied for it. After going through the application process, Ummar’s unit was launched, and all the necessary supplies (for a hardware store) were provided to him. Today, Ummar’s business in the Pattan market is thriving, and he sees a steady stream of customers every day. His current assets are valued at more than half a million. With the success of his business, Ummar has also been able to secure admission to a Master’s program in Social Work.
We are proud to have supported Ummar in his entrepreneurial journey and wish him continued success.
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I am Shaheena (41) from the remote village of Malsoo in tehsil Baderwah (Doda). My life has been difficult since my husband died in a tragic road accident in 2010. Since then, I’ve been solely responsible for taking care of my children. Although my parents help me out occasionally, but I cannot rely on them completely. To make ends meet, I started teaching Quran at a local seminary, where I earned a salary of Rs 1500 per month. However, this amount was barely enough to cover our basic needs and hence educating my children was nearly impossible.
Two years ago, I lost my teaching job, which forced me to find alternative ways to support my family. In the same year, CHINAR International identified our family and enrolled my two children, Humair (16) and Seerat (13) in the Child Development program, which relieved me from the burden of managing their educational expenses. Additionally, CHINAR provided me with monthly supplies, which helped alleviate my financial burden too. Humair will finish his matriculation this year, which makes me incredibly happy.
Recently, I have also learned tailoring skills, which could potentially help me earn more money to support my family. However, I could not afford to buy a sewing machine. Fortunately, CHINAR International learned about my skill and has generously agreed to support me with a sewing machine, which will enable me to earn more money and support my children’s needs. I am very grateful to CHINAR International for their support and for helping my family during these difficult times.
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Shafkat Ali from #Sumbal, #Bandipora dropped out of school after 12th grade and learned mobile repairing to support his family. He wanted to start a mobile repairing unit and sell electronic items, but lacked the funds. In 2021, he got selected for CHINAR’s Small Business Support program and was provided with all the necessary equipment for mobile repairing and electronic items for resale. His business now sees a steady stream of customers and his assets have also increased. He even managed to send his sister abroad for higher education.
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Dilawar Hussain, a passionate and energetic man in his thirties, lives in #Nowgam, #Sumbal #Bandipora, with his wife and child in a small tin shed. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his life, Dilawar never lost his spirit and continued to work hard to improve his circumstances. He utilized his second-hand laptop to earn a meagre income by taking small orders for students’ school projects and ID cards.
With his 11 years of work experience in publishing, graphic design, IT, editing, and other areas, he was unable to start his own publishing unit due to financial constraints. Determined to turn his dream into a reality, Dilawar tried to secure loan from multiple places, but nobody was willing to help him. In 2021, when CHINAR international launched Small Business Support, he got selected and received all the necessary support to start his unit.
Currently, Dilawar is doing well and providing the best education to his children. He has also given #employment to one more #youth and started another branch of his unit. In addition to publishing, his business has diversified to include LPG connections, mini-ATMs, and other services. With his increased income, Dilawar has been able to purchase raw materials to construct a house for his family, giving them a better place to live.
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My name is Mehtab, and I am a 49-year-old widow living in the remote village of Chalyan Chontinard in Budgam district. After my husband passed away, I was devastated and found it difficult to focus on myself and my daughter’s wellbeing. There were many nights when we slept hungry and there was no way for me to support my daughter’s education. We were completely dependent on community help for our survival but it’s close-knit nature often led to stigmatization.
In 2020, CHINAR International identified our family and enrolled my daughter under the Child Development program. Since then, CHINAR has taken care of all aspects of my daughter’s development, including education, nutrition and medical needs. In addition, they also provided us continuous counseling and guidance to help us move forward with our lives.
Before getting support from CHINAR, my daughter, Nazima, struggled with her studies and was physically weak due to insufficient nutrition. However, with excellent support from CHINAR and teachers at the tuition center, my daughter has become one of the fastest improving children in the area and her health has also improved significantly. Currently, she is in 7th grade and aspires to become a teacher and provide quality education to children from her community. I am grateful to CHINAR International for its support, and I hope they continue to help mothers like me in the future.
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Mushtaq Parray from #Chowan, #Shopian had always aspired to provide his children with a higher #education. However, financial constraints made it difficult for him to fulfill his dream. In 2018, CHINAR International enrolled his two children in the Child Development Program. With CHINAR’s support, Mushtaq was able to build a new house, and will soon be shifting there with his family. Moreover, both of his children successfully passed their 10th grade exams and are currently studying in 11th grade. The family will be graduating from the program very soon.
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#videostory
Barkat Ali Khan hails from Qumroo, Budgam and lives with his parents and siblings. He is a science graduate and used to run a small VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur) store in a rented shop, providing basic services like xerox, printing, and online facilities to the locals.
Being passionate about technology, Barkat always wanted to expand his services for the betterment of his community. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, he was not able to realize his vision. In 2021, when CHINAR launched Small Business support project, Barkat got selected and was provided with all the necessary material to run his business unit at a larger scale.
With CHINAR’s support, Barkat has been able to offer additional services like Aadhar, passport, mini ATM, PAN card and much more to his community & customers. He has expanded his services to cover customers from seven villages and has collaborated with HDFC Bank for mini-ATM services. The bank recognized Barkat for his outstanding work as he has shown tremendous growth in his business. Barkat’s hard work and success has enabled him to invest in the construction of his house and support his younger brother’s higher education.
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I am Gulzar Ahmad Awan from Dunaroo Keller, one of the remote and downtrodden villages located in Shopian district. For the past several years, I have been struggling with osteoarthritis and back pain, which has left me bedridden and unable to work. As the sole bread earner of my family, I was facing immense hardships to provide for their basic needs.
In 2020, CHINAR International identified our family during an assessment survey and enrolled my three children under the Child Development Program which caters to their educational, nutritional and medical needs. Over the years, they also provided me livelihood support in the form of a sheep unit which helped me generate income and manage my family expenses.
I am working hard to increase my flock of sheep every year and generate sufficient income to cater to my family needs. My daughters Shahida and Shaista are in 9th and 7th grades respectively and my Son is in 2nd grade. Like every father, I want my children to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. With CHINAR’s continued support, I am hopeful to become self reliant in the coming years and give my children the opportunities they deserve. Thank you CHINAR International for your unwavering support to uplift families like us.
– Gulzar Awan
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During the holy month of Ramadan, CHINAR organized a special kits distribution for families enrolled in the Child Development Program across #Shopian, #Pulwama, #Budgam, #Kupwara, and #Srinagar districts. These kits contained essential monthly supplies like dates, flour, milk, sugar, tea, vermicelli packs, and other items, to ensure that our beneficiaries had access to sufficient food items during the blessed month of #Ramadan.
We are grateful to our generous donors for supporting over 400 unprivileged families with these special kits.
Sharing the video story of our distribution event at Srinagar.
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Shabir Ahmad Dar, a young man from #Pattan, #Baramulla was forced to drop out of school when his father quit his job due to health issues. With two young sisters in school and numerous family issues, Shabir, a skilled copper design engraver, had to work on a commission basis for contractors. His monthly income was not sufficient to support the family and education of his siblings.
Shabir wished to start his own workstation but economic challenges always became a hindrance for him. He used to live in a tin shed and always dreamt of constructing a concrete house for his family. In 2021, when CHINAR launched the Small Business Support Program, Shabir got selected and was provided all the necessary items to start his small business unit.
Shabir has made tremendous progress over the last two years and has employed two more people to run his business. He receives orders on a regular basis and is known in the market for his excellent business skills. Shabir has a dream of giving higher education to his siblings. Shabir also constructed a beautiful house for his family and bought other assets to improve the living standards of his family.
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I am Ali Mohd (age 57) from Dalgate, Srinagar. By profession, I was a head carpenter and used to earn sufficient money to support my family. Unfortunately, eight years back, I had a brain stroke which left me paralyzed for many years. With medication and therapies, I am now able to walk properly but still find it difficult to move my right arm and hand. I can’t even speak properly due to stuttering disorder. Due to my physical limitations, I was not able to continue carpentry work. With no source of income, I became completely dependent on relatives and community help.
In 2017, CHINAR International identified our family during an assessment survey and enrolled my two children in their Child Development Program. With CHINAR’s support, my children are doing well in their studies and are securing top grades in their examinations every year. Currently, my daughter (Kauser) and my son (Ateeb) are in grades 10 & grade 6 respectively.
With CHINAR’s support over the years, my health started getting better and I thought of doing some kind of a small business to support my family. A few months back, with my little savings, I bought a small stock for roadside vending and earned good profit. CHINAR, again stepped up for my assistance and will soon be providing me with a good stock of items to help me expand my business and increase my sales. I am hopeful to earn enough income and become self-reliant in the coming years to support my family.
– Ali Mohammad
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Mohd. Yousuf Wagay, a desperate father of eight daughters, was struggling to make ends meet. With CHINAR’s support, he was able to overcome financial challenges and improve his family’s situation. He has now built a concrete house and is hopeful to have a better future for his family.
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Shabir in his thirties, lives with his family which includes his wife, mother and brother at Wadipora, Handwara. In spite of having an MPhil degree, Shabir had to settle at running a small dryfruits store to support his family financially. Before starting this shop, he had always envisioned expanding it into a big unit of dry packaging. Shabir tried hard to make his dream a reality but due to shortage of funds he could not do it.
When CHINAR launched Small Business Support project, Shabir applied to get support for his unit. He was impressive to clear the four-tier selection process and made it to top 10. He had researched and grabbed all the knowledge required to start the unit of dry fruit packing. He had planned to target the retailers of 30 adjacent villages. Besides, Shabir had already developed connections with vendors to get the packing material conveniently. Looking at his enthusiasm, CHINAR launched his unit and provided him all the items and machinery required to run his unit.
Shabir, who named his unit as “CHINAR FOODS” is currently doing well and has made collaborations with top selling brands like Tops India, Kanwal spices, etc. He has also rented two more shops and uses them as godown. His monthly chart is showing progression when it comes to making sales and generating profits.
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I am Manzoor Ahmad Khanday from Bamnoo village of Pulwama district. Coming from a rural background, agriculture was the only source of income for my family. Unfortunately, due to financial crises, I was forced to sell out my small piece of land at a nominal cost to feed my family. Left with no source of income, I got stuck in the vicious circle of poverty.
During the 2016 scale up survey, CHINAR identified our family and enrolled my two daughters in the Child Development Program. In the following years, they also provided me with a livelihood in the form of a sheep unit which helped me cope up with the financial struggles that I was facing for the past several years.
With CHINAR’s support and the earnings from my flock of sheep, I was able to construct a concrete house with four rooms to provide a secure shelter to my family. In the recent re-assessment survey, it was found that my flock of sheep is growing every year and I am able to generate sufficient income to sustain my family. My daughters – Mehroosa and Ibra are currently in 10th and 8th grades and want to pursue higher education. Thankfully, I am in a position to make future plans for my family and will be graduating from CHINAR this year.
Thankyou CHINAR International for fulfilling my dreams.
– Manzoor Khanday
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Mohd Ashraf Wani belongs to a remote village in Pulwama district. In 2020, he met with an accident which rendered him unfit to do any daily labour. He was struggling hard to meet the basic necessities of his family. In the same year, CHINAR identified the family during a scale up survey and enrolled his three daughters in the Child Development program.
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Mohd Ramzan Kar, a young energetic man, lives in Rajwara, Kupwara. He is a matriculate who dropped out of school due to financial constraints. To continue the education of his younger siblings, he always wanted to do something substantial. In 2012, he started a sheep unit and was doing well in his life. Unfortunately, all of his livestock died in 2014 due to a fatal contagious disease, leaving him without any source of income.
Ramzan didn’t give up and began providing shepherding services to various livestock owners in order to make a living. Having enough expertise in sheep rearing, Ramzan had always wanted to start his own large-scale sheep unit. With no money in his hands and passion in his eyes, he applied to CHINAR International for “Small Business Support” and made it to the top 10.
In October 2021, he received 16 Eves and a Ram from the organization. Since his launch, Ramzan expanded his flock from 16 to 94 sheep and expects to make a sale of around 3 to 3.5 lakh during upcoming Eid-ul-Adha. Ramzan is also planning to shift to a new house this Eid. It is heart-warming to see him playing with his growing flock and seeing his business flourish.
#SHAREYourBlessings
I am Nisara Begum (44) from Changimulla, one the remote villages of Handwara Tehsil in Kupwara district. A decade ago, I lost my husband due to chronic illness leaving behind the burden of raising my two kids alone. However, the loss of the only earning hand in the family pushed me to the state of depression and hopelessness. I tried doing daily labour and odd jobs to feed my children but couldn’t earn enough to fulfil basic necessities. Hence, our survival remained completely dependent upon the community support.
In 2016, CHINAR International enrolled my two children in Child Development Program to cater their educational, nutritional and medical needs. Later in 2020, after re-assessing our family situation, CHINAR provided me with a livelihood in the form of a grocery store to improve our economic condition.
With CHINAR’s help, I have been able to construct a concrete house. My son, Hameed, who is in 11th class, recently graduated from the program and my daughter, Fatima is doing exceptionally well in her studies. Thankfully, our family is self-sufficient and will be completely graduating from CHINAR this year. Thank you CHINAR International!
– Nisara Begum
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May Allah (SWT) shower His mercy on all of us. May He forgive our weakness and our sins that we commit knowingly and unknowingly and may He admit us in eternal paradise. Aameen!
For the next 30 days, CHINAR International will share 30 success stories from beneficiaries enrolled in our programs. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter to see the difference that your support has made in their lives.
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CHINAR launched Parvaaz project at Shopian with two selected villages – Gatipora and Herpora . Around 170 people attended the event including community members, school staff, CLC teachers, SDC trainees, field monitors, selected children/families and CHINAR staff. Chief Education Officer, Mohd. Mushtaq, who was the chief guest at the event, inaugurated the launching ceremony along with HOI and school staff. HOI, who inaugurated CLC, Gatipora appreciated CHINARs work and promised full support in such interventions.
CHINAR International introduces Teach with CHINAR Two-Year Fellowship Program. A great opportunity to become a change maker and contribute to society.
Join the unique space of teaching children, transforming a school, and embarking on your personal transformation journey with the cohort of 10 fellows who will drive the transformational change across 20 schools in Jammu and Kashmir
The mission of the fellowship is “Create a cadre of young innovative grassroots leaders who believe that progressive “Quality Education” is the foundation to get the next generation ready for the rapidly changing world.”
CHINAR International, in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), launched the Cohort III of Small business support program by selecting 20 young entrepreneurs for the program in a 3-day long event.
The goal of Small Business Support program is to support youth coming from low-income families to become self-reliant. A start-up support of up to 1.5 lac per unit is provided under the program besides technical, marketing, accounting guidance, and training. A total of 250 applicants had applied for the program from all the districts of the Kashmir division, out of which 40 got shortlisted for the final round and presented their ideas. After the idea presentation, 20 candidates got selected for the support from eight districts of Kashmir –
Baramulla
(3),
Bandipora
(3),
Srinagar
(2),
Kulgam
(1),
Kupwara
(3),
Children
Families
Students
Youth
People
We provide orphans and vulnerable children with critical support and a nurturing environment and enable them to attain a quality education so they can blossom and reach their true potential – at home, at school and in the society.
When families are in dire financial need, the guardians of children in our Child Development program are provided livelihood support to help them receive a stable income, become good role models for their children, create a nurturing family environment and become self-reliant.
We work with low-resource government schools in collaboration with the Department of School Education (DOSE) to transform schools and facilitate the holistic development of children by making students independent learners and enhancing the learning outcomes expected at their age.
We work with unemployed youth and engage them in forums, counselling, skill development and entrepreneurship support to develop their mindset towards innovation, entrepreneurship and dignity of labor and enhance their capacities to become self-reliant.
We have provided emergency relief in response to multiple crises that have impacted the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially those below the poverty line. Forms of relief include food, water, hygiene, medical care, rescue, shelter, reconstruction, livelihood support and much more.
Children
We provide orphans and vulnerable children with critical support and a nurturing environment and enable them to attain a quality education so they can blossom and reach their true potential – at home, at school and in the society.
Families
When families are in dire financial need, the guardians of children in our Child Development program are provided livelihood support to help them receive a stable income, become good role models for their children, create a nurturing family environment and become self-reliant.
Students
We work with low-resource government schools in collaboration with the Department of School Education (DOSE) to transform schools and facilitate the holistic development of children by making students independent learners and enhancing the learning outcomes expected at their age.
Youth
We work with unemployed youth and engage them in forums, counselling, skill development and entrepreneurship support to develop their mindset towards innovation, entrepreneurship and dignity of labor and enhance their capacities to become self-reliant.
People
We have provided emergency relief in response to multiple crises that have impacted the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially those below the poverty line. Forms of relief include food, water, hygiene, medical care, rescue, shelter, reconstruction, livelihood support and much more.
You have the opportunity to transform the lives of ORPHANS, WIDOWS, vulnerable CHILDREN and marginalized YOUTH. It’s through your generosity that we create such powerful change.
Javaid Malik joined CHINAR International in May 2022 as a project coordinator for Quality Education Program. He brings more than three years of experience working in education through the “Skill India” program, where he worked within communities to spread awareness about community transformation and the importance of providing education to children. As a certified trainer under the “Retailers Association’s Skill Council of India,” Malik trained multiple batches under the program by imparting vocational education training to deserving individuals.
Despite being young, dynamic, and full of energy, Malik took on the challenge of working on foundational education in Warwan, a remote area in the Kishtwar district with limited communication, electricity, and road connectivity. During the summers, Malik spends a considerable amount of time in Warwan Valley to strengthen CHINAR’s “Warwan Valley Community Transformation Program.”
With his experience and dedication, he is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of children and youth in remote areas of J&K
Bashir has extensive professional experience spanning over 18 years, having worked in various organizations such as the Centre for Health Research and Innovations, International Committee of the Red Cross, Hope Disability Centre, Handicap International, and Medicines Sans Frontiers. During this time, he has held diverse roles such as LTBI coordinator, economic security generalist, project MIS officer, project MIS assistant, and data entry officer. Bashir holds a Bachelor’s degree and has undergone professional training in result-based management, leading a team, and microeconomic initiatives. Additionally, he possesses technical skills in Microsoft Office, internet browsing, and database management.
Currently, Bashir is a Senior Project Coordinator for Child Development under the PARVAAZ project at CHINAR International.
Basarath holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and a Diploma in Tourism Management from Kashmir University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work through IGNOU, indicating her dedication to furthering her education and gaining knowledge in her field.
In 2022, Basarath joined CHINAR as an intern and worked under the project PARVAAZ and Quality Education for a duration of 8 months. During this time, she developed valuable skills such as building relationships with communities and effectively communicating with people. This experience has equipped her with the tools necessary to work in a dynamic and challenging environment.
In her free time, Basarath enjoys cooking, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Currently, Basarath is serving as an Assistant Project Coordinator under the Child Development Program at CHINAR International.
Zafar Iqbal is a Project Coordinator for Youth Development at CHINAR International with a wealth of experience in the field. With a career spanning 10 years and multiple organizations, Zafar is highly skilled in preparing PPRs and DPRs and mobilizing communities through dialogue, awareness raising, and using PRA/RRA tools to identify local problems and solutions. Zafar’s expertise lies in research, training, evaluation, and community mobilization. He has worked with a range of organizations, and his experience has equipped him with the ability to take on complex challenges. Zafar is passionate about using his skills and knowledge to challenge the status quo and make a positive difference in the world.
Gulzar has completed his post-graduation in International Peace and Conflict Studies (Islamic University of Kashmir), and in rural development (IGNOU, Kashmir). Having over 10 years’ experience in the Humanitarian sector, he has extensively worked towards sustainable livelihood, mental health, disaster relief and emergency response programs. He has worked with both National and International NGOs like Action Aid, IGSSS, ICRC and RedR India. Gulzar has been delivering training on diverse themes like DRR, Child protection, water & sanitation, youth leadership, communication and conflict transformation for the last three 3 years.
Dr. Sawleha Qadir is a veterinarian with Master’s degree in Veterinary Sciences. Before joining CHINAR, she worked as a Lecturer in Veterinary college. She is very passionate about teaching. She joined CHINAR in 2021 as Project Coordinator under Quality Education Program. Her joining in CHINAR has made the CHINAR team more diverse. Sawleha is an active, young, dynamic lady full of energy with an obsession to serve people especially the marginalized children. She has immense management qualities and has established strong rapport with students and teachers of Community Learning Centers.
Waheed joined CHINAR International in the year 2021 as a driver cum office associate and is now responsible for office security and maintenance as well. He is a reliable person and is keen to learn more and develop new skills. Travelling with him makes every trip memorable with his meticulous approach. Along with routine office work, he aspires to pursue a master’s degree in social work (MSW) and is currently in 2nd year of his college. He is a very hard-working boy and loves to engage in multiple tasks. Waheed is a fitness freak and loves to work out in his spare time.
Hanief Ahmad Bhat hails from Gadakhud village located in Bandipora district. Hanief has completed a Masters degree in Urdu from Moulana Azad National Urdu University and B.Ed. from Tahira Khanums College of Education, and is currently pursuing MSW from IGNOU. Having over 8 years of experience in the development sector, Hanief has worked on multiple projects like youth development, disaster management, relief and rehabilitation and sustainable livelihood development programs in Baramulla and Bandipora districts. He worked at IGSSS for 6 years to deliver sessions on leadership, life skills, communication, self-awareness, gender, and disaster management, PRI micro-plans development at village and panchayat levels and livelihood.
Also please resolve the spacing issue of profiles – Salma’s profile has huge spacing between two paras. Kindly check the rest of the profiles for spacing issues.
Dr Masood Hassan is a native of Kashmir and obtained his BSEE in 1971 from Kashmir University. He got admitted to West Virginia University (WVU) in the U.S. in 1974 to pursue his post-graduate studies. He obtained his MSEE in 1976, and his PhD. in 1979.
After his graduation from WVU, Dr. Hassan pursued a career in industry. He moved out West to Los Angeles, California and joined Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena CA and then to the Bechtel Corporation.
Dr. Hassan joined Teledyne Controls in 1983 as a Senior Member of Technical Staff. He worked in various engineering and business development assignments before being promoted in 2000 to lead the company as the Vice President/ General Manager and then President. Under his leadership, Teledyne Controls grew to be the leader of the Big Data and the Digital revolution in the commercial aviation industry. Its products enjoy about a whopping 75% market share within the air transport category of Boeing and Airbus commercial airplanes. He also led Teledyne Controls to be among the most profitable of the 30+ companies that constitute Teledyne Technologies.
He retired form Teledyne in 2019. In April 2021 he was inducted into the WVU School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. He is currently involved in promoting Educational and Charitable ventures for deserving and needy youth in his native Kashmir.
Dr. Mushtaq A. Margoob, – Former Professor & Head, Post Graduate Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Srinagar and Director Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Srinagar, Kashmir is an internationally recognized expert on humanitarian emergencies and disaster mental health . Dr. Margoob’s research work encompasses a wide range of topics ranging from seasonal mood disorders to drug use problems and stress. Over the past 28 years besides behavioral neurosciences, the focus of his work has been on coping, resilience and vulnerability following traumatic stress resulting from man-made and natural disasters in the developing world and its impact on the individuals as well as communities as a whole. Dr Margoob is currently on the Editorial board of two international and two national journals including the Indian Journal of Psychiatry. He is a member/fellow of a number of international professional bodies.
One of the most experienced and well versed with CHINAR programs is Mehraj from Handwara. He has been associated with CHINAR as Field Monitor since its initial years. Mehraj is not only monitoring his assigned areas but also acts as a key person for other monitors of the district. Because of his close association with communities and various stakeholders, he is one of the respectful people in the area. He was fond of football but lost his left arm in an unfortunate accident. This incident still haunts his soul but didn’t kill the fire of passion in him. After the incident, he spends most of his time supporting the needy.
Tariq Ah has been working with CHINAR International since 2014 and then in 2020 was given the responsibility of Field Monitor. He has qualified 10th and is Hifz-e-Quran (Memorizer of Quran) which makes him one of the famous and authentic persons of the area. Since his association with the CHINAR, he has enthusiastically taken part in every activity benefitting children and communities. Besides his involvement in social work activities, he likes to go for long drives.
Hedayatullah joined CHINAR International in the year 2018 as a tuition teacher. Later in 2020, after his performance review, he was also given the role of field monitor. He has done master’s degree in political science and history and bachelor’s in education. He has experience of 7 years as a teacher and 4 years as a principal in a private school. He possesses good rapport skills when it comes to working with the community. He has attended many training programs regarding child development. In his spare time, he loves to do gardening and watch cricket.
Salma Malik, a young girl from the remote area of Budgam is one of few options for teaching children. Currently, Salma is pursuing Bachelors in Arts and the community mostly
approaches her to provide basic education to children. She was appointed as monitor and teacher in the year 2020. Apart from teaching, Salma likes to read and cook.
Sara, 24-year-old lady of Challan Chout Naad is the only female of the community who has qualified 10th class. She is very passionate about supporting the first-generation learners of her community and hence teaches students from a local school voluntarily. Knowing her zeal, she has been recently appointed as the first female Field Monitor at Budgam. She is grounded to the traditional values yet trying her best to keep pace with modernity. She likes to engage herself in household chores.
おさるの超悟空 4号機 joined CHINAR in the year 2011 and he is presently working as Field Monitor for the Shopian district. Gorsi connects well with communities and speaks fluent Gojri language. He is a great speaker at community mobilization events. Over the years, he has gained tremendous respect and trust from the families enrolled in the child development program.
モンハン 月 下 雷鳴 天井 holds Bachelor’s of Education and Masters in Sociology. He joined CHINAR in the year 2020 as Field Monitor for district Pulwama. Wani understands the problems and challenges faced by the downtrodden communities and provides solutions to address them. He participates actively in distribution events and assessment surveys. He is committed to helping people in need.
Surat Singh Kotwal has been working with CHINAR International since October 2017. He has done Masters in Economics from Sikkim Manipal University. He is a wonderful community mobilizer with great rapport building skills. Besides working as a monitor, Surat also teaches at a local private school Over the years, he has been pursuing his responsibilities with all zeal and zest. He is very honest and committed to his work.
In his free time, he likes to play cricket.
Rafi joined CHINAR International in the year 2020 as a Mess incharge and now works as an office associate as well. Rafi cooks delicious food and manages housekeeping duties at office.
As an office associate, he takes in printing and delivery of documents. Rafi is a true entertainer and spreads smiles everywhere with his jokes.
Iqra Qayoom – a young and energetic lady, joined CHINAR International as a Project Coordinator under the Child development program. She completed her master’s in social work from Kashmir university. Being a professional social worker, she has worked with multiple child related projects supported by UNICEF. Iqra is among the best choices when it comes to building rapport with the communities. She has attended many trainings relevant to development and protection of children.
In her leisure time, Iqra listens to Sufi music and likes cooking and reading as well.
Zeba is a technology leader at Fannie Mae, responsible for transforming and modernizing the customer facing portfolio of applications focusing on business process, digitization, UI/UX and customer enrichment. Zeba has an Engineering degree from the University of Kashmir combined with an MBA from the University of British Columbia. Outside of daily work, Zeba is passionate about the advancement of women in Technology and an active member of the WIT advisory board for her company.
Zeba gives a lot of her time to mentor women both within and outside of Fannie Mae and engages in events across the industry. On the lighter side, she writes a food blog that brings global recipes (including Kashmiri) to the digital world.
Shireen Qadri is an independent business woman. Previously, she was a co-founder of Pilot Advisors, L.P., a registered investment advisor. She has also worked as an equity analyst for the value arm of Balis Lewittes& Coleman, Inc., an equity analyst at Glickenhaus & Co., and Goldman Sachs & Co. in the Equity Research department focusing on the cable, advertising and broadcasting industries. Shireen received her B.S., B.A., and M.S.F.S from Georgetown University.
Zeeshan joined CHINAR International in the year 2014 as an office boy and now works as a field monitor for Srinagar district. Zeeshan is an example of a child of conflict and a broken education system. He kept going to school till grade 10th without learning much and hence failed in the exams. In CHINAR, he found a wholesome environment and support. He finally passed his matriculation and a couple of years later passed his 12th exam as well and is now enrolled in Gandhi College. Over the years, Zeeshan has gained knowledge about the social sector and is inspired by CHINAR’s mission. He now aspires to pursue a master’s degree in social work (MSW) course post-graduation. Besides monitoring Srinagar district, Zeeshan is also responsible for office security.
He is a very hard-working boy and enjoys playing cricket.
In 2012, Imtiyaz Malik joined CHINAR International as a driver and now is responsible for office security, transport and maintenance. Imtiyaz may not have received formal schooling, but over the years he has developed good knowledge about the social sector. He understands and believes in CHINAR’s mission and is at the forefront of most CHINAR projects. He was there during the floods of 2014, past lockdowns and hartals in Kashmir. Imtiyaz is an exceptional driver who knows the roads and lanes of Kashmir.Team loves to travel with him as he makes every trip enjoyable and full of fun.Besides managing field trips,he is also responsible for office security.
He is an all-rounder who will lend his hands to anything – packing kits, loading, cooking, photography, etc.
Falak has done Masters in business administration with specialisation in IT and marketing from Kashmir University. Before joining CHINAR International, she interned with local corporates like JK Bank, Reliance Jio Ltd and hotel industry. She is highly passionate towards empowering Kashmiri youth to make them self-reliant and independent leaders.
She also interned with CHINAR International, which further motivated her to join the organisation. Under youth development, she runs various programs like business incubation, skill development centres, E-Labs, etc. As a finance coordinator, she maintains financial records and ensures smooth transactional processes.
She believes that no job is as worthy and satisfying as working for the welfare of the society.
Mansha joined in 2018 as an intern and now is a project coordinator for our Education program– managing Budgam, Kupwara and Srinagar districts. Mansha holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Kashmir University. She left her Tech school in Mumbai and came back to Kashmir to serve people of her own community. She is passionate about bringing healing to people with traumatic stories and giving them a chance to create better stories. Besides working in education, she is also a part of CHINAR’s E-Lab Program at higher secondary schools.
Always looking to brush her skills, she loves to travel, cook food and meet new people.
Ambreen joined as an intern in 2018 and now is a project coordinator under our education program – managing Shopian, Pulwama and Srinagar districts. Ambreen believes, “Compassion to serve is real devotion in true means’. She pursued Masters in Social Work to equip herself with the art of understanding and assessing various vulnerabilities of society. During her internship at CHINAR, she realized the true value of humanism and affection to people. While working with schools, she could explore her rapport building skills and engage children in learning activities.
Haris Aziz has completed his master’s in mass communication from IGNOU regional center Srinagar. He is a creative video editor and motion graphics artist with an excellent eye for detail and a deep passion for filming and animation. Before joining CHINAR, Haris worked with many media agencies as video editor and accomplished numerous freelance projects.
Mozam joined CHINAR International in 2016 as a Media Coordinator and now leads the media team. His role revolves around creating impactful stories of change through pictures, videos, documentaries, etc. using his technical skills and knowledge. Prior to joining the organization, Mozam worked with multiple national and international media channels and gained huge experience in creating impactful stories. Working in a social sector for the first time, Mozam quickly adapted to CHINAR International’s environment and work culture and now is the favourite teammate. Muazam also manages procurement and ensures protocols are being followed religiously.
Mozam is thrilled to have a job that allows him to use diverse skills and explore his creativity. He tries to put heart and soul into his work and believes that it shows in his photographs.
Rouf joined in 2011 as a field monitor and now is a District Coordinator, managing three districts – Shopian, Pulwama and Kishtwar. Rouf holds a Master’s in social work and different certifications in computer software. Rouf is passionate about helping the rural and needy sections of society. He is a good listener and encourages people to reach their potential by understanding their strengths. Rouf is an ace photographer and is a part of the media team at CHINAR International.
Rouf will be soon publishing his coffee table book – a dream come true.
Mehreen joined CHINAR International during Kashmir floods in 2014 as a nodal person in Delhi and now works in multiple capacities – project coordinator for child development and procurement lead. Mehreen has completed her Master’s in Finance and Control from University of Kashmir and is dedicated towards working for the underprivileged. She previously worked with an NGO called Centre for Social Justice, also interned with the Reserve Bank of India. During floods 2014, she did a commendable job in coordinating all the relief consignments coming from India and USA. Over the years, she has taken up many different responsibilities with great success. Mehreen is also responsible for logistics during events, workshops, meetings and office trips. On procurement side, she has developed strong SOPs which are being followed religiously under her supervision.
Afifa joined in 2012 as a Project Coordinator and is now working as Child Development Lead. Holding a Master’s degree in social work, Afifa has done practical work on social issues like drug addiction, child protection and reproductive child health. Previously, she worked as a Research Associate for Indian Council of Medical Research-funded project on autism and Counselling Supportive Supervisor for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Counselling Program (GFATM). Through all these years, she has worked in multiple capacities across CHINAR’s core intervention areas. Networking, proposals, internships and evaluation are part of her role including all publications – annual reports, newsletters, brochures. Besides, she also manages social media and website. Afifa yearns to learn more every day and develop new skills. She has been working passionately towards CHINAR’s mission since years and named as Afifa CHINAR by many. Calling herself a social doctor, she believes social work nourishes her soul.
When operating from Delhi, Afifa becomes the nodal person when lockdown happens in Kashmir especially when connectivity is cut in Kashmir.
In 2011, Javeed joined CHINAR International as a researcher and since then has progressed to Finance and Operations Head. Having a Master’s degree in finance and control, Javeed has hands-on experience in financial auditing. Before joining CHINAR International, Javeed tried several options to realize his potential as a key player in challenging, dynamic and creative environments, and believes his quest completed at CHINAR International. He has been on the forefront of CHINAR International’s crisis relief work since the floods of 2014. Under his supervision, CHINAR International’s external audits have been error free for the past six years. Javeed is an energetic and enthusiastic young leader with a passion to serve society. With his strong leadership skills, Javeed leads the team on ground in an exemplary manner.
Pioneer in lifestyle disorders and obesity management, Dr. Zahida is born and brought up in Kashmir. Dr. Zahida completed her MBBS from the Government Medical College, Srinagar, in 1995. In Kashmir, she has worked in both government and private sectors. Having witnessed and lived through the consequences of conflict, she always felt the worst victims of the conflict were the women and children. In her passion to live her dream and contribute to women’s health, she chose to give up a government job and established her own private clinic by the name “Mother care clinic in 2003. The clinic, which was much needed in these times, aimed at a holistic approach to women’s
health that included education, prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment of lifestyle and psychosocial disease among women. Dr Zahida has closely worked and always ready to work with any organization that shares the same aim and passion.
Dr. Mohammad Ishaq is a well-established biological researcher in the United States with over 30 years of experience at prominent US-based institutions. He is currently a senior researcher at the Leidos Biomedical Research in Frederick, MD, an affiliate of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health. He earned his Master’s in Biochemistry from Lucknow University (India), Ph.D. in Biochemistry from J.N. Medical College, AMU (India) and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to the U.S., he taught Biochemistry at the Govt Medical College (Kashmir) where he also managed the clinical laboratory of the department, and also served as a Senior Resident in the Clinical Biochemistry Department at the SKIMS (Kashmir). He is passionate about Kashmir and believes that social engagement and empowerment can alleviate the suffering of the marginalized communities.
Born in Kashmir and raised in Canada, Bazillah holds a B.M.Sc., Honors Specialization in Medical Science from Western University and is currently pursuing a B.Sc., Honors Specialization in Computer Science from the same institution. She is passionate about technology, understanding how it works and the potential impacts that technological developments can have on society. She enjoys engaging in creative projects where she can create and build something unique using a combination of her knowledge of software development and her eye for digital design. Bazillah is a strong advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all and strives to make a positive impact in people’s lives. She firmly believes that everyone should do what they can, within their means, to support those less fortunate and is a particularly avid supporter of humanitarian efforts in her motherland Kashmir. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and baking healthy-ish versions of desserts to share with her loved ones.
Tabasum Bandey is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Canada with more than 25 years of engineering experience (including 20+ years in Canada) in the field of Electrical Engineering & Engineering Management/Leadership. She completed her Engineering degree in Electronics & Communication from NIT Srinagar and moved to Canada in the late 1990’s after spending a few years in the Middle East. Like it is for most of the immigrants who have the courage to leave home to explore the world, she also faced challenges in embracing a different culture while maintaining strong ties with her roots & motherland. Tabasum – a Kashmiri by heart and soul believes in teamwork, continuous improvement & growth and is delighted to see the second generation of Kashmiris involved as young leaders. She enjoys gardening and cooking in her spare time.
Farooq grew up in Kashmir where he attended Kashmir University for his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. He attended City University of New York for his Masters in Computer Science. He works for an international development bank in Washington DC. Farooq has been part of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society – ADAMS community in Northern Virginia since 2000. He has served ADAMS in the capacity of Secretary, Vice-President, and President. He is currently co-chair of ADAMS Zakat Services Committee and ADAMS By-laws committee. He also served on the board of ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network, a free medical clinic in Chantilly, Virginia. He was also a board member of ADAMS Endowment Fund for several years. Farooq has been married for 20+ years and has 4 children.
After spending around two decades in corporate America, Irfan quit his job at Microsoft in 2011 to focus full time on CHINAR. Previously, he worked for US companies – DEC, Compaq, HP, and Fannie Mae.
Irfan has been instrumental in the progress of CHINAR being the chief architect both in USA and India. He runs a tight ship and has aggressively moved CHINAR into one of the top non-profits of J&K. He is driven to develop solutions that address the root cause of the problem related to youth and children of conflict – solutions that are sustainable, cost effective, scalable and high impact. Solid in principles and relentless in his pursuit for large scale social impact, Irfan envisions CHINAR to be one of the leaders in nonprofit space.
Irfan grew up in Kashmir, India. Education – BE from (NIT) Kashmir University, Srinagar (J&K) and MS from University of Florida, Gainesville. He is a founding member of both CHINAR organizations (VA, USA – 2003 and Srinagar, India – 2011).