Real education helps you find your purpose, ask yourself what do you truly want from life?: Prof. Verma’s powerful message to students at SSM Hr. Secondary School Srinagar

• When top professor sit among students, it becomes a true center of learning: G.N. Var honors Prof. H.C. Verma’s visit to Kashmir
• It was a dream come true to have Prof. Verma Here; Dr. Saddam describes the historic moment of hosting a legendary Physicist

SRINAGAR: SSM Higher Secondary School, Soiteng Lasjan, Srinagar, hosted a special educational program that brought together some of the finest minds in education and science from across the country. The event was held in memory of the school’s visionary founder, Late Haji Ghulam Nabi Parray Sahab. The chief guest was Padma Shri awardee and well-known nuclear physicist, Emeritus IIT Kanpur, Prof. H.C. Verma. The program was organized in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and the JK Science Communicator Network.

The event saw participation from key education figures including G.N. Var, State (President) Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), Dr. Saddam Sir (Chairman) SKIE Classes, Syed Ishtiyaq (Secretary) JK Science Communicator Network & (Principal) Govt. HSS Haal Pulwama, Altaf Nabi Parray, (Chairman) SSM Higher Secondary School, Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, (Principal), Riyaz Parray, (Administrative Officer). The ceremony also witnessed the active participation of students, teachers and edu leaders.

The event started with a formal welcome address and was hosted by Iram Altaf, the Vice Principal of the institution. The school administration also presented a bookie and a shawl to Prof. H.C. Verma as a token of love. Iram expressed, “It was an honor to host such a transformative event. Inviting Prof. H.C. Verma Sir was a proud moment for us, his session with students was deeply inspiring and opened new perspectives on how to approach science and success. This event, dedicated to our founder Late Haji Ghulam Nabi Parray Sahab, reflects our continued commitment to his mission.”

Prof. H.C. Verma, delivered keynote lecture, shared his journey with "Shiksha Sopan," a voluntary educational movement he has been part of for the last 25 years. "We began as a small group of like-minded individuals committed to improving education for underprivileged children," he said.

Prof. Verma said, Operating from a modest house in Kanpur, UP without piped water or stable electricity, the initiative has grown into a vibrant learning center. “Children from a 5–6 km radius come daily to study for 2 to 3 hours. We run science labs, offer various programs and provide free education to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level,” he added.

He also spoke about the involvement of IIT Kanpur students as volunteers and the scholarships offered to learners. “Even a small scholarship of ₹5,000 a year can prevent a girl from dropping out when a family cannot afford education for all their children,” he said.

Prof. Verma emphasized that the “Shiksha Sopan” mission never charges for learning, accommodation, meals or study materials, not even from teachers attending training programs. “Our philosophy is simple education is not a commodity to be sold. Once you put a price on it, you reduce its purity and turn it into a commercial deal, we have never taken a single rupee from anyone who came to learn."” he said.

However, one thing deeply concerns me whenever I visited Kashmir and interact with local students: I observe that they are almost entirely focused on preparing for NEET exams. I ask them, do we really need so many doctors? Is our country truly so unwell? Is Kashmir so sick that everyone must become a doctor? "What about engineers? What about scientists, teachers, thinkers and innovators? It seems that education has become merely a means to secure a job, rather than a way to understand life or contribute meaningfully to the society."

Prof. Verma concluded his lecture by saying, “Through Shiksha Sopan, we try to guide students to ask deeper questions: What do I truly want from my life? What does my family really want for me? Is it just about securing a degree, or is it about living a useful, meaningful and fulfilling life? That is the purpose of real education, to help students discover their own path, their own purpose. As long as we can, we will continue this mission freely, sincerely and without any price.”

PSAJK President G.N. Var, in his address, “Today marks a truly historic moment. I’ll say just one thing, when professors sit among students, that place becomes a true center of learning. Today, we are honored by the presence of Professor H.C. Verma Sahab. This speaks volumes about the love and dedication shared between students and their mentors.”

Var said, “I must specially mention Dr. Saddam, who left a government job to start his own educational institution. At a time when the system was in complete silence, he brought light. While corporate coaching centers turned education into a business and students into machines, educators like Dr. Saddam kept the human touch alive. They proved that teaching is not just a profession, it’s a mission.”

G.N. Var further added “We need such role models, those who guide students with values, not just syllabus. What makes this event special is that, for the first time, students and teachers from Kashmir are sharing the stage together in the true spirit of education. This is the kind of transformation we envision.”

SKIE Classes Chairman Dr. Saddam, in his address, “It is an immense privilege and honor for us to host the Physics legendary Professor H.C. Verma Sir today. I still remember how, back in 2002, every student preparing for competitive exams like JK-CET would rely on just one book “Concepts of Physics” written by Prof. H.C. Verma Sir. I too struggled with physics as a student, it was a subject that once filled me with fear. Yet, such was the clarity and power of his book that exam questions often felt like direct reflections of its examples.”

Saddam continued, “To see Professor Verma here today, addressing our students in person, is nothing short of a dream come true. It is not only a personal milestone for me but a blessing for our entire academic community, students, teachers and edu leaders.” Dr. Saddam further added, “His message today went far beyond physics. In the span of just one hour, he reminded us of the importance of cleanliness, responsibility and environmental consciousness. He made us reflect on how our surroundings are a mirror of our inner discipline, an idea deeply rooted in our own faith, which teaches that ‘cleanliness is half of faith.’”

Saddam concluded by saying, “I could never have imagined that someone of his stature would visit our humble institute in Kashmir, especially when prestigious institutions across India regularly seek his presence. But he still came, with sincerely and kindnes That shows how truly great Verma Sahab is. I sincerely hope that his light continues to guide us all and that he keeps inspiring not just our students, but also educators like myself, across the nation.”

SSM Higher Secondary School Principal, Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, said in his address "Our beloved founder of SSM Higher Secondary School Srinagar late Haji Ghulam Nabi Parray Sahab established this trust back in 1993, single-handedly, without any financial backing, driven only by his intellectual passion and grace. His contributions to the education sector are immeasurable. As he was an eminent educationist and religious scholar, he lived for the betterment of society, particularly for the downtrodden," said Bhat.

Bhat further highlighted Haji's unwavering commitment to providing education, noting that he never accepted any payment from students, many of whom came from financially weak backgrounds. "His students, who have excelled in various fields, stand as ambassadors of this institution, contributing significantly to the society."

The event concluded with an awards felicitation ceremony, recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of students from Class 10th and 12th (Session 2025, Annual Regular). The awards were given in various streams: Class 12th – Commerce: Mohammad Zuhaib – 431 Marks (Distinction), Azan Salarie – 421 Marks (Distinction), Jasira Parveez – 386 Marks (Distinction); Class 12th – Arts: Syed Deeshya Ashaq Andrabi – 474 Marks (Distinction), Arwah Altaf – 471 Marks (Distinction), Sundas Shah – 442 Marks (Distinction); Class 12th – Medical: Zaira Mukhtar – 488 Marks (Distinction), Ahmad Sadaat – 478 Marks (Distinction), Mareeham Saleem – 476 Marks (Distinction); Class 10th: Sabahat Zahoor Mir – 487 Marks (Distinction), Qamrain Gulzar – 479 Marks (Distinction), Deeba Ayoub – 471 Marks (Distinction) Etc.

The event successfully combined inspiration, academic celebration and a commitment to educational values. With Prof. H.C Verma’s message echoing in the hearts of students and educators, the program marked a new chapter in SSM Higher Secondary School’s journey toward educational excellence. The school pledged to continue hosting such meaningful programs that foster curiosity, confidence, and character in young minds.