Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that educational institutions are not merely producing educated girls but are nurturing confident young women, whose confidence provides a strong assurance that the future of Jammu and Kashmir is secure.
The Chief Minister was addressing the Annual Day function, titled ‘Clock Tower Cosmos’, organised by Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School, Rajbagh, Srinagar. The school is also commemorating 250 years of the Presentation Congregation and its own 90-year legacy in Kashmir.
Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Provincial Leader-North India Sister Gleetus Rani, Principal Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School Mary Jarsi, faculty members, parents, students and other dignitaries attended the function.
Reflecting on the role of the institution in shaping generations of students, the Chief Minister said, “We are not just producing educated girls. We are producing confident girls. And this confidence gives me the confidence that the future of Jammu and Kashmir will be secure.”
Recalling his association with the institution, the Chief Minister said he had started his schooling here as a kindergarten student nearly five decades ago, when the school was a co-education school. He remarked that this often comes as a surprise to many, as Presentation Convent in Kashmir has long been perceived as an institution that has been exclusively for girls.
Expressing happiness at returning to his alma mater, Omar Abdullah said it was particularly heartening to witness the confidence, talent and composure of the students today.
“Fifty years ago, I was a student of this great institution,” he recalled.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the rich history of the Presentation Congregation and the institution, saying that the ideals with which the congregation was founded 250 years ago and the ethos that led to the establishment of Presentation Convent School in Srinagar continue to remain alive.
He said the school had transformed over nine decades from being merely a school into a distinguished institution, with its reputation reflected in the demand for admission.
“Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School is one of those institutions where people seek recommendations for admission. That is a testament to the success that Presentation Convent School has been able to attain in its 90 years of history here,” he said.
Recalling his school days, the Chief Minister fondly remembered the school grounds where students assembled and marched to music, besides recalling the teachers and Sisters who had led the institution over the years.
He said Presentation Convent has contributed significantly to society by producing civil servants, doctors, police officers, engineers, business leaders, sportspersons and lawmakers.
The Chief Minister stressed that education must go beyond academic achievement and should encourage young people to think independently and speak up.
“We have to teach our children not just to follow, not just to obey, but to question, to ask, to demand,” he said.
Referring to the cultural performances presented by the students, Omar Abdullah said one of the most powerful messages of the evening came through a musical skit that questioned whether society was truly equitable and fair to its daughters.
The skit highlighted several serious social issues concerning women and girls, including child marriage, acid attacks, female foeticide, domestic violence, and gender based violence.
The Chief Minister particularly appreciated the message conveyed by the students that responsibility for violence and discrimination against women cannot be placed on the victims.
“It is not the girl who is responsible for what happens. It is us who have not been able to teach our sons how to be better human beings,” he recalled, describing the message as an eye-opening one for society.
He said the confidence, talent and composure displayed by the students were particularly encouraging.
“The talent that we saw here, the confidence, but also the ability to not get shaken, gives me immense confidence,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that parents and society as a whole have a responsibility to ensure that girls grow up in a safe and equitable environment.
“I believe our girls are safe here. And I believe with such confident students of this school, the future of Jammu and Kashmir is safe with girls of this calibre,” he said.
Earlier, students presented a series of cultural performances showcasing the history and 90-year journey of Presentation Convent in Kashmir, as well as the legacy of its founder Nano Nagle and the Presentation Congregation. The performances combined music, dance, drama and storytelling to highlight the institution’s enduring contribution to education and society.
The Chief Minister congratulated the principal, faculty, students, parents and the entire Presentation Convent community for organising the Annual Day function and commemorating the institution’s remarkable journey.
“I wish the Presentation Congregation all the very best for the next 250 years. And I wish Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School all the very best for the next not just 90 years but many more after that,” he said.
He concluded by extending his best wishes to the school and its students for their continued success and contribution to Jammu and Kashmir.