Kavita Suri is a journalist having 10 years' professional experience in journalism (both print and electronic). Presently working for The Statesman, one of the oldest English dailies of India as its Senior Staff Correspondent based in Jammu and Kashmir, she has worked with various newspapers starting from The Kashmir Times, The Tribune etc. She covers entire state, travels to the Line of Control, International Border and other conflict areas in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh of the troubled State. Kavita was also recently invited to United States for three weeks by the US state department on "US International Visitors Exchange Program". She has made many documentaries and films for Doordarshan's satellite Kashmir Channel and Jammu and Srinagar DDKs. As women have suffered badly in the strife-torn state due to ongoing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, gender issues are very close to her heart. Her 'Echoes from the Mountains' would keep our readers updated about all these issues of the mountainous state and its surrounding areas.

Sudesh Kumari (center) with parents and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed

'We will sponsor your coaching for the civil service exams and if need be you can have it in Delhi', the Chief Minister has told Sudesh Kumari, who had topped in Mathematics from the Post Graduate department of Mathematics, University of Jammu and even was given a token amount of Rs 25,000 by him on her enviable success in the given background. For the chief minister believes that the government sponsorship would not be a concession but a matter of right for a promising youth having burning desire to achieve academic excellence.

Sudesh still vividly remembers that brightest moment of her life when on a foggy January morning two years ago, the Chief Minister was in her small room along with her proud labourer parents whose world always remained confined to the tiny one-room-tenement in the industrial area in Jammu periphery. Unimaginable it certainly was for the entire family till the previous evening when they got a message that the Chief Minister wanted to meet the girl and her parents. Ever-since Sudesh hit the headlines in the local newspapers, the poor parent's daughter had never thought of the movement to get a pat from the chief executive of the state.

Seeing seated next to the Chief Minister, the twinkling eyes of her parents turned misty as the daughter of the Chief minister and Member Parliament Ms. Mehbooba Mufti. Mufti Sayeed says it was avowed policy of his government to reward merit in any sphere of activity. Be that promotions or placements. And the girl coming from a slum has proved her worth in Jammu and thus the government would not lag behind in encouraging her.

Coming from a poor family, Sudesh is ornamented with immense degree of humility. Clad in very simple salwar-kameez, Sudesh answers the questions with much more confidence. Endurance of poverty appears to have matured her ahead of the age. Sudesh says she always attempted to translate her weaknesses as her strength. However, the adage to be poor is not a curse but to be known one really is seems fitting her well as she always concealed her financial settings to her class-mates, from beginning to the post graduate level.

Chanderpal with his wife Kamla came to the City of Temples Jammu to earn sustenance over two decades ago. Working in factories, the family kept growing with male and female off springs, Sudesh being the younger one. While the brother, after matriculation, chose to return back to farming in the village for supplementing family income, Sudesh's aptitude forced her parents to continue with her education. She was topper from the beginning in Dashmesh Bharti Vidya Mandir, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shastri Nagar, Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar and then in the University.

Presently Chanderpal fills the gas cylinders and his wife works in a plastic factory. Income is around Rs. 3000/-(less than $ 70) a month. Sudesh wants to shoulder the responsibly, at least her expenses, by supplementing the income.

“We had much faith in Sudesh”, says Chanderpal, adding 'her devotion and aspirations made us to work overtime'. If she was continuing with her mission, 'we too had a mission- a mission to fulfill her mission'. He said that in their family set-up, girls are married much early. But he vetoed the pleas of his elders and relatives for just 'to see this day'.

When the children of her age used to pass the time by reading comics or watching television, Sudesh would listen to the biographies of great men. 'Pappa would always talk about Lal Bahadur Shastri, who used to cross the river with clothes tied to his head, for pursuing academics. 'This remained always in my sub-conscience- a guiding spirit indeed'. 'For millions of Indians Shastriji might have been an inspiration for his Jai Jawan Jai Kissan slogan, but for me, he was a temple of learning'. She said her parents are a real strength for her who has undergone all the rigorous to keep the wheels of life moving ahead.

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