Evolving Identities

This book analyses the internalization of conflict in the minds of children living and growing up in the Kashmir valley, and its effect on their identity formation and Schooling. It integrates the socio-cultural, socio-political, geo-political, and psycho-social contexts to understand the unfolding of childhood amidst conflicts. This volume highlights the socio-cultural context, amidst which children live in Kashmir, which influences the way they look at, interpret, and give meaning to their everyday environment-be it rural, urban, peaceful, violent, or within or away from family. This forms a significant part of how children's lives are negotiated in Kashmir. It deliberates upon the interplay between conflict, education, and identity during the childhood years, especially since the traditional education systems tend to neglect the experiences of children amidst conflict. It also explores how children imitate, observe, and reflect on the conflicts in their surroundings. The book will interest scholars and researchers from the departments of education, sociology, social work, political science, peace and conflict studies, and South Asian studies.

Showkat Ahmad Mir, PhD from the Department of Education, School of Education, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala. He has a post-graduate degree in education from the Central University of Jammu, India. He received his doctorate in education from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, India. His PhD work focused on the theme Identity and Education: A Study of Childhood in Kashmir Valley. He has published various articles in journals of international repute like Asian Ethnicity and Sinectica. He regularly contributes to the Daily Guardian, Kashmir Observer, and Tameel-e-Irshad and Nook-e-Qalam. Navneet Sharma, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, School of Education, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala. His areas of interest are Philosophy of Education, Educational Theory, and Social Science Education. He has post-graduate degrees in Philosophy and Education. He has pre-doctoral and doctoral degrees in Education from the University of Delhi, Delhi, India. He has published around two dozen research articles in journals of international repute like Asian Ethnicity and Sinectica. He regularly contributes to all leading dailies in English and Hindi like The Hindu, The Indian Express, The Tribune, The Deccan Herald, The Telegraph, Jansatta, Rashtriya Sahara, and Navbharat Times.

List of Figures viii List of Tables ix Foreword x Acknowledgment xiii 1 The Context-Conflict and Education 1 2 The Kashmir Quagmire and Schooling 36 3 The Kashmiri Learner: Being a Student in Kashmir 65 4 The Educational Milieu: Parenting and Teaching in Kashmir 124 5 Schools, Identity(ies), and Indigenous Articulations 150 Bibliography 166 Index 179