New Delhi, Dec 20 (KNS) : Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, on Saturday interacted with students of
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) at the Auditorium, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, as the keynote speaker at a Darbar interaction.
In a statement issued ,The discussion focused on youth and social issues in Jammu and Kashmir, with students engaging in an open dialogue and raising questions on education, employment, substance abuse, and broader social concerns affecting young people from the region.
The discussion brought together senior academics and administrators, including JMI Chief Proctor Mohammad Asad Malik; Associate Proctor Dr Maqsood Ahmad Malik; Professor, Department of Arabic, Abdul Majid Qazi, who also served as the teacher-in-charge of the event; Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Dr Shashikant Rai; and Post-Doctoral Fellow at Jawaharlal NehruUniversity, Dr Haroon Rashid.
Addressing the students, the honourable MP urged them not to accept mediocrity or complacency in their personal and intellectual lives. “Do not settle for humiliation, the ordinary, or the norm. Our
purpose is excellence. You are created to innovate,” he said, encouraging students to reflect on the Quranic dialogue between Allah and the angels, which, he noted, speaks to the essence of human creation. “If you return to that dialogue, you will understand that, as human beings, we are expected to
excel.”
He added that humanity was created to bridge gaps, challenge distortions, and strive for the highest moral and intellectual standards, describing this pursuit as central to both achievement and worship.
Quoting philosopher-poet Allama Iqbal, he told students that material success alone does not define one’s true worth. “Palaces and grandeur are not your reality. Your reality lies beyond these things.Rise above them, or you will remain trapped in petty ambitions,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Emphasising the role of education, the MP cautioned students against becoming passive recipients of institutional knowledge. “Books and institutions should equip you with skills and tools. Do not become their extensions. If you stop questioning and adding to existing knowledge, innovation dies,” he said, urging students to treat established conclusions as supplementary rather than final.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Proctor Mohammad Asad Malik spoke about the growing concern of substance abuse among youth, including on university campuses. Calling it a collective responsibility, he said, “It is not just the administration’s duty. Students must remain alert, flag what they see around
them, and take their education seriously, because this is the time that shapes your future.”
Responding to a student’s question on why substance users are often treated as criminals, Mehdi criticised what he described as a constant counter-insurgency mindset in Jammu and Kashmir, even in civilian and social contexts. He said such an approach leads to excessive securitisation of everyday issues and fails to recognise the human realities behind them.
He stressed that individuals struggling with substance use should not be viewed through a criminal lens but as people dealing with serious health and social challenges. “Law enforcement agencies in Jammu and Kashmir need to move away from punitive reflexes and instead adopt a more empathetic, rehabilitative approach that prioritises care, support, and long-term recovery,” he said.
He also spoke about the cultural responsibilities of Kashmiri youth, warning of sustained pressures on identity.
“There is an onslaught on our identity. This places a double responsibility on us, to preserve who we are and to protect our Kashmiri language,” he said.(KNS)