Talent exists in every corner of Jammu. Our responsibility is to ensure that opportunity reaches it.
By Ashok Sharma | True Roots Media | 5 November 2026
Whenever I visit village schools, I see future scientists, entrepreneurs, and public servants with the same determination as students in major cities like Delhi or Bengaluru. Yet, their opportunities differ vastly. Children in remote areas like Ramnagar, Bani, Doda, or Kishtwar don’t lack ambition; they merely lack access to career counselling, digital resources, and professional exposure.
Education Must Go Beyond Examinations
In Dogra society, families make immense sacrifices for education. However, true education must extend beyond textbooks and certificates. Students require essential life skills: communication, financial awareness, digital literacy, and critical thinking. Knowing how to research careers, prepare for interviews, and manage finances better prepares them for the real world—and these shouldn’t be exclusive privileges reserved for those at expensive private institutions.
Bringing the World Into Our Classrooms
Technology has reshaped professional opportunities, enabling global connections in fields like software development, design, and digital marketing. While not all jobs are remote, Jammu’s students must be introduced to these global possibilities early. Even modest interactions—like a Canadian professional hosting an online session for Ramnagar students, or a local entrepreneur visiting a government school—can help children discover career paths they had never considered.
Our Community Can Become a Classroom
We needn’t wait solely for government reforms. Local professionals—retired teachers, doctors, engineers, and defence personnel can share their expertise through structured mentoring. Schools could organize monthly sessions on public speaking, entrepreneurship, technology, and civic responsibility to safely complement formal education. By combining our elders’ wisdom with modern professional experience, we uphold the Dogra heritage of intergenerational knowledge sharing.
Every Child Deserves to Dream Bigger
A developed Jammu requires more than infrastructure and investment; it needs empowered youth who envision a meaningful place in its future. Educational progress must be measured by the real-world opportunities students can access post-graduation, not just exam results. A child’s dreams should be shaped by their abilities and determination, not limited by their birthplace. By bringing mentorship and opportunity into every classroom, we don’t just improve education we strengthen the future of Jammu itself.