STANDING OUT

A story of an unsung hero trying to make Kashmir an innovative and entrepreneurial society.
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TAHIR SYEED

In the perspective of economic condense; can the entrepreneurial opportunities particularly at grassroots level, really blossom in Kashmir Valley? Before throwing any answers we better recognize the gathering ability of our unsung innovators.
Here is the story of a village boy who thinks Kashmir is full of creative potential, but he strongly feels that there is a need to recognize, respect and reward the creative minds struggling due to the lack of financial resources and technical guidance.
S. Fayaz Ahmad from Halmatpora Kupwara, some 100 kms from Srinagar city, is trying hard to infuse the creative spirit in youth and also get exposure so that their innovations are commercialized, even getting patented. Not only this after scouting the talent he is trying to project their creative work in various media organizations so that investors can be attracted.
S. Fayaz Ahmad who has done his MBA in Human Resource from Pondicheery University is now busy with the GIAN Cell, University of Kashmir, where he along with his other members have volunteered to make Kashmir an innovative society.
“We are a team at NIF and GIAN which is busy in scouting innovators. We are trying hard to recognize, respect and reward our innovators here in Kashmir Valley. Till date we have scouted some 80 innovators across Jammu and Kashmir and some of them were honored and even one was awarded by the President of India” reveals S. Fayaz, adding that they have recommended one innovator for TR35 Technology award which will be conferred by Technology Review an MIT magazine on Innovation, Published by Cyber Media in India
S Fayaz acknowledges the pivotal role of Prof. G M Bhat who is Director USIC, University of Kashmir and all the collaborators of NIF and GIAN who are working very hard in scouting these innovators. He upholds that Prof. G M Bhat has done remarkably well in spotting grassroots innovators in Kashmir and his relentless efforts have yielded desired results.
“I am really grateful to Prof. G M Bhat, who is Director USIC, University of Kashmir and all the collaborators of NIF and GIAN who are working very hard in scouting these innovators”, Fayaz sounds grateful. Acknowledging the strenuous efforts of S Fayaz Ahmad in highlighting the green grassroots innovators from Jammu and Kashmir he was honored at the fifth National Award Function at the IARI, Pusa New Delhi by President of India on 18th of November 2009. S. Fayaz even discussed the scope of Kashmiri innovators with the former President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam on 29th of Nov. 2009 at IIM (Ahmedabad)
With commitment reflecting from his face S. Fayaz Ahmad believes that our education system needs change with more thrust on practical education. “What kind of pedagogy at school as well as higher education level will promote entrepreneurial and innovative approach among young people is the question that remains to be properly answered. Just as one cannot learn cycling by practicing it on blackboard or computer screen, one cannot learn entrepreneurship and may not become a great innovator without trying things out” says S. Fayaz Ahmad
S. Fayaz Ahmad and his team headed by Prof. G M Bhat, who is Chairman GIAN Cell, constantly visit across Jammu and Kashmir and have organized workshops even in Leh, and Tetwal. The team has also organized yatra in Banihal, and seminars in University of Kashmir, Kupwara Degree College and other colleges of the valley.
These days S Fayaz Ahmad is working on a book “Unsung Scientific Heroes of Kashmir” and a novel titled “An Angel lost in Humans"
http://greaterkashmirplus.net/ShowPage.asp?Date=21_2_2010&ShowID=2&cat=1