Kashmir, the snow crown of our nation that has been constantly in jeopardy, has seen a ray of sunshine. And that hope has been brought upon by a 20-year-old from the Awantipora region of the Pulwama district.
Farhan Majeed has become the youngest person to obtain the license of a commercial pilot in an otherwise militancy-affected southern Kashmir.
Life Beyond Numbers had the opportunity to connect with the pride of the state.
Farhan has been born to Abdul Majeed Bagow who is a mathematics lecturer and Fahameeda Banoo who is also into the same profession.
In a response to his achievement, Farhan said, “All the credit goes to my parents and family members and with the help and blessings of God I received a commercial pilot license.”
Reminiscing on his childhood dream, Farhan said that he had always dreamt of being a pilot.
“There is an airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Malangpora and we can hear the sounds of helicopters and other planes all day and night. This motivated me to become a pilot,” he said.
Yet Majeed was not all aware of the prerequisites of the profession. He had to do his share of research before taking the leap. Thanks to his parents’ support, he finally made it.
“I was clueless about this profession and would spend hours on the internet to know how to pursue this carrier. I was always telling my parents that I want to become a pilot,” Farhan shared.
Soon after completing his 12th standard, Majeed joined the flying academy Global Konnect Aviation Services Private Ltd in Uttarakhand and kept on with his focus to achieve his dream of flying an airplane. Majeed believes that it is required of anyone to work hard to achieve what they want. During this time, his family provided him with both emotional and financial support despite all the difficulties.
“After passing my 12th exam, with the full support of my family I joined an academy in Uttarakhand to learn how to fly an airplane,” Majeed said.
His parents share that most people don’t want their sons to go in this field but they always backed their son to pursue his dream.
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“We never backed down and by becoming the youngest pilot of our valley, he has made all of us proud,” they said with pride. “I am the happiest person in the world. Difficulties will come but I faced those difficulties boldly,” added Majeed’s father, Mr.Abdul.
This year, due to the pandemic, Farhan’s placements have not taken place yet. He is due to give exams and apply for work positions. Yet he can’t wait to fly high. He believes in a practical flight more than what is taught in theory.
The youth in Kashmir have been often led astray with persistent militancy. Yet the current phase of anti-militancy operations in South Kashmir is among the most lethal since a new phase of local militancy gained ground. Even if militant casualties are rising, recruitment has not petered out much. Most of those killed in recent gunfights had been the youth who were fresh to the ranks.
In the heart of all that bloodshed, young men like Farhan Majeed are a noble example of channelizing the vigor in the right direction.