Danish Ali

In the picturesque Bandipora district of north Kashmir, which was once the hub of militancy and where violence crushed dreams, making education a distant luxury, one woman’s courage, self-belief, and optimism nurtured a national-level institution that is the pride of J&K today.

Shabnam Kausar, the Principal of the Army Goodwill School (AGS), Bandipora, has not just changed the course of one school but has also given the area a classy school where a thousand dreams are becoming a reality.

Starting with just four students to becoming a recipient of the prestigious Best Principal Award by the Indian Talent Olympiad, Shabnam's journey is extraordinary.

Born in the small village of Gundbal Kaloosa, Shabnam grew amid the harsh realities of conflict in Kashmir.

She studied at the local institutions in the district, probably not knowing then that this education would become a tool of her empowerment.

In 2004, as insurgency continued to disrupt daily life in the Valley, the Indian Army's 14 Rashtriya Rifles, based in Kharpora Bandipora, decided to start a school to help re-establish the value of education in the region. Thus, the AGS Bandipora was born — not in grandeur, but in desperation and hope.

Shabnam Kausar, Principal of the Army Goodwill school in the ground

“I was still a student myself when I came across the advertisement,” recalls Shabnam. “Something inside me pushed me to apply for the teacher’s position.” She cleared the written examination and joined as a teacher. Another senior candidate was appointed as the school’s first principal.

With only four students enrolled, her morale was low. Barely 20 days after its opening, the school principal quit.

“He handed me the keys and said, ‘A school cannot run with four students. Hand this over to the management and go back to college,’” Shabnam told Awaz-the Voice. That could have been the end of the story, but not for Shabnam.

She was the lone teacher in the school, but never missed a day “There were no classrooms, no staff. We had just basic infrastructure like a few plastic chairs, two round tables, and a blackboard.”

Soon, the management noticed her dedication and promoted her to the position of Principal. That was the moment of the beginning of the turnaround story of the AGS Bandipora.

Sabname took the charge with no experience, resources, or support, even from her own family, Shabnam began an aggressive door-to-door campaign, urging parents to send their children to her school.

“People would laugh. They questioned the credibility of a school with no building, no history, and no staff,” she says. They surely underestimated the resolve of a young woman.

The breakthrough came in October 2004. When 29 students enrolled, she organized the school’s first Annual Day Programme, something unheard of for a struggling institution.

Shabnam Kausar, Principal of the Army Goodwill school in her office

The event was aired on a local cable TV channel. The response was overwhelming. “Almost 200 candidates came for admission for the next session,” she smiles as she goes back. The gamble had paid off.

As a young woman leading an Army-run school in a conservative and militancy-inflicted region, Shabnam faced hostility from multiple quarters.

“I was threatened, harassed, and criticized publicly. People said terrible things about me,” she recalls. “Even my parents weren’t supportive in the beginning. They feared for my safety.”

Her uncle, a well-known teacher of Bandipora, was a lone supporter and cheerleader. “He always told me, ‘You will make this school one of the best in the district,’ and that belief kept me alive during those dark days.”

One of Shabnam’s most impactful decisions was to focus on girl students. “At that time, people were reluctant to send their daughters even to local schools, let alone participate in events outside the district or state,” she says. Shabnam pushed everyone's boundaries.

Tajamul Islam

She not only ensured academic excellence but made it a mission to get her students, especially girls, involved in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, from district-level competitions to national and international platforms.

“Now, we receive the highest number of girl participants in every major event,” she proudly adds.

It may be recalled that Tajamul Islam, the first Indian to win the sub-junior World Kickboxing Championship in Italy at the age of 7, is an alumnus of the AGS, Bandipora. Today the 13-year-old runs a kickboxing Academy and is a youth icon.

While nurturing the institution, Shabnam continued her studies; today she holds two Master's and a B.Ed. degree.

“Education empowered me, and I wanted to reflect it into my community,” she says.

This year, her two-decade-long struggle was rewarded when she was awarded the Best Principal Award by the Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO).

Out of over 1.5 lakh schools across India, only 1,000 principals were chosen for this distinction. “It’s not just my achievement, it’s the victory of AGS,” Bandipora, of every girl who was once denied an education, of every parent who dared to dream,” says Shabnam.

Shabnam Kausar, Principal of the Army Goodwill school in her office

The award includes a cash prize, a trophy, and a premium gift, but more importantly, it's the validation of Shabnam's dedication. “For someone who once ran a school alone with four students, this is a dream come true.”

Today, AGS Bandipora is no longer a struggling entity. It has now got both national and international recognition. The students routinely win accolades, its teachers are dedicated, and its classrooms are filled with laughter and learning.

The school has evolved into a symbol of resilience, transformation, and educational revival in Kashmir.

Shabnam is often invited to speak at conferences, mentor educators, and guide young women aspiring to step into leadership roles across the country.

“I always say, even if no one believes in you, believe in yourself. Because when you work with honesty, sincerity, and vision, the world will eventually notice,” she says.

In an age where educational institutions are often judged by infrastructure and fancy facilities, the story of Shabnam Kausar and AGS Bandipora reminds us of the power of human spirit and dedication.

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From holding a set of abandoned school keys to holding a national award, Shabnam’s journey reflects the transformative power of one individual’s willpower. In the heart of Kashmir, she stands not just as a principal but as a principle force for change.