Kashmiris take to Twitter to congratulate Sama Shabir
While pro freedom activists and militants have always been making their place in headlines and social media, their children too have become a focus. From Afzal Guru’s son Ghalib Afzal’s success in last year 12th Class Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education exams to Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai’s son, Junaid Ashraf’s joining the militants, from Burhan Wani’s sister Iram Muzaffar’s securing high marks in 12th Class JKBOSE exams last year to Shabir Ahmad Shah’s daughter Sama Shabir Shah’s topping the Class 12th exams of Central Board of School Education from the Jammu and Kashmir, all of them have created a sensation in media, though at different time.
On Saturday at 08:30 pm, Kashmiri twitterati across the world generated a Twitter hashtag #KashmirCelebratesSama to congratulate and express their solidarity with Sama Shabir Shah, the daughter of incarcerated Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, for topping the CBSE Class XII examination from the state.
Sama, a student of Delhi Public School in Srinagar, has achieved the feat by securing 97.8% marks in the said examination and thus topped from the Jammu and Kashmir state. The trend attracted the attention of many non-Kashmiris too who later joined it.
While many just congratulated Sama for her feat, others were seen encouraging her for the choice she has made by expressing her wish of becoming a lawyer and fighting the injustice of various types faced by Kashmiris.
Shabir Ahmed Shah was given a title of “Prisoner of Conscience” by Amnesty International for spending 31 years of his life in prison on different occasions. Last year, he along with many pro freedom activists was summoned by National Investigation Agency for his alleged involvement in money laundering by which he used to fund the Freedom movement of Kashmir. Terming Shabir’s imprisonment as an inspiration and strength, Sama in an interview with BBC Urdu said, “Though there was a depressing atmosphere in our home due to emotional and psychological trauma in addition to collective trauma which is usually faced by a Kashmiri, however with time I got motivated by this. I began to think positively about it.” When asked what motivated her to study hard despite her father being in jail, Sama said that she didn’t look at his father’s 31 years of imprisonment negatively. “I drew inspiration by my Baba’s commitment to a just political belief”, she said.
Sama dedicates this success to her father. “This is my gift to my father. I know whenever he comes to know he will feel proud”, said Sama with full enthusiasm and determination.
She wants to be A Lawyer To fight against the injustices here in Kashmir.
She is really strong as her father,who fought this occupation like anything.#KashmirCelebratesSama— Shah Naveid (@shahnaveid) May 27, 2018
Sama said she decided to study law because justice is “beyond boundaries and states”.
“It does not mean that I want to become part of the system. Fighting for justice has nothing to do with it . Justice is a universal concept,” she said #ThumbsUpSamaShabirhttps://t.co/v4xCfCZ4eO— ارشاد نبی (@Kashmir_rise) May 27, 2018
She studied outside Tihar Jail while waiting to meet her father, Shabir Shah, who has been imprisoned by Indian forces since past 31 years and yet she tops CBSE class 12 exam. Kashmiris will be celebrating Sama's achievement by trending #KashmirCelebratesSama tonight at 8:30 KST
— Frontline Kashmir (@FKdotPK) May 27, 2018
What keeps India frustrated about the freedom movement of Kashmir is resilience of people of Kashmir and survival of our Azadi sentiment despite so much of oppression. Our dear Sama is one such face of resilience who let survive her dream and courage. #KashmirCelebratesSama
— Paar Wala (@uqab_) May 27, 2018
Counting the tale of pain and agony from which her family is suffering after the arrest of Shabir Shah, the CBSE topper Sama said “though the news about my grand success has gone viral across india but my father languishing in Tihar jail is yet to hear the news about my success? pic.twitter.com/tfgNLJwIMG
— Sheikh Sharik Hussain (@SSharik9) May 26, 2018
Modi Bhakts are retweeting @MehboobaMufti's tweet congratulating incarcerated Shabir Shah's daughter, perhaps out of the confusion that some illiterate PDP leader's daughter has outshined those of separatists'.
Laughing requires much calories which can't be afforded in Ramadhan.— MudaSir NaZar (@Muda_Sir_) May 26, 2018
India keep shattering Kashmiris dream. She wasn't truly happy after her success thinking her father's situation in tihar jail where many Kashmiris are being tortured. https://t.co/FTlIafaQHa
— Jasmine DM Summers (@jasmineDm101) May 26, 2018
It must be extremely challenging for the girl to concentrate on studies while his father remains incarcerated faraway in Tihar jail in Delhi. She has beaten the odds and outshined all. #KashmirCelebratesSama
— Zafar Aafaq (@ZafarAafaq) May 27, 2018
People of Azad #Kashmir congratulate daughter Sama Shabir for her success. She has made us proud. #KashmirCelebratesSama
— Madiha Khan (@ShakilMadiha) May 27, 2018
#KashmirCelebratesSama
Sama told her success story is journey of #Kashmir's. #KashmirEducation pic.twitter.com/mSOBiGBZVj— Saqib Ashraf (@SaqibQashmiri) May 27, 2018
Dad in jail, leader Shabir Shah's daughter tops CBSE 12th class exams in JK. Her score is 97.8 per cent. Well done#KashmirCelebratesSama pic.twitter.com/ywtLR97PMq
— Fahad Malik (@muhammadfahadi) May 27, 2018
Some senior journalists of the state were also seen congratulating Sama for the success.
Daughters are shining all over. Back home, separatist leader Shabir Shah's daughter gets 97.8 percent marks, tops J&K No secret formula, just hard work behind success: CBSE class 12 topper https://t.co/xoypQAqpjl
— YusufJameelیوسف جمیل (@jameelyusuf) May 26, 2018
Dad in jail, separatist leader Shabir Shah's daughter tops CBSE 12th class exams in JK. Her score is 97.8 per cent. Well done.
— Mufti Islah (@islahmufti) May 26, 2018
Many were seen fighting with those who were trying to castigate Sama’s jailed father and extending his labels to her.
there's a total disconnect between @jkpdp's leadership and its Delhi trained "online-activists". while pdp leaders congratulate sama for securing first position, it's army of trolls is questioning her father's politics who completed 31 years in prison, last month.
— Kaiser Majeed (@iKaicer) May 26, 2018
The people from state machinery and the bureaucrats also couldn’t help resisting congratulating her.
Congratulations Sama Shabir ShahYou inspire all children growing up in adversity. Education is only way to dignity, empowerment @parawahid
— Naeem Akhtar (@shangpal) May 26, 2018
On behalf of Sama& entire DPS family , thank you .She has done us all extremely proud.Topping JK in class XII with a 97.8% ( Humanities stream). Not only that out of 237 children who appeared,235 passed with flying colours,batch average of 84%- Girls outshining boys,hands down!
— Shazia Bakshi (@Shazia) May 26, 2018
Congratulations to Sama Shabir Shah from Delhi Public School Athwajan Srinagar for topping the CBSE Class 12th exam in J&K. My best wishes are with all the students who attempted this exam.
— Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) May 26, 2018
Heartiest congratulations to Sama Shabir Shah for topping J&K CBSE with 97.8%! What a heartening story of triumph in the face of adversity and challenges. God bless her! A proud moment for her parents!
— Junaid Azim Mattu (@Junaid_Mattu) May 26, 2018
