The Cry of the Community’s Children: Unfulfilled Dreams in Scorching Heat

In the lanes of Lucknow, where history and culture intertwine, a heart-wrenching picture is emerging today. After the announcement of the 10th and 12th board results, the children of the community, who passed with hard work and dedication, find themselves helpless before the towering demands of high percentages set by schools and colleges. These children, whose hearts nurture dreams of pursuing their desired subjects, are now sitting silently under the shade of a tree in the scorching heat. Their eyes hold hope, but even more, an unspoken pain—that they may neither secure admission to their preferred school or college nor study the subject that could shape their future.
These children are the community’s heritage, carrying the burden of tomorrow on their shoulders. But is their helplessness and despair solely their own? No, it reflects the failure of a system that the community’s leaders have not rectified in time. Schools and colleges were established in the name of the community, with promises of building a bright future for its children. People contribute khums and zakat to support these institutions, expecting them to provide opportunities for the community’s youth. Yet, today, these very schools, built in the community’s name, demand percentages higher than even Christian missionary schools. Meanwhile, missionary schools prioritize their own community’s children, admitting them despite lower scores. This double standard wounds the hearts of the community’s children.
Is it not time for the community’s leaders to open their eyes? Is it not time for figures like Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Karamat Hussain to rise among us again, to wipe the tears of these children and give wings to their dreams? Sir Syed laid the foundation of Aligarh Muslim University to show the community the path of education. Karamat Hussain strengthened minority institutions for girls’ education. Today, we need such leadership again—leadership that understands the plight of these children and takes concrete steps for them.
These children, who today watch their dreams suffocate in the blazing heat, could be tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, teachers, and scientists. But if they are denied the right opportunities, if their talents are crushed, the community’s future will drown in darkness. We urge the community’s leaders to heed the cry of these children. Simplify the admission processes in schools and colleges, create flexible criteria for preferred subjects, and, most importantly, ensure that the community’s institutions are truly dedicated to its children.
Let us all come together to ensure that tomorrow’s sun brings rays of hope for these children, not the scorching heat of despair. It is time to give wings to their dreams, so they can forge a bright future not only for themselves but for the entire community.