“Historic Win: Three Kashmiri Girls Crack IIT for the First Time, Breaking Barriers” : SRINAGAR: In a landmark achievement that has sent waves of pride and inspiration across the Valley, three Kashmiri girls, Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees, have scripted history by cracking the highly competitive JEE Advanced exam, securing admissions to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). This is the first time in Kashmir’s history that any girl has made it to the IITs — a moment that many are hailing as a defining breakthrough in the region’s academic and social journey.
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All three students were mentored at RISE, a Srinagar-based coaching institute that has steadily emerged as a cradle of excellence for young aspirants in Kashmir. Known for identifying talent even in far-flung areas like Kupwara and Bandipora, RISE has now notched a milestone that breaks not just academic records but social barriers.
“This is not just a result; this is a revolution,” said Salman Shahid, co-founder of RISE and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur. “These girls have shattered ceilings of doubt, expectation, and decades of systemic hurdles. This day belongs to every girl in Kashmir who was told her dreams had limits.”
For Janees, the journey was as much about belief as it was about books. “I didn’t know anyone like me who had done this. But RISE gave me the push. I hope now others will believe it’s possible,” she said.
Sadaf added, “Preparing for IIT in Kashmir wasn’t easy. But with my mentors and my family, I held on. To every girl out there: you’re stronger than the walls they try to build around you.”
Over the past decade, RISE has sent dozens of students to IITs, AIIMS, and global universities, but this moment stands apart. It marks a turning point in how education, particularly for girls, is perceived in the region. What was once deemed unreachable is now within grasp, and the impact is already rippling outward.
This success is not merely about exam ranks — it is about rewriting the narrative for Kashmiri girls. It’s about unlocking doors that were once bolted shut by circumstance, and proving that excellence knows no gender or geography. Their stories will live far beyond this year’s merit list, as sparks lighting the way for thousands of others still finding their voice.kashmir life .