Mohammad Arfat Wani
The Jammu and Kashmir has an interesting past full of literature, poetry, and knowledge. For decades, Jammu and Kashmir has produced famous literary figures who have contributed to the world with their ideas about life, society, humanity, and religion. From the contributions of Lal Ded, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, and others to the work of Mahjoor, there have been many literary figures who have moved hearts with their words. From their writings, we learn that literature is not only about good wording but also about emotions, social issues, questions, and good messages. Rahil Rasheed Wani is among those new voices whose views on various aspects of life and society have been compiled in the book titled Beyond the Edge of Awareness: Selected Writings in English & Urdu, published by GNK Publications in 2026. The book presents Rahil Rasheed Wani’s views in both English and Urdu.
Rahil Rasheed Wani was born on June 10, 2006, and he hails from the village of Gulgam that is located in the district of Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir and is five kilometers away from Kupwara town. This village is known for the calm environment and for the courteous behavior of its people. The inhabitants of the village lay a lot of emphasis on respect and human relations. He was educated in Islamic Global School, Srinagar, and is presently pursuing his bachelors’ degree from Poona College, Pune. Besides his studies, he is also preparing himself for the Civil Services examination conducted by the UPSC. He is very much interested in literature, writing, and social affairs. He has written a book titled “Beyond the Edge of Awareness”. The themes of the book include humanity, education, character formation, and social responsibility.
This book discusses education, unemployment, youth, family, human values, corruption, war, and the purpose of life. The topics mentioned are closely related to the issues that we observe in our surroundings. The writer wants to motivate readers through his writings by encouraging them to think about and understand the reality of their lives. He says that education and success are important; however, they become truly meaningful only when we learn to understand people and become good human beings through education.
The interesting thing about this book is that it has been written in two languages—English and Urdu. There are seven chapters in each language, making a total of fourteen chapters in the book. Furthermore, this book is highly relevant to Jammu and Kashmir, as both these languages hold great importance in the fields of education and literature.
The foreword of the book has been written by Dr. Reyaz Tawheedi Kashmiri, a well-known Urdu fiction writer, literary critic, researcher, and scholar whose writings deal with various aspects of Urdu literature and Kashmiri society. He is also the teacher of Rahil Rasheed Wani. This is an important addition to the literary content of the book. His presence reminds us of the vital contribution that teachers can make in motivating young people to read, write, and think.
Education is another major topic dealt with in the book. In his chapter entitled “The Real Purpose of Education”, the author says, “Education, in its truest sense, is a process that humanizes humanity.” He believes that education should teach us to reason logically, respect other people, and take responsibility for our actions. The author also says, “We know how to make machines but we don’t know how to make man.” These statements make us think about the extent to which we pay heed to virtues like honesty, kindness, and courtesy. The chapter is especially significant for students of Jammu and Kashmir, who spend much time in acquiring education.
The author further discusses education in Kashmir and its relationship with culture and identity. Students need to acquire a modern education without neglecting their heritage. This is an important issue, as education needs to enable young people to learn about the wider world as well as their own community. Another chapter, entitled “Degrees Without Skills: Why India’s Youth Remain Unemployed”, discusses unemployment. The author writes that “A degree is worthless without skills.” There are many educated young people who cannot find suitable jobs after completing their education. This is an issue in Jammu and Kashmir, as many students in the region believe that education ensures them a promising future.
Moreover, this book explores modern factors influencing human behaviour. With the advent of technologies such as social media, many people tend to post pictures or stories about their success. It must be said, however, that what we see may be a distorted image of reality, as someone who seems happy might have their fair share of troubles. The author tries to persuade readers to pay attention to true friendship, courtesy, and inner peace. Technology plays a significant role because of its ability to help people gain knowledge and communicate with others. However, it should be used properly, as real progress can be achieved only in that case.
Another theme discussed in the book is war and human agony. In “After the Devastation: The Test of Human Consciousness”, the author poses the question, “Who is suffering in the war? Leaders or the common man?” The question serves to draw readers’ attention to the fact that the common man is often the one who suffers the most during conflicts. Children miss their childhood, families are made homeless, and people live in fear and uncertainty. We have our own experience of conflicts and the suffering they cause to ordinary people.
Another significant chapter is “Apathy, Empathy, and Sympathy: Beneath the Same Firmament.” According to the writer, “The sky above them is the same, but the ground beneath their feet is not.” This quotation implies that although individuals live in the same society, they have to deal with different problems. Some students have access to all the resources, such as books, transportation, and other necessities, whereas others are unable to afford their fees or even travel to their educational institutions. Many students in Kashmir have to spend money to attend an institution or travel for their education.
The chapter “The Silent Forces Behind Every Great Life” emphasises the importance of families and teachers. According to the author, “A mother builds the heart. A teacher builds the mind. Together, they build the destiny of humankind.” Parents teach children their first lessons, while teachers provide them with knowledge and confidence. Both are equally important in shaping young people. This chapter also highlights the significance of love, respect, and care for our parents because, apart from money, there are other things that contribute to success. Our success should not come at the cost of our responsibilities towards our families.
The Urdu section discusses topics such as youth, changing values, and corruption. The writer explains that young people need good advice and positive company to grow and develop. He also highlights the importance of honesty in life and explains that it should begin at home. This is a good point raised by the author, but the problem of corruption depends not only on individuals but also on the system.
“Life is a Response that Should be Made When Needed” discusses the purpose of life, one’s responsibilities, and faith in Allah. Readers are reminded that they cannot choose the environment into which they are born. However, what they can certainly do is make responsible decisions as they grow in life. Life becomes more meaningful when one uses their abilities to help others. This point is likely to encourage young readers to think about their life objectives, behaviour, and personalities.
Muntazir Momin Wani, an author, researcher, and social commentator, shared his views on Rahil Rasheed Wani’s book Beyond the Edge of Awareness through a video message. He discussed some of the major themes of the book, including self-awareness, human life, and social issues, praising the author for attempting to analyse philosophical and social concepts in both English and Urdu.
Among the strengths of Beyond the Edge of Awareness is the fact that the issues discussed relate to people’s everyday experiences. The language in this book is clear and understandable, and the problems presented in this book are pertinent to the youth and society as a whole. Problems like education, family, culture, and human values have all been covered in one book. However, there are still some concepts that may need more explanation and examples. There are some arguments that need more development, especially those that are complicated. Some repetition could be avoided to bring out the major themes more clearly.
The official launch of Beyond the Edge of Awareness took place during the Gulistan Channel programme “Lafz Lafz Gulistan”, which was attended by poets, writers, and intellectuals. On this occasion, the intellectual and literary aspects of the book were highlighted.
In my opinion, Beyond the Edge of Awareness is a constructive attempt to bridge education, human values, and social responsibility. I feel that this book deserves considerable attention because it discusses issues of concern to young people, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The idea behind it is that education must make us better human beings, development must make our lives better, and knowledge must help us understand each other. I feel that the book could have done a better job of providing evidence and discussing some issues in certain chapters. However, its most important feature is that it makes us realise our responsibilities towards society.
(The author is a nursing student. He hails from Kuchmulla, Tral and can be reached at [email protected])
