Letter from
Matloub
I am writing in connection with the first two paragraphs
and the photograph (which included my photo and involvement from
Burngreave) in your article on the Kashmir
Educational Trust (KET) Study Support. 'The 1985 KET team on
their visit to Kashmir' is highly misleading, unbalanced and historically
inaccurate.
Kashmir Relief Project
Firstly, the Kashmir Solidarity Campaign (KSC) was formed in 1990
and organised the Kashmir Relief Project between January and May
1991. KET gave moral support to the project. Myself and Mohammed
Younis went on a voluntary delegation to Azad Kashmir which included
Sheffield/Rotherham Kashmiris and two City Councilors. A 40 foot
container with 25 tons of clothing was dispatched on 12/2/1991 for
Kashmiri Refugees in Azad Kashmir. A Video of the delegation trip
was produced in August 1991, entitled 'Struggle for Kashmir 91'.
Roots 85
The 'Roots 85' was organised with involvement from Asian Welfare
Association (AWA), Asian Youth Movement (AYM, Pakistani Youth &
Community Assoc. (PYCA-Burngreave based). The Sheffield Youth &
Community Services Education Programme Committee approved the organisation
of the overland visit to the Asian subcontinent. It was also a response
by the Council’s Education Department - Youth Service's Asian
Adolescent Unit to International Year of Youth in 1985. The Council
also approved the use of a 15 seater minibus and the release of
three Asian Youth Workers (one Full-time and two part-time), I was
the other part-time Youth worker and Mohammed Younis and Shokat
Ali - were the Staff responsible for young people on the trip.
The photograph – Pakistan, September
1985
The photograph was taken in Pakistan, Lahore at Punjab University,
September 1985, which includes the nine participants (6 young people
and 3 three supervision staff (including myself). In fact, 5 people
originated from Pakistan and 4 from Azad Kashmir.
The Roots 85' was innovative and it was the first of its kind,
in terms of a journey undertaken, by any Pakistani/Kashmiri youth.
The Roots 85' Project happened between 1st August and 11th October
1985. As a participant, I was taking part in the 'Journey of a life-time-Roots
85', which was a journey to the Asian subcontinent of Pakistan,
Kashmir and India (we did not really get past the Indian border)
and the 7,000 miles on the return journey back to Britain. A total
of 15860 miles of traveling through countries such as: Belgium,
Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia (before break-up), Bulgaria, Greece,
Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
The journey left a significant impact and impression in all of
the nine individuals taking part - which they are unlikely to forget
for the rest of their lives. On a personal level, the trip had tremendous
impact on my identity, historical roots and heritage.
Kashmir Education Trust
Finally, the KET (established in 1984) are doing excellent work
in research, resources and information, with advice and counseling
in education for unemployed and young people. This letter is not
critical of KET's work but is written to put the record straight
and bring out the truth through the jogging of our memories without
attacks of selective amnesia.
Matloub Husayn Ali Khan
Burngreave Resident
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