Vaishno Devi Medical Students Embark on New Academic Journey Across Jammu and Kashmir
Students who were originally admitted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra have now begun a new chapter in their medical education journey. These fifty students have been redistributed across seven different Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining their connection through a dedicated WhatsApp group that was created during their initial admission period.
Distribution and Accommodation Across Medical Colleges
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE) conducted counseling sessions to reassign the students following the sudden closure of their original institution. According to the redistribution plan, twenty-two students have been placed in GMCs located in the Kashmir region, specifically in Anantnag, Baramulla, and Handwara. The remaining twenty-eight students have been accommodated in GMCs situated in the Jammu region, including Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri, and Doda.
Notably, the Anantnag GMC has taken in eight students, while each of the other six colleges has accommodated seven students each. This strategic placement ensures that all students from Kashmir are now studying either within their home region or in areas where Muslim populations are significantly represented, addressing previous concerns about demographic representation.
Emotional Journey from Joy to Relief
The students' WhatsApp group, initially a space for celebrating their medical school admissions, has evolved through various emotional phases. "The chats began with expressions of joy at securing a medical seat," one student shared anonymously. "Then came the anxieties when protests erupted, and now there's overwhelming relief that the stalemate didn't cost us an academic year."
However, this relief is tempered by new concerns about academic progress. Many students worry about catching up with coursework after the disruption caused by the college closure and redistribution process. "Can we catch up with the course, given the time we have lost?" remains a pressing question among the group members.
Student Experiences and Institutional Support
Mutahir Ayoub from Anantnag, who has joined the Rajouri GMC, described his initial confusion and family worries after returning home from Katra. "I had returned home in utter confusion. My family was also worried," Ayoub recalled. He maintained faith in assurances from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the National Medical Commission (NMC) that supernumerary seats would be created to accommodate all affected students within Jammu and Kashmir.
Ayoub expressed particular concern about falling behind in anatomy but found reassurance in the support system at his new college. "The teachers at the Rajouri GMC have offered us help via supplementary classes. Our fellow students have also shown support. I think we will be able to manage," he stated optimistically.
Mohammad Ilham, who joined the Anantnag GMC, described the nervous weeks he and his parents endured. "But they are glad now that my academic year has not been derailed and that I will be closer to home," he said, highlighting the silver lining of being nearer to family support systems.
Background of the Controversy and Closure
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence had received approval to admit students in September last year, selecting fifty candidates based on NEET scores and JKBOPEE counseling. However, protests erupted in Jammu after the admission list revealed that forty-four of the selected students were non-Hindus. Hindu right-wing organizations objected, noting that the institute was funded by donations to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
Despite the protests, the admission list couldn't be altered since the institution was neither a minority institute nor a Central institute eligible for admissions under national quota. The student distribution actually reflected broader trends in Jammu and Kashmir, where medical college admissions typically attract more students from Kashmir while Jammu students often pursue engineering.
Classes continued at the Vaishno Devi medical college despite ongoing protests until early this month, when the NMC unexpectedly withdrew the Letter of Permission for the MBBS course for the 2025-26 academic session. The NMC cited serious infrastructure deficiencies, though students and faculty expressed surprise at these claims, noting that the college had received approval following an inspection just months earlier.
Looking Forward with Cautious Optimism
As the winter vacations concluded and classes resumed across Jammu and Kashmir, the redistributed students have begun their academic journey in new institutions. While apprehensive about the attention they've received and reluctant to speak publicly, they express gratitude for being able to continue their medical education.
"Till the end, we had hoped that concerns would be addressed in the next academic session at the Vaishno Devi college," one student revealed. "Now we are just happy to be able to pursue our dream." The WhatsApp group that began as a celebration of admission now serves as a lifeline connecting these students across seven different medical colleges as they navigate this unexpected turn in their educational paths.
