'Is Kashmir so sick that everyone must be a doctor?’: Why expert wants Kashmiri students to think beyond NEET

Padma Shri awardee Professor Harish Chandra Verma, popularly known as H C Verma, has said that students in Kashmir, like those in the rest of India, are showing a growing interest in science. However, the renowned physicist and author believes that this scientific mindset needs more encouragement and nurturing.

In a conversation with ETV Bharat, H C Verma expressed both hope and concern about the current state of education in Kashmir. “Whenever I come to Kashmir and talk to students here, I feel that their entire focus is on preparing for the NEET exams. I ask them, do we really need so many doctors? Is our country so sick? Is Kashmir really so sick that everyone must become a doctor?” he said.

He questioned the overwhelming emphasis on medicine as a career choice. “Then what about the engineers? Where will the scientists, teachers, thinkers, and inventors go? It seems education has now become merely a means to secure a job, not to understand life or serve others.”

He explained that education today is largely being seen as a way to get a job, rather than as a way to understand life or contribute to society. While students are increasingly choosing medicine over engineering, Professor Verma pointed out that core subjects like physics and mathematics are being left behind.