Srinagar, Dec. 14 -- The road from my quint village Sheeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district to the bustling venue of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025 at Panckula Chandigarh was paved with uncertainty, resilience, and a strong belief in destiny.

It is with immense pride and a sense of responsibility that I write this - not just as a teacher, but as one of the few educators from Jammu & Kashmir selected for the prestigious Science Safari at IISF 2025. Out of over a thousand nominations from across India, I was honored to be among the top 200 delegates, invited to participate in one of the nation's largest platforms for scientific exchange and inspiration.

But the journey here was far from straightforward.

My Indi...