Srinagar: In a quiet yet powerful step toward reshaping the future of Kashmiri youth, seasoned educator Mukul Rana is set to launch a series of English language and IELTS preparation workshops across the Kashmir Valley, starting mid-July 2025.
With over 15 years of experience in global education, Rana believes that language should never be a barrier to opportunity. Through this initiative, he hopes to bridge the gap between Kashmir’s untapped student potential and the national and international platforms that await them.
“Kashmiri students don’t need to be changed. They just need a little polishing, and they’re ready for the world,” Rana says—his voice grounded in years of watching students transform across continents.
An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, Rana has taught English communication at the World Language Center at Japan’s prestigious Soka University and has trained learners from Delhi University to Dubai, from Tokyo to Europe—in public speaking, confidence building, and academic English.
The upcoming workshops to be held in collaboration with colleges across the Kashmir Valley—will focus on IELTS strategies, spoken English, public speaking, academic writing, and interview preparation. While the short-term goal is to help students perform well in English proficiency tests, the larger vision is to equip them with confidence, clarity, and readiness for working with the best companies in the global market.
In a region where many bright students are held back by limited resources or lack of mentorship, this initiative is more than just a classroom project—it’s a bridge.
“I’ve taught students from Tokyo to India, and I can say with certainty: Kashmiris are among the brightest minds I’ve met. All they need is someone to believe in them, and to properly guide them to the path of success,” Mukul shares.
Beyond teaching, he has hosted public speaking events in Delhi at venues like Taj Palace, Le Méridien, and The Lalit, empowering university students and working professionals to step into the spotlight with confidence. With the Kashmir workshops, he brings the same energy and belief.
The workshops will roll out from mid-July, with Rana and his team also planning one-on-one mentoring for students who show exceptional promise and wish to pursue higher studies abroad and work at top notch companies in India and across the globe.
This initiative comes at a time when Kashmiri youth are increasingly setting their sights on global opportunities—be it international universities, remote work, or digital entrepreneurship. And for many of them, mastering English is not about impressing the world—it’s about finally being heard by it.
“Language is power,” Mukul says. “When you teach someone how to use it, you’re not just teaching grammar—you’re giving them a voice that can travel beyond borders.”
