Despite facing challenges and fluctuations over the years, Takhti in Schools was once a thriving tradition. (TAKHTI) the traditional wooden slate children used to carry upto school either in bag or hand was an indispensable tool to improve their learning as well as writing skill. It boasts eye hand coordination and writing concentration. It was an economical and affordable for every kid enrolled in the school. Those days of schooling was absolutely mesmerizing and jubilance. Takhti served as profound benefits. Teachers in school used to check its writing quality and negative reinforcement for those whose writing is not legible. It was essential that Takhti look clean and freshly written.
"Mashaq" is a Kashmiri word for Takhti (wooden slate).Mohjendro depicting the use of takhti and history dates from the period of Indus Valley Civilization and use of Takhti and indicating Indus valley people knew the writing skill. It is a wooden plank about the size of cutting board with same thickness and children use to write on it with "Narou Qalam or twig" during the initial years of schooling. No doubt there was stiff competition in schools-- teachers used to appreciate and encourage those whose Takhti looks clean both in writing and maintenance. Competition among students remains there as soon as the morning assembly comes to an end.
Takhti purely is an effective tool not only students to improve writing skill, but also reduces the defect known as dysgraphia. Sharing my nostalgic when I was reading in Govt Middle School Darpora Lolab now upgraded HS, we used to go school in groups and reach almost an hour before school timings. There we assemble with class fellows and cheek each ones Takhti (wooden slate) and notice which ones look clean and freshly written. It was actually the teachers fears that we used to have during those days. No one dares to cross or play before teachers even after schooling/class is over.
I recall my experience that when we attend the morning assembly and during the time few teachers namely Peer Ab Rashid shah, Gh Nabi Shah Gh Ahmad Kumar and many more inspects in the lines of morning assembly in order to check hull juice hands we felt goose bumps, and sweating comes out automatically weather my uniform is not up to date, or I slowly pronounce the words of prayer or my Takhti is not legiblelly written. We secretly rubbing our hands with saliva to dimen the color of hull juice. Such was the fear and respect of our teachers.
As soon as the morning assembly comes to an end. An announcement is made by teachers all those students who remained absent in previous day were asked to stand up and explain the cause of his or her absence. Teachers have begun the checking process, a sort of fear looms whether teacher might pick out and made to stand in guilty row. Those standing in the guilty row, have bent to cock form and lashed on the back with long and hard twig.
By the time checking process is completed and we are asked to move one by one to our respective classrooms. Meanwhile we were asked to clean our Takhtis and prepare them for writing again in the next day. Preparing and erasing the Takhti was a tedious job. The cotton cloth mixture with black soot and water was rubbed on both sides followed by drying in sun. Once dried both sides are shinned rubbing them by bottle bottom or cup brims. Such was the charm and competition among us during those days.
Back in memories, during my school days no one dares to enter the school without having takhti in his hand. It was not costly but the poorest of poor could afford it easily. It is durable, manageable and easy to handle. Takhti doesn't only help in improving writing but it also improves vocabulary. The pen we use to write was called "Naroue kalam" which was sharpened with knife and dipped in the ink bottle and then writing on takhti becomes possible.
To put in succinct, tradition of Takhti is fast becoming the rare sight in our valley. If present generation is being appraised about the same they would hardly believe. With the advent of technology and modern tools have badly ruled out the tradition of writing by hand. This tradition is rapidly dwindling and copy paste becomes modern trend of writing. We desperately need to revive this tradition.

Email:--------------------farhaanqysar@gmail.com