New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- Recently, an interesting and rather disturbing anecdote unfolded in a rural higher secondary school in one of the corners of Kashmir Valley.

With the examination notification issued, students facing attendance shortages were being interviewed to ascertain the reasons for their prolonged absence from school. One such 12th-class student was sitting rather proudly on a sofa, sandwiched between his English teacher and his father.

The teacher began asking him a few basic questions related to the subject. To everyone's surprise, the student could not answer a single question satisfactorily. What was even more striking was that the student appeared completely comfortable with his inability to respond. He offered one mean...