From spinning wheels to weaving shawls and laboring in the fields, the woman of Valley has risen to the highest position to rule Kashmir.
|| PROF. S.TRILOK SINGH
“Almighty has bestowed woman with different virtues – A woman performs the role of a mother, a nurse…and a good friend when she shares the grief as well as joy of her husband,” narrated Hazrat Hazrat Abubakar Sidiqui (RA). Possessing all these qualities, a woman still continues to be dominated by man in this society. Kashmiri woman is hard working, beautiful, stout and active. She has proved her worth in different fields, one finds her in crop fields helping her husband in transplanting paddy and at times she proves to be a helping hand in reaping the crop. A woman in Kashmir can be found selling flowers in Dal Lake and paddling Shikaras or one can spot her selling pottery items. She is very active in the fish market of Srinagar.
In the last decade of 20th century one finds them collecting dry wood for domestic use. From the ancient times Kashmiri woman has proven her wisdom as well as wit. Her great treasure is her character and simplicity. But when arises she acts as a savior and can withstand a storm that sweeps away everything which crosses its way. From spinning wheels to weaving shawls or selling fish on the pavement of Srinagar city, she has rose to the highest position to rule Kashmir. No doubt that Treaty of Amritsar was a curse for Kashmir as we along with our possession became property of rulers, who claimed they had have purchased “entire Kashmir” for a partly sum of Rs 75 lakhs. They never bothered about the welfare of the people.
To quote ‘Aatish Chinar’ when MK Gandhi arrived in Kashmir, he asked her majesty (wife of Maharaja Hari Singh) to set free the people of Kashmir and give them their independence as they are naked and dying of hunger. I happen to ask a group of friends we address our mother as ‘mouj’. We often call her ‘Ded’, why? Searching for answers, I said ‘Dida’ was a name of a famous lady who ruled our Kashmir near about 50 years. She crushed the opposition with strong hand and became a famous ruler whose name is shinning in the rosary of ancient rulers. Kota Rani and Habba Khatoon are other names who won fame in revolutionizing the society, pointing out the weak points and evil customs. A great mystic woman of Kashmir, born in 1335 A.D, at Pandrethan near Srinagar, Lala Ded became the seeker of truth at the age of 25.
The first noble person Lala met was Sidha Bauy, eminent scholar of Sanskrit. Lala Ded was a true believer in oneness of God. The core of religion according to her consists in equality in men and women, human brotherhood and unity of man with God. In the field of girls’ education few women who came forward cannot be ignored. In 1912 A.D. State Government felt that the climate was favorable enough in the towns to start primary girls’ schools at Fateh Kadal, the heart of city. The first Kashmiri Pandit lady who had the honor to give lesson to girls was Tikri. She was a familiar figure known by the name of ‘Tikri Master’. In 1936-1946, Kashmiri women took little part in politics.
In 1946, National Conference under the leadership Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah started ‘Quit Kashmir Moment’. Muslim women actively participated in the movement. The participants were from working class and the educated sections. A famous figure was Fatima, daughter of a peasant. In 1946 while leading a procession in Anantnag she was shot dead by Dogra Police.
In administration our women are not lacking behind. At the top there is Mehbooba Mufti, the first woman Chief Minister of the State. She was presented guard of honor by a lady Police Chief on the first day at civil secretariat on May 9, 2016 in Srinagar. At present we have three women holding the post of District Commissioner.
She laughed at her death in her love for motherland. While dying her last were, “You have killed my body my soul is free, so will be the case with my motherland, it will be free now. Bullets can silence my voice not my ideas. We have come in the battle field Kashmir will get Azadi. Long live revolution”. Another famous figure was Noor Gujari, a milkman’s daughter.
Prominent role in Quit Kashmir Moment was played by Begum Abdullah and Zenab Begum. But in 40s she recognized her duties and joined the common public. In 1947 when Gandhi and Nehru visited Kashmir they paid tribute to her growing patriotism, broad mindedness and devotion to duty. She played an important role when Sikh and Hindu refuges came from frontier of Punjab, helping the poor and helpless. She invented the slogan ‘Sher-e-Kashmir ka kya irshad,Hindu Muslim Sikh itihad. Begum Abdullah earned the affectionate title of “Madre Meharban” (kind mother), by dint of her love, sacrifice and labor in the cause of Kashmirs’ freedom.
In other fields such as singing, poetry, literacy our women are advancing fast. Shameema Azad has won so many awards in singing that too in other languages, bringing laurels to Kashmir. She was honored as ‘Daughter of Andhra Pradesh’. Habba Khatoons’ poetry is still on the lips of Kashmiri boys and girls –‘chone ya bag to chuie vollow chawnei che keyazi gnaie meun dhoie’. In administration our women are not lacking behind. At the top there is Mehbooba Mufti, the first woman Chief Minister of the State. She was presented guard of honor by a lady Police Chief on the first day at civil secretariat on May 9, 2016 in Srinagar.
At present we have three women holding the post of District Commissioner. Born in 1959, Mehbooba joined politics in 90’s. She was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly in 1996 on Indian National Congress ticket from Bijbehara. She is one among few ladies in India who are heading the State. At present we have women Chief Ministers in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir. J&K is a very sensitive state and unlike other states it is very difficult to run administration in this state. But people have pinned the hopes on Mehbooba that she will prove to be a successful leader and would lead the State towards progress, prosperity and happiness. Her cabinet members are well educated and more capable especially Nirmal Singh, Haseeb Drabu and Nayeem Akhtar. Led by Mehbooba the present Government is barely three months. Before we started analyzing the performance of this Government, let’s first give it a breathing space to prove itself.
(Author hails from Gamraj Tral).
