Today is 8th march, the international women's day.
The internet is abuzz with the celebrations. Everywhere you will find women
influencers' who changed the world around them. In this post I'm am remembering
but a few of our amazing women who rule the hearts. Without them the world we
live in wouldn’t be same. Today is the day when we should feel proud to be
women because we are incredibly strong, intelligent and beautiful. Spread love,
support each other and always be yourself.
In today's article I bring you the amazing women who changed
the world around them. The most prominent figures in the history of Kashmir,
who will always be remembered and whose contributions to the society will
always be celebrated.
1. Lalleswari aka Lal Ded.
She was born in 1320 in Pandrethan, Srinagar. She belonged
to a pandith family and is associated with the mystic poetry in Kashmir, as its
creator. Her poems and couplets are sung and promoted even today. Her poems are
amazing treasure of Kashmiri literature as they are the earliest composition in
Kashmiri language(koshur). The poems say a lot about the history of this land
and her spiritual journey.
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| Beautiful painting by Kayehaan |
When Lal-ded was 12 years old, her parents married her off.
She later left the wedlock on pertext of unhappy marriage and went to become
Sanyasan(renunciation).
Her poetry has been translated widely, including English
translations by Jane Hirshfield in Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43
Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women(1994), Coleman Barks in Naked Song:
Lalla (1992), and K.C.I.E. Sir George Grierson in Lalla-Vakyani or
The Wise Sayings of Lal-Ded, A Mystic Poetess of Ancient Kashmir (1920).
Her most common phrases and verses are used even today. One among
such is “hael maertan, Hakar maertan, lali lalewat tchali ne zahn” (no matter what
cuisines are cooked, I will be served the same stone in my food). (Back story:
Her in laws mistreated her so much that they would serve her rice and underneath
it they would place a stone to make it look much in quantity, when it never was
sufficient)
It is well known that the famous Muslim saint Sheikh
Noor-din-Wali or Nund Reshi was also influenced by Lal-ded.
2.
Habbah Khatoon
She is considered as the nightingale of Kashmir and is
popularly known as zooni or zoon(lit. Moon). She was born in 1554 in Athwajan
and is considered as one of the greatest poets of Kashmir. Even after 400 years
of her death, her songs and ballads are sung in the valley and liked by one and
all. (she is my personal favourite).
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| Painting by Barooja |
Her parents married her off to a peasant lad in the neighborhood
who was horribly abusive. The marriage ended with a divorce. After few years,
the king of the valley- Yusuf Shah Chak, heard her singing in the forest while
strolling there and instantly fell in love with her. They married and were
living a happy life but this happiness was short-lived as her husband was held
captive by by Mughal emperor Akbar, he was subsequently taken away to
Bengal in 1579 to never return. She became an ascetic and died in 1609.
Most of her songs indulge in remembrance of separation and
sorrow of her husbands disappearance.
Her poems are in Kashmiri language too.
3. Parveena Ahangar.
The iron lady of Kashmir. An epitome of strength and a
source of inspiration. She is the one who formed the Association of Parents of
Disappeared Persons (APDP) in 1995. On August 1990 her 16 year old son was
picked up from his home by the Indian troopers never to return. The disappearance
of her son triggered her inner strength. She searched every nook and corner of
the valley but couldn’t find her son. Realizing that she was not alone in this
battle, in 1994, she founded APDP where the victims of this injustice gather
not only to fight together but also to comfort each other.
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| Artwork by Rollie Mukharjee |
According to APDP at least 10000 men are missing due to
forced disappearances. She has represented APDP’s cause at Philippines in 2000,
Thailand in 2003, Indonesia in 2005, Chang Mai in 2006, Geneva in 2008,
Cambodia in 2009 and London in 2014. Her efforts attained a global
recognition on July 10, 2005, when she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was nominated by the prestigious Indian media Channel
CNN IBN for a coveted award which she rejected on account of the deceit
approach adopted by Indian media over the pain and tragedies of Kashmiris.
She is also the recipient of Rafto prize for her continuous efforts
in campaigning for human rights.
4.
Asiya Andrabi.
She is presently the only strong woman separatist leader and
the founder of Dukhtaran-e-millat(daughters of nation) group. This Islamic
group is part of the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference in
the Kashmir valley. The main aim of the organisation is to work
for separation of Kashmir from India. Asiya Andrabi remains
one of the most important women separatists in the valley.
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| Digital painting by Suhail Naqshbandi |
Asiya Andrabi was married to Dr. Qasim Faktoo (a
founding member of the Hizbul Mujahideen, the biggest militant
organization in Kashmir) in 1990. Her husband is in jail since 1992. By then,
Asiya was already a household name as the head of Kashmir's biggest network of
women jihadists (as she describes her lieutenants of Dukhtaran-e-Millat), Asiya
Andrabi plays a crucial role in politics of Kashmir valley.
5.
Raj begum.
Born 27 march 1927, Raj Begum is the melody queen of
Kashmir. She is the leading 20th century Kashmiri singer. She was
recognized with the Padma Shri award in 2002. She died in 2016,
aged 89.
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| Artwork by Faheem Hussain |
Mention the one who has inspired you.
