Opinion | Dr Darakshaan Andrabi : Iron lady of Kashmir

Sibat ul Hasnain

The bedrock of prosperity of a country resorts to the balanced, efficient, and thoughtful institutional configuration within the country. The algorithm of Indian institutional composition translated the country into a fastest growing country. It is the establishments envisaged by our constitutional forefathers that secured the cohesive bond of the nation notwithstanding the cultural, linguistic, and religious distinction. The viability of the institutions sustain when crowned with incumbents upholding the essence and ethos of the institutions.

India as a country has been gifted with the likes of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, A P J Abul Kalam, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and above all Narendra Modi spearheading the country towards new altitudes. The replica of such captivating leadership personalities have been noticed at regional levels as well.  Jammu and Kashmir is star-crossed in such terms. Besides Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah, no person pleases chronicles citing charismatic leaders. Jammu and Kashmir has been afflicted and affected by the dearth of akin leaders. A new faith magnifies the optimism owing to the rising of Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi, (chairman Waqf Board JK) from the horizons to fill the void of leadership inadequacy.

Waqf Board as an institution would have been an impetus to the development of J&K if it was fed with proper men, material and procedures. Unfortunately, the Board was used merely for political gains serving vested interests.  Loosely defined Laws, rules, regulations, structures under the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Acts served the dividends of Political groups. If Mata Vishno devi Shrine Board with single shrine can have top Hospital, University and other assets. Waqf Board has constellation of shrines and may have pioneered in upliftment of Muslim community albeit managed properly.   Abrogation of Article 370 removed the filter and laws hitherto unapplicable to Jammu and Kashmir were applicable to the UT of J&K. Waqf Act 1995 henceforth governs the waqf board J&K. Subsequently, Waqf Board was constituted and Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi was appointed Chairman of the Board.

Many alleged the move as penetration of RSS ideology in religious institutions, but insightful search leads us to understand that Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi’s overseeing of the institution was inconvenient to traditional elites and Babus. Nobody could foresee the impact of a lady being handed over with a sick and sorry conditioned Waqf Board. To the public, it was just changing of positions. But as time melted, Waqf Board became the household name. The task before Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi was immense, and here her credentials as a leader Kashmir desired for ages, popped up. From framing up of rules, regulations, structures, tools and techniques to the beauty of strategy she followed, everything made an imprint around. Shifting from Environmental determinism approach to Resource dependence approach whereby she possesses the capability to control its own fate and define its own course of action for public welfare whilst insulate from influences that pose threat to the growth and development

In the hindsight, a year has drifted since she took over the charges. As the year travelled, time kept sanitising and sensitising the Waqf Board. Appreciation, adoration, and admiration from all corners (except the blue blooded) followed the process. Banning the old age practice of collection of voluntary donations (Nazr o Niyaz) at shrines whereby allegations of unethical practice of collection were reported from devotees   , prohibition of  turban tying ceremony ( Dastarbandi) at shrines carried to promote political agenda , disbanding of local management committees of shrines and waqf properties and taking direct control of the shrines and properties by Board to ensure smooth and systematic management of Waqf Units and many other reforms within the span of one year demanded  high quality leadership and a person with   vision , high ethical standards , resilience , determination, and  brimmed with enthusiasm . Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi manifested distinction and excellence thereof

Innovations like eOffice, geotagging, GPS based attendance of employees and reforms in personnel administration, amending the rules of recruitment process that hitherto have been a discretion of incumbents were modelled. Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi has painted the Board with democratic setup by taking all decisions in Board meetings and putting all decisions subject to majority vote thereby arresting fallouts of despotic decision making

Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi envisages to continue the overhaul of the institution by reforms, amendments, revisions and   anticipates Cancer Hospital, Universities, schools, and promotion of religious tourism that shall pave way for metamorphosis and remodelling of J&K’s Growth and Development.  Waqf Board is in safe hands of Dr Darakhshaan Andrabi who is nurturing the Waqf with utmost care likewise the Gardener monitors garden with vigilance and watchfulness.

The long yearning for a leader in Kashmir appears to be fulfilled. The disposition of her Leadership, character, broad support and public recognition demands a bigger canvas in terms of bigger role whereby she can draw the fate of J&K. Precisely all this translates her into The IRON LADY OF KASHMIR