Opinion | Local stories of Kashmiri Women

Sports, Schemes, Enterprises, Shops, Salons, Writers, and Authors

Women across various villages and towns in Kashmir have been creating new routes and stories through sports, government initiatives, small businesses, beauty salons, and writing. Their stories take root in various and everyday settings, yet portray women displaying signs of courage and change. This shows women in Kashmir creating independent identities for themselves.

Local stories on sports: Ulfat Mushtaq belongs to Buddan village in Rafiabad, North Kashmir. She did not start her journey with big dreams or support systems. She started with a cycle and quiet determination. In an area where girls in sports are still questioned, Ulfat chose cycling, a sport rarely seen among women in Kashmir. She trained on local roads, often early in the morning, balancing studies and practice without professional coaching or facilities. People watched, some doubted, but she kept going. Over time, her effort took her beyond Rafiabad. Ulfat went on to represent Jammu and Kashmir at national-level cycling championships. Her journey is not about fame, it is about hard work. For many girls in North Kashmir, Ulfat stands as proof that sports can begin from ordinary roads and still reach extraordinary platforms.

Schemes:

There are several schemes initiated by the government and banks, which have been working behind the scenes to support women in Jammu and Kashmir at various levels. The Marriage Assistance Scheme assists families in economically weaker sections by providing support to girls during their marriage. The Ladli Beti Scheme ensures that the long-term prospects for girls are met, as funds are invested in their names.

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Janani Suraksha Yojana help women through programs that focus on women’s well-being and safe motherhood practices. Along with these programs, J&K Bank Lal Ded Stree Shakti Loan, and National Rural Livelihood Mission empower women to begin their own businesses and earn a livelihood through these small business ventures. All these programs are slowly working to enhance the dignity of women here.

Enterprises:

Across Kashmir, many women are running small but meaningful local enterprises. In towns like Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama and Kupwara, women are managing home-based bakeries, tailoring units, beauty salons, boutique shops, food processing work, and online handicraft businesses. Some are part of self-help groups, while others work independently using social media to reach customers. These enterprises may look small, but they are helping women earn, support families, and gain confidence. Slowly, women-run businesses are becoming a normal part of local markets in Kashmir.

From my own village in Rafiabad, North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, two sisters, Soliha Bashir and Ifrah, are creating art that people notice. Soliha works on needle art and hoop embroidery, creating wall hangings, key chains, jewellery, and other handicraft items, while Ifrah focuses on sketches, paintings, and abstract art. They started their work at home as a hobby, spending hours experimenting with designs and colours. Slowly, friends and relatives began noticing their work and asking for custom pieces, which encouraged them to take it seriously. They created an Instagram page called Sonzal to showcase their art, and soon, orders started coming not just from Kashmir but from other parts of India.Their journey is proof that talent from small villages can reach far beyond the Valley, and that women supporting women can change entire communities.

Shops:

In the Sopore town of North Kashmir, Naira Noor has become one of the most well-known women entrepreneurs in the area. She is the first woman in her town to complete a B.Sc in Fashion Designing, and she also holds a diploma from an ITI in fashion. Naira started her boutique from just one room in her home where she used to design clothes and serve customers herself. In the beginning, she struggled to manage clients and even cried when it felt too difficult, but she did not give up. Today, her boutique is well-known, and she inspires many young women to think of business as a real option in Sopore. Her journey shows how passion and learning can help a woman build her own enterprise, even from a small place. Beyond Sopore, similar stories are emerging from other parts of North Kashmir.

Taking the case of Inshada Bashir Mir, who lives in Hanjiwera Pattan, Bashir decided not to wait for a job after completing her MBA course. Instead, she started Tubruk, which works to promote artisans from the region, most of whom are female artists specializing in handcrafted products from Kashmir. What started off as a small project soon went beyond the Valley and found markets in other cities such as Delhi or Bengaluru too. Through her efforts, Bashir Mir has not only become an entrepreneur but also provides economic support to people who depend on traditional work for sustenance.

Salons

Sumaiya Amin belongs to Srinagar and was one of the pioneering women who made the salon business a serious profession in the region of Kashmir. She began her journey in the field of beauty when very few women had opened salons as entrepreneurs. Though she started early, Sumaiya had to begin her journey with meagre resources and knowledge, and she relied heavily on the power of learning by doing. Gradually, she gained the confidence and trust of her customers by only delivering honest services, grooming, and a venue conducive to women. Today, the salon business of Sumaiya has earned the stature and repute of women in the region, particularly when it comes to bridal makeup and other related services. Furthermore, new generations of women are also joining the salon industry.

Haribah Chowdhary from Rainawari, Srinagar. She was interested in beauty and fashion from a young age, but chose to learn professionally instead of following shortcuts. She went outside Kashmir to train in cosmetology and later worked with established beauty brands to gain experience. After returning home, she started her own beauty studio, where she offers modern makeup and skincare services. Starting was not easy, as the field was new for women in Kashmir, but her skill and confidence helped her grow. Today, Haribah represents a new generation of Kashmiri women who are using training and courage to create their own careers.

Writers and authors:

Women in Kashmirhave slowly started to make their mark as writers. Dheeba Nazir, who specializes in Kashmiri literature, lives in Srinagar and has been writing for a long time on subjects that expose readers to their day-to-day lives, stories of women, and culture as showcased around them. Nazir was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for her book Zareen Zakham, which has given hope to many young Kashmiri readers through her literature.

Together, these women portray that the writers of Kashmir, especially the women, are not just in search of recognition but are also intent on keeping their language alive, recording their lives, and speaking out to convey the reality that is hiding deep down. Today, writers are exploring poetry, short stories, essay in Kashmiri, Urdu, and even English, which reflect the rich culture of the Valley. There are more women in this category, who are also being given a platform through festivals, workshops, and camps in Srinagar and other places in the Valley, to read, discuss, and publish their works. By penning down the realities of life, culture, and society, writers like Dheeba, Hajira, etc., are slowly but steadily paving the way to create a niche in the literary world of Kashmir, which is not just about art but is also about society, culture, and empowerment.

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