Opinion | She Speaks, Therefore She Is: Breaking the Silence in Kashmir

If I ever decide to speak against the injustices happening to women, that does not mean I have a point to prove. There is nothing to prove when all you state are facts. It just means that as a woman and as a human, some things are intolerable and completely unacceptable. When you read a few lines in school or college, you just feel a sort of compulsion to observe the society you are living in and see how different people are treated differently. It actually brings the famous line of George Orwell to mind: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” In our societies, all people are somehow equal, but when it comes to women, they are barely considered a valuable species.

Women have been constantly marginalized and taken for granted. Their opinions are never valued, nor are their views taken into consideration. Simone de Beauvoir, in her most famous book The Second Sex, said, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” This is important when we look at how women and their roles in society are determined by the age-old norms of that society. Her consent isn’t entertained, her dreams are deemed irrelevant, and the course of her life is already decided for her. It’s true that society plays an important role in shaping individuals. Again, we find the significance of this statement when we look at the condition of women in the Kashmiri context.

Kashmir, even though it’s considered heaven on earth, has long been a hell for women. People here were always surrounded by conflict and turmoil that women’s rights were pushed to the back seat. They were treated as nothing, they weren’t given the liberty to express themselves, and these injustices had taken such deep roots that even women internalized the inferiority with which they were treated. These inequalities were not even considered inequalities but natural laws. If a woman dared to break the norms and tried to make her way in the world, she was judged harshly, her accomplishments were seen as a rebellion.

But rebellion sometimes becomes the first language of the silenced. In the last few years, we’ve begun to witness a shift—not sudden, not complete—but powerful in its own way. From being pushed into the background, some women in Jammu and Kashmir are now beginning to walk to the front, not to ask for space, but to claim it. The same society that told them they weren’t enough now watches them become leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and defenders of human rights. The change isn’t happening because the system suddenly became fair—it’s happening because women chose to rise despite it.

In villages where women were once not allowed to sit in public meetings, they now lead them. Women like Shazia Akhter, a young sarpanch from Rajouri, are taking charge of village development plans and speaking boldly about sanitation, road connectivity, and the education of girls. She isn’t waiting for someone to offer her a voice—she’s using the one she already had, loud and clear. These women in grassroots politics are redefining what leadership looks like, not with suits and stages, but with rubber boots in the muddy lanes of their communities.

Among the many stories of resilience and innovation, the journey of Iqra Nazir stands out. Founder of Tul Palav, a brand rooted in Kashmiri culture, Iqra has transformed traditional crafts into a thriving business. Operating primarily online with a flagship store in Baghat, Srinagar, Tul Palav has garnered a global customer base, with significant orders from the US and India. Despite challenges like internet shutdowns, Iqra’s commitment to promoting Kashmiri culture through fashion remains unwavering. She envisions expanding her brand and participating in international fashion events to further showcase the rich heritage of Kashmir.

Iqra’s journey began after her marriage in 2020, when she expanded her business to include men’s wear. Initially managing everything alone, from designing to delivery, she gradually expanded her team to include tailors and other staff. Today, around 50 people work together in their workshop, contributing to the brand’s growth and success.

Shaheena Akhtar: Daughter of a coppersmith, Shaheena is the only child in her family to attend college. In 2007, she approached the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and successfully completed a training program. She then started a business proposal involving weaving and embroidering pashmina shawls made from the soft and fine cashmere wool from Changthangi goats. Today, she employs approximately 18 workers and has 11 looms running at her unit, with an annual turnover of approximately ₹1.2 crore.

Mehvish Mushtaq a law graduate, co-founded Me ‘n’ U Café in Srinagar, becoming the first-ever woman café entrepreneur in Kashmir. Despite facing discouragement due to her gender, she pursued her passion and established a successful café, breaking societal norms and paving the way for future women entrepreneurs in the region.

Rifat Masoodi: Known as the “bat-woman” of Kashmir, Rifat revived her father-in-law’s bat-manufacturing business, which had been shut down in the 1990s. She started bat manufacturing units in Awantipora, Anantnag, and Pampore, running the business for more than 18 years. Her bats are sold across the country, and she dreams of providing bats to Indian cricket’s icons .

Education, too, is becoming a powerful weapon. More girls are going to school, pursuing higher education, and breaking into fields that were once off-limits. In the University of Kashmir and other institutions across the region, you will now find girls studying law, engineering, journalism, and social sciences—not just to earn degrees, but to change the narratives. They are asking questions, challenging textbooks, and writing new stories. When a woman from Sopore becomes a coder or a journalist from Pulwama tells the world her story, it is not just personal—it is political. It is defiance. It is leadership.

For example Nadia Beigh made history by becoming the youngest candidate from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination in 2019. Her achievement is a testament to her dedication and resilience, inspiring countless young women in the region to aspire for civil services careers. Kamila Mushtaq topped the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) examination in 2018. Her success story is particularly inspiring as she balanced her preparation with family responsibilities, demonstrating that determination and hard work can overcome any obstacles

Policies are beginning to open doors, albeit slowly. Government initiatives like the Mission Youth program and women entrepreneurship schemes under J&K Rural Livelihood Mission have started giving women access to micro-financing, training, and markets. Some women are turning their kitchens into bakery businesses, their farmlands into organic ventures, their ideas into movements. They’re not just earning livelihoods; they are becoming role models. These women are opening the ways for other marginalized girls who are still bound in age old norms and are still afraid to dream big.

And yet, it must be said—this transformation is not smooth. Patriarchy doesn’t die quietly. Every woman who tries to rise still has to push through layers of stigma, moral judgment, and institutional resistance. For every one success story we see, there are hundreds buried in silence. But what matters is that the silence is being broken, piece by piece. Women in Jammu and Kashmir are no longer content with survival. They want more—and they deserve more. They are writing themselves into the future, not as passive footnotes, but as authors of change. And that, in a place where simply raising your voice once required courage, is nothing short of revolutionary.

( Writer can be reached on Shafiyawani33@gmail.com )