The assembly elections have brought political excitement back to Jammu and Kashmir.

Candidates are making fervent appeals to the public, stoking emotions and promising better days ahead. Political rallies are stirring hope and anticipation; participants dance and sing as they wind their way through villages. 

And among the crowds are women, walking with the rallies or watching from the sidelines.

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an erstwhile state downsized into two union territories on August 5, 2019, are being held after a decade-long hiatus. Voting in the first phase will take place on September 18 in parts of Jammu and several constituencies in South Kashmir, so rallies and political meet-and-greets are in full swing.

But in the grand politics of Kashmir, many women feel their issues have been sidelined. Of 459 candidates contesting in the first two phases of the polls, only 15 are women – three fielded by the National Conference, two by the People’s Democratic Party, and one each by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Republican Party of India.

In Mirhama village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Sara Ahangar said she’s happy rallies are passing through her village, giving it the attention it deserves.

The 60-year-old says that her son is the only breadwinner of her family, dependent on menial jobs in and around the village. The village they live in, she says, is the village of sheikhs or traditional sweepers or workers. “We do not have much to rely on. We are not landowners, our village is poor, and in the last 10 years we have been neglected,” Sara said. “We hope things change after the new government with local representation is formed.”

There’s also grief amidst this hope. In Jablipora village in Anantnag, Gulshan rushed from her house when she heard a contestant was passing through the area. Her eyes damp and skin wrinkled, she pressed against her neighbours as she tried to catch the politician’s attention.

“My 19-year-old son has been arrested,” she called out. “Please, bring him back.”

Gulshan’s son, Yasir Ahmad Bhar, was arrested last October. “I don't know why he was arrested. He has been languishing in Srinagar central jail and his auto has also been seized,” she said. 

But it’s a similar story for hundreds of women like Gulshan. Over the past three decades, Kashmiri women have endured some of the worst consequences of war and violences, with their kin detained under controversial laws like the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

The arrests are a serious issue for regional parties, who have promised their release even as their mothers, wives and daughters turn up full force at rallies. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference said it would prioritise the release of political prisoners and youths, while the People’s Democratic Party said it will provide free legal aid to prisoners. Other parties like the People’s Conference vowed to work for the repeal of draconian laws and to seek amnesty for youths booked for ‘disturbing’ law and order. 

In Delina in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Haseena Begum is one of the lucky ones without a relative behind bars, but she still prays for their release. On her hopes for the upcoming polls, she said, “I want a playground for children, continued water supply, and better roads for my locality. I also hope that all those who have been jailed should be released.”

Distress among women

In a statement in August, Jammu and Kashmir’s chief electoral officer announced that out of a total of 88.03 lakh voters, 43.13 lakh are women – a little short of 50 percent. The overall number of women voters has risen by 51,142 since the previous polls. There will also be more women voters than men in at least eight assembly segments in Srinagar district, making them a key demographic.

Shriya Handoo, who joined the National Conference in March, said women’s issues “frequently take a backseat, especially in regions like Kashmir”. 

“The compounded effects of political uncertainty, economic distress, and social restrictions pushed women further into the background, with no administrative cushion to ease the burden,” said Shriya, a Kashmiri Pandit whose grandfather was a senior National Conference leader in the 1980s and 1990s. On Kashmir specifically, she said, “Over the last decade, persistent instability has increasingly marginalised women, leaving them more vulnerable than ever before.”

Aatina Zehgir, a third-year law student at Kashmir University, said it’s difficult for women to get good healthcare or enough maternity leave. A resident of Srinagar, the 22-year-old is passionate about social work and is driven by her ambition to create a positive impact in her community. 

“My goal is to contribute towards building a safer, more compassionate society where humanity thrives. I aspire to inspire others to believe in the power of goodness and kindness, fostering a world where true humanity shines through,” she said. “I have seen women limited to the panchayat system as I do not see complete acceptance even though we have had a woman chief minister. There is more ground that needs to be covered as far as women empowerment is concerned.”

After the abrogation of Article 370, the Jammu & Kashmir State Women’s Commission was disbanded overnight, leading to the suspension of hundreds of pending domestic violence cases and other issues. Qurat Masoodi, who runs an NGO called AASH that works for underprivileged women and children, told this reporter there is no longer any redressal platform. 

“For most women in Kashmir, especially in rural areas, we’ve found there is not enough awareness or access to platforms like the National Commission of Women,” she said. “I still find it difficult to raise awareness…The way to deal with these problems is through better representation in politics and the government.”

She continued, “This should be a person who has experienced the challenges of being a woman in Kashmir, not someone from a privileged background. There is a need for someone who genuinely understands Kashmir. I see politicians but there is a lack of women leaders – no one to represent or speak for them.”

Need for space 

Over the years, mental health experts and researchers have said Kashmiri women experience a disproportionate amount of trauma and mental health issues as compared to their counterparts elsewhere. 

Dr Yasir Rather, a professor of psychiatry at Srinagar’s Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, said women often face backlash for challenging traditional gender norms. They risk alienation or violence when they advocate for equality or justice.

“In Kashmir, women often experience a profound sense of insecurity in various aspects of their lives, particularly in traditional patriarchal settings as we are a close-knit society,” he said.

He added that there are few spaces for women to discuss these issues. “They may discuss it with their parents or friends, sometimes their husbands. But holistically they suffer and teach the new generation the same – this is their definition of patience.”

Dilshad Shaheen, the women’s wing president of the J&K Apni Party, said she’s been advocating women empowerment in party meetings and during rallies.

“It’s not a coincidence that our party was formed on March 8 which is also International Women’s Day,” she said. “We believe in women empowerment and have not only made it part of our party manifesto but we have already started working for them by providing many with work opportunities.”

Amandeep Kaur, a resident of Baramulla district in North Kashmir and member of the Awami Ittehad Party, said the women of Kashmir “need an environment where they can speak freely”.

“The last 20-21 years are known to everyone. What happened in the last 25 years and particularly in the last five years should not happen again,” she said. “Article 370 is also an issue for women. It is also important for women. The women of Kashmir need to speak and they need an environment where they can speak freely. In fact, everyone needs that.”

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