SAHIL NAZIR
When the story of contemporary Kashmir is told, Mehbooba Mufti’s name will be more than a political footnote; it will be remembered as the journey of a daughter who dared to walk through the flames of conflict with conviction, empathy, and courage. Her political path is not just marked by power and policy, but by the pulse of the people and the pain of a land long wounded.
Though the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was founded in 1999, Mehbooba Mufti soon became its defining force , not just its leader, but its voice and conscience. Trained under her father, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she didn’t simply inherit his legacy; she carved her own, earning her place not through lineage but through relentless connection with the people.
Her entry into politics in 1996, at a time when Kashmir was paralyzed by fear and silence, was an act of bravery. In an era when the electoral process was seen with suspicion and many stayed behind closed doors, Mehbooba stepped into the fray and won a seat — an achievement that symbolized the first stirrings of democracy returning to a scarred valley.
What sets Mehbooba Mufti apart is the human face she gave to politics. She was not a politician content with podiums and promises. She was present in grief-stricken homes, listening to mothers whose sons had vanished, visiting villages reduced to rubble, and extending a hand to the elderly who had lost everything. Her politics was never about populist rhetoric — it was about presence, empathy, and dignity.
Under her stewardship, the PDP transformed into a mass movement, deeply rooted in the aspirations of ordinary Kashmiris. She took the party to every corner of the region, embedding it not just in electoral maps but in people’s hearts. Whether it was the 2002 coalition breakthrough or the intense 2014 election campaign, Mehbooba raised the PDP’s stature while retaining its emotional core.
In a political culture dominated by men, Mehbooba emerged as a formidable figure of integrity and resilience. Her leadership did not hinge on her gender — it rested on character and commitment. She led from the front, often in turbulent political waters, but always with clarity of purpose.
Her tenure as Chief Minister saw bold decisions that reflected both compassion and political foresight. The withdrawal of over 3,000 FIRs against youth was not just a policy shift — it was a message of trust and reconciliation. It meant restoring normalcy to countless families and offering Kashmir’s young generation a second chance.
She also made an unprecedented move by advocating for a unilateral ceasefire, seeking a path of peace over confrontation. It wasn’t merely about reducing violence; it was about recognizing shared humanity in a place deeply fractured by conflict. For Mehbooba, dialogue was not a luxury — it was a necessity, and she demonstrated it by facilitating one of the rare moments of direct engagement between Kashmiri leadership and the Central government.
While the PDP-BJP alliance remains one of the most debated chapters of her career, Mehbooba Mufti faced criticism with calm and introspection. She acknowledged the complexity of political experiments and never shied away from difficult choices. Her focus, consistently, was on intent — to explore every possible path to peace, even when it came at a political cost.
Mehbooba Mufti is more than just a political figure — she represents a sentiment, a chapter in Kashmir’s political consciousness that centers on healing, humanity, and dialogue. Her legacy is not confined to speeches or policies; it is etched in the trust of those who saw in her a leader who listened, walked with them, and never gave up on hope.
In the annals of Kashmir’s modern history, Mehbooba will be remembered not only as a trailblazing woman leader, but as a symbol of courage and conviction, whose politics echoed the heartbeat of her people.
[The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the news agency Kashmir News Trust #KNT. The author is a senior Journalist associated with the news agency Current News Service (CNS]
