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16 June 26 to July 2 : Weekly News Magazine messenger

COVER STORY

downtown grow up listening to stories of this audacious woman revolution. And like Angela Davis of the United States, Bibi
who actively volunteered to fight against the atrocities faced by Mujahid was a political activist to a core.
Kashmiris from time to time. But her cousin, Ghulam Ahmad After baptized in politics at Mujahid Manzil, she was leading
Beigh, 68, living in Dalal Mohalla, says the exceptional lady freedom—right to self determination—campaign by the late
“never got her due”. ’60s against the different regime. By then, Bibi Mujahid had
Sunning in his courtyard, Beigh, sporting a snow-white, recalls become the political matriarch, who preferred a low-key life
his cousin’s legend by striking resemblance with his Aryan- over the pompous politicking.
faced grandson, Tariq. “She looked like him — beautiful, In fact, in the “good old” NC cadre, fighting for Plebiscite
brawny, brave,” he says. “One should have seen her. Her Movement, Bibi Mujahid was akin to Vilma Lucila Espín—the
scream would discipline people on roads. She was a truly “First Lady” of Cuba’s communist revolution. Like Espín, she
brave lady.” The elder recalls the time when Zoona would was the most vividly embodied spirit of the rebellion that NC
a d d r e s s w o m e n i n D a r g a h . “ S h e w o u l d a s k spearheaded then.
them—women—‘stay modest but fight against the atrocities’,” “My politics is based on the twin belief of liberty or death,” she
he says. Even who’s who in power corridor weren’t unmindful was once quoted as saying. “Either way, I am going to get one.”
of her influential stature. “In fact,” Beigh says, “the Prime But her conviction had costs.
Minister Indira Gandhi was impressed by her prowess.” She was divorced by her husband and disowned by her family.
Bibi came from the physically handsome clan of the Sher Gujri, And as a mother, she lost her only son in police shootout.
a sleepy hill hamlet on city suburbs. Her father Ghulam Rasool “And now,” says Beigh, her cousin, “nobody from her
Beigh along with his brothers, Amir Beigh and Haji Sober immediate family is alive today.”
Beigh, had migrated to old city in early 19th century. Her end came in mid-eighties when she was admitted to
After she became orphan at a very young age, it was her uncle Srinagar’s SMHS hospital, following her escalated chest
Amir Beigh—father of her cousin Ghulam Ahmad Beigh—who ailment. 12 days later, an unceremonious funeral of the
raised her. She was married off at the age of 15. In 1927, she Kashmir’s legendary lady was taken out from the lanes of
became mother of a son. But her family hardly eclipsed her Pather Masjid.
activism. “I have never seen any women like her,” Beigh continues. “No
Years later, as Bibi Mujahid turned the virile old women one today can match her aura.”
dressed in old loose pheran without teeth, her defiance
continued. That Bibi Mujahid was Kashmir’s Joan of Arc is an old
“I certainly did not think I would find a women freedom fighter admission. Like that French peasant girl, she dreamt “to take
especially one who was known and respected until my last day up the fight against the occupation”. And like Joan, she was
in the valley in 1983 when I met Zoona Bibi Mujahid,” writes redeemed by the history. Though Bibi Mujahid cannot be
Bilkis Taseer in her book Sheikh Abdullah. “She was 73 years forgotten, but the merits of her methods—carrying out public
of age and still sparkling with vitality. She said that she started demonstrations and resorting to violent activism—are still
being debated.
working for People’s Freedom movement in 1939. She was
inspired by the programme of National Conference that was to
uplift the poor and oppressed Kashmiris. She participated in But then, “well-behaved women rarely make history”. And in
processions and demonstrations along with men and tried to Kashmir, perhaps none embodied that expression better than
persuade other women too to join.” Bibi Mujahid.
Bilkis, who converted to Islam and married
Taseer Ahmad (former Principal Amar Singh
College), writes Bibi Mujahid was a legend in
the valley and could enter any house because
of respect and reverence she commanded.
“She had sacrificed her whole life for the
freedom movement right from the Dogra
Raaj.”
But she suffered massively for upholding her
cause. She became a frequent prisoner, Bilkis
writes. “Some Kashmiris living in Pakistan
now may remember protesting with her in their
youth in Habakadal, Srinagar.”

Bibi Mujahid’s belief has some stark
resemblance with many women freedom
fighters of the world. She was a “plain
housewife” akin to Corazon Aquino who led
the Philippines’ 1986 “people power”