Asiya Andrabi, leader of the separatist Kashmiri women's group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Nation) -- she reveals the Talibanesque mindset of a woman who's known as Malka-ul-Maut (Angel of Death)

Asiya Andrabi, leader of the separatist Kashmiri women's group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Nation) -- she reveals the Talibanesque mindset of a woman who's known as Malka-ul-Maut (Angel of Death)

Courtesy source : http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?232194

It is in downtown Srinagar that I meet Asiya Andrabi, leader of the separatist Kashmiri women's group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Nation). One has heard stories about her spraying paint on women who do not wear burkhas. She is known to have sent burkha-clad activists to burn Valentine's Day cards and posters, raid liquor shops, and restaurants boasting special seating arrangement for couples. 

Her organisation was banned in the '90s and Asiya was underground till 2004. Meanwhile, she married a mujahideen, currently serving life sentence in an Indian jail. Yet, despite this record, when she takes off her veil, Asiya looks like a middle-aged woman who'd be more comfortable in a kitchen rather than painting anti-America and anti-Israeli placards. In Asiya's first major interview to the mainstream Indian media, she reveals the Talibanesque mindset of a woman who's known as Malka-ul-Maut (Angel of Death) and represents the extreme Islamist fringe of the homegrown militancy in Kashmir. 


Excerpts from an interview to Aditi Bhaduri: 

Tell me about yourself. What made you launch Dukhtaran-e-Millat? 

In 1981, I started a school. I gathered women—it was a door-to-door campaign. I wanted them to know the tenets of Islam and the status accorded to women. From one school, we went on to have units in six districts of the Valley. In 1987, we called upon women to come out and protest peacefully against the portrayal of women in the nude. But I also questioned the accession of Kashmir since I strongly believed that Kashmir is not a part of India. So, my office was raided and sealed. The police had an arrest warrant for me. I went underground for 21 days. 

When I resurfaced in '88-89, the anti-India movement had started. We were the first to join that movement both morally and politically. But as far as the militancy was concerned, we gave a call to our men that this was their job and not ours. As far as my ideology was concerned—if the men want to fight India militarily, they could do that, we women would be with them—we would look after their houses and their children. But practical military action cannot be carried out by women. 

Then, in 1990, our organisation was banned and in 1993 I was forced to go underground. Meanwhile, I got married to a mujahid with a militant organisation fighting against India. I was underground till 2004. 

What kind of support was your organisation providing to the militants? 

It was moral support that we gave to the mujahideen. We mobilised the people and told them of the problems faced by the Kashmiris. How India has occupied it illegally and how we must treat India as an aggressor. This is something we have to educate the people about and this is the work our women were doing. 

What is Dukhtaran-e-Millat all about? 

My organisation has a religious basis. It all started with my reading the Holy Quran, and the Holy Quran tells us that there is only one Lord. We believe in the oneness of Allah the Almighty. The whole universe has to be governed by the laws of Allah the Almighty. 

So, the strong belief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat is that we want the whole universe to be governed by the laws of Allah the Almighty. Based on Islamic teachings, we are fighting against India. I am telling you that this is Islam, this is my religion. 

  

'I don't believe in Kashmiriyat or nationalism. I believe there are just two nations, Muslim and non-Muslim.'

I don't believe in Kashmiriyat, I don't believe in nationalism. I believe that there are just two nations—Muslims and non-Muslims. I am a Muslim; I am least bothered whether I will be called a Kashmiri. I'm Andrabi, I'm from the Syed dynasty. I'm not actually Kashmiri, I'm Arab, my ancestors had come from Arabia to Central Asia. I believe in Islamic nationalism. 

So as far as our ideology is concerned, Kashmir is not a part of India because united India was divided on the basis of religion. No one can deny this fact. We want our future too to be solved on the basis of religion. 

This means you don't believe in nationalism, but in the ummah (the concept of a global Islamic community)? 

Yes, very much so. 

Don't you think that that is a big farce now? And what would be your contribution in creating an ummah? You can see how ineffective even the Arab countries are in solving the problem in Lebanon... 

You know there are hundreds and thousands of movements. It's not only Dukhtaran-e-Millat which is working in this field. There are movements working locally, everywhere. But they should be united. Islamic teaching says there should be one ummah and we have one leader—Prophet Mohammed. The ummah is one unit and we are working on this. This is not just the job of Asiya. It may not be completed in my lifetime. It may be Asiya's son or grandson. It is a goal which has to be achieved and it may take time, it may take hundreds of years. 

This, then, is your long-term goal? 

Yes, this is a long-term goal. And the short-term goal is that we want accession with Pakistan. Not with the idea of Pakistani nationality but inshallah Kashmir will become part of Pakistan, if not today, then some day, it may take decades. However, I do not call myself a Pakistani but a Muslim. Maybe if one day Kashmir will be liberated, I will not be in Pakistan, but somewhere else—part of the Muslim ummah. 

What is the approximate numerical strength of your organisation? 

I can't tell you that for security reasons. We have a president, I am Dukhtaran-e-Millat's president, we have a general secretary and then we have our central Shura in which we have two members from each district. Then, there are district presidents and district councils. We also have a publicity secretary. 

And you have links with other similar organisations outside India? 

Yes, we have links with those who are close to us as far as our ideology is concerned. We have interactions with them and regular contact with them. We can't travel outside Kashmir and we don't have passports. 

Under the PDP government, people feel that there has been a change for the better. Do you feel you have become irrelevant? 

I don't care whichever government is in power. I don't think there is any difference in governments—PDP, Congress or the National Conference. Because they are puppet governments taking orders from Delhi. So, I don't think that there will be any change. 

People accuse you of being a RAW agent. What would you say to that? 

Who has said this? Where have you heard this? I have said that I am against India, how can I be a RAW agent? I am neither an Indian nor a Pakistani agent. I am not anyone's puppet.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?232194

Asiya Andrabi, leader of the separatist Kashmiri women's group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Nation) -- also known as 'malika-e-maut' or 'malika-ul-maut'

Govt should not become party to any regional competition--Whitepaper on Central University--Daya Sagar

Govt should not become party to any regional competition 

Daya Sagar

(Daya Sagar is social activist he can be reached at  dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk )

http://www.alookthroughthemist.blogspot.com/

Senior NC leader Ajay Sadotra has been quoted as having said that no decision for the site of the Central University in J&K has been taken yet and no team from MHRD has visited J&K for selection of land. J&K State Cabinet also resolved on July 31 to approach GOI for sanctioning two Central Universities for the two regions. May be GOI agrees for two Universities but still  the need is to remove the misunderstandings  like shifting the University to Kashmir that was sanctioned  for Jammu .The inter-regional divides amongst the YOUTH of J&K must be checked.

Rather Omar Abdullah, the youthful CM, must come out with a whitepaper on the actual status on (i) the proposals and sanctions already issued for Central University for Jammu & Kashmir and (ii) the reasons for setting up the temporary office of the Vice Chancellor of Central University at Srinagar. Let Kashmir Region too get the Institutions that are needed there but Government should not become party to any regional competition {with bitterness} between the people as regards demands.

Those who claim that a Central University was sanctioned for locating in Jammu Region and land was selected in Samba district must too immediately come out with any documentary evidence that they have. The Divisional Commissioner Jammu has been quoted earlier by media as having denied this. 

The student community of Jammu region is very much disturbed and is on the roads. Their protests are genuine. As regard setting up Central University in J and K,  some statements and disclosures are being made daily by the leaders including those from within the present Government and those who have remained in the Government   on the issue of setting up Central University . To check the confusions and a growing distrust the government should come out with a white paper on the sanction of Central University for J&K so that the issues could be targeted to a solution and the youth in particular is saved from divisive ideologies.

It was during the first quarter of 2008 that Ghulam Nabi Azad discussed the issues regarding Central University, IIM, Tribal University etc with the HRD and other ministries. The leadership from Jammu should have held the threads right from that time instead of raising the issue much later. It’s too late. Now the Vice Chancellor of the Central University has started operating from his office in Srinagar. If serious, the leadership should immediately come out shedding all political reservations to impress upon the Government that the backward and distanced areas of Jammu Region do need a Tribal University, IIM, IIT (IIIT ) and a Central University . Udhampur, Doda , Poonch / Rajouri Districts have genuine claims. 

Regional divides have grown over the years between Jammu Region and Kashmir Region. The political leadership has rather more actively taken part in broadening the gulf after 1995. Someone may say it after 1990 but I shall not agree since at time local leaders were too weak to prepare  a strong political working ground in J&K. The Militants and anti-India insurgents had in 1990 materially and psychologically overpowered the mainstream leadership of J&K. I would rather say, the leadership of Kashmir Valley, since it was only Kashmiri leaders who were till then more recognized by New Delhi to represent J&K. 

After 1995 political fields were prepared under the security cover and with moral & economic support from New Delhi. But still under the circumstances the Kashmir based leaders had (were rather compelled} to behave more Kashmir specific. Valley specific social, economic and administrative issues appeared better tools to the political leaders in Kashmir Valley to gain some grounds over separatist forces and growing pressures of separatist ideology. 29th Constitutional amendment bill of 2002 was a step in this direction .Sanction of 4 new districts in 2006 for   Kashmir Valley as against just one recommended by Wazir Commission (1984) too was one such action.

Kashmir Hindu had totally deserted the Kashmir Valley under the pressures of the pro Pakistan / anti Hindu elements in 1990. Migrants appeared having lost hopes of return to Valley. Since after 1990 over 98 % of local population in Valley comprised of Muslims any questions raised by people or parties for the cause of Jammu was named by some leaders from Valley  as even anti Muslim. Inter regional issues between Jammu & Kashmir hence was given some communal face lift as well by some leaders. Very less has been done to check it.

At the same time the political competition for votes grew more in Kashmir valley amongst  NC, PDP, Congress , others. Kashmiri leaderships looked for some new fields and strategies to expand their base out side Kashmir valley on regular basis. The Kashmir centric leadership had for over  50 years totally neglected far flung / distant /backward / poorly connected areas of Jammu region as regards education, employment, industry, local crafts  , agriculture, horticulture and services .They started using the religious brotherhood tools in  Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and adjoining areas. They sensed   some soft targets in the Muslim majority areas of Jammu region. 

The people of poor backward areas of Jammu region were too innocent and simple to know level of neglect. No doubt the leadership in Jammu Region was more near to centers of information and power was based in Jammu district and they too did not move out near to areas Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, etc. Masses from Poonch/ Rajouri/ Doda who were otherwise the worst sufferers did not go with the protests / projects to undo the neglect of Jammu Region.

So in general when ever some major neglect was pointed out against Jammu region it was given the color of protests by Hindu majority areas. 


Any how some local politicians did reap benefits on the side lines. The Shri Amarnath Yatra land agitation of June 2008 and half hearted delimitation commission demands could be quoted in this regard. 

 (Daya Sagar is social activist he can be reached at  dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk )