In the afternoon, when I was returning home, brother’s shocking message was received on whatsupp. “Atiqa Ji is no more”
I stopped my vehicle, had a deep sigh and whispered , “Ina Lilahi wa Ina Ilahi Rajioon’. I remembered her morning message on whatsup about her mother’s name and place of birth. How could this happen so abruptly?
I had thought to receive more information on Sunday and write something about her dedicated life. But death is final and eternal truth which does not get influenced by anybody’s wishes or whims.
Atiqa Ji was born in Jamia Qadeem Sopore ,during Dogra rule in 1940, to Molvi Yasin. He was the heir to famous poet and writer Hanfi Sopori. She was given a common name Atiqa Bano. She was popularly known as Atiqa Jee. The girl was deprived of her father’s compassion in the childhood and her mother Raja Begum, a religious lady, had to take the responsibility of her upbringing. It was the time when women would not venture out of their homes and even taking up education and jobs was considered next to sin. The children would be admitted in religious schools which were devoid of modern education system. But Atiqa Jee’s mother made up her mind to educate her children with religious as well as modern education despite the scenario being against it. Since there was none to take the responsibility she took the burden herself . Unlike nowadays ,there was dearth of schools and colleges . None would expect the child from an orthodox family will shine over the education horizon of Kashmir.
Atiqa Jee’s time was of political uncertainty, use of unbridled force and economic deprivation. The autocratic ruler received taxes under force to run his government and forced labour was a common phenomenon. People were so subjugated that presence of a lower rank official would instil fear among them. A movement was on in Kashmir against the autocracy wherein women participated alongside their male counterparts. Education was mostly confined to male population. Economically , women were at lowest pedestal. They had no control over their own income and their husbands would play the dominant role. The scenario exists even nowadays at certain places. Despite the odds some women have shown their calibre and worked in many fields including education and societal arena. Begum Zafar Ali (mother of famous educationist Agha Ashraf Ali ) tops the list. She held the posts of Inspector of Schools, Deputy Director Education, Director Women Education, Deputy Chairman Social Welfare Advisory Board and Member of J&K Assembly. Subsequently, daughters of Ahmad Ali Shah namely Ms Mehmooda Ahmad Ali Shah and Begum Jalal Ud Din held the post of Principal Kashmir Women’s College and their sister in law Sajida Zameer Ahmad held some important posts. They enlightened Kashmir educational institutions and provided encouragement and support to Muslim women to move forward in the education field. It is believed that Sajida Zameer helped Atiqa Jee to move forward.
I have had the privilege of meeting Atiqa Jee in person. Around two years back, when she was seventy four, I had the last chance to have interaction with her . At seventy four she did not show any signs of fatigue. She was a lady of strong will power and did not kneel in front of any one in life. She moved on in life with courage and commitment. In the male dominated society she kept everything under her own control. She received her elementary education in Sopore, BA from Srinagar women’s college and later on moved to Banasthelay Vidya Peath Rajasthan to receive MA in Urdu and economics and later B.Ed.
I had the first glimpse of her when in my childhood she visited our village primary school after travestying the distance on foot from Sopore. The School was situated on the second story .I was on my mother’s shoulder who pointed to the girls cleaning the school premises. Her buxom face remains in my memory since then and her facial impression remains embedded in my mind.
The Sopore town has been abode to many famous personalities. Some of them continue to live while others have left for heavenly abode. These great persons have helped Sopore both at societal level and economically. They have put in their contributions towards the country as well as community. Atiqa Jee remains on the forefront.
Atiqa Jee started her career as a school teacher in 1958 at the tender age of twenty years. In 1965 she became the Inspector of Schools and in 1977 she was given the charge of Chief Education Officer. In 1994 she was elevated to the post of Joint Director For School Education and in 1997 she became the Director Libraries and Research . In her alight up the ladder she did not receive any undue support from any quarters. On the basis of her seniority she deserved to become the Director of Education but unfortunately political interference in our land has been ruining these pious institutions. This forced Atiqa Jee to be content with the post of Director of Libraries. To reach the coveted post she used her intelligence and hard work. She stood eye ball to eye ball in front of male dominance and succeeded. I have my personal experience of watching how the staff of the schools would be on tenterhooks when news of her visit would be disseminated. I was a student of sixth class when she was expected to visit our school. Although it was not known as to what time she would arrive yet cleanliness drive was started two days earlier. Students were advised to wash their uniforms and remain tidy. The head teacher and other staff reached earlier so as to show their punctuality. When the school was to be closed she appeared from some corner .She would visit far off places with great valour and courage where no transport facilities were available. She would ride a pony to reach far off places and was nicknamed Jhansi ki Rani after the famous Indian queen who challenged the mighty British.
I am not privy to the hardships she faced during her career particularly in the male dominated scenario where females were given a deaf ear. Nowadays many women are working and holding important portfolios but comparing the two era is not worthwhile. That was a time when very few Muslim women were bestowed with education and the hardships embraced them at every step.
With her intelligence she cultivated, not only in females but males, a sense that education is unavoidable. And without its presence we can’t build a healthy society. She encouraged the idea that women should not remain confined to their homes only but they have to don the caps as a mother , daughter, sister, mother in law and what not. And the woman is the builder of society. She made them understand of working alongside males for developing a perfect society for which they needed to move in all spheres of life , politics, social and economic fields. She carried a mission , not only in urban but in rural areas, to cultivate avenues so that women don’t lag behind and stand on their own to earn respect. She became a practical example when she launched Majlis Nisaie .The main aim of this organization was to help women adjust to the challenges. With this she provided motivational effect to Kashmiri women ,taught them to stand on their feet. She gave them recognition and woke their intrinsic esteem. She proved that Muslim women, adhering to Islamic principles, can perform such acts which are considered the male responsibility. For this she developed courage among women and induced practical knowledge among them so that they can play an important role in building the positive society. She did not get married to which she always avoided the direct reply with a smile and said “just did not happen”. Possibly it was a divine intervention.
During her tenure, as Director of Libraries, she established libraries and reading room across the valley .She also tried to establish schools in far flung areas where common people would reach with difficulty. After her retirement from active eservice she did not like to sit idle but established institutions in Sopore area. Among them Kashmir women’s college of Education Sopore, Al-Mustafa Public Higher Secondary school Sopore, Al-Mustafa Public school Baramullah, Light House Public secondary school Handwara are noteworthy. In addition, she got established a B Ed college in Noor Bagh Sopore. During past thirty years, when education of children got adversely effected due to Hartals and crackdowns, she established such institutions where girls would get vocational training like tailoring, needlework, typing and computer composing. One of the biggest achievements of Atiqa Jee is the establishment of Meeras Mahal , a museum housing the historical artefacts of over seven hundred years. This, if called Kashmir’s British museum, will not amount to exaggeration. This houses artefacts depicting Kashmir’s political, cultural and religious history. Prominent among the things are shoes, ploughing equipment, and grass based chapels (Pulhor).In addition Pheran ,the women’s long robe (Burqa),which was used by respectable women in Kashmir to cover their body, form an important asset. The museum houses iron container, Doli( bride’s carriage) also remain the attraction. There are placed tablets relating to various religions. A three hundred year old Rehal (wooden stand to keep Quraan) finds respectable place. A hand written, three hundred old manuscript of Quraan, is preserved here. An idol depicting a cow is part of the Hindu section. She has tried to collect the essential items relating to our culture, trade and history. She must definitely have put in hard labour while collecting these items. I am of the opinion that none, on the governmental level, has achieved anything of that sort. It is incumbent upon the government to preserve the museum as it related to our place.
While the people like to sit at ease in their homes after retirement, Atiqa Jee continued her efforts despite being on the wrong side of her age. She deserves the credit for standing without personal aspiration .
During a telephonic conversation, she complained of me leaving without meeting to which I apologised. And promised to meet next year on my visit to valley but could not apprehend that this was our last conversation. She has reached her abode where we all shall reach on the prescribed time. Her life teaches us the lesson of continued efforts with dedication and self less service. She did not compromise on her conviction but moved on with truthfulness. Let us pray to Almighty to grant her pardon and give her highest place in Jannat.
( Written by Dr. Ghulam Nabi Falahi, London and translated in english by Shafi Ahmad )