In the last decade, Kashmir has traveled a very tough journey from being a conservative society to a more liberal one. Whether morally or practically, Kashmiri youths have embraced the change and have come out of the illusion created by external forces. The youth of Kashmir have identified their abilities and knowledge and are excelling in every walk of life. It is not only males who are breaking barriers, but females, especially young girls, are also coming out from the social stigma that girls are reproductive tools only. They are breaking the stereotype – the limited power of females, girls are born at home, work at home, can’t raise their voice or energy to fight odds happening to them. Today, the young girls of Kashmir are representing Kashmir in different corners of the nation and the world. These young girls are shining in different fields like debates, competitive examinations, cricket, tennis, badminton, kabaddi, and even in sports that were earlier considered male-dominated, like martial arts.
With the beginning of the 21st century, boys who had training and practice in judo karate were considered the most powerful individuals. Most boys from Kashmir who completed this training were misusing their abilities and power to suppress the weak. To my understanding, the martial artist in the beginning of the 21st century was the gangster, not a sportsperson. In a society like Kashmir, which was known for conflict and political unrest, this kind of sport had never been a concept for girls. Earlier, dictators would often issue diktats about women, which did not allow women to identify their strengths and abilities. These constraints and barriers have pushed our society back to the past where females were considered weaker than males.
But since the last ten years, the girls of Kashmir have changed the meaning of a martial artist from being a gangster to a sportsperson. And the myth that girls are not allowed to get training and practice in such sports because of their physical weakness and societal constraints has also been vacuumed by the energetic girls of Kashmir. These energetic girls are overcoming these social myths and shining in Kashmir with the glitters of golden medals and trophies. Today, more young girls are bringing laurels to Kashmir in every field than the energetic males. The young, energetic, and aspiring girls are empowering themselves with the techniques of martial arts, especially ‘wushu’, and are building their strengths to fight back and save themselves from any kind of domestic violence. In the last few years, the surge in cases of domestic violence against women in Kashmir has also energized these young girls to stand up for themselves.
Let us explore this transformation with instances of Kashmiri girls bringing laurels to Kashmir. These girls have overcome societal constraints and personal obstacles to emerge as champions in martial arts. Ayeera Chisti and Ansa Chisti, the twins, were inspired by a Chinese movie where they saw how girls can defend themselves and excel in this particular sport. Both dreamt of becoming martial artists. The sisters sought out information about the sport and contacted Mr. Asif, who was giving training to boys at that time. It was at the age of 13 when both the twins joined him and started practicing there. Ayeera Chisti has played in the world junior championship in wushu and has won gold. She is also known as the Golden Girl of Kashmir. According to Ayeera, every girl should come forward and learn martial arts in order to remain physically fit, always ready for self-defense, and can choose it as a career and source of earning by establishing training centers. Ayeera believes that in every field, you will face criticism, and we too were also criticized. We have encountered many such incidents where people, mostly our close ones, told our parents that they are girls and it is not good for them. But every time, our parents stood like a wall to us, especially our mother, and with our dedication and determination, we represented our nation, our Kashmir, in many international championships and won medals. Both sisters believe that sports are the only thing in which everyone remains physically and mentally fit. By remaining unfit and idle, one learns to respond negatively and learns to get into bad habits like consuming drugs, increasing screen time, and negative thinking. If one remains physically fit, the body and the soul relax and improves the hormones supporting positives and happiness in life. To avoid such kinds of thoughts and habits, one must join martial arts.
The Indian Army’s Baramulla Brigade has initiated the Chinar Yuva Centre to empower the women folk in the area. This centre offers many free courses, and to strengthen the women folk of the area, this centre has initiated martial arts for women. Currently, 30 girls are practicing martial arts. The centre has hired the best coach to train the girls. Talking to the coach, Moin Ahmad, was very interesting. Moin said, “Baramulla Brigade of the Indian Army is using every possible effort to empower the female folk of the area. The women martial art training initiative is the best one because the women folk need to identify the abilities and capabilities they have. Though for some, this sport was earlier considered for males only, but when I see as a coach, girls have more flexibility and learning ability towards this sport. I observed that girls were learning in lesser time than boys.” Moin said. Moreover, it is not only for self-defense; this sport can be opted for a permanent career and for means of livelihood for those who want to remain economically independent. Women after their martial art is completed can establish training centers and can train other girls also and generate income from it, Moin added. Furthermore, Moin said that the local community is also responding positively, and even I am getting calls from many parents to train their daughters. The locals are appreciating the Indian army for this particular initiative.
Pakeeza Nazir, a 20-year-young athlete from Baramulla, feels proud to practice martial arts at Chinar Yuva for improving her ability to defend herself. She believes that a girl should not always remain dependent on her parents or the male community for protecting herself. “With the surge in drug addiction and domestic violence cases in Kashmir, I thought that protecting myself needs building myself, and for strength, I need to be fit, flexible, and strong enough, so I decided to join martial arts,” Pakeeza said. Appreciating the training methods and techniques of the coach, Pakeeza added that our coach Moin sir has never differentiated on gender lines; rather, he always encouraged us that we are much better than males. Talking about societal constraints and challenges, Pakeeza believes that women have much ability and power to learn and understand the skills and techniques of martial arts. She said, “In our society, there is a myth that women are born weak and cannot do exercises and play sports. But after joining martial arts, I had been the active sportsperson in my school days and have won many medals in other sports also. Actually, it is the will power, counseling, guidance, and family support that make a true sportsperson. No one can stop you from achieving provided your resilience and determination towards your goal is strong.” Dreaming of representing her district, Pakeeza wants to see herself in national and international championships. Regarding the perception about the Indian army, Pakeeza said, in the past looking towards Indian Army establishments was scary, but now, people, especially the girls, are feeling more secure inside the army establishments. Even during our time period, we were protected by the vigilant jawans of Army there. We are supporting and responding to every initiative. We have never thought that we can get free training in this sport or other courses like fashion designing, plastic recycling, and computer coding. The Indian Army has opened the doors for those who want to learn, protect, and earn. But unfortunately, in rural Kashmir, work towards women empowerment is going at a snail’s pace, and there is a lack of awareness and counseling in some areas that need to be addressed so that a woman can empower herself across the lengths and breadths of Kashmir.
Three months back, there were celebrations all around Handwara town, and it was for the two girls who had won gold medals in the martial arts championship. These girls were paraded with the tricolors in their hands in the streets of Handwara town in the honor of their achievement in this particular field. The girls Mehreen Jan and Pakeeza Qureshi have triumphed over adversity to become professional martial artists. Despite facing societal resistance and limited sports facilities in their hometown, their passion for martial arts and strong family support propelled them towards success. Mehreen’s journey began with training in Tae Kwon Do before transitioning to Wushu at the Khelo India Center in Handwara. Her determination and dedication led to success, culminating in a silver medal at the 2023 North Zone Championship. Pakeeza, motivated by a desire for self-defense amidst instances of domestic violence in Handwara, embraced Wushu at a young age. Her commitment and resilience have led to multiple gold and bronze medals at various competitions. It is not only North Kashmir where the women folk, especially the young girls, are learning an art to fight back, but the instances of achievements and love towards this sport spread across the lengths and breadths of Kashmir. In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, once a hotbed of terrorism, Nareena Sultan and Arham Sultan have defied societal norms to excel in martial arts. Inspired by the Bollywood movie “Dangal,” these sisters have overcome societal resistance to pursue their passion for Wushu. Nareena, the first girl from the district to represent her region in Wushu tournaments, has won numerous medals, despite facing criticism and skepticism from her community. Encouraged by her success, Arham has also excelled in Wushu, winning medals in recent championships.
The success of Ayeera, Ansa, Mehreen, Pakeeza, Nareena, and Arham reflects the transformative impact of sports on Kashmiri society. Beyond individual achievements, their stories inspire unity and positive change in a region grappling with conflict and division. The recent celebrations in Handwara town, honoring Mehreen and Pakeeza’s achievements, signify a broader shift in the region’s narrative. By celebrating the success of female martial artists, Kashmiri society acknowledges the contributions of women and fosters a culture of inclusivity and empowerment. The rise of female martial artists in Kashmir represents a transformative journey towards empowerment and self-determination. Through their courage, resilience, and dedication, women like Ayeera, Ansa, Pakeeza Nazir, Mehreen, Pakeeza, Nareena, and Arham are challenging stereotypes and reshaping societal perceptions of women’s capabilities. By embracing martial arts, these women are reclaiming their power and agency in a society marked by conflict and uncertainty. Their success serves as a source of inspiration for future generations and reflects the transformative impact of sports on Kashmiri society. As Kashmir continues to navigate the complexities of its socio-political landscape, the rise of female martial artists offers a beacon of hope for a more inclusive, empowered, and unified future. Through their achievements and dedication, these women are not only breaking barriers but also fostering unity and positive change in their communities and beyond.
