Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

It doesn’t happen quite often at university convocations that the chief guest as well as the vice chancellor is a woman. And when both are, Nari Shakti, the woman's power, becomes an obvious refrain. This sublime combination was on display at the 20th convocation of the University of Kashmir where everybody from the chief guest and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Vice-Chancellor Nilofar Khan showcased Kashmir’s historic women empowerment. 

On Wednesday, President Murmu, on her first visit to Jammu and Kashmir, presided over the 20th convocation of the University of Kashmir in Srinagar. This university, the oldest one among the 10 universities in J&K crumbled under the onslaught of separatist insurgency in 1990. Chancellors (Governors) and Pro-chancellors (Chief Ministers) were not allowed in for over a decade. Vice Chancellors were forced to lead the demonstrations of ‘Azadi’.

Two professors, including a young woman Muslim lecturer from UP, were gunned down at the campus. Several students and scholars got killed, either at the hands of gun-toting militants or after becoming militants by the security forces.  The last of them, Dr Mohammad Rafi Bhat, died in an encounter in Shopian on 5 May 2018.

President Droupadi Murmu giving gold medal to a meritorious students at the 20th Convocation of the University of Kashmir

VC Prof. Mushirul Haq with his personal secretary Abdul Gani Zargar was kidnapped from the campus on 6 April 1990. Four days later, their bullet-riddled bodies were dropped in Srinagar.

Professor Mohammad Shafi Khan of the Department of Persian chose to become the hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s biographer, and also allegedly a top functionary of the terror group Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen. Over a decade ago, he was arrested and is still languishing in some jail.

In 2009, Geelani himself appeared with an effervescent horde of his student followers and conducted an ‘inspection’ of the main university library. In the presence of the Governor, Farooq Abdullah was shouted to submission by a professor of the Law Department. “There is blood of innocent Kashmiris on your hands. Shut up and sit down”, the professor shouted.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s crew was forced to pack up to put up the Indian national flag in a shooting sequence of his film ‘Haider’ at the campus.

Vice Chancellor Nilofer Khan gifting a momento to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha at the 20th Convocation of the University of Kashmir

For years, no annual convocation could be held. Even when one was held at the secure SKICC, a top separatist leader refused to accept his Ph.D. degree from the chief guest, the President of India. Some of the faculty members used to teach more jihad and azadi than law and literature. Demonstrations for Azadi and separation from India used to be a regular feature. Even after a level of normalcy was achieved, there was no convocation from 2012 to 2121. Students refused to get up in honour of the national anthem.

In merit and excellence, trends began to change in favour of the fair sex somewhere in 2013. At the 19th convocation, on 27 July 2021, when President Ram Nath Kovind was the chief guest, Gold Medals went to 282 females and only 88 males. At the 20th convocation on Wednesday, 169 Gold Medals went to the girls and only 99 to the boys. This was pointed out and appreciated by all—President Murmu, LG Sinha, and VC Khan.

VC asserted that of all the postgraduate and undergraduate degree holders for the period 2021-2023, 59% were women. She said that of the 53,523 students taking PG and UG degrees at the convocation, 31577 were females against 21946 males. According to her, 55 % of the university students were men, and 45% women. Sixty-five percent of gold medals to the females were particularly praised by President Murmu. She counted that of the 21 gold medallists at Wednesday’s event, 17 were women, and only 4 men

“This outstanding feat speaks of our commitment towards the advancement of women’s education and empowerment and is truly aligned with the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s mission of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, VC Khan asserted. In her address, she gave a detailed account of the initiatives being taken in the direction of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

LG Sinha said that the ancient history periods of Kashmir were distinct by the brilliance achieved and demonstrated by women until the 13th century CE. Concerning chapters of Kalhana’s 12th-century history book ‘Rajatarangini’, Sinha made mention of Yashovati, the first queen of Kashmir, Sughanda Devi, Rani Didda, Kota Devi, Amritaprabha, military commander Lila Devi, Shora Devi besides legendary Kashmiri poetess Lal Ded and Habba Khatoon.

Khatoon was a queen-poetess and wife of Kashmir’s last native monarch Yusuf Shah Chak who ruled Kashmir from 1578 to 1586 when Mughals invaded and conquered the Valley.

President Droupadi Murmu giving away degree to a student at the 20th Convocation of the University of Kashmir

“The accomplishment of our daughters, their self-confidence, courage, and the ability to create new records in education and various other fields is a matter of great pride for the entire Union Territory. It is a reflection of a brighter future for the nation and a step towards women-led development,” Sinha said.

Murmu began her address with “Hey Mouj Kasheeri” (Oh the Mother Kashmir), the intro of the Kashmir University’s mesmerizing anthem written by Prof Rehman Rahi. She too referred to the valiant Kashmiri women Yashovati and others, with reference to Rajatarangini, and expressed confidence that the rich tradition of valour and excellence would be carried forward by the young students who were getting awards and degrees at the convocation.

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The President was happy to note that 55 percent of students at Kashmir University are girls. She said that they present the picture of our country and its destiny. The women and girls are ready to play a bigger role in the leadership of the country. She expressed confidence that the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' 2023 would prove to be a revolutionary step towards women-led development in our country.