Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday paid glowing tributes to Madr-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on the eve of 21st death anniversary, calling her a doyen in the construction of J&K’s self-hood.
The party’s rank and file while paying glowing tributes to Madar-e-Maharban said that Begum Akbar Jehan acted as a resolute trooper, a silent but an enormous force that kept the flag flying while Sher-e-Kashmir was serving confinements both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Singh Rana, Senior leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Mubarak Gul, Nazir Gurezi, Sakina Itoo, Party MPs Muhammad Akbar Lone, Hassnain Masoodi; State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous, Mir Saifullah, Pirzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, Irfan Shah, Sahriefudin Shariq, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Zonal Presidents Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Ali Muhammad Dar; Dr. Sajjad Uri, Provincial Vice Presidents Muhammad Syed Akhoon, and Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, Provincial Secretary Adv. Showkat Ahmed Mir, Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, District Presidents Altaf Ahmad Wani, Ishfaq Jabbar, Showkat Hussain, Peer Afaq, Abdul Majeed Larmi, GM Mir, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Javed Dar, GR Naaz, AA Dar, Political Advisor to VP Tanvir Sadiq, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar , Ajaz Ahmed Jan, Sarah Hayat Shah, Provincial women’s wing Presidents Er. Sabiya Qadri, and Satwant Kour Dogra, Dr. Sameer Koul, Adv Shabir, GN Tailbali, GN Bhat, constituency In-Charges, Parent body, YNC, Women’s, Minority, Wing functionaries, DDC members, town area and municipal committee and corporation members have also paid glowing tributes to Madre Maharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on his death anniversary.
The functionaries while paying tributes to Madre Maharban said that the unrelenting witch hunt which she was subjected to for over three decades never derailed her mission. She achieved the highest realms of glory with her path breaking achievements in the shape of women and child welfare and Socio-economic-economic and political emancipation of Gujjars and Bakarwal tribes.
“A doyen of J&K’s politics, her appearance on the political scene in a male dominated society speaks about her grit and competence. She was never driven by partisan electoral politics but by statesmanship and genuine concern for underprivileged. Her vision of women emancipation and their role in the 21st century was transformative and progressive in its version of their roles as equal members of the society. Idolized, glorified and venerated by even her detractors, she had faith in God that moved mountains. It was her immeasurable faith in almighty that help her to work for the people ensnared by poverty, and illiteracy. As the head of the Red Cross society, she formed relief committee to look after the nutrition demands of displaced people. She went out of way in repatriating thousands of women who had been forcibly dislocated during the frenzy of 1947. She founded the Markaz-e-Behboodi Khawateen, which is still imparting sill training in arts, health and crafts to women as a tool of social security to them,” they said.
The leaders in their tribute said that Madre Maharban emerged as a symbol of resilience band resistance at a time when basic human liberation and rights were unknown in this part of the world. “She emerged as a symbol of resilience and resistance at a time, when basic human liberation and rights not enjoyed by people in their embryonic forms. She stood by Sher-e-Kashmir in his arduous task of construction of Kashmir’s selfhood and protection of its individuality, and struggle for the socio-political emancipation of its people,” they said.
Party leaders while paying tributes to Madre Maharban said, “Some of us have been blessed to have the opportunity to experience her aura, she has left an everlasting impression on our hearts. A power house, a pillar of strength, Madre Maharban was an epitome of unflinching strength, unshakable faith, and unwavering valor. The role she played towards the socio-political emancipation of tribes, women and children is unparallel. In her capacity as the Member of Parliament, and the head of state Red Cross, she also left a deep impression on her associates, and all those who got to work under her. She also had the distinction of reciting the verses of holy Quran in the first broadcast of Radio Kashmir Srinagar in 1948.”
While extolling her contribution towards the restoration of people’s rights and the realization of the goals enshrined in the document of Naya Kashmir, the party leaders said that she held sway over the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir with the strength of personality. “Words cannot describe the role she played towards the socio-political awakening of the people of J&K. Madre Maharban never let despondency overwhelm her despite being subjected to all sorts’ of reprisals by the then repressive regimes,” they said.
