WOMEN TO KNOW- Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor

Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor is the Chairperson of State Commission for Women. She has formerly worked with Radio Kashmir before she started her illustrious stint with BBC, working as a producer of BBC Urdu Service for 22 years. Even her yearlong sabbatical from BBC in 1997 saw her trying to work for her people back in Kashmir as broadcaster of ‘Shaherbeen’, one of the oldest and most popular show in Srinagar. She is also the author of ‘Lost in Terror’ and ‘Dahshatzadi’, two of the most compelling books on Kashmir bringing forth the issues of valley from a woman’s point of view which incorporated many real incidents, despite being tagged as fiction. She surprised many in the valley by joining Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after coming back to the valley in 2013. She is known for her forward writings and comments upon matters of Kashmir but still has not yet participated in political arena, despite getting associated with the party. In this week’s edition of We The Women, AKRITI JAMWAL talked to Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, in an attempt to know more about the intriguing persona she has as well as to help bringing forth her point of view as a Journalist, a writer and most importantly as the chairperson of SCW on key issues of women here. Here is the detailed conversation:





Akriti Jamwal: First of all, tell us about your personal journey so far.



Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor: I am a city girl, born and brought up right beside Dal Lake. My father was a well-to-do person; he was well educated; FSA at that time; therefore he was open-minded as well as concerned about getting me and my sisters well educated. We lost our mother at early age but my father tried his best to make up for the loss and ensured that all us sisters are brought up properly and given good education. He had a great influence on my individuality. I completed my graduation, then B. Ed., L.L.B and so on. It was during my school days that I started working for Radio. I auditioned and got through to play child character for a popular show "Zoomdah" for All India Radio (AIR). From there I got inclined towards radio. After I completed my studies, in 1988, I appeared for tests for two posts under UPSC; Programme Executive, Education Broadcast and Programme Executive, Urdu Spoken Word. I got selected for both; it was a big deal for a person to get through both, especially being a women. I picked Educational Broadcast and got posted in Srinagar.

After few years, when BBC was looking for Programme Producer in India, I decided to give it a try. They conducted a competitive exam series all over India in which most of the Programme Executive across India participated in this integrated test. I stood first nationwide in that test and chose to go to London where I worked for BBC for more than two decades. After coming back in 2013, I was approached by PDP to contribute for their party and people. I don't see myself as a politician, so despite being offered a post in cabinet, I chose to be in the chair of Chairperson Women Commission of State with a promise to provide a stronger and better institution. So that at least half of the population could be properly addressed; their rights could be exercised and protected.


AJ: Your answer makes that seem so smooth. What about the hurdles you faced? What do you consider as the turning points in your life and your achievements?

NAM: If you start keeping a count of every setback and achievement, you cannot go far. You should take, everyday as a challenge; so when at the end of the day, you give yourself five minutes and think about your day, you should be content with your work. The impact your work has on others is the only achievement. If I have to count few; getting in BBC, interviewing tall personalities like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, Benazir Bhutto, Perwaz Musharraf and the like could be taken as achievements but for me, the real achievement is inspiring and motivating girls to opt for journalism or anything they want to. Real achievement is the legacy you leave behind. My ultimate achievement would be to reach out to common people and do something substantial for them. I took a sabbatical in 1997 for a year. Since I was associated with radio, I went back to it and started a show "Saherbeen" in Srinagar on the lines of BBC's "Sairbeen", in which locals could come forth with their problems and it is still quiet popular. State Commission for Women was just an office before; we are working to make it a key institution for assisting destitute women. These are the real achievements.



AJ: Journalism seems to have dual fronts in J&K. Looking from one side, it seems to be flourishing; it seems to be perfect Petri-dish for journalists but then from the other side, our journalists doesn't seem to be prepared to compete at the level of outside world. What is your comment on that?

NAM: We have abundance of talent and many amazingly wonderful budding journalists. When I was working with BBC, the environment was completely different than what we had in India. And that taught me that if you have talent, with right direction you can reach the sky. A journalist has to be very neutral in his or her approach. When I was working in Urdu service in BBC, we were close to Hindi, Bengali and other services. While the other services had Indians but Urdu Service mainly constituted people from Pakistan and few from India; being Kashmiri, there too felt like being sandwiched. Being in such situation, a journalist has to be impartial and balanced. From there, because of the turmoil then, I learnt that only after being unbiased one can bring the real picture in front of the world and only then your work is appreciated. You cannot get your emotions involved with the reports you provide, which we observe, journalists are failing. There is always more to story then you feel and find; there is always a second side and sometimes even third; so a journalist should be capable to rise above and see it all. Journalists shouldn't be someone's mouthpiece. I believe to bring in such ethics in a journalist, training is must.


AJ: Every achievement is result of right efforts in right direction as it is evident in your case. What would be your comments on efforts and direction of our youth, especially women?

NAM: The problem is not with this generation; this generation is full of enthusiasm and dedication; they strive and strike. The problem is with our elders, the more experienced one do not open up their arms and embrace this generation; they lag behind in appreciating and encouraging the efforts of the youngsters. I do not have an iota of doubt in this generation; they can do wonders, all we have to do is to take their hands, and put them in right direction because they are willing to put in every effort. I have hope because of this generation; all we have to do is put in our confidence in the youth.


AJ: You came into politics but chose a designation which is not political in true sense. Do you really see yourself as a politician?

NAM: I would be anything, but a politician. After being in journalism for so long, you just cannot. Politics is a completely different field; especially in J&K where we have historical and political baggage. Being a journalist, I have seen politicians lying to public which is something I cannot do. A politician should have the capacity to tell straight to the people of their capabilities; if you cannot resolve an issue, you should let the people know and not use it as an agenda to snatch vote. A politician should have the courtesy to be honest to people. I am an odd one out here. Basically I came back and joined a party to contribute for my people. I am a leader, because I am not a pessimist. I want to do the best I can. To be a politician I have to compromise the ethics that has dug deep into me being a journalist. So to be a politician, I need another life.


AJ: Participation of women in politics is very less. You have been inside the political space. Do you think more participation by women can help with the problems being faced by the women in state?

NAM: Yes. In fact it is the need of the hour. Fortunately we have a female Chief Minister, who is benevolent and keenly concerned for women. She understands problems of women, which is conventionally considered as a non-issue in this society. There should be balance between men and women. The count of women, not only in politics but other sectors is very low. Now, we not only need to invite women to come forth, but to actually bring them in these fields by formulating certain schemes. Like, to attain the golden 33 percent of women politician, we need to work for it; it wouldn't happen on its own. But this is a two way process, even women need to strengthen themselves; they should be courageous to come forward.


AJ: State Commission for Women is an advisory institution, so what all reports has your commission presented to government till now? What has been government's response to them?



NAM: First priority is to stop violence against women. If our women are violated, either at home or out, they cannot be expected to come forth. Mainly, because of centuries of suppression, women are shy and scared. We are making women aware of their rights and the redressal and indemnification mechanism. Along with that we are encouraging them to come into mainstream. We had run massive campaigns through Anganwari and Asha workers, in almost every district, in which women were visited and ensured that there is an institution that can help them, if they are grieved. We put out a circular through CM, under which an Internal Complain Committee was constituted in every institution, where women who are harassed at workplace could be heard and helped. We have made recommendations for shelter house and a 24*7 helpline, for women and this would be fully functional in near future. We used to have frequent complaints that police is not registering complaints or filing FIRs, so we sent out letter through Divisional Commissioner to each DC, to prioritise complaints by women. Schemes to combat sex determination and female infanticide are functional. It is all basically to bring in confidence among women.


AJ: You were appointed the Chairperson before we witnessed first female getting the chair of CM in our state. So how would you contrast your Commission’s working before and after her appointment? What is it like, working with her?

NAM: I wanted to work independently. I strive to make State Commission for Women, a strong functional institution, so I was assured by Mufti (Mohammad) Sahab that sky is the limit for me when it came to resources. I was never disappointed by him. Every proposal and recommendations this institution made, were heard and worked upon instantly. Working with present CM is different because now it is not just us, even she is working herself, which is appreciable. Moreover working with a female is comparatively easy, as she understands what I suggest, being a woman.

AJ: What are the major problems, according to you, being faced by our women?

NAM: The list of woes of women is endless. We still belong to a chauvinistic and prejudiced society which has brought up more conflicts with evolution among women. The lack of acceptance of women as equals has led them to suffer and struggle more. Domestic Violence, Workplace Harassment and Female Infanticide are major problems. There have been a couple of complaints in some hostels too. In Jammu provision, major problem is domestic violence, majority of which can be attributed to alcoholic or abusive men; In Kashmir, major problem is depression among women because of such prolonged turmoil. First step to redress is to recognise. We are working our way to redress the women of this state.

AJ: You have been around working women when you were working abroad and now you are around working women here. How would you contrast between the situations in both spaces?

NAM: There, if a woman is working, people accept it without any friction. They understand that a woman doesn't possess any supernatural power, so if she is working and earning for family, families take their respective responsibilities to help lessening burden of working woman. But here women are grinding under the women. Working woman here is stressed. They are expected to take the responsibility of both personal and professional spheres, without much help from other members of the family. There are two sides- either they see it as a privilege to woman to be able to go out and work or people want women to earn; and in both cases they still expect her to do every house hold chore. In this way, women will collapse; and with collapse of women, not only the whole society but whole nation collapses because a woman is the most basic unit of the society.



AJ: You come across women of every section; professionals, homemakers, strong and authoritative as well as destitute ones. How would you describe women of Jammu and Kashmir in general? What would be your message for women out there?

NAM: Women of J&K are very resilient and brave. I believe the struggle of women of Jammu and Kashmir, is fiendish. Their level of tolerance and stand despite of all the brunt’s, is commendable. They need no more, no less. They do not need be treated equally but taken equally. My message to the women is, to be strong. If they decide to come forward and stand against any problems they are facing, they should not deter if someone tries to intimidate them. This is one of the frequent problems that we face is women taking back their case and then going through same problem again. Women, who initiate a fight against any harassment, should stand strong like a rock because they are crusaders who have to set examples for entire grieved women folk.

FRANKLY SPEAKING:

“I would be anything, but a politician. After being in journalism for so long, you just cannot. Politics is a completely different field; especially in J&K where we have historical and political baggage. Being a journalist, I have seen politicians lying to public which is something I cannot do.”

“Women of J&K are very resilient and brave. I believe the struggle of women of Jammu and Kashmir, is fiendish. Their level of tolerance and stand despite of all the brunt’s, is commendable. They need no more, no less. They do not need be treated equally but taken equally.”

“I do not have an iota of doubt in this generation; they can do wonders, all we have to do is to take their hands, and put them in right direction because they are willing to put in every effort. I have hope because of this generation; all we have to do is put in our confidence in the youth.”