Civil Society Women’s Wing Is Not a Threat, But a Necessity
“Jahan soch ki azaadi hogi, wahan aurat ki bhi jagah hogi.”
By Mehvish Rafiqa Firdous
In the town of Sopore, a quiet revolution began on May 18, 2025, with the launch of the Civil Society Women’s Wing—the first organization in the region led entirely by women. This wing does not don the garb of politics or parade through the streets. Instead, it builds—quietly, purposefully, and passionately. By empowering women, this newly established wing is planting seeds that may very well redefine how civil society functions in North Kashmir—and perhaps beyond.
But first, why was this wing needed? And why now?
To understand this, we must first clarify what civil society truly is. Civil society refers to the space between the state and the individual. It encompasses communities, groups, and organizations working to represent the voice and rights of the people without political alignment or bureaucratic power plays. It is in this space that humanity thrives through education, expression, mental health, compassion, and collective growth. However, over the years, this space has narrowed for women in Kashmir. Our contributions have often been reduced to symbolic inclusion—remembered in speeches but forgotten in decisions. As a writer, I have witnessed firsthand how challenging it is for women to find intellectual and professional space even in the most basic public dialogues. We do not lack talent; we lack access.
The Civil Society Women’s Wing in Sopore was not created as an act of defiance; it was born out of necessity—an urgent need to create safe, structured, and sensitive spaces where women from all walks of life can think, speak, lead, and grow.
With over 30 registrations, this wing already reflects the diversity and depth of Kashmir’s women. Among them are teachers, lawyers, doctors, housewives, cyclists, counselors, artists, and even an 8th-grade student. Each member brings not only skill but also spirit. The wing embodies the reality that women are not a single category; we are many stories stitched together by resilience.
This wing is grounded in three key focus areas:
- Education – Because informed women raise informed generations.
- Mental Health – Because healing minds is as important as feeding bodies.
- Empowerment – Not for slogans, but for real, visible leadership.
We have deliberately kept our structure politically neutral. We are not an extension of any political party nor a ladder for any agenda. We are a civil society platform—meant for women, by women, to support each other without the pressures of politics or public posturing.
Why is such a platform necessary when women are already “included” in mainstream platforms? The answer is simple: inclusion does not equal empowerment. Token presence does not guarantee a voice. We are often “invited” into spaces already created by others, rather than being allowed to design those spaces ourselves. This wing changes that. It empowers women with ownership, not just presence.
However, its creation has stirred unease in some circles. Whispers have emerged, calling it a political move or a veiled threat. But we must ask: Why is a women-led civil society platform viewed with suspicion, while countless male-dominated ones are normalized? This double standard is not new, but it is unacceptable. If women can manage homes without manuals, they can also make governance more humane.
For over a decade, Sopore has seen organizations led by individuals with specific or broad political affiliations, yet no questions were raised. Why, then, are constraints and skepticism placed solely on a women-led civil society initiative? While the women involved may hold individual beliefs, the organization itself is firmly apolitical—rooted in inclusivity, empathy, and public service. We are not merely homemakers; we are decision-makers, change-makers, and visionaries determined to reshape our future with dignity and purpose.
What sets women apart is not only their ability but also their empathy. We lead with compassion. We sense the unspoken. We nurture as we plan. These are not weaknesses; they are the very strengths that civil society needs today.
Our movement resonates with the work of countless women across India who have disrupted silence with substance. From Savitribai Phule, who pioneered girls’ education in 19th-century India, to Banu Mushtaq, who recently became the first Kannada-language Indian author to win the International Booker Prize, Indian women have consistently reimagined boundaries. Whether it was Ismat Chughtai’s fearless literature, Arundhati Roy’s fierce advocacy, or Medha Patkar’s grassroots revolutions—these women didn’t wait for space; they created it.
In our own way, the Civil Society Sopore’s Women’s Wing carries this torch forward—not to replicate their journey, but to ignite our own. Let me be clear, we are not here to promote pseudo-feminism or misandry. We do not seek to combat men, but to support women. We do not aim to divide; we aim to uplift. We believe in dignity, not dominance. In a region where women are often celebrated only for their silence or sacrifice, we are offering another option—LEADERSHIP.
This wing is not just an idea; it is infrastructure. We plan to run policy awareness sessions, mental health workshops, educational mentorship circles, and community outreach programs. We aim to work in tandem with schools, colleges, and healthcare institutions without politicizing the process. Our strength will lie in service, not spectacle. Above all, this wing exists because women need space to breathe without judgment, without fear, and without the constant need to justify their existence. Women need space not just to survive, but to create, contribute, and lead with dignity.
To those who see us as a threat, we say this: change is not always comfortable, but it is always necessary. We will bring that change with empathy, intelligence, and unwavering belief in our collective worth. Because if we can manage homes, educate children, build families, heal wounds, earn degrees, and still be expected to remain invisible, then imagine what we can do when we are finally seen!
Why must women lead without apology?
“Tu chal, qadam badha, tujhe sirf raasta nahi, misaal banna hai. Jahan khamoshi thi, wahan ab awaaz banna hai. Chulhe se uthi hai ab jo soch, wo taqdeerein likhegi. Hum sirf ghar nahi, samaaj ke faisle banayeng.”
Booker-winning Banu Mushtaq reminds us: “Women write from wounds that never stop speaking.” Women have always risen; across centuries and scriptures, the world has tested women—sometimes through silence, sometimes through fire. Yet we rise.
In Islam, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) shattered the limits of her time—an entrepreneur, a pillar, a believer. Maryam (AS), alone yet chosen, carried a divine legacy in the face of social judgment: “Allah has chosen you above the women of all nations” (Qur’an 3:42). In Hinduism, Sita’s exile was not her defeat; it was her declaration. She walked away, dignified. In Sikhism, Mata Khivi nourished the masses with grace. In Christianity, it was women who were first entrusted with the message of resurrection. History has not been kind to women—but women have never waited for kindness. We have turned pain into purpose. That same spirit burns bright today in Sopore, where a revolutionary Civil Society Women’s Wing is being born—not to please patriarchy, but to outgrow it. It is a sanctuary for minds to think, hearts to heal, and voices to be heard. With teachers, lawyers, housewives, cyclists, and students—including an 8th-grade girl among the 30 pioneers—we are shaping a collective of clarity and courage.
This isn’t a protest. It’s a proclamation. We reject tokenism. We demand transformation. We carry empathy deeper than politics, and we lead without apology. We are no longer waiting to be heard. We are becoming the voice. Let women breathe. Let women lead. Let women live—not in shadows, but in strength.
Join us in empowering women in Sopore.
For registration, contact via email: [email protected]
