In early 90’s when Kashmir was engulfed by violence, there was a time when females were advised to confine themselves to the four walls of their homes. Using a distorted understanding of religion in a patriarchal, feudalistic society, the diktats of moral brigades were forcibly implemented on the streets in the valley. Then there was the constant gaze of that uniformed man with a gun on the street. The spurt in violence had made women, especially young girls, easy targets. They not only felt cramped but were humiliated and attacked too.
Not anymore!
Kashmir is gradually calming down and an uneasy, deceptive peace is taking roots, bringing a cultural shift buoyed by popular cable television networks. This societal metamorphosis has altered the perception of people in Kashmir towards the women who were denied their rights for long. In a society where females felt uneasy to come out of their homes, a good number of women, shunning the traditional taboos, are now regularly seen in the markets, rubbing shoulders with their opposite gender. Be it academics or careers, women of Kashmir are not lagging behind in any field.
These days, Scooty bikes have become a craze with women, mostly students and professionals, in Kashmir valley. Introduced by Honda Motors, a leading automobile dealer located in the heart of Srinagar in Kashmir in 2010, the bikes have become an easy purchase for women with Kashmir’s leading bank, JK Bank, offering attractive finance facility for the prospective buyers, majority of them being women. The cost of Scooty ranges from Rs 39,800 - 50,000 and one can get it with easy installments of Rs 800 per month. The main dealers of Scooty bikes in Kashmir – Rahim Motors and Kashmir Motors - claim that they sell about 120 Scooties per month. As per records, a total number of 4019 Scooties were sold in Srinagar from March 31, 2009 to August 4, 2012.
The introduction of Scooty bikes was warmly welcomed by the women. Abida Bashir, a class 11 student, was filled with excitement when her brother purchased a Scooty for her. “It is very important for a girl to be independent. I have to go for tuitions at four different places. I cannot expect my brother to accompany me every time.” Belonging to a conservative Muslim family in Srinagar, she had to seek advice of a religious scholar on whether Islam allowed a girl to ride a bike.
For Bisma, 26, a private employee, who availed J&K Bank’s loan facility, riding a Scooty was a dream which has come true. “Now I reach office on time every day. Otherwise I had to board overcrowded buses where instances of harassment and immodesty are a routine matter. It’s beyond description what happens inside these buses,” says Bisma. more
Not anymore!
Kashmir is gradually calming down and an uneasy, deceptive peace is taking roots, bringing a cultural shift buoyed by popular cable television networks. This societal metamorphosis has altered the perception of people in Kashmir towards the women who were denied their rights for long. In a society where females felt uneasy to come out of their homes, a good number of women, shunning the traditional taboos, are now regularly seen in the markets, rubbing shoulders with their opposite gender. Be it academics or careers, women of Kashmir are not lagging behind in any field.
These days, Scooty bikes have become a craze with women, mostly students and professionals, in Kashmir valley. Introduced by Honda Motors, a leading automobile dealer located in the heart of Srinagar in Kashmir in 2010, the bikes have become an easy purchase for women with Kashmir’s leading bank, JK Bank, offering attractive finance facility for the prospective buyers, majority of them being women. The cost of Scooty ranges from Rs 39,800 - 50,000 and one can get it with easy installments of Rs 800 per month. The main dealers of Scooty bikes in Kashmir – Rahim Motors and Kashmir Motors - claim that they sell about 120 Scooties per month. As per records, a total number of 4019 Scooties were sold in Srinagar from March 31, 2009 to August 4, 2012.
The introduction of Scooty bikes was warmly welcomed by the women. Abida Bashir, a class 11 student, was filled with excitement when her brother purchased a Scooty for her. “It is very important for a girl to be independent. I have to go for tuitions at four different places. I cannot expect my brother to accompany me every time.” Belonging to a conservative Muslim family in Srinagar, she had to seek advice of a religious scholar on whether Islam allowed a girl to ride a bike.
For Bisma, 26, a private employee, who availed J&K Bank’s loan facility, riding a Scooty was a dream which has come true. “Now I reach office on time every day. Otherwise I had to board overcrowded buses where instances of harassment and immodesty are a routine matter. It’s beyond description what happens inside these buses,” says Bisma. more
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