“I never waited for opportunities; I followed my own path. I was not a political SRO. I am not a political heir. I am not an Indian by convenience but by conviction. And for being an Indian, I don’t need certificates from anyone to prove my worth.”
Being born in Kashmir is nothing less than living a life full of conflict, says Mir Junaid, a young and energetic emerging political leader. As a child, born in 1991, he saw killings, shutdowns, crackdowns. Seeing all this, like every child, he had an aim. He wanted to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) and go into the Army, Navy, or Air Force. But he was forced by his parents to become a lawyer. So, he fell in line with the wishes of his parents and studied Law.
Today, he is an internationally acclaimed writer, a Kashmiri activist, a lawyer and a proud Indian politician. He is currently the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party.
Hailing from Langate in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, Mir Junaid has been politically involved from a young age, being both a youth activist and youth leader locally. He has been an activist for over 14 years. He has established himself as a name in consultative politics and has made himself relevant in all circumstances. He has devoted (and continues to devote)himself to the cause of promoting peace, prosperity, and unity in Jammu and Kashmir by attempting to restructure, reform, and alter the populace’s violence hit atmosphere.
In the 2024 Assembly elections, I got the opportunity to contest. Around 10,000 people voted for me. These votes were not for autonomy, self rule or referendum, but in the name of India. Our slogan was “Jashn-e-Jamhooriyat” (Celebration of Democracy).
He was and continues to be a vocal supporter of the Central government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35 A, stating, “I believe that the removal of Articles 370 and 35-A gave the people of Jammu and Kashmir a kind of liberation from political dynasties. The weaker sections of the society who are deprived will benefit from the move.”
In a STRAIGHT TALK session with Times Link Editor, Sajjad Bazaz, he responded candidly to a volley of questions.
Here are the excerpts:
SAJJAD BAZAZ:We welcome you to this Straight Talk session. It’s a great moment for us to talk to an emerging young political leader and I am sure listeningto your life journey so far and thoughts that back your nationalism will definitely inspire youth of Kashmir. How would you describe yourself?
MIR JUNAID: Thank you very much for starting this initiative of publishing a news magazine TIMES LINK with its digital arm, Straight Talk Communications (STC). I congratulate you. You asked me how I would introduce myself. Every person gives an introduction, but mine is a little different. People are fed up with hearing the same kind of introductions.
Removal of Article 370 and 35A ended stone-pelting, improved security, better school attendance, economic improvement, and tourism growth. These are results of consultative politics.
See, I was born without a name, without an identity. I was born as a blank canvas with potential. From the very first breath, the world started writing its stories on me. I learned to listen, to see, to become aware, conscious, and to understand what is happening in the country and in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Here I am, Mir Junaid. I am an individual, an entity with my own individuality. My thoughts are mine, my experiences are mine, my understanding of life is mine. As this conversation unfolds, you will get a clearer picture of who I am.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: You belong to Langate, which is one of the remotest areas near the Line of Control. You were born and raised there. Like every child, you went through school, higher secondary, college, and university.At that time, most youth wanted to become doctors or engineers. What was your aim in life? And how did you land in politics?
MIR JUNAID: Being born in Kashmir is nothing less than living a life full of conflict. As a child, we saw killings, shutdowns, crackdowns. Seeing all this, like every child, I had an aim. I wanted to join the NDA and go into the Army, Navy, or Air Force. But I was the only son, and my family wanted me to become a lawyer. So, I studied law.
Your past is your teacher. Your present is your life. Your future is a blank canvas. Be yourself. Don’t follow nonsense ideologies blindly. Be loving, passionate, and hopeful. Break your mental barriers, come out of your comfort zone, and live freely
I studied in a public school at Langate till 8th grade, then in Handwara till 10th, then higher secondary in Langate, and after 12th I went to Kashmir University for an integrated law course. That is where the story really started.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: After completing a degree in Law, you should have gone into legal practice, but you went somewhere else. Why?
MIR JUNAID: I studied law for myself, to understand it. I was never interested in court practice. I followed my passion and my convictions and always stayed on the right side of history.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: At that time militancy was at its peak. Many youth picked up guns. How did you protect yourself from that “culture”?
MIR JUNAID: As I said, I wanted to serve my country. When I could not join the armed forces, I picked up the pen instead of the gun. What I could have done with a gun, I tried to achieve with the pen.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: You entered consultative politics. How did you get that breakthrough?
MIR JUNAID:Consultative politics was my passion. I never waited for opportunities; I followed my own path. I was not a political SRO. I am not a political heir. Many politicians inherited power from their families. But I started from scratch and reached here through my own struggle. In the 2024 Assembly elections, I got the opportunity to contest. Around 10,000 people voted for me. These votes were not for autonomy, self rule or referendum, but in the name of India. Our slogan was “Jashn-e-Jamhooriyat” (Celebration of Democracy).
SAJJAD BAZAZ: What exactly is consultative politics?
MIR JUNAID: Consultative politics is about diplomacy, advising, and shaping policy. I wrote articles and policy suggestions for the Government of India. I had discussions with people in power about Kashmir’s political roadmap. I did everything selflessly for the larger cause of the country. I am not an Indian by convenience but by conviction. And for being an Indian, I don’t need certificates from anyone to prove my worth.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: How did it benefit Kashmir?
MIR JUNAID:I always advocated for the removal of Articles 370 and 35A. Their removal, the end of stone-pelting, improved security, better school attendance, economic improvement, and tourism growth, these are results of consultative politics.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: What about rising unemployment?
MIR JUNAID: Unemployment is both a mindset and a real issue. The Government of India, especially the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Jammu & Kashmir Police, have a responsibility. There are 20,000 vacancies in J&K Police. Filling them would help youth and strengthen the country. Also, many youth have FIRs from before 2019. If they have accepted the current system, they should be forgiven and given opportunities. Collective punishment is wrong. Terrorism should have zero tolerance. But youth who want to live as law-abiding citizens should get a chance.
SAJJAD BAZAZ: How do you see Kashmir today?
MIR JUNAID: Kashmir is a graveyard of reputations. We must live with this reality.
SAJJAD BAZAZ:In the given circumstances, what is your message for Kashmiri youth?
MIR JUNAID: Your past is your teacher. Your present is your life. Your future is a blank canvas. Be yourself. Don’t follow nonsense ideologies blindly. Be loving, passionate, and hopeful. My doors and my heart are always open for youth. Come anytime. Let us discuss, grow, and evolve together.Break your mental barriers, come out of your comfort zone, and live freely.
