Jazim Bazaz
(Assistant Editor)
In an evening defined by warmth, reflection, and mutual respect, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti hosted an intimate dinner gathering in Srinagar on August 26 to mark three decades of her journey in active politics.
Stepping away from formal speeches and partisan rhetoric, Mehbooba Mufti brought together journalists, observers, and long-time associates who have documented her political path, from her debut in 1996 through every triumph, challenge, and turbulent chapter since.
Addressing the media professionals present not as a distant politician, but as a sister and comrade-in-arms, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who have held up a mirror to her journey.
“I felt that in this journey of mine, you all have played a big role in my ups and downs, in lifting me up and letting me fall. So, I just wanted to thank you,” she shared, emphasising the vital role of critical and honest journalism.
A Trailblazing Legacy Built from the Grassroots
Mehbooba Mufti’s three-decade career stands out as one of the most resilient political journeys in modern South Asian history. Breaking the mold when she entered politics in 1996 at the height of unrest when public life carried immense personal risk, she stepped forward with courage, securing her first electoral victory from Bijbehara on an Indian National Congress ticket.Her father late Mufti Mohammad Sayeedhad returned to the Congress, which he had left in 1987, angry at the alliance that party had formed with its traditional rival in the state, the National Conference. She later served as the leader of the opposition in the assembly, taking on the government of chief minister Farooq Abdullah with asperity. She resigned her assembly seat and went on to contest the parliamentary elections unsuccessfully in 1999 from Srinagar, losing to Omar Abdullah.
Pioneering a regional voice in 1999 alongside her father, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she co-founded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give voice to the aspirations of ordinary Kashmiris through a compassionate “healing touch” policy.
She was elected to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag seat in 2004 and 2014.[9] She defeated Mirza Mehboob Beg who was the incumbent MP in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.
Long before her tenure as Chief Minister, she built an unmatched reputation as a leader who stood with grief-stricken families, visited remote villages, and championed human dignity at the grassroots level.
As Jammu and Kashmir’s first female Chief Minister, (she became chief minister of coalition government after her father’s death in January 2016), she shattered glass ceilings, repeatedly demonstrating a rare willingness to make difficult choices for peace and stability.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere of the evening was marked by humility. Looking back at 30 years spent in public service, Mehbooba Mufti reflected candidly on the relentless passage of time.
As the saying goes, ‘most of it has passed, only a little is left,’ she noted with gentle humour, adding that while praise from party cadres is routine, constructive feedback from journalists and observers holds profound value. “Wherever I make a mistake, you will criticise me, and where I do right, you will pat my back.”
As guests shared a night of good food and warm memories overlooking the Kashmir valley, the gathering served as a reminder of Mehbooba Mufti’s defining characteristic, her commitment to the people, regardless of which way the political winds blow. Thirty years on, her dedication to dialogue, dignity, and democratic expression remains as steadfast as ever.
