By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Azra Mufti might not be a well known name in the literary circles of the country, but this 25 year old girl from conflict-torn Kashmir has come up with a novel which focuses on the various painful stories about tolerance and violence against women in general.
Born and brought up in North Kashmir’s Baramullah district, Mufti did her masters in business administration and currently works as an Assistant professor in Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Mohali. She has also served as an assistant professor in Islamic University of Science and Technology in South Kashmir, Awantipura.
Her novel” Tearful Pages”, will be released in December, consists of stories about woman who has faced any sort of violence. “Since my childhood, I have always noticed that there is a huge difference between what people preach and what they practice. I came to believe that a woman is treated as an object of lust and people are losing their morals when it comes to giving dignity and respect to women,” Mufti told TwoCircles.net while taking about the book.
“Times are changing but stereotypes are not. Women are still facing harassment in one form or another, so just these bottled up emotions inside me had to come out and what could have been a best way but to write about it,” she added.
While discussing if her novel talks specifically about problems faced by Kashmiri women, Mufti said, “There are some stories where the protagonists are Kashmiri women, but I believe that crime is cosmopolitan; limiting it any particular place or religion is not fair. What a Kashmiri Woman feels after harassment is not different than what an American woman would feel, so emotions are same and I wanted to reach a global audience not only domestic one.”
Reaching out to Kashmiri girls, Mufti says that they should never compromise on your dignity.
“Remember dust settles but we don’t. Do not sacrifice your dignity for your destiny and learn to stand up for what is right. Bring honor to your parents and learn how to deal with problems gracefully. Girls are full of power and nobody will serve it to you, you have to take it and lead,” she says.