By Saika Rashid
Srinagar: Dreams do come true! When one has the determination to succeed, even the toughest paths can lead to extraordinary destinations.
A decade ago, few could have imagined a women-led revolution taking root in Sopore—a town where stepping forward as a woman was once an immense challenge. Today, women in Sopore are leading in politics, bureaucracy, education, and entrepreneurship, proving that they are more than capable of achieving greatness and representing their homeland at national and international levels.
Every day, women in the Sopore constituency write new success stories—and much of this progress owes its momentum to Masrat Rasool Kar, daughter of the late senior Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar. She is the visionary behind this transformation: the pioneer, the leader, the relentless force whose unwavering efforts have reshaped the landscape.
A former Municipal Council President, Masrat Rasool Kar has crafted her own success story in Sopore—a town where women once struggled to break free from the constraints of a male-dominated society. Through sheer dedication and perseverance, she has dismantled barriers, earning her the title of Sopore’s Iron Lady.
In 2015, Masrat began her political career with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where she was appointed as the State Secretary for the party’s Women’s Wing in Kashmir within just a month.
Later, she also served as a member of the Khadi and Village Board for two years.
However, in 2019, the brother-sister duo left the PDP and joined the National Conference (NC), where they have remained under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ever since.
As a candidate for the National Conference, Masrat Rasool Kar contested the first-ever Urban Local Body elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Not only did she win her seat, but she was also elected as Chairperson.
Her new beginnings have reached remarkable heights in Sopore, a transformation that is evident to the public. The town has witnessed—and continues to experience—significant development, a changing social landscape, and an evolving mindset. Most notably, the surge in women’s participation in mainstream society and business marks a revolutionary shift for Sopore. Women are breaking barriers, and more and more girls from the town are now being seen at national and international levels, representing Sopore in various sectors.
Thanks to Masrat Kar for empowering women to step into a realm that has been overshadowed for decades.
For girls in Sopore, stepping forward to participate in any event or sport has always been a challenging endeavor. Many families were reluctant to accept the idea of their daughters participating in public forums, and obstacles often accompanied the dreams and passions of these girls. However, in recent years, the situation has changed significantly, and the efforts of Masrat Rasool Kar have opened new opportunities for women. Whether in sports, education, politics, or entrepreneurship, Masrat’s efforts are yielding positive results, and the numbers continue to grow.
However, this success story was not achieved without enduring hell-like situations, hurdles, and challenges.
During her tenure, Masrat’s leadership of the Sopore Municipal Council came at a heavy cost when militants attacked a meeting on March 29, 2021, killing two councilors—Reyaz Ahmad and Shamas Ud Din Peer—as well as her PSO at the time, Shafat Nazir Khan.
Though the attack shattered Masrat emotionally, she refused to give up. Instead, she rose to face every challenge, leaving no stone unturned in her mission to script a success story for Sopore.
From a place of fear, she has now fostered a peaceful mindset, reaching the pinnacle of resilience. Her journey has boosted the morale of women in the town, inspiring them to stand strong.
Not only this, but at the administrative level, she also succeeded in removing Sopore’s once-infamous “red zone” tag. It was through her relentless efforts that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Sopore for the first time—an unprecedented high-profile visit. Since then, such visits have become unstoppable. Where once even Deputy Commissioners (DCs) hesitated to enter the town, history has been rewritten. Now, there is hardly a month when DCs do not visit Sopore.
Her new beginnings have reached remarkable heights in Sopore, a transformation that is evident to the public. The town has witnessed—and continues to experience—significant development, a changing social landscape, and an evolving mindset. Most notably, the surge in women’s participation in mainstream society and business stands as a revolutionary shift for Sopore.
What began as her solitary mission has now become an unstoppable movement. More women are joining the workforce, making strides in diverse fields, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men in business—a domain once entirely dominated by them.
In yet another milestone, Sopore has welcomed its first women-led bakery outlet, giving the town yet another reason to celebrate. Women here are no longer left behind; they are breaking ceilings, forging new paths, and inspiring generations to come.
Her new beginnings have reached remarkable heights in Sopore, a transformation that is evident to the public. The town has witnessed—and continues to experience—significant development, a changing social landscape, and an evolving mindset. Most notably, the surge in women’s participation in mainstream society and business marks a revolutionary shift for Sopore. Women are breaking barriers, and more and more girls from the town are now being seen at national and international levels, representing Sopore in various sectors.
Thanks to Masrat Kar for empowering women to step into a realm that has been overshadowed for decades.
For girls in Sopore, stepping forward to participate in any event or sport has always been a challenging endeavor. Many families were reluctant to accept the idea of their daughters participating in public forums, and obstacles often accompanied the dreams and passions of these girls. However, in recent years, the situation has changed significantly, and the efforts of Masrat Rasool Kar have opened new opportunities for women. Whether in sports, education, politics, or entrepreneurship, Masrat’s efforts are yielding positive results, and the numbers continue to grow.
However, this success story was not achieved without enduring hell-like situations, hurdles, and challenges.
During her tenure, Masrat’s leadership of the Sopore Municipal Council came at a heavy cost when militants attacked a meeting on March 29, 2021, killing two councilors—Reyaz Ahmad and Shamas Ud Din Peer—as well as her PSO at the time, Shafat Nazir Khan.
Though the attack shattered Masrat emotionally, she refused to give up. Instead, she rose to face every challenge, leaving no stone unturned in her mission to script a success story for Sopore.
From a place of fear, she has now fostered a peaceful mindset, reaching the pinnacle of resilience. Her journey has boosted the morale of women in the town, inspiring them to stand strong.
Not only this, but at the administrative level, she also succeeded in removing Sopore’s once-infamous “red zone” tag. It was through her relentless efforts that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Sopore for the first time—an unprecedented high-profile visit. Since then, such visits have become unstoppable. Where once even Deputy Commissioners (DCs) hesitated to enter the town, history has been rewritten. Now, there is hardly a month when DCs do not visit Sopore.
What began as her solitary mission has now become an unstoppable movement. More women are joining the workforce, making strides in diverse fields, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men in business—a domain once entirely dominated by them.
In yet another milestone, Sopore has welcomed its first women-led bakery outlet, giving the town yet another reason to celebrate. Women here are no longer left behind; they are breaking ceilings, forging new paths, and inspiring generations to come.
The author is a writer, storyteller, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Politics and International Relations.
