The Narrative of Oppression and Struggle Among the Women of Kashmir: A Subaltern Study of Behold, I Shine by Freny Manecksha

Abstract

Kashmiri literature highlights the major themes of oppression and the continuous struggle by Kashmiris in their cause for independence. Millions of Kashmiris have suffered from human rights violations by Indian troops. Among them, the most disturbed are women and children. This paper focuses on the narratives of Kashmiri women and how they spend their lives in Indian-occupied Kashmir while highlighting the theoretical underpinning of female subalterns. In which women are suppressed, oppressed, and kept voiceless among their people. In Kashmir, women have been raped, assaulted, and marginalized by Indian troops and to lower their voices they are given the amount of ex gratia which acts as a bandage to heal the wounds. The paper will explore how Indian troops have colonized the land how they have been treating women in Kashmir, and what role women play in their call for azadi.