The new, young Kashmir leaders

When Mehbooba Mufti takes over as CM, it will complete the transition from one generation of J&K politics to the next, observes.

Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti, 55
Law graduate picked up the reins of the PDP when she was only 43. Founding PDP vice president will be J&K’s first woman CM.

Omar Abdullah, 45
Became CM at age 38 in 2008, youngest in India then. Joined politics at 28 in 1998; three years later, became MoS in A B Vajpayee’s NDA government. Working president of National Conference.

Sajad Lone, 48
J&K minister, chairman of the People’s Conference, was 35 in 2002 when he entered separatist politics after his father Abdul Gani Lone, Hurriyat leader, was killed. Joined mainstream politics by contesting parliamentary elections in 2009, lost, and won an assembly seat in 2015 after tying up with BJP.

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Ghulam Ahmad Mir, 55
President of state Congress. Began politics at age 19 and worked in Amethi and Rai Bareli, returned to valley in 1996.

“They are not just young but also very bright,” says political scientist Prof Gul Wani. “This is true not only in mainstream politics but also in separatist politics. Except for a few, the separatist leaders too are young.”

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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