Honouring Atiqa Bano: Youm-e-Meeras celebrates her legacy in Sopore
Sopore, Oct 5: Youm-e-Meeras was observed at Meeras Mahal Museum, Sopore, on Sunday, honouring the life and legacy of Atiqa Bano, a revered educationist, social reformer, and custodian of Kashmir’s vernacular culture.
The event was organised jointly by Majlis-un-Nisa Jammu and Kashmir, Meeras Mahal Museum, and Adbee Markaz Kamraz.
The programme celebrated Atiqa Bano’s lifelong dedication to education, women’s empowerment, and the preservation of Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage. As the founder of Meeras Mahal—the only private museum of its kind in North Kashmir—she safeguarded over 3,000 artefacts, including manuscripts, traditional dresses, utensils, woodwork, terracotta items, and metal objects, providing insight into Kashmir’s civilisational history and daily life.
The event also marked the inauguration of the Atiqa Bano Memorial Lecture Series, with Mohammad Saleem Beg (Convener, INTACH J&K Chapter) delivering the first address. Beg described Atiqa Bano as the architect of vernacular culture in north Kashmir and lauded her dedication to establishing Meeras Mahal. He emphasised that the true tribute to her work would be for people from all walks of life to embrace her mission.
“Meeras Mahal is a living memory connecting us to the past. Our culture is our identity, and it is as important as the quality of life,” Beg said, urging the community to ensure younger generations remain connected to their heritage. He was felicitated for his efforts in protecting and promoting Kashmir’s cultural legacy.
The event was attended by MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, MLA Wagoora-Kreeri Irfan Hafiz Lone, Director General School Education Kashmir Dr G.N. Itoo, Convenor INTACH J&K Saleem Beg, President Adbee Markaz Kamraz Mohammad Amin Bhat, and other dignitaries, civil society members, and educationists.
Speakers highlighted Atiqa Bano’s role as a visionary reformer who promoted the Kashmiri language, literature, and women’s education, calling for sustained efforts to preserve institutions like Meeras Mahal.
Dr Itoo assured that under the New Education Policy (NEP), students would be encouraged to visit museums and heritage sites, while language-specific teachers would be recruited to strengthen cultural and linguistic education.
Born in 1940, Atiqa Bano joined the Education Department in 1958 and established Majlis-un-Nisa in the 1970s to empower marginalised women. She retired as Director of Libraries and Research in 1999 and later founded Meeras Mahal Museum, collecting and preserving artefacts from across Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme concluded with participants pledging to uphold Kashmiri heritage and continue Atiqa Bano’s mission, affirming her enduring legacy in education, cultural preservation, and social reform
The programme concluded with a warm and heartfelt vote of thanks presented by Shabnam Tilghami, General Secretary of Adbee Markaz Kamraz, who acknowledged the contributions of all dignitaries, participants, and partner organisations in making the event a grand success.
