Zoon Ho, Zoon Ho

Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija are attracting large crowds. But will it translate into votes?

- Naseer Ganai

AS Iltija Mufti cast her vote on September 18 and returned to her vehicle, she emerged from the sunroof of her car and chanted, “Zoon Ho, Zoon Ho”, which means “It is the moon, it is the moon”. But it was a sunny day and there was no sighting of the moon. What she intended to convey was “Zeun Ho, Zeun Ho” (We won, we won).

While the mispronunciation of Kashmiri words by Iltija and her mother—former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti—has drawn widespread attention in this election, their campaign has reinforced the importance of the Kashmiri language as an integral part of the region’s identity. “Our fight is all about identity. If we abandon the Kashmiri language, where will we end up? We must teach our children Kashmiri,” says Mehbooba, who is also the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In Bijbehara, as in much of Kashmir, young voters are least concerned about Iltija’s Kashmiri pronunciation. Mispronunciation of Kashmiri words by Iltija is often seen as a source of amusement rather than a slight against the language.

Bijbehara constituency, from where Iltija is contesting, holds special significance as it is the hometown of her mother. Iltija’s grandfather, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was raised here and started his political career from the region. Iltija is contesting against Bashir Ahmad Veeri, a leader from the National Conference (NC).

The competition, however, has been tough. The ancient town of Bijbehara bears a striking resemblance to the old city of Srinagar. Located on the banks of the Jhelum River, it is encircled by four plateaus, creating a beautiful setting. Much like Srinagar’s old city, Bijbehara features a labyrinth of narrow lanes and by-lanes filled with shops offering a wide array of goods—from copperware to fragrant spices. The town also has numerous bakery shops, attracting travellers headed to south Kashmir or Srinagar.