The online magazine Power Politics has published an article by R.C. Ganjoo based on the memories of Krishna Misri, a noted educationalist in Kashmir who was one of the members of the women's militia raised in late 1947 when Srinagar was under threat from invading armed tribesmen. The article contains several remarkable photographs - including that of Krishna Misri's brother, Pushkar Zadoo, who fought with the national militia and was killed in action in July 1948.
Here's the link: http://www.powerpolitics.in/Issues/july_2015/page41.php
And an extract:
The contribution of Kashmiri women in various areas such as literature, culture and politics has been immense. Keeping the flag flying high in these fields, women of Kashmir have also recorded their names in the history of the war zone. But we seem to have forgotten it, laments Prof. Krishna Misri.
For the first time Kashmiri women of all ages drawn from Hindu and Muslim families were trained in handling 303 guns, sten guns and pistols to drive away Pakistani tribal raiders. Kashmiri women took to arms when entry into the armed forces of the state was statutorily forbidden for men in the Dogra regime. There were reports that National Conference activists had broken into the armoury of Maharaja Hari Singh, who had left Kashmir, taken away the arms and distributed them to men and women for protection, she says.
Here's the link: http://www.powerpolitics.in/Issues/july_2015/page41.php
And an extract:
The contribution of Kashmiri women in various areas such as literature, culture and politics has been immense. Keeping the flag flying high in these fields, women of Kashmir have also recorded their names in the history of the war zone. But we seem to have forgotten it, laments Prof. Krishna Misri.
For the first time Kashmiri women of all ages drawn from Hindu and Muslim families were trained in handling 303 guns, sten guns and pistols to drive away Pakistani tribal raiders. Kashmiri women took to arms when entry into the armed forces of the state was statutorily forbidden for men in the Dogra regime. There were reports that National Conference activists had broken into the armoury of Maharaja Hari Singh, who had left Kashmir, taken away the arms and distributed them to men and women for protection, she says.
 Pushkar Zadoo - from Power Politics |  Krishna Misri - from Power Politics |
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