Women’s Day Special: Women entrepreneurs challenge gender stereotypes
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Women’s Day Special: Women entrepreneurs challenge gender stereotypes

On the women’s day, Mir Baseerat, talked to some of these successful women engaged in diverse occupations from owning an automobile showroom to providing essential oils to the world. Their motivations vary widely, with some responding to practical conce

Post by on Sunday, March 7, 2021

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Mir Baseerat



“Businesses are not for women. A woman can’t handle this pressure. Will you handle your home or business” are some of the things we get to hear when we try to rise above stereotypes and achieve something only men have achieved. Fortunately there are many women who decide not to pay heed to what people say or think of them and move on. With their sheer grit and dedication to achieve their goals they over the years are attempting to break all types of gender stereotypes in Kashmir.

In recent times, many Kashmiri women have turned into successful entrepreneurs. These women entrepreneurs have become inspiration to many who dream to start businesses of their own.

On the women’s day, Mir Baseerat, talked to some of these successful women engaged in diverse occupations from owning an automobile showroom to providing essential oils to the world. Their motivations vary widely, with some responding to practical concerns and others following their passions.

 

 

 

Rahiba Gulzar

 

Rahiba Gulzar owns an Automobile (JEEP) showroom in Goripora area of Sanatnagar, Srinagar. Rahiba’s journey was not too smooth. Being the first woman dealer entering the male dominating field, Rahiba had to go through various hurdles initially.

 “My father was very keen about opening up a showroom, but my brother was too young to join him at that time. It was an opportunity not to be missed, so I volunteered for the job,” said Rahiba.

However, it was not that easy to convince the family to take her on board due to the stereotype affiliated with the field. 

“It took me a while to convince my father for opting it. It was not that he didn’t believe in my capabilities but because the apprehensions to be addressed were that it was a male dominating field and was hectic for a girl to handle it.

“No matter what she does, a woman often has to undergo a tough time in breaking the stereotypes to be what she wants to be. This is when you need family support and luckily in my case I did had that therefore, I was able to run it smoothly,” said Rahiba.

She said she went for meetings in Mumbai and was really appreciated for being the first woman dealer from Kashmir and that too at a very young age. 

“I had just completed my master’s degree at that time when I took a plunge into this male dominated business,” she said.

“I went through the entire routine that a man goes through to set up his business. I visited construction sites and even the RTO’s office by myself to get my things done. Everybody used to get surprised to see a girl chasing her dreams in this field. I always maintained my confidence, so everything went smoothly,” said Rahiba.

Rahiba is married now. Like her parents, her in laws have also extended full support to her in running her business. 

“Not everyone has a negative mindset in our society. There are many who encourage you,” she said.

It has been five years now and Rahiba is a successful businesswoman breaking all types of gender stereotypes. Her business is flourishing with each passing day.

 

 

 Rifat Masoodi:

 

Rifat Masoodi from Srinagar took over her in laws business of manufacturing bats right after her father in law died in 2009. The family was thinking about closing down the factory, but to save the family from the financial crunch it might go through after closing down the factory, Rifat decided to keep the factory going.

However, to run the business she had to first convince her husband to let her run the factory as no woman in their families had ever tried such a thing in the past. She knew it that running a factory was totally different than running a household.

Despite facing the social criticism, Rifat took the challenge and today she is running a successful business.

In the present day, Rifat's bat unit produces thousands of bats per month which are not only sold in Jammu and Kashmir but are also transported to various states of India.

Rifat is a homemaker turned businesswoman and handling the family including kids and running a successful business at times gets difficult.

.“I come to oversee the work after sending off my kids to school and after completing the other house chores,” said the mother of two.

Rifat has been successfully taking care of her business for 12 long years and now she is hopeful of more improved business in future. She wishes her bats to be used internationally as well.

 

 

 Rubeena Tabasum:

Rubeena Tabasum is another businesswoman from Budgam who is into the business of organic farming which includes cut flowers, aromatic and medicinal plants.

She started her business in 2006. Like many female business entrepreneurs she has faced her share of social backlash. Being from a rural area and then trying to be independent was something new for the people of her area.

Besides facing a lot of criticism, Rubeena was also short on finances at that time and the banks were not granting her loan either.

She however did not give up, instead started with a greenhouse on her husband’s land and grew some carnations and lilies which she later sold in the Flower Mandi, Delhi.

“I was surprised by the positive response I got there. Within just two years of my work, I started getting huge orders. My business expanded in the entire country,” she said.

Rubeena started with four kanals of land and today she owns 400 kanals of land on lease, with scores of green houses and aromatic flowers like lavender and rose spread over them, and a small retail shop at the airport.

Her venture “United Floritech” has become a brand now.

She has now expanded her business to essential oils and aromatic waters.

The Lavender water and Rosewater under the brand name “Pure Aroma” sells across the world. 

“I have my own extraction unit and we undertake all the processes ourselves generating jobs in our small village,” she said.

When Rubeena started United Floritech, she was subject to ridicules and taunts, but today she has become a role model for scores.

 

Neelofar:

Neelofar is an artist and a budding entrepreneur based in Srinagar who battled with the problem of depression with her “art”.

Gifted with the talent of art from her childhood, Neelofar has expertise in paintings, abstract paintings, sketching, calligraphy, murals and paper quilling.

She wanted to open up her art studio last year, but due to the death of her father the plan was to be shelved.  Her father’s death shook her from inside. However, it was her art that she confided in those difficult times. 

 “Losing him made me depressed, I tried keeping myself busy, I even took therapies but nothing helped me. My situation was getting worse day by day,” said Neelofar.

Then she started involving herself in her art work to tackle the problem of depression.

She said art not only helped her in tackling depression but also became a source of her income.

“Allah has blessed me with a talent of art. I used to take it for granted, but now I understand that this is the only thing that is helping me in tough times,” she said.

“I started selling my art in February last year. The flow of orders was less in the beginning, but has improved quite a lot in this one year. I get orders from outside the valley too,” said Neelofar.

Neelofar is planning to open up her own art studio which will be the first of its kind in the valley.

“I will train students who are talented and will also hold painting competitions under that studio so that the younger generation takes art seriously,” she said.

Neelofar has also participated in different painting events outside Kashmir valley. She can get any kind of art done in just half an hour’s time and that is why she has participated in various live art contests.

She has started working on her art studio and is hopeful to get it done by next year.

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