Kanta Wazir was born in Srinagar in March 1930. She was married to Man Mohan Wazir (1926-2018), a Civil Servant of Jammu and Kashmir in July 1949. She was a student of Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. In 1947-48, while pursuing her FA (Fellow of Arts), she was influenced by the progressive ideology and joined the Women’s Self Defense Corps (WSDC), the women’s wing of the National militia that was raised during the turbulent times when Pakistan led tribal raiders invaded Jammu and Kashmir. Equipped with modern weapons and commanded by Major General Akbar Khan of the Pakistan army, the raiders crossed the border and entered Muzaffarabad on 22 October 1947. A reign of terror was let loose on innocent civilians. The tribesmen advanced leaving behind a trail of death and destruction, their worst orgies were murder, rape, loot, and arson in which women suffered on an unprecedented scale.
The worst fear more than getting killed was about the honour of women. In the wake of an anticipated dread engulfing the region of Srinagar anytime, the urgent concern was the empowerment of women which resulted in the setting up of the women’s militia, an exclusive women’s wing of the National militia raised by the National Conference. Its intended role was to train the women in the use of firearms so as to defend themselves against the marauding raiders.
With zeal to serve the motherland, Kanta Wazir, the bold daughter of Kashmir, joined the women’s militia and enlisted herself for training in the use of firearms. Infused with a new spirit, she shunned away the years-old conservative ideology of the traditional Kashmir society and turned this challenge into an opportunity to serve the common mission of defending women’s honour and dignity by bearing arms. Along with her team of volunteers, Kanta Wazir actively mobilized the people to defend their motherland against tribal aggression along with the Indian army which landed in Srinagar on 27 October 1947.
The response was overwhelming and subsequently, a spontaneous grass-roots movement began to emerge in the streets of Srinagar. Epitomizing supreme sacrifice and deep conviction, she along with other volunteers played an exemplary role in guiding jawans and gathering vital information about the movement of raiders on the frontlines
Gole Bagh, later named Usman zanana Park, after Brigadier Usman – the hero of the battle of Jhanger became an important site where she along with other volunteers got training in exercise, parade, and use of firearms including shooting with 303 rifles, sten guns, Bren guns, and pistols.
Kanta Wazir was active in a plethora of volunteer works ranging from military training to social work and cultural activity. Through the platform of the women’s militia, she gained a profile, confidence, and purpose which broadened her opportunities and helped in shaping her logical and pragmatic approach to life. She became a popular name in the first battalion of women militia named as Mukta battalion. Known for her sharpshooting, she displayed her marksmanship in several firing competitions. Her expertise in the skill of shots would entitle her to three packets of salt, a rare commodity in Srinagar in 1947 because of the economic blockade caused by Pakistan which led to the suspension of the supply of essential commodities in Jammu and Kashmir.
She played a substantive role that helped in building up the community spirit. After receiving a short training in first aid, Kanta Wazir along with militia women, to name a few, Krishna Misri, Girja Dhar, and Jai Kishori started delivering basic humanitarian services to the dislocated individuals and families who thronged to seek shelter in Srinagar city from the nearby areas ravaged by the raiders. Further, these militia women would go in batches of five to seven to offer support and look after the beaten, raped, and molested women arriving in Government hospitals. Additionally, to boost the morale of ailing and injured soldiers, she along with other volunteers also visited the military hospitals and spent time looking after them.
Although the women militia never fought on the frontiers, it remains a standalone event in Kashmir history in which women from every community and class equipped themselves with arms to counter the dreaded and uncouth tribesmen. With time, the forgotten women militia became synonymous with Kanta Wazir who set into motion a transformative process of women’s emancipation and empowerment in Kashmir. Later, in the 1990s, during the insurgency in Kashmir, she along with her family shifted to New Delhi.