Bilal Bashir Bhat
Six prominent personalities from Kashmir have been named among the Most Influential Indian Muslims 2025, underscoring the region’s continued relevance in India’s political, intellectual and moral landscape. According to OnlyKashmir.in Monitoring Desk, the recognition spans multiple categories and reflects both established leadership and emerging voices from Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the new generation figures is Agha Mehdi, whose growing presence signals an effort to reclaim democratic space at a time when political disengagement among Kashmiri youth remains widespread. Rather than offering instant solutions to decades old challenges, he stresses participation, accountability and constitutional rights. Observers note that he stands at the intersection of political legacy and generational change, aiming to evolve into a representative voice of his contemporaries rather than remain a symbolic heir.
In the politicians category, Engineer Rashid continues to be identified as a grassroots leader and a defiant mass based political figure. As per the Monitoring Desk at OnlyKashmir.in, Rashid’s appeal lies in his direct engagement with ordinary people, making him a persistent symbol of resistance oriented politics in the region, marked by both controversy and popular support.
Another notable inclusion is Ghulam Nabi Azad, widely regarded as a veteran statesman of Indian politics. After resigning from the Indian National Congress in August 2022, he launched the Democratic Progressive Azad Party the following month and assumed the role of founder and chief patron. OnlyKashmir.in’s assessment highlights that his Padma Bhushan award in 2022 and his appointment in 2023 to a government committee on simultaneous elections reaffirm his enduring relevance in national public life.
Beyond the political sphere, Irfan Mehraj has been featured under the category Courage, Conscience and the Power of Truth. A journalist and human rights activist from Kashmir, Mehraj has written for leading Indian and international platforms including Deutsche Welle, The Indian Express, TRT World, The Wire, The Caravan, Himal Southasian and New Arab. The Monitoring Desk notes that his arrest by the National Investigation Agency on 20 March 2023, linked to his association with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, came to symbolize the vulnerabilities faced by journalists and rights defenders working in conflict affected regions.
The sole woman from Kashmir on the list is Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. She created history in 2016 by becoming the first woman to hold the office. Her tenure was defined by attempts to balance governance in a volatile environment while advocating dialogue between Srinagar and New Delhi. According to OnlyKashmir.in Monitoring Desk, despite sharp criticism over her alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the collapse of the coalition in 2018, Mufti has continued to position herself as a resolute voice for democracy and civil liberties.
Completing the Kashmiri representation is Omar Abdullah, included in the politicians category. Born on 10 March 1970, Abdullah is currently serving as the chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He earlier held the same post from 2009 to 2014 and has been vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference since 2009. Monitoring Desk observations underline that his early entry into Parliament in 1998 as the youngest Lok Sabha member from Srinagar and his tenure as Union Minister of State for External Affairs have cemented his influence in regional politics.
The list comprises 100 individuals across twelve categories including academicians, businessmen, community leaders, edupreneurs, entertainers, Islamic scholars, media persons, politicians, professionals, religious leaders, changemakers and sportspersons. While Mehbooba Mufti is the only woman from Kashmir, the broader list includes eleven other women such as Sania Mirza, Seema Mustafa, Arfa Khanam Sherwani and Syeda Hameed.
The compilation has been published by Muslim Mirror, an independent non profit news platform founded in 2012 by journalist Syed Zubair Ahmad and operated by the Minorities Media Foundation. OnlyKashmir.in Monitoring Desk notes that the platform seeks to counter stereotypes and present nuanced narratives on Muslim contributions to India’s public life.
