Darakhshan Andrabi Biography: Education, Career, Marriage, Achievements, Age, Net Worth 2025

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Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi is a poet, activist, and politician from Jammu and Kashmir, is one such person. She has been called the “Daughter of India”, a title that reflects her determination to stand firm for unity, peace, and development in a region that has often been troubled by conflict.

Her journey from a writer and poet to becoming the first woman Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board with the status of a Minister of State is remarkable. She has shown that leadership is not only about holding positions but also about bringing change, speaking the truth, and working for the welfare of people. This is the story of Darakhshan Andrabi is a story of resilience, reform, and recognition.

Table of Contents

Early Life and Family Background

Darakhshan Andrabi was born and raised in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Although she is a public figure, she has chosen to keep details about her date of birth, parents, and siblings away from the media. Unlike many politicians who highlight their personal lives, Darakhshan has focused more on her work and public responsibilities.

What we do know is that she grew up in the unique cultural environment of Kashmir, where she was exposed to the beauty of literature, language, and tradition. This background gave her a deep love for poetry and writing, which became the foundation of her early identity.

Education

Details of her schools or colleges have not been published in public records. However, from her writing and her political speeches, it is clear that Darakhshan is a well-educated and thoughtful person. She has mastered languages like Urdu and Kashmiri, in which she writes poetry and prose.

Her educational journey may not be documented in books, but her work in literature shows that she was drawn to creative expression from a young age. Education gave her not only knowledge but also confidence to stand up as a writer and later as a political leader.

Literary Career

Before entering politics, Darakhshan Andrabi first made a name for herself in literary circles. She is a poet and writer who writes in Urdu and Kashmiri. Her poetry often reflects themes of identity, struggle, and the beauty of culture. She has also worked as a translator, contributing to literature by bringing works across languages.

For her literary contributions, she has received many awards, including:

Rani Laxmi Bai Award
Jammu and Kashmir State Highest Civilian Award
State Translation Award
Rajbhasha Samman
Sahir Ludhyanvi Award
Vandemataram Samman
Khillat-e-Noor

Through writing, she expressed her feelings about society, justice, and humanity. But she also realized that poetry alone cannot change systems. That thought slowly pushed her towards activism and then into politics.

Political Journey

Darakhshan Andrabi’s first major step in politics was the founding of her own political party, the Socialistic Democratic Party (SDP), in Jammu and Kashmir. This was a bold move, especially as a woman in a region where politics was mostly male-dominated.

Under her leadership, the SDP launched campaigns that gained wide attention. The two most famous were:

“Vote for India” Campaign, which encouraged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in elections and strengthen democracy. It was also a call to move away from violence and towards peaceful political participation.
“Aman Ke Liye Rai-Shumaari” (Referendum for Peace), which was designed to give people a voice in choosing peace and rejecting conflict.

These efforts gave her the title “Daughter of India”, as she was seen as someone who put the unity of the nation above everything else.

Joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

In 2014, Darakhshan decided to merge her party with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She believed that being part of a larger national party would give her more strength to work for development and peace in her home state.

After joining BJP, she quickly became an important face of the party in Jammu and Kashmir. She was made a member of the BJP National Executive Committee, became part of the Core Group of BJP in J&K, and also served as the spokesperson of the party in the region.

Her rise in BJP showed that she was not just a symbolic leader but someone trusted with real responsibilities. She often represented the party in public debates and discussions, defending policies and highlighting development plans.

National Roles

Darakhshan’s influence was not limited to Jammu and Kashmir. At the national level, she became a member of the Central Waqf Council, which operates under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.

In this role, she also served as:

Chairperson of the Education and Women Welfare Committee
Chairperson of the Waqf Development Committee

These positions gave her a national platform to work for minority welfare, especially in education and women’s issues.

Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board

One of the biggest milestones in Darakhshan Andrabi’s career came in 2022, when she was appointed as the Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board with the status of a Minister of State (MoS).

This was historic because she was the first woman to ever hold this position. The Waqf Board in J&K manages religious endowments, properties, and institutions. It has vast resources, but for years it was criticized for corruption and mismanagement.

Darakhshan introduced reforms that changed the way the Waqf Board functioned. Some of her key initiatives include:

Digitization of records to bring transparency and reduce corruption.
Building schools, colleges, and hospitals with Waqf resources so that the income could benefit all people.
Increasing salaries of Waqf employees in 2025, where skilled employees began earning ₹18,000 per month, semi-skilled ₹16,000, and unskilled ₹15,000. Pensioners also got a 20% increase.
Protecting heritage sites, especially after incidents like the attack on the Hazratbal Shrine. She called it an attack not only on stone but on faith itself.

Under her leadership, the Waqf Board became a model of how religious resources can be used for social good.

Achievements and Recognition

Darakhshan Andrabi’s achievements are spread across three main fields, which are literature, politics, and administration.

She received multiple awards for poetry, translation, and contributions to Urdu and Kashmiri literature.
She became the founder of SDP, BJP National Executive Member, BJP spokesperson, and voice for unity in J&K.
She became the first woman Chairperson of J&K Waqf Board, MoS status, reforms in Waqf management, and better facilities for employees and has also been recognized nationally for her courage and patriotism.

Net Worth

The most recent publicly available information about Darakhshan Andrabi’s wealth comes from her 2014 election affidavit. At that time:

She had movable assets worth about ₹23.33 lakh (including cash, jewelry, and a vehicle).
She had immovable assets worth about ₹1.335 crore (land and residential property).
She also declared liabilities of about ₹6 lakh.

This meant her total declared net worth was around ₹1.5 crore in 2014. There is no updated figure available, but it is believed to have increased since then due to her long career and official roles.

Personality and Leadership Style

Darakhshan Andrabi is known as a fearless and outspoken leader. She speaks directly and does not shy away from controversies. Many admire her for being a woman who has broken barriers in Kashmiri politics, where women leaders are few.

She combines her love for poetry and writing with her role as a politician, making her a unique figure. Her speeches often carry both strength and emotional depth.

She is not only a politician but also a symbol of empowerment for Kashmiri women.

Conclusion

Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi’s life shows how determination and courage can change the course of one’s journey. From being a poet in Kashmir to becoming a national political leader, she has walked a path full of challenges but also full of achievements.

Her story is not just about politics. It is about standing for unity when others chose division. It is about using religious funds to build schools and hospitals instead of letting them go to waste. It is about showing that women can lead in spaces where they were once not allowed.

Today, Darakhshan Andrabi stands as a leader, reformer, and role model. She is a living reminder that change is possible, and that no matter where you come from, you can make a difference if you have the courage to act.