Engineer Rashid: A Grassroots Leader and Defiant Voice from Kashmir
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, is a prominent and unconventional political figure from Jammu and Kashmir. Born on 19 August 1967 in Langate, Handwara, Rashid has emerged as a powerful grassroots leader known for his fiery speeches, simple lifestyle, and unwavering connection with ordinary people. In 2024, he was elected as a Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha from the Baramulla constituency, marking a significant moment in contemporary Kashmiri politics.
Rashid’s political consciousness developed early in life. As a teenager, he became associated with Kashmiri political movements and joined the Abdul Ghani Lone-led People’s Conference in 1978. He later witnessed the turbulent 1987 elections, widely regarded as a turning point in Kashmir’s political history. Academically, Rashid earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 and later completed a diploma in civil engineering. He worked for over a decade as an engineer with the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation, a background that earned him the sobriquet “Engineer Rashid.”
Transitioning formally into politics in 2008, Rashid contested and won the Langate विधानसभा seat as an independent candidate, a feat he repeated in 2014. He later founded the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party, positioning it as a platform rooted in local aspirations and resistance politics. Known for his austere lifestyle—often seen wearing a traditional khan suit and using public transport—Rashid cultivated an image of simplicity and accessibility.
Despite facing repeated arrests, including incarceration under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2019 on terror-funding charges, Rashid retained strong popular support. Contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from jail, he delivered a stunning victory over former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, underscoring his deep grassroots appeal. Granted interim bail in September 2024 to campaign in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Engineer Rashid remains a symbol of defiance, controversy, and mass-based politics in the region.