Ashfaq Mir Character Analysis in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

A Kashmiri Deputy Commandant in the Indian Army, Ashfaq Mir has an alarmingly false air of good will about his work. When Tilo is taken into custody in Kashmir, it is Ashfaq who is tasked with turning her over to Naga, who has come to pick her up. Although Ashfaq consistently tortures and kills Kashmiri members of the resistance, he refers to all Kashmiris as his brothers and insists on the lie that the Indian Army never kills “Kashmiri boys.” In a subtle way to ask Naga for forgiveness for having taken Tilo into custody, Ashfaq Mir offers Naga an interview with Aijaz, a young Kashmiri militant in captivity.

Ashfaq Mir Character Timeline in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

The timeline below shows where the character Ashfaq Mir appears in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Corruption, Political Violence, and Capitalism Theme Icon

...greets him, which she usually doesn’t. The two don’t have much time to talk before Ashfaq Mir , a Kashmiri Deputy Commandant in the Indian Army, walks in. Back from dealing with... (full context)

Ashfaq Mir orders tea and biscuits. While waiting for these to be served, Naga reads a poster... (full context)

Naga observes the extent to which Ashfaq Mir has essentially been brainwashed by the Indian government, and has to control himself not to... (full context)

Seemingly out of nowhere, Ashfaq Mir offers to show Naga a Kashmiri militant. “Shall I order him for you?” he asks... (full context)

Naga, for his turn, realizes that Ashfaq Mir is offering a sort of Kashmiri deal, essentially exchanging an interview with Aijaz for Naga’s... (full context)

...cause. Believing the best about Naga, Aijaz bravely chooses to tell the truth—which isn’t what Ashfaq Mir has said at all. Aijaz reveals that he has been tortured, and that, not at... (full context)

Ashfaq Mir soon reenters the room, asking Naga to reconfirm any facts from Aijaz before publication of... (full context)

...Naga arrives to collect Tilo, escorted into the room where she waits by the cheerful Ashfaq Mir . Half an hour later—after Ashfaq has offered them food, brought them Aijaz to interrogate,... (full context)