WASHINGTON, A memorial service was held for Marguerite Helen Velte Hasbrouck, an American who became a significant advocate for the Kashmiri people, at Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College Campus, Massachusetts, USA.
According to Kashmir Media Service reported that Marguerite Hasbrouck had visited Kashmir more than a dozen times, lastly in 1989 with her son Edward Hasbrouck. Their experiences and observations were later published in the ‘Peacework’ Magazine in September 1990. They documented the escalation of the Kashmiri nationalist struggle into a broader movement for human rights and survival under severe Indian repression.
Marguerite was recognized for her strong advocacy for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and her opposition to human rights abuses in the region. She communicated her concerns and observations to influential figures, including her Senator from Massachusetts, Edward Kennedy, and members of Congress. She highlighted the severe human rights violations and the genocide of Kashmiris by the Indian government.
She also actively participated in public demonstrations and lectures, advocating for the Kashmiri cause. Marguerite and her son once held placards supporting Kashmiri self-determination during a high-profile visit to Wellesley College and organized a vigil for oppressed Kashmiris during Hillary Clinton’s commencement address in 1992.
Marguerite and Edward jointly wrote about the struggle of Kashmiri people for human rights and self-determination, emphasizing the violent suppression of nonviolent demonstrations and the plight of the wounded and killed.
Marguerite was born in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan), and her exposure to the subcontinent began early due to her father’s position at Forman Christian College. She graduated from Barnard College, New York, with a degree in comparative government and religion.
Her commitment to the Kashmir cause and her efforts to bring international attention to their plight were highlighted in the memorial service, celebrating her life as a voice for the voiceless.