SYED Ali Shah Geelani was an icon, brave Kashmiri leader who fought against tyranny, fear, horror and became a symbol of freedom. He was freedom fighter, political leader, and sign of resilience whose lifelong struggle against the Indian expansionistic policies which reshaped the freedom movement landscape of the 20th century. He was a freedom lover who dedicated his life to fighting against domination, brutality and ruthlessness. His mission was to fight against oppressive regimes to secure liberty and justice. He is a hero like Nelson Mandela who struggle for freedom has been marked by courage and resilience.
These figures exemplify the enduring human spirit’s resistance to oppression, inspiring generations to uphold the values of liberty and justice. In this regard, Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a symbol of freedom and reconciliation, representing the triumph of the human spirit. From his activism against the New Deli ruling elites to his decades long struggle for freedom and years of incarceration were for liberty and human dignity. His leadership transformed Kashmiri freedom struggle and move the path of liberation and inspired to young generation. He informed the international community that Kashmiri are living under the fear, suffering, humiliation, someway in dark dungeon and never disappointed and always become a beacon of hope that days will come soon when chain of slavery will break forever.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani born in September 29, 1929 in a village called Zurimanz, in the Bandipora tehsil of North of Kashmir. He was the son of a landless labourer in the canals department. He studied in a madrasa attached to the Wazir Khan Mosque and afterwards, he enrolled in the Oriental College (Lahore), where he completed Adib ‘Alim, course of Islamic theology. He was also educated at Oriental College Lahore and completed his graduation in Islamic Studies (Adib Fazil and Munshi Fazil) from the University of Kashmir. After completion of education, he joined Pather Masjid primary school as a teacher. He was later shifted to a high school in Srinagar’s Rainawari locality where he met Qari Saifuddin, a senior Jamaat-i-Islami (JeI) activist and decided to join the Jamaat Islami. He left the job in 1959 and dedicated his life for Kashir freedom.
He mobilised Kashmiri youth for liberation from India domination and struggle to merge with Pakistan. He became Member of Legislative Assembly three times from North Kashmir’s Sopore and served as a lawmaker for 15 years, spent the last decade in detention, only being allowed to visit New Delhi once for a medical check-up in 2016. In this regard, Geelani was an unparalleled leader who led the anti-India resistance in Kashmir with support of people. During his political struggle against India, he was sent to prison many times. However, Geelani retained wide support of Kashmiri people, and his imprisonment became a cause célèbre among the concerned countries including Pakistan and condemned Indian brutality.
He served as Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which was established on March 9, 1993, as an alliance of over 20 Kashmiri parties. This political forum advocates the case of self-determination and freedom of Kashmir. He also established Tehreek-i-Hurriyat on August 7, 2004, as a separatist political party for Kashmir’s cause of self-determination and demanded the implementation of the 1948–1949 United Nations resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, which set up the conditions of free and impartial plebiscite. Geelani always put pressure on Indian governments to implement the resolution and ensure the Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
In the recognition of Syed Geelani’s commendable services for Kashmir cause, on August 14, 2020, the government of Pakistan awarded its highest civilian honor, the Nishan-i-Pakistan. The award was appreciated by the Kashmir people which become the mark of Kashmir freedom struggle and it has conferred by many global heads of state. During his life time, Geelani had become frail with age and spent his time for writing. He wrote several books during his lifetime, including a jail diary ‘Rudad-i-Kafs, and Sada-i-dard’, a collection of his speeches on the Kashmir issue. He was one of admire of Allama Iqbal and also written on Iqbal Ruh-i-din ka Shinasa as a philosopher poet and Wular Kinare an autobiography, among others. Further, he continued to remain until his death, the most formidable opponent of the Indian oppressive regimes, as he commanded an extraordinary appeal amongst his followers. The Hurriyat stalwart was a staunch supporter of Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan throughout his life. He passed away on September 1, 2021, at his home in Srinagar and his death has always been anticipated as one which would have a huge significance on Kashmir’s politics. Geelani’s demise did not end his life’s work; it sparked a renewed commitment to his vision of freedom and self-determination.
—The writer is a defence and security analyst based in Islamabad.
