Renowned intellectual, leading voice of Kashmir freedom movement and Executive Director of Kashmir Media Service, late Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam was remembered for his invaluable and unparalleled services towards the Kashmiris’ sacred cause on his 2nd death anniversary, Tuesday.
Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam passed away on this day in 2021 after a brief illness at a hospital in Islamabad.
A special Dua was offered at the office of Kashmir Media Service, which was attended by all staff members. Prior to the Dua, some of the staff members refreshed the memories of their late mentor and fatherly figure. They said that it was under his leadership that KMS became the most authentic, reliable and esteemed source of news about Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Khawaja Firdous, Muhammad Shafi Lone, Advocate Parvez Ahmed and Imtiaz Wani in a joint statement paid rich tributes to Sheikh Tajummal-ul-Islam. They said that Sheikh Tajummal was an asset of the Kashmir freedom movement who dedicated his whole life for the Kashmir cause. They said that he also endured hardships and even had to migrate to Pakistan for challenging India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. They prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the deceased in eternal peace.
Born in Srinagar in 1954, Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam completed his LLB and M.A Urdu from Kashmir University, Srinagar. A revolutionary student leader during his days at the University and known for his fiery speeches, he had organised the students of occupied Kashmir under the banner of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba platform during the early 1980s.
In his journalistic career in the occupied territory, he worked as Chief Editor of Daily Azaan and Editor of several newspapers, weekly and fortnightly magazines from 1973 to 1980 and contributed a lot to the Kashmir movement. He also practiced law in Srinagar from 1975-1984. He was a true advocate of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination in his decades-long career.
A born freedom-fighter and brilliant organizer, Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam actively and practically opposed India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He had to face Indian wrath and was even arrested several times from 1974 to 1984 for challenging Indian illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir. Ultimately, he had to migrate to Pakistan due to victimisation by Indian forces for his pro-freedom and anti-India stance and activities.
Following the unfortunate incident of the Fall of Dhaka in 1971, India had launched a malicious propaganda against Pakistan claiming that the country is no more capable of supporting the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle. This incident had sent shockwaves among the Kashmiri Muslims and they felt desperate and later, the signing of Indira-Abdullah Accord in 1975 had further added to this desperation.
At this critical time, the Kashmiri people needed a visionary person who could guide and lead them out of this situation and Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam did this to perfection. He played an important role in boosting their morale. He planned an international conference on Kashmir in 1982. Although, India disallowed the conference, yet the preparations for the event mobilized the Kashmiri people, particularly the youth, and rejuvenated them to carry forward their struggle for right to self-determination, at all costs.
Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam attended several conferences and seminars on Kashmir in Pakistan and abroad including Nepal, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Singapore, Maldives, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UK, Canada and many European countries.
He was highly respected in journalistic circles for his integrity and intellectual acumen. His services for the Kashmir cause will always be remembered in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.—KMS
