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| Vol. 4, Issue 5 May 2012 |
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Reporting & Essays |
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Reportage |
The Man who says No to New Delhi
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| How defiance made Syed Ali Geelani relevant in Kashmir |
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Published : 1 September 2010 |
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY SAMI SIVA |
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| Syed Ali Geelani on the grilled-in staircase in his home in south Srinagar.
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N THE MORNING OF 12 JUNE 2010, Rubina Mattoo, a 40-year-old housewife, stood outside her two-storey house in Saida Kadal in central Srinagar. The neighbourhood was drowned in deafening wails. A grieving circle of family, relatives, and neighbours filled the lawn. A large procession of men walked in, carrying a wooden coffin. In it, Rubina’s
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slain son. She had cried through the long night, wailing, beating her chest, pulling her hair, and singing eulogies for her dead child. “Walo maine maharazoo (Come my beloved groom),” she cried, “maenz heath ha chesai payaraan (I am waiting for you with henna).” On 11 June, her 17-year-old son, Tufail Mattoo, an 11th standard student, was returning home from a private tutor when his head was hit by a tear-gas shell fired by police to quell a protest.
A group of women stood on the Mattoos’ balcony, straining themselves for a glimpse, tears rolling down their faces. Across the lawn men carrying the coffin on their shoulders burst into chants: “We want freedom! Punish the murderers!” A group of Mattoo’s teenage friends stood sullen, silent; others, staring, prepared for the burial. Rubina couldn’t believe her son was dead. She kept repeating that a few days previous her son had chosen a car to buy. Tufail’s father, Muhammad Ashraf, looking dazed on the patio, was chewing his nails. “I was in Bombay,” Ashraf said, “I didn’t know I would come home to bury my son.”
Kashmir exploded in anger. Thousands of young men took to the streets with rage in their steps in condemnation of the killing, shouting slogans of independence. Indian troops and police opened fire on them in response. Protests followed killings and killings followed protests. A curfew was imposed and defied. In the two months since Mattoo’s death, 60 young Kashmiri protesters have been killed by police and paramilitary bullets. As of 19 August, the last one to die was a nine-year-old boy who was shot at Harnag on 10 August in southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Doctors confirmed it was a bullet that pierced his skull and damaged his brain. The Jammu and Kashmir government dealt with the uprisings by using even more force. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sought help from the army, who marched through the streets of Srinagar. But the resentment continued to burn. Kashmir resonated with the old refrain: Azadi!—Freedom. The boys continued to come out into the streets, defiant, with stones in their hands.
The government found an unusual benefactor in the tense situation: the separatist hawk, Syed Ali Geelani. The Islamist patriarch is often taken into custody or put under house arrest—the police had arrested Geelani after Mattoo’s death—and on most Fridays, police restrict Geelani from delivering sermons to sizeable and eager gatherings at any mosque in Kashmir. During these detentions, the police seal the entry and exit points of his house in south Srinagar, creating a human fence around the compound. Any time things get tense in Kashmir, and the likelihood of Geelani addressing a rally or making a speech attacking government policies or mentioning the latest tragedy increases, the police show up at his door. The old hawk steps out of his home willingly, to be whisked off to a VIP prison near the banks of Dal Lake.
On 4 August 2010, Geelani was released from another stay in prison. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had sent one of his advisors to meet Geelani in jail and seek his help in calming tempers in Kashmir. Soon after his release, Geelani faced TV cameras outside his house. A slight man with a neatly trimmed white beard, he wore a kurta-pyjama and a light brown lamp-cap. He asked the people not to throw stones at police and army blockades. “I understand the passion for freedom you have,” Geelani said, “I am as passionate as you are, but we will fight peacefully. If they (police) stop you, you sit down and ask them to open fire.” Such a call for peace from a man who has long supported militancy surprised New Delhi.
After weeks of unrest, the valley went silent. The protesters seemed to be listening to Geelani. They respect him for standing up to—and not backing down from—the government. A slogan often repeated at Geelani’s rallies goes: “Na Jhukne Wala Geelani! Na Bikne Wala, Geelani! (The one who doesn’t bow, Geelani! The one who can’t be bought, Geelani!)” I spoke to some protesters about Geelani’s call to stop throwing stones. “It was hard to stop,” a 20-year-old stone thrower said over the phone, “but we have to listen to him.”
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EELANI OWES HIS POPULARITY TO ONE WORD: defiance. Many young Kashmiris refer to him as Bab, the father, or toeth, the beloved. His hardline politics have earned him a reputation for being the representative of the masses. Unlike the moderate separatists of Kashmir, Geelani detests the prospects of dialogue with New Delhi. “His inflexible |
attitude has made him credible,” explained Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst and law professor at Kashmir University. “Because Kashmiris have seen their tallest leaders crumbling before India.” Hussain was referring to Sheikh Abdullah, who after serving around 20 years in various jails, gave up and compromised on questions of Kashmir’s autonomy by signing with Indira Gandhi the Sheikh-Indira accord of 1975. A story often repeated in Kashmir, is that several young men tore down a poster of Sheikh Abdullah in Srinagar after stepping out of a cinema where they had watched a movie about Libyan guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar’s fight against Mussolini’s Italy. Mukhtar didn’t give up until he was hanged. Geelani wants to be Omar Mukhtar, the anti-Sheikh Abdullah. In the past 20 years he has been consistent in refusing any proposal from the Government of India or even Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute. His preferred solution: the United Nations’ guaranteed plebiscite, which doesn’t include the option of independence or Azadi, but a choice to join either India or Pakistan.
Once the British had left the subcontinent, Partition occured and the dispute over Kashmir came into existence, Geelani was 18. He began his political life in the pro-India camp in Kashmir, but soon dedicated his life to spread the philosophy of the Islamist organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami. When militancy intensified in 1989, he became a kind of quasi-spiritual leader to members of the Hizbul Mujahideen (Hizb), the armed wing of Jamaat with pro-Pakistan leanings. Besides Geelani, there are other dissenting voices in Kashmir—those who demand complete statehood, those who advocate autonomy within the Indian Union, and people who only speak out against human rights abuses. Today, the 81-year-old Geelani is the most hardline figure among Kashmiri separatist leaders, who says openly that he would campaign for Kashmir joining Pakistan if ever a plebiscite were to be carried out in the Valley. This makes him the most out of favour Kashmiri in India. His Islamist worldview may not have a large following in secular, Sufi-influenced Kashmir, but his firm political position in matters of Kashmir makes him the most popular among the region’s leadership. How useful his extreme stance can be in solving the Kashmir issue is the real question.
| PHOTOGRAPHS BY SAMI SIVA |
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Stone pelters chasing Jammu and Kashmir police officers out of Srinagar’s old town in a barrage of projectiles. |
On a Sunday afternoon in late May this year, I met Geelani in his living room. The floor had a red woollen carpet, a five-person sofa set, and a 14-inch TV placed on a footlong table. The TV looked broken; it didn’t have a cable connection. Moments earlier, I’d heard the door creak and saw Geelani peeping in. “Just give me a few minutes,” he said. It took him about five minutes of talking to broach his signature issue. “Both parties, the oppressor and the oppressed, have to agree on some terms,” he said. “In our case, the oppressor is not ready to accept any term. We are being asked to weaken our stand. They must accept Kashmir as a disputed territory, which they don’t,” he continued. “They must demilitarise this whole region, revoke black laws, and release prisoners.”
“And what do you have to offer?”
“We’ve been telling them that we will help to solve this issue peacefully, according to the UN’s resolution of plebiscite.”
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Readers' Comments |
Total Comments
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LA Raiders
3 January 2011
06:00 AM
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The last name of the writer of this article is 'Jeelani' a variant of "Gillani". Both names are tracers of a people who came from Gilan, located in present day Iran. Most of the settlers with last names in the Kashmir valley that are or resemble either Gilani, Jeelani, Hamdani, etc, arrived from Central Asia with the assistance of Turkic invaders, who invaded Kashmir after earlier invading Iran. The Turkic invaders promised those they conquered earlier with new land if they could help justify further Turkic conquests with religion (by doing so, they could raise a 'free' army of religious warriors, much the same military approach Pakistan uses today against Afghanistan and India)
Syed Gilani and his clan are not Kashmiris. Neither is Umar Farooq, whose ancestors hail from Hamedan Iran. Their history only goes back a few hundred years in Kashmir, whereas Kashmir's history is one of thousands of years. That is the big missing piece in this article, which may make the author uncomfortable in sharing this aspect of Kashmir's tragic history.
The author does not discuss scores of Kashmiri Brahmins suffering from invasion after invasion, consuming poison to end their once peaceful lives and end their humiliation at the hands of Islamic barbarians (terrorists), and having land taken away from them so that it is transferred to the ancestors and progeny of Mr. Gillani. I wonder why?
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Iqbal
23 October 2010
03:54 PM
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Real Hero of Kashmir .God bless him .Long Live SAG .We need you ..
@ Bilal --my answer to your questions ..
Kashmir is one of the most Corrupt place in whole world ,Some Kash leaders and politicians like Farooq Abdullah and his clan can sell their families for their greed.In such society Leader like Syed Ali shah Geelani is a blessing ,no doubt he has done his share of mistakes and U turns but I think he still deserves all the respect as he speeks for most kashmiri people.
Regarding why his son is not leading protest .It is his son's choice what he wants to do in his life .Geelanis father would have never wanted his son -Geelani to live the life he is living but that is Geelani's choice ..
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suave alegria
23 October 2010
02:02 PM
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Please free KASHMIR. And then let PAKISTAN and CHINA feast on it. We can't let billions of Indians suffer for a state of KASHMIR.
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Hanief
1 October 2010
12:48 AM
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I think most of the question which "Bilal Ahmed" has raised about Geelani Saheb in his comments have been answered in this article. To understand I request Mr. Bilal to reread the article. But this time neutrally, and like a true Muslim not like an ordinary muslim (Like Myself).
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BABAR QADRI
30 September 2010
11:58 AM
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SYED ALI SHAH GEELANI REMAINS TO BETHE UNDISPUTED LEADER AND KING OF THE OCCUPIED LAND OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR.. MAY GOD GIVE HIM MANY MORE YEARS.. HE IS OUR LION.. THE ROARING LION.. WE KASHMIRIS ARE READY TO SACRIFICE OUR EVERYTHING ON HIM CZ HE IS THE ONLY MAN HERE WHO HAS THE BALLS TO TAKE THE MIGHT OF INDIAN STATE HEAD ON.
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Urfan Rafiqi
24 September 2010
12:24 AM
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This is an excellent piece of journalism, which has become so rare in today's mechanised media. Terrific narrative and lucid expression makes this story wonderful. I congratulate the writer for such a real & unbiased discription of the man. Great job team Caravan esp Mehboob Jeelani and Sami.
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Aadil Hamid
21 September 2010
04:01 PM
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Dear Editor thanks so much for bringing kashmir & the kasmiri issue in front of the world.We should educate every 1 in India as well as in rest of world what is going on in kashmir & what the kashmiri people wants.Please add up that kashmiri doesnt want pakistan nor india we want complete freddom then & only then peace will prevail.
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Abid shafi
16 September 2010
08:17 PM
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Dear Editor
Let me first thank you for bringing out such an insightful magazine and indeed an amazing work on reviving narrative journalism It really feels good to read an unbiased and ethically journalistic writeup"s like caravan. Now speaking particularly about your cover story , all i can say is beautiful and amazingly descriptive piece of writing .
Please add the share application to your website , so that we can share these articles on social networking sites .
Thanks
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SyedJaffer
16 September 2010
12:10 AM
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He is really a brave, courageous and a visionary leader. He chose a harsh and tough path during his lifetime. He lived as an honourable freeman and prefered not to keep security gurads at his grave after death to avoid the wrath of his people and the Nation like the other traitors of Kashmiri nation are.
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Nasir John
11 September 2010
10:13 PM
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Arjun, yes he is on the right path. you have no right to judge people on the basis of unfair media reports.
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Arjun
9 September 2010
08:42 PM
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Hello Editor, this profile is making Geelani look like a man who has been on the right path. Everyone knows Geelani has destroyed the peace of kashmir by killing innocent kashmiri Pandits. This writer seems to be a man of Jamaat. He is giving a picture where Geelani becomes a leader of the kashmiri people, who are ideologically corrupt. Kashmiri Muslims don't deserve freedom because they killed secular people, they raped and masacarred kashmiri pandits. Thank you.
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NASIR
8 September 2010
11:39 PM
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i'll sacrifice my life a milloin times for him.
HE IS
OUR HERO
OUR COMMANDER
OUR KING
OUR HOPE
OUR FAITH
OUR LOVE
OUR LEADER
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peerzada raouf
8 September 2010
04:57 PM
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He is the leader who can change the course of kashmir history. He has leadership qualities and people must learn from him , specially youth who are Geelanis of tomorrow. This man has understood the kashmir problem in toto. Hats off to him.
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Bilal Ahmed
7 September 2010
02:34 PM
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let me ask all Geelani supporter's few questions ....
1) Why is none of Geelani son out leading in any of the protests?
2) Why was Geelani taking MLA pension till 2008?
3) Why does Geelani not give a well defined plan which will not affect the economy of kashmir and the masses would be able to sustain the freedom movement?
4) Why does Geelani keep on changing his approach / statement on how should masses protest? sometime he supports stone pelting sometime he says protest peacefully?
5) Is education and economy not important for empowering a freedom movement?
These are just few questions i have a very big list i would be really grateful if you could just address these for the time being....
My dear brothers a true leader has to lead with examples and let me know what examples Geelani has for us looking at his past?
We kashmiri's have been always fooled by some or the other force look at our history have we been not sold out everytime by the so called leader?
It is time for us to wake up and face the facts not to get emtional and made fools again.
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SYED UMAR
7 September 2010
11:59 AM
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V shud not divert attention on unity among various seperatists, esp. b/w Mirwaiz n Mohataram Gelani sb.., what happen to the Unity card of 2008, inwhich all seperatists hv signed on these 5 comments,,, is it not the unity that Gelani sb is giving programme and all kashmir did "Labaik" on it.., so v shud not waste the time on these unusual things...n also Our Rehbar is Mohammad{saw} n v shud follow his teachings...n any how v wil run our mission til v get freedom,,n inshallah freedom is near to us.,.khuda hafiz.
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