Geelani, Valley’s top separatist leader, dies at 91
SRINAGAR: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the face of separatism in Kashmir for over three decades, died at his home in Srinagar on Wednesday. He was 91.
Geelani, a staunch Islamist who held tremendous sway over sections of the Valley’s youth, is survived by his wife and six children. Known for his hardline stance, Geelani advocated for the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan and was a vocal proponent of the neighbouring country.
“Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers,” said former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
He died after prolonged illness at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar, his relatives told HT. “Yes he died late in the night,” a close relative said, requesting anonymity.
The separatist leader had been suffering from a kidney disease for over two decades, besides having other age-related issues. Shortly after the news broke in Kashmir, scores of local residents converged at Hyderpora to mourn the death of Geelani, who remained under rolling house arrest much of the time since 2008.
Authorities deployed heavy contingents of armed police and soldiers in the city to prevent the funeral from turning into an anti-India protest. Troops with automatic rifles blocked streets and the main road leading to Geelani’s residence, while armoured vehicles patrolled the city neighborhoods.
Geelani was the founder member of Hurriyat Conference but broke away and formed his own Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in early 2000. He finally bid farewell to his own Hurriyat Conference in June 2020.
Born on September 29, 1929, Geelani was the undisputed leader of separatism in Kashmir and the only one who would publicly raise the cry of Azadibarai-Islam, freedom-filled Islam.
But his organisation had largely fallen silent after the nullification of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. The hardline faction didn’t even respond to recent allegations of corruption amid reports that the government was planning to ban it. His death is a big setback to the separatist movement in the Valley.
SRINAGAR: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, an avowedly pro-Pakistan Kashmiri secessionist leader, who passed away at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar on Wednesday night, was the undisputed leader of separatism in Kashmir and the only one who would publicly raise the cry of Azadi-barai-Islam (Freedom for the sake of Islam).
The senior-most separatist leaders held a huge sway over a large number of Valley youth.
He left behind his wife and six children and a separatist organisation which had become largely mute after the abrogation of J&K special status on August 5.
Known for his pro-Pakistan stance, Geelani, wanted the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan and has been seen as the strong voice of Pakistan in the Valley.
Among the youth with separatist ideology, he was fondly called “Babb” (grandfather) for his unwavering stand demanding freedom from India.
His opponents would call him a hawk and stubborn who was not pragmatic enough to change with the changing situations, even most of the mainstream leaders who are currently in jail blamed him for trouble in Kashmir.
During his lifetime, he was a staunch Islamist and for many years, he was seen as the face of Jamaat-e-Islami, a politicoreligious organisation now banned by the government in Kashmir and remained as chairman All Party Hurriyat Conference in late 90s. His disliking for some of the politicians saw him forming another faction of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003, which was known as Hurriyat Conference (Geelani), the other faction was seen as a moderate faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
He spent around two decades in jails from time to time. From past around 10 years, he wasn’t keeping well and since 2010, the government used to mostly place him under house arrest at his Rawalpora residence, which also houses the office of his faction of Hurriyat Conference. Since August 5, 2019, Geelani was under house arrest and doctors under police protection used to visit him there though he was occasionally shifted to hospital whenever his condition deteriorated.
Before his death, the government had already formulated a foolproof security plan and they feared that his death could trigger series of protests in Kashmir, the protests which erupted after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in 2016. The government was also apprehensive of violence after Hurriyat Conference (G) faction issued a statement from Muzaffarabad asking people to converge at Eidgah martyrs cemetery soon after the death of the leader and funeral should be held on next day.
During his lifetime, Geelani advocated that Jamaat-e-Islami should support militants fighting for Kashmir and treat foreign militants as ‘guest militants’. For the youth who took to gun, Geelani was one of the few leaders whom they see as their inspiration and many local militants once trapped in encounters sensing their death used to sent messages to their families that their last funeral should be led none other than him.
Geelani has been author of a number of books and booklets including his three-volume autobiography ‘Wular Kinaray’ that revolved around his personal and political journey.
He twice contested elections from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, but remained unsuccessful as NC candidates always defeated him. After the beginning of militancy in late 80s, he always opposed polls and was the first to announce the boycott calls whenever government used to announce the elections in Kashmir. He even expressed regrets at times when people voted in 2002 and 2008 polls and panchayat elections held in early 2000. Many considered him inflexible who wanted talks with India only, if government of India accepts Kashmir is an international dispute.
Geelani had represented Sopore in J&K assembly thrice, last time in 1987 when he was the candidate of Muslim United Front (MUF) and was one of the four candidates who managed to win their seats despite allegation of large scale poll riggings which led the start of militancy in Kashmir two years later. He twice contested elections from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, but remained unsuccessful.