SAS Geelani leaves behind a dark legacy

Syed Ali Shah Geelani projected himself as a champion of Kashmir. But in his narrow worldview, the interests of Kashmir were synonymous with that of Kashmiri Muslims, and aligned with Pakistan’s agenda. This, for him, entailed a battle against the Indian State, its Constitution, and secularism. While, within Kashmir, this position resonated with a segment, it was fundamentalist in vision, violent in practice, led to terror, and enhanced mistrust between Kashmir and the rest of India. And this will be his dark legacy.

For decades, Geelani operated within India’s democratic framework, even becoming an elected legislator of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly thrice. But his shift to the politics of separatism, advocacy of a pro-Pakistan position, espousal of hartals, hostility to the suffering of Kashmiri Pandits, and active complicity in the politics of violence was wrong. And those who suffered the most were Kashmiris. The State may have made mistakes in Kashmir, but the way to battle it was within a nonviolent and democratic framework. By misleading Kashmiri society for three decades and encouraging opposition to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Geelani based his politics not just on a wrong proposition, but an unwinnable one.

Geelani’s death comes at a time when the situation in Kashmir remains fragile. Mainstream political actors are waiting for Delhi to move on statehood and then elections, while Delhi is keen on elections first and statehood later. And while the separatist leadership is weak, terror groups are emboldened after the Taliban’s win in Afghanistan. India will have to be careful that Geelani’s death does not become a moment for radical mobilisation.