Deciphering Geelani

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Published at 31/05/2015 00:40:20

 
Book: Paradise on Fire
Publisher: Millat Publication, 2015
Price: Rs 250

Daanish Bin Nabi

Introduction

The book Paradise on Fire is one among the books on Kashmir that present splendidly its past as well as present. For the first time any author has chronicled activities, actions, responses and counter arguments to Syed Ali Geelani’s political legacy, written in English. The book also acts as a source, perhaps for the first time in Kashmir, in providing empirical data, details on political conflict that are presented in a lucid manner. The book offers a perspective of major world events at large and of Kashmir in particular. The author, Abdul Hakeem, has quoted ample examples and a thorough research is put to the use of the reader about Syed Ali Geelani and Kashmir movement in the light of Islam.

Overview of the book
The role of Geelani and important events from 1947 to the inception of militancy in late 1980s has been covered, in detail. The role and brutal era of Ikhwan in Kashmir’s history, role of JKLF and Hizbul Mujahideen is also put in detail. The author has put an insightful background of Ikhwan, how they used to terrorize people in the 90s, and glaring examples like how this infamous group used to molest and harass girls. Author has quoted examples of a family from Asham (page 145), how their daughters were first harassed and then brutally gang raped. 
Details like Geelani’s first teacher who was a Kashmiri Pandit has also been mentioned.
A detailed account (page 36) about how India has managed Kashmir’s energy (power) through the NHPC and has legalized its grip through unfair means is also presented.
A chapter has been dedicated ‘Neighboring Lands and Peoples’ in which the author writes in detail about the plight of Muslims in India.
The condition of Indian Muslims after the demolition of Babri Masjid was bad but it worsened after Gujarat riots. The role played by the BJP, VHP and RSS has also been talked in detail. Author has also written extensively what Geelani feels about the Muslims in mainland India, quoting Geelani as from ‘The Oppressed Nation’ where he (Geelani) has expressed disappointment at the indifferent attitude of Muslim Indians towards Kashmir and their lack of activism.
Author also provides various arguments that favour Syed Salahudin’s views and advises India to start a formal dialogue with him instead of making him a bogeyman, as he is one of main contenders in Kashmir issue and is of help to solve the long-pending Kashmir issue.
Author has also lashed out at moderate Hurriyat leader for their compromise on Kashmir issue by going for out-of-box solutions, most notable being Musharraf’s four-point formula. The author in his views stands with Geelani on the principle stand on ‘disputed nature of Kashmir’. Continuing with his lashing on moderate Hurriyat leaders, author has provided a detailed list of Hurriyat leaders who he believes bask in the security cover provided by the state.
Author has also written how Geelani vociferously opposed the cricket match between India and West Indies on October 13, 1983 because of the disputed nature of Kashmir. Author has also critically analyzed the role played by Jamaat-e-Islami during militancy. The book also gives details about a meeting of one of the members of Jamaat with Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi in 1970s
The fundamental argument that the author seems to make is that India should accept the disputed nature of Kashmir issue and the author with the help of various responses tries to prove that Geelani is the only leader in Kashmir who has upheld this demand from India while every other Hurriyat leader has compromised in one way or the other. Giving credit to the will of Geelani, author also writes candidly how Indian agencies have approached him time and again for a compromise on Kashmir which (Geelani) has always turned them down.
Book closes with the comment from NC stalwart Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri were he says Geelani not Sheikh Abdullah is the tallest leader of Kashmir. 
Critique
Firstly, whatever the author has written about the Kashmir moment and the role played by Syed Ali Geelani in the book remains by and large an unpardonable truth about Indian democracy in Kashmir; while reading it one feels some of the events and day-to-day happenings about Kashmir are exaggerated on some pages.
Secondly, the author alleges that the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq was carried by Shiv Sena militants in connivance with former Governor of J&K, Jagmohan. The allegation does sound a bit exaggeration to the common sense of a reader. However, given the politics of Kashmir and the conflict burdened on its people this allegation does raise a brow.
Third, and most important, the author in preface of the book tries to justify why he has authored the book under a pseudonym. In his justification, he says that there is not enough freedom of speech in India. Being a Kashmiri who can understand this better but then there are also activists, political commentators and other social activists in the heart of Indian capital—New Delhi – who lash out at the flawed policies of India toward Kashmir. All these activists do feel the threat but they never end up behind bars. Arundhati Roy is the best example of these intimidations. Why I am curious about the name of the author is because it would have given a sort of authority to such a vastly researched book about the events in the lifetime of Syed Ali Geelani.
Fourth, book is not in a chronological order. It moves from one event and date to the other in a haphazard manner.
Reviewer can be mailed at daanishnabi@gmail.com

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