Geelani or Shah, Masarat’s choice

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Daanish Bin Nabi

‘After Nehru Who?’ had become talk of the town since early January of 1967. In every
diplomatic meeting, conferences, and think-tanks and at social parties this topic was raised more than any other topic in these meeting. Finally, on 22 May 1967, Nehru held his first conference in seven months (owing to his ill health). It was attended by more than 200 correspondents and lasted for about 40 minutes. The question, ‘After Nehru, Who?’ was raised in one form or another repeatedly and finally an exasperated Nehru said, ‘My life is not ending so very soon!’ His response provoked a standing ovation.
The same metaphor, ‘After Geelani Who?’ also fits aptly in the context of Kashmir aspirations. Syed Ali Geelani, the de-facto leader of young Kashmir, has two sons Naseem and Nayeem, but none is active in politics like their father. And only Naseem Geelani is seen occasionally by his father’s side. Then there are the likes of Mohammad Ashraf Sherai in his group who is not only his childhood friend but also the General Secretary of Hurriyat (G) who many take for granted as the Geelani’s successor. Age is not on his side though. Then there are other leaders in his group but none known in the public sphere.
Muhammad Qasim Faktoo and Masarat Alam Bhat, the duo considered to be the hardcore among the separatists amalgam and with age on their side are likely to be Geelani’s successors. But Faktoo was jailed in 1993 after the apex court awarded life imprisonment to him on charges of his alleged involvement in the murder of noted Kashmiri Pandit human rights activist Hriday Nath Wanchoo in 1992. Thus the only option left is Masarat Alam.
Alam, 48, an alma mater of Sri Pratap College, has graduated in sciences. Right from 1980s he has been a bad boy for Indian intelligence agencies in Kashmir. Alam is the man accused by Government of India for his significant role in the 2010 mass uprising in which 128 people, mostly youth and children were killed.
He is also the Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Muslim League. On Monday, October 19, 2010, he was arrested for organizing months-long stone-pelting protests and calling for Kashmir-wide shutdowns against the killing of youth. Alam was underground since June 2010.
This was also the period when Kashmiris saw innovative type of protests because of Alam. It was for the first time in history of Kashmir that separatists used social media to the fullest, propagating their ideas, which was received well by the young guns of Kashmir. Although it was Syed Ali Geelani who issued protest calendars, it was Alam’s influence that got the protests implemented. In one of his recent interviews to Rising Kashmir, Alam himself said, “It was Geelani and I together who were responsible for the uprising to continue so long.”
However, in the same interview, he confessed that they failed to take the agitation to the logical conclusion and said they could have done more.
As age is not on Geelani’s side, his close associates and many political pundits suggest Alam is the natural successor to Geelani. As one of the senior Hurriyat leaders said, “Masart Alam’s contributions toward the moment is immense and highly acknowledgeable but its only time that will decide whether he will be able to take this moment to its logical conclusion.”
Other leaders of Hurriyat (G) said their organization has a Shoora (council), which would decide the next chairman of the amalgam.
Another senior Hurriyat leader and a close aide of Geelani said, “Mohabbat kartey nahi, ho jaati hai, aaiseyhe leader bantey nahi, banaye jatein hain.” (We don’t love a person, it just happens, likewise people don’t make leaders, they just happen).
Alam’s release in March 2015 caused a major political controversy and dominated the Parliament. The opposition forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say: “This is not the anger of a political party. This is the anger of entire country, of a unified parliament. I share the nation’s anger.”
While in Kashmir many also believe that a deal was struck between him and Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Alam overwhelmingly denied it saying he was released through a legal process and Sayeed had nothing to do with it.
When another separatist, Shabir Shah was released from years of incarceration in 1994, the euphoria among people was even greater than on Alam’s release. Shah addressed a mammoth gathering on his return from jail. It took more than seven hours for his entourage to reach Lal Chowk from Qazigund as almost entire Kashmir had lined up on both sides of the road. Most of the people had not seen him and were eagerly waiting for his arrival. It was perhaps the first evening in 1994 when the area was open till late. He delivered his famous ‘Soiee Daga’ speech and then never returned.
Whether Alam steps up and takes the mantle of Kashmir’s most consistent leader or ends up being a downgrade of the prisoner of conscience, only time will tell.

Author is the Op-ed Editor of Rising Kashmir. He can be mailed at daanishnabi@gmail.com

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