Kashmir Halcyon:

Daanish Bin Nabi   Few days ahead of PM Modi’s Srinagar visit, the state witnessed a series of attacks. The clamor was heard from Srinagar to New Delhi. Like always, violence and straight talk from Delhi went hand in hand. However, the attention in Srinagar city was grabbed largely by massive frisking exercises as the ground was prepared for Modi’s Monday speech. Like always, there was a strike call from the senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani and the entire city wore a deserted look with forces even securing river Jhelum in boats. Like always journalists and media persons had their itineraries set for the city and the venue – Sheri-Kashmir Cricket Stadium. The city was sanitized beforehand with forces searching almost all vehicles in and around the city centre Lal Chowk, walls were adorned and the banner work in the late hours nicely done by BJP’s paid or rather hired supporters. A day before Modi spoke wearing a pheran, many unknown faces in the city were noticed – people ...

By not naming his childhood friend in the recent reshuffle, Syed Ali Geelani has sent a strong message across Hurriyat’s political spectrum Daanish Bin Nabi The thorn in India’s side in Kashmir is Syed Ali Geelani, the de-facto leader of young Kashmir. Geelani has not been keeping well for years now, and talks of his succession have been in air since last two to three years. To fit his shoes is a tough job. The riddle for his party is: After Geelani, who? Some of the men in Geelani’s inner circle have been in the limelight. Some are little known to the outside world. Among them is his trusted aide, Mohammad Ashraf Ali, whose nom de plume is Ashraf Sehrai. His significance can be judged from the fact that many consider him the likely successor of Geelani. Sehrai was born in 1944 in Tickipora Lolab, Kupwara. His forefathers migrated to this part of Kashmir much before partition. His family hails from the Khans of Pakistan. His father’s name is Shamas-ud-din Khan. Seh...