Geelani’s lieutenant or Hurriyat’s unsung leader

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.

Sehrai studied in Tickipora till primary level, before moving on to Sogam High school for further studies. He passed his matriculation exam in 1959.

Sehrai recalls that he was a bright, intelligent but shy student who took great interest in debates and discussions on religious and political discourses. He was given Wazifa (scholarship) in Class 10th because of his intellectual and command on Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages.

He did B.A. (Hons.) in Urdu from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Sehrai also has prestigious Urdu degrees of Aadebe Mahir and Aadebe Kamil.

Like many other Kashmiris, Sehrai fondly recalls that he was taught by Kashmiri pandit teachers. One of his childhood teachers was Gopi Nath Kaul, who taught him English. Sehrai holds him in high regard and still remembers how he taught him like his own child.

His two brothers, who were politically and religiously active, were one of the early Rukuns (basic member) of Jamaat. To be a Rukun of Jamaat is not easy, as one has to go through many various levels of Islamic rituals.

By now, Jamaat had made a base in Tickipora. The man who took Jamaat to far-flung areas was the old-school Syed Ali Geelani.

Young Geelani was made in-charge of Jamaat’s district president Baramulla. He used to visit Tickipora frequently. It was during these visits when he met Sehrai.

Sehrai was impressed by Geelani’s hold on Quran and Hadees (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) S.A.W.). Sehrai was also impressed by Geelani’s command on Maulana Abul Ala Maududi's literature. He was also enthused by Geelani’s sinewy speeches. Sehrai now fondly recalls that Geelani used to lovingly call him Ashlala.

Sehrai finished Class X when he was 17. By this time, Geelani was 30 years old, and Halqiy-e-Sopore (Sopore’s base of Jamaat). He was in dire need of young blood for the party. Sehrai’s elder brother motivated him to join Geelani.

By this time, Sehrai had developed a keen interest in the writings of Maududi. To understand Maududi better, Geelani was the best teacher Sehrai could have asked for.

He joined Geelani in 1959 – and has stayed with him since. He says now, “I am a shadow of Geelani right from 1959. I have never gone to my home with the intention of not coming back. He is my Rehbar (leader) and I am his follower.”

Sehrai continues to be a lover of literature and poetry, but is not engaged in writing anymore because of his political engagements. Most of his writings and poems were published by Jamaat’s “Azaan” magazine and “Tulu” magazine.

In 1965, when he was 22 years old, Sehrai was jailed for the first time for his “anti-government activities.” He was imprisoned in Srinagar Central Jail for about six months.

In central jail, he once was reading Kounsar Niyazi’s work namely “Zaree Gul”. He narrates an interesting story about how his name changed from Ashraf Ali to Ashraf Sehrai. He says laughing, “Geelani Sahab, Shah Wali Mohammad of Seelu, Sopore and I were lodged in Central Jail Srinagar. After reading Niyazi’s work, I wrote ‘Sehrai’ (floater). At this young age, I was thinking that what I am doing in a jail. I was also missing my parents and my home. That is why the word ‘Sehrai’ came to my mind. Shah Wali saw the name and exclaimed ‘Sehrai’ and showed it to Geelani Sahab. From then onwards I became Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai.”

Sehrai calls Geelani his Rehbar and also his brother, according to Islam. “I have never tried to compete with him. I cannot even think of competing with him,” he says.

Their strongest bond is the Kashmir movement. It has kept them together for 56 years. Their ideological bond continues to thrive and also attracts the youth of Kashmir to both of them. Sehrai says ideology is the base of any movement.

In his views, the recent failure of talks between the two nuclear states happened only because the Kashmiris (primary party to the dispute) were not included in the dialogue process. He also is a firm believer of third party intervention like United Nations or third neutral country to the Kashmir issue.

Sehrai was one of the key Hurriyat leaders during 2010 unrest in Kashmir. Many in Kashmir now think that by agitating in 2010 gave them nothing. But Sehrai views the failure of 2010 year differently. He says, “There were some strategic mistakes on part of leadership like we gave long strike calls which disillusioned certain sections of Kashmir. I must say that 2010 was a collective failure for Kashmir.”

The other two main contenders in Tehreek-e-Hurriyat to succeed Geelani are the hardcore Dr. Mohammad Qasim Faktoo (Asiya Andrabi’s husband) and the showstopper Masrat Alam Bhat. Both of them are in jail, and may not be released soon. Many activists and cadre in Tehreek-e-Hurriyat believe that Sehrai is a capable man, holds command and has a say among masses. Since the other leaders are languishing in jail, he may be the likely successor of Syed Ali Geelani.

But Sehrai says that if he ever has to succeed Geelani, it will be Gunah-e-Be’ lazath (Sin without a benefit) for him. As a shy man, Sehrai has always avoided the limelight. This is why he is largely unknown in the glaring eye of the media and the public.

Recently, Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani appointed Shabir Ahmad Shah as General Secretary of the party. Agha Hassan Al-Mousvi Al-Safvi and Nayeem Ahmad Khan were appointed as presidents for Ladakh-Kargil and Jammu provinces respectively. In this historic reshuffle, the Hurriyat (G) leaders Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Masarat Alam Bhat were appointed deputies to Shabir Shah.

The reshuffle also is a first of its kind in the sense that for the first time Jamaat’s influence in Hurriyat (G) is dwindling. Jamaat always had held a strong foothold in Geelani’s Hurriyat. Although, Sehrai remains General Secretary of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat but Geelani by not naming his childhood friend in the recent reshuffle send a strong message across Hurriyat’s political spectrum. Will Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq who recently asked people to give him suggestions via social network to tackle government curbs go Geelani’s way remains to be seen.

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Published on 4 Dec 2015