Maqbool Sahil’s journey from journalism to jail and back

MAQBOOL SAHIL has the distinction of being the only Kashmiri author to be twice on the panel of authors at the prestigious Jaipur Literature Festival. Last month, Maqbool, who works with Urdu daily ‘Buland Kashmir’ as sub-editor, was at the Lit Festival for his latest collection of short stories ‘Qadam Qadam Tazeer’, which depicts the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. Earlier in 2012, Maqbool was one of the panelists for a special session held on Kashmiri Prison Dairies for his book ‘Shabistan-e-Wajood’, which recounts the three-and-a half years he spent in prison following accusations of holding secret documents and spying for Pakistan. ‘Shabistan-e-Wajood’ was awarded the 2009 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Prize. DAANISH BIN NABI profiles the man and the experience that shaped his life and career.

 Maqbool was born in 1968 in Adhal village of south Kashmir’s Kokernag area in a clan of Khokhar Rajputs. His father Mohammad Jamal-ud-Din Khokhar called him Sahil which would later become his pen name. Maqbool graduated with Bachelors in Science from SP College. He was interested in journalism and soon got an opportunity to work with a local daily, ‘Morning Times’ where he worked from 1986 to 1989.

Maqbool worked for Jamaat-e-Islami’s ‘Azaan’ as front page calligrapher. As he had good command over Kashmiri, Urdu, Pahari and Dogri languages, Maqbool was an easy pick for Radio Kashmir Srinagar and DD Kashmir in mid-1980s. He still works with one Pahari programme ‘Lishkara’. He has been associated with the programme for the last 25 years. ‘Lishkara’ is aired on DD Kashmir and DD One.

In 1989, he joined Urdu newspaper ‘Daily Aftab’ as Assistant Editor. In late 1989, he was asked to interview noted film-maker Muzaffar Ali at Srinagar’s Centaur Hotel. Impressed by his command over Urdu and his appearance, Ali offered him a role in his film “Zooni” that he was directing in Kashmir. Bollywood bigwigs Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia and Jackie Shroff were part of this project.

However, due to militancy, the film crew returned to Bombay, leaving the project halfway. They hoped that they would finish the film when the situation in the Valley returns to normal, but that was not to be.

Maqbool went to Bombay in January 1990 and learnt acting, photography and cinematography. Chandigarh-based producer Rajnesh offered him a role in a Punjabi movie. In 1998, he was offered a role in “Mere Apne”, which also featured Amrish Puri. But this time again, the film could not be completed.

Maqbool returned to Kashmir in 1992. By now the situation in the valley had turned worse, and he returned to journalism. He worked as a freelance photographer with a magazine and New Delhi-based news channels. Jeevan TV Kerala, Indian Express and BBC News were some of the media houses where he worked. At BBC, Maqbool worked with its South Asia correspondent David Lion and war correspondent, Martin Bell, who covered 17 wars for BBC most notably being the Vietnam War in 1960s.

Maqbool joined popular Urdu weekly ‘Chattan’ in 1999 where he would write investigative pieces.

Recalling his stint at ‘Chattan’, Maqbool says: “Those days I used to do investigative stories on fake encounters and civilian killings. I wrote consistently on social crimes. These were the two menaces Kashmir was facing in early 2000s, and I wrote on both. This was one of the reasons I was arrested under a conspiracy.”

In a major twist of fate, Maqbool was arrested in Srinagar in 2004 for his alleged links with Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, ISI.

He was slapped with four Public Safety Acts, one after another. Sensing that it would be a long incarceration he diverted all his attention towards reading and writing.

“When I was arrested, I was shattered. My entire career and hard work was ruined in front of my eyes,” recalls Maqbool.

But the detention spurred the writer in him. As Maqbool says, “When I was freed on January 2008, I had almost finished five books and more four other scripts were ready for publications.”

One of Maqbool’s books, “Shabistan-e-Wajood” (Jail Diaries), got international recognition and bagged Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) award in 2009.

“It is not a book but basically a research paper. It is not about my personal journey but rather about the jail. There are 70 case studies in the book. The book depicts how a common man becomes criminal in these jails,” says Maqbool.

“RSF invited me to Paris in 2009 but I was not able to go there as my documents were still with the police,” he adds.

Sharing one of the interesting anecdotes at the jail, Maqbool recalls his interaction with Pakistani detainees.

“When I landed in Kot Bhalwal Jail four days after my arrest, I was invited for Iftari (to break the Ramadhan fast) at Barrack 9 by two Pakistani prisoners, Rana and Salahuddin. I was confused because I did not know the men or the reason for their invitation, but I went to have Iftari with my unknown hosts,” he says.

There were 80 Pakistanis in Barrack 9, which was reserved for Pakistani prisoners only.

Maqbool was welcomed by the Pakistanis with enthusiasm. Next day, some of these prisoners would be released in exchange with Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture on Eid.

“Aapko andar nahi aana tha. Yeh hamari dua thi ki yahan Hind se nikalney se pehle aapse miley (You wouldn’t have come here. We prayed that before leaving India we ought to meet you),” Maqbool recalls Salahuddin as telling him.

Maqbool has come a long way, but he still remembers his years of incarceration.

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