Syed Ali Shah Geelani

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Syed Ali Shah Geelani(ur). سيد علي جيلاني (born September 29, 1929)[1] is a separatist leader from the Indian controlled part of Jammu and Kashmir, who favours the accession of Kashmir to Pakistan. He is widely regarded as one of the most polarizing figures in Kashmir. For many he is an ideologue who has never wavered in his stance for the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people, while his opponents view him as a hardliner and a sympathizer of the militant groups fighting against Indian rule. Though he is a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, he has also formed another party for the struggle of breaking away from India and securing the Right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat which is a component of All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Geelani was the first Kashmiri to be appointed to the Muslim World League, which is one of the largest Islamic organizations in the world.[2] Distinguished Muslims personalities like Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi and Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi from the Sub-continent have been members of this world forum.


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[edit] Early life

Syed Geelani was born in the town of Sopore, which is located in the district of Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. After his preliminary education in Sopore, he went on to graduate from the Oriental College in Lahore. Geelani was awarded the Adeeb-i-Alim diploma from Oriental college.[3]

At the age of 24 Geelani was married for the first time. He re-married in 1970 after the death of his first wife.[3] He has two sons named Naseem and Nayeem, and five daughters from his two wives.

[edit] Literature

Syed Geelani has been an aficionado of Islamic literature, history and poetry for most of his life. He has been influenced from the writings of Nasim Hijazi, Allama Iqbal and Maulana Maududi.[3] He has authored more than thirty books and booklets about various topics in Urdu, which include the current separatist movement, his experience in jail, and his political beliefs. His books Roodad-e-Qafas, and Kralagund sey Jodhpur Tak, describe his views on what he went through in prison. [4] The books also provide the analysis of others who were imprisoned along with him. Another book that he has written is Maqtal sey Vaapsi (A Return from the Execution Grounds).[4] In this tome Geelani mentions that he is constantly being put in jail for his pro Pakistan views, and for refusing an offer from the Indian intelligence to "play a double role" for them.[4] It also mentions the reasons why the current rebellion began, describes in detail the violations of human rights being committed by India, and explains his reasons on why Kashmir should merge with Pakistan. In his latest book, Safar-e-Mehmood Main Zikar-e-Mazloom, Geelani states that Islam is the inspiration in their struggle against "oppressive Indian troops".[5]

[edit] Political Stances

Geelani does not think that the current peace process between India, and Pakistan has helped resolve the conflict.[6] He has blamed this on India, citing that they have not accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory, and have declared it an "integral" part of India.[7][8] Additionally, Geelani has stated that their cannot be a peaceful solution until human rights violations such as custodial killings, rapes and arrests are stopped.[7] He has also said while Pakistan has shown flexibility in its position, India continues to be rigid in its stance. Geelani believes that India is "cheating Pakistan", and that it has no intention to solve the dispute. [6] He has also accused the Indian government of changing the demographics of Kashmir, by giving non-locals state subject certificates - required in order to buy land in Kashmir under Article 370 of India's constitution - in order to make the Kashmiri people a minority in their own land.[9]

Although most of Geelani's criticism is directed at India, he has also criticized the Pakistani government. When asked about Pakistan's policy regarding Kashmir he stated "your strategy is to shake hands with the people who play with our lives, rape our daughters, arrest our people, kill them and discard their bodies in police stations".[6] He has also criticized the Pakistani media for not reporting violations of human rights in Indian-administered Kashmir due to fear of undermining the peace process.

Geelani has blamed Pakistan's recent handling of the conflict largely on President Pervez Musharraf. He has said that Musharraf is succumbing to pressure from India and the U.S., and that he is "fearful of India's military and economic power and has no faith in himself or his people".[10] Geelani also states that Musharraf does not have support from the people of Pakistan regarding his position on Kashmir. He has told Musharraf to "leave us alone", if he cannot support the Kashmiris the way Pakistan has been doing since 1947.[11] He has gone as far as to call the present regime headed by Musharraf an enemy of the Kashmiris, while maintaining that the Pakistani people remain their allies.[12]

To solve the conflict Geelani has said that India must withdraw its military, end human rights violations, and hold a plebiscite with the people of Kashmir deciding to join with either India or Pakistan.[13] Any other solution such as self-rule, joint control, demilitarisation, or more autonomy for Kashmir, is opposed by Geelani, who says self-determination which was promised by India and the United Nations is the only acceptable solution.[14] Geelani admits that some of the population would prefer independence from both India and Pakistan, but he does not believe an indepedndent Kashmir would be feasible, as Kashmir's neighbours including China would not accept it.[15] However he later stated that an independent Kashmir could be a possibility, as it would be choosing the lesser "evil", with "the bigger evil being the presence of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir".[16]

[edit] Pandits

Regarding Kashmiri Pandits, he is of the opinion that "We want to live with our Hindu and Buddhist brothers. We have never pressurized anyone. Hindu brothers who left Kashmir were never told by us to leave the state. It was the Indian government that asked them to leave Kashmir.[2]

[edit] Illness

Geelani has been diagnosed with renal cancer, and has been recommended by doctors to go overseas for treatment. After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son.[17] His passport was seized in 1981 due to accusations of "anti-India" activities, and with the exception of his Hajj pilgrimage in 2006, he has not been allowed to leave India.[18][19]

During a regular check-up doctors discovered that Geelani's "only kidney has developed malignancy".[20] An infection forced doctors, four years ago, to remove his left kidney. Although the cancer was in its early stages, it was life threatening, and he needed to have surgery. Following the advice of his doctors at Apollo Hospital, Geelani was set to travel to either the UK or the USA for specialized treatment.[21] However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to Mumbai for surgery. Doctors at the Tata Memorial Hospital successfully performed surgery on his kidney.[22] The reason given by the U.S. for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has" failed to renounce violence". This decision was declared a violation of his human rights by his supporters and family.[23] On his return to Srinigar, the capital of Kashmir, Geelani was welcomed by a rally of thousands of supporters chanting pro-Pakistan, and pro-militant slogans.[24]


[edit] Criticism

Some Kashmiris have critcised Geelani for not being able to get Kashmir its independence from India, something which Mohammad Ali Jinnah did for Pakistan.[12] He has been called the "biggest hurdle" in order to achieve unity among the separatist of Kashmir by the Awami Action Committee, which is headed by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.[25] The pro-Indian Kashmiri politician Omar Abdullah has blamed Geelani for the rise in militancy and bloodshed in Kashmir, while his father Farooq Abdullah has urged him to follow a path which would "save Kashmiri people from further destruction".[26][27]

In India Geelani has been criticized by the BJP for raising "anti-national views", by demanding demilitarisation and self-determination as a solution to the Kashmir conflict. [28] He has faced criticism for saying that non-Kashmiris should leave the valley, after four individuals raped a Kashmiri girl, two of them being non-Kashmiris.[29]

In Pakistan, Geelani has come under criticism from President Musharraf, for opposing the Srinigar-Muzaffarabad bus service between the two Kashmir's.[30]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Geelani calls himself. Times of India.
  2. ^ a b ‘Islam is our source of inspiration and sacrifices’. The Milli Gazette.
  3. ^ a b c Sidelined. Kashmir Observer.
  4. ^ a b c A peep into Geelani's mind. Kashmir Observer.
  5. ^ Geelani’s Safar-e-Mehmood Main Zikar-e-Mazloom released. Kashmir Watch.
  6. ^ a b c Newsline Interview.
  7. ^ a b Geelani Interview. Rediff.com.
  8. ^ Geelani gives Centre the cold shoulder. Economic Times.
  9. ^ Geelani accuses India of changing Kashmir’s demography. Greater Kashmir.
  10. ^ Musharraf dreads India, US. Hindustan Times.
  11. ^ leave Kashmiris alone. Calcutta News.
  12. ^ a b Kashmir Affairs Interview.
  13. ^ Involve Kashmiris in peace process. The Hindu.
  14. ^ India rigid, indifferent on Kashmir. News Network International.
  15. ^ `Independent Kashmir not feasible'. Business Line.
  16. ^ Independent Kashmir an option. Greater Kashmir.
  17. ^ Visa. IndiaDaily.com.
  18. ^ Cancer-hit Geelani to Travel Abroad. MedIndia.
  19. ^ Ailing Kashmiri separatist. Gulf Times.
  20. ^ Kidney malignant. Kashmir Live.
  21. ^ Cancer-hit Geelani awaits. India News.
  22. ^ Geelani Operated in Mumbai. Kashmir Observer.
  23. ^ US visa denial is rights violation. India eNews.
  24. ^ Pro-Pakistan slogans at rally to welcome Geelani. Yahoo India News.
  25. ^ AAC calls Geelani "biggest hurdle" in separatists unity in JK. OutLook India.
  26. ^ Farooq, Omar lash out at Geelani. The Hindu.
  27. ^ Farooq asks Geelani to adopt a path which can save people. The Hindu.
  28. ^ Slap sedition charges on Geelani: BJP. The Hindu.
  29. ^ Geelani’s Faux Pas. Meri News.
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