The Life Legacy of Syed Ali Gillani
Syed Ali Shah Gillani, one of the most significant Kashmiri independence fighters of the twenty-first century, spent his life – including over 12 years in prison and house arrest – trying to bring down the unlawful conduct of ruthless military and Government of India in Kashmir. His lifetime battle for independence and dedication to the soil of Kashmir served as a model for Kashmir and all other nations fighting the war of Independence at the moment. He received the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, for advocating for the people of Jammu and Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
He has been detained three times in his life as a result of his campaign for Kashmir. He was jailed for the first time in 1962 for highlighting the Kashmir issue, and was imprisoned for 13 months. He sacrificed everything for the sake of Muslim brotherhood, and Kashmiri independence. He was engaged in electoral politics, vying for local government three times before resigning as a legislator. During his political leadership and reign, the 1987 election was a breakthrough occasion. These elections sparked armed opposition Syed Ali Gillani and his companions formed the Hurriyat Conference in 1993. Tahreek -e-Hurriyat filled the void left by resistance politics by spreading across Kashmir with determined workers who distributed material written by Gillani. He attacked and opposed Indian rule over Kashmir, and he gave the Kashmiri people a direction. He was the first to condemn Musharraf’s four-point formula (India taking control of the disputed territory) and stated that no formula deviating from the UN resolution on Kashmir would be allowed. He was present at all crucial phases, addressing the Kashmir conflict, however, his ideas and perspective were fixed on a particular subject and lacked flexibility. His politics was not limited to Muslims.
He has been heavily chastised by Indian media and government for his support for Pakistan. He was labeled Pakistan’s “Right Arm,” as he freely chanted the slogan, “Hum Pakistani hain-Pakistan hamara hai”. He purposefully stated, “I am not Indian.” During the passport issuance process, he stated, “Traveling on an Indian passport is a necessity for me because Kashmir is a contested territory between India and Pakistan.” He was often vilified as a Pakistani spy, yet if we examine closely, we can see that he was always opposed to false beliefs. He usually stated that Kashmir is not a boundary conflict between India and Pakistan that can be resolved via bilateral agreement. He said previously that just because Pakistan has supported us does not mean it has the authority to decide on our behalf. In Kashmir, he only advocated for self-determination. Directly asked what the best course of action was, he responded, “The best course of action is for India to accept the hard reality that Kashmir is not an integral part of India but a disputed territory, and India has given a national commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that we will withdraw our forces and the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be granted the right to self-determination.” They will therefore choose their fate, which is also an unpleasant fact. The UN proclaimed Kashmir to be a disputed territory following discussion. Self-determination will be the deciding factor in whether Pakistan or India is chosen in the end. When asked about the third alternative in answer, he responded, “There is no third choice according to UN formula.” When further questioned about the legal procedure and the protestors’ use of the slogan “There is no legitimate option except for the right of self-determination,” he said that this was the case since India was not in agreement with the UN decision. In this situation, Pakistan, India, and the representatives of Jammu and Kashmir should get down at a table and determine whether to release the people from occupation and give them the opportunity to obtain independence. When asked about the Jammu and Kashmiri representative, he responded, “Representation is not a problem. Minorities want to visit India. The main issue is that the majority, who are dealing with obsession, do not want to travel to India. His autobiography, Wular Kinare, and other works are among the over 20 volumes he wrote. His writings show love for Kashmir, Islam, and people in general. He was questioned about innocent killings in an interview. He received criticism for failing to mention innocent murders in his lectures and writings. I have always talked about killing innocent people, he said in response. You will discover that I have discussed it extensively if you open my books.
35 Sikhs were slain during Bill Clinton’s visit to India, and 5 Muslims were also killed as a result of the incident, which was blamed on Muslims. Eight more individuals died in the demonstration as they raised their voices in opposition to the death of innocent people. He primarily talked about terrorism in his writing and interviews. He spoke about three different sorts of terrorism in one interview before asserting that “India always employed state terrorism against Kashmir. While discussing the conditions of inmates in jail, particularly in Tihar Jail, he highlighted that despite visiting his family, he was not given permission to speak with them. He termed the act as the state terrorism of the Indian Government.
He also discussed the suffering Kashmiri youngsters endure and added, “Let me describe torture.” Children are detained and sent to detention facilities where they are hung. Their bodies are put to pressure from rollers, subjected to heat, and even have iron bars pushed through them. Through his articles, talks, and interviews, he revealed torture, terrorism, and the dire situation, the Kashmiri people are in. He committed himself to the cause of Kashmir and used his peak years to fight for it. All other leaders will look up to him with pride. Numerous young people hold him in the highest regard. He passed alone a political legacy that will be carried forward by the youth of Kashmir.