Sofi Ghulam Mohammed: Fearless journalist, a pleasing personality

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Nov 22: Nearly a week has passed since Kashmir lost one of the pioneers of fearless journalism and internationally acclaimed Urdu writer in Sofi Ghulam Mohammad, editor of vernacular daily Srinagar Times, but his memories will always be cherished by all and sundry.

"Sofi was a school by himself and laid the firm foundation of impartial and unbiased role of vernacular press," believes Dr KN Pandita, former director, Centre for Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir (KU).

"As a person he was humble, obliging, very humanistic and upright. His loss has left us Kashmiri literati a lot poorer," he adds.

Sofi wielded his pen like darth vadar wields his light saber, and championed the cause of a common man for five long decades. Journalism was his passion, and it ran through his veins. He clung to his passion till death snatched his main weapon - pen. Forever.

Through his widely-read columns and fearless editorials, he shook the edifice of oppressive state institutions, and made Srinagar Times a household name in Kashmir.

The septuagenarian editor was a very direct person, who dared to call spade a spade, without caring for any consequences. He was nominated for J&K Legislative Council in 2002 by then chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, but that did not stop him from castigating some of Mufti's powerful ministerial colleagues.

"His (Sofi's) brilliance lay in his profound understanding of the state's political developments, keen study of personalities and human characters and artistic mastery of Urdu and Kashmiri languages," asserts Sameer Bhat, a correspondent with Financial Times, a British international business newspaper. "I think he will be remembered as the last of legendary editors."He was also a master of Kashmiri language.

"As a Koshur writer, I find him amazing - simple - he used common idioms to highlight common problems - something he has been through himself," says Murtaza Shibli, editor of quarterly Kashmir Affairs, published from London.

"I have known him (Sofi) for years, because he was the first one to appreciate my writings and get them published when I was barely 15 years of age. I got known thanks to his platform and later via Chattan. Though later I have had serious differences of opinion with him, but the relationship was always respectful," he said.

Sofi authored several books remarkably 'Loosmet Tarakh' and 'Sheesh-Te-Sangistan', both of which won Cultural Academy Awards. He had almost finished writing another book.

"It was last week of August when I met him at his residence. I wanted to show him my novel on Kashmir but when he saw me he opened all cupboards and got his written papers/photographs. I asked, what is all this? He replied, my book which would come before your novel. He read many pages to me and was very enthusiastic when he mentioned his meetings with Sheikh Abdullah. He showed me his rare collection of photos and surprisingly there was mine also. I told him I have not become rare yet why is my photo in this collection. He said because you are like my daughter and dear friend that is why this comes with the rare section," says Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor, a senior Kashmir journalist working as producer in BBC Urdu Service.

"What he read to me moved me because it was like he was reading obituary on Kashmiri culture, ethos and traditions. He made me to promise that I will come to attend his book release. It was bit funny because I wanted to show him my book. When he spoke about two hours, I took leave and asked him' you didn't see my document'. He laughed and said, 'you got enough time to write, re-write it when I have got little at my disposal. He felt happy and contented when I suggested him certain changes in the first chapter. I do not know if he finished this book, but I expect his heirs would fulfill his wish that was like dream to him," Nayeema adds.

Shibli believes Sofi broke the stranglehold of elitism in journalism in Kashmir."His struggle as a journalist and later launching of his newspaper broke the stranglehold of elitism in journalism in Kashmir, though he had to make upteen compromises, but I suppose that is what life is about," he says.

Author of 'The Fiction Of Nationality In An Era Of Transnationalism', Dr Nyla Ali Khan, who is Associate Professor in Department of English, University of Nebraska-Kearney, says that Sofi will always be an inspiration to the budding journalists and writers.

"Sofi Ghulam Mohammad sahib was a well-established journalist of integrity. He undertook the bold venture of creating a forum for a multiplicity of voices and opinions in a language and style that rendered complex political, cultural, and social issues accessible to the lay person. His task was the edifying one of not just informing his readers but enabling them to form viable opinions as well. Sofi sahib's stentorian voice shook the edifices of oppressive state institutions, particularly in the murky 1990s when voices of reason were brazenly muffled," she says.

Sofi started his journalistic career as a reporter in Congress mouthpiece 'Khidmat'. He founded Srinagar Times in early 1960s. He also served as president Kashmir Press Club and daily newspaper editors conference on different times.

"I met Sofi Sahib for the first time in London some years ago. We were participating in a seminar organised by International Kashmir Association. Incidentally he and I, both were lodged in the same room. It was a memorable event to have spent a couple of nights in his company. He would speak with guarded words and with all seriousness," says Pandita.

"He received a call from BBC Urdu Service. At the other end of the line was well-known Kashmiri announcer Nayeema Mahjoor. She invited him for interview. Sufi sahib was somewhat reluctant and told her that he had no great liking for radio interviews adding that his ideas about Kashmir problem were often reflected in his paper. Nevertheless, Nayeema's insisted and he did go to the Bush House and as I had to take flight to Geneva, I was unable to keep the track of his interview.

"Everybody listened to his speech in the seminar with rapt attention. Everybody placed value to his opinion. He spoke slowly, gently and with precision. He never showed any sentimentality as speakers generally show when talking about Kashmir issue. Rather he was very moderate, pragmatic and convincing. He avoided angularities and spoke in a general manner like an astute journalist discharging his professional responsibility with perfection and ease.

"Narrating an incident, Pandita says: "One morning as we had done our breakfast and were sitting around a table about a dozen of us who had come from India to participate in the seminar. There was Prof. Bhim Singh of Panthers Party also. A lady from his delegation came to the presence of Sufi sahib and asked him to give his comments on the seminar. She seemed very eager to record what Sufi sahib had to say. But Sufi Sahib did not oblige her and just said he had nothing to say. It was only to avoid her as we could make out. When the lady had gone, somebody asked Sufi sahib why he had not obliged the lady. He said, 'aray bhai na uska koi akhbar hai, na koi media outlet hai, na press se koi len den hai. Main kya comments usko dun'. We laughed heartily."

Eminent historian and author, Prof Fida Mohammad Hassnain, says that once he went to the Oxford Library and found files of Srinagar Times there.

"The chief of the Oxford University Library told me that he had everything about Kashmir. I gave him the name of Mahjoor. Prompt came the list of Tarana Mahjoor, etc etc. Then I wrote. 'Sofi Ghulam Mohammad Editor'. Right came the information that they have his news paper files upto certain year. I do not remember now, but the chief told me that the subsequent newspaper files are preserved by an agency in Sweden," he says.

"He was a great friend of mine. One noticeable feature of his friendship was that he would not allow changing friends. If he called you a friend, you were his friend despite your drawbacks. As Director of Archives, I wrote several articles which were published by him. After I970, he published all my travel accounts to German, Japan, England etc," he says.

"During official career, there occurred rivalries and conflicts. Someone wrote against me and sent his letter to him. Sofi sahib did not publish anything against me and sent me that letter, telling me that I was his friend and he would not tolerate any thing against me," he adds.

There have been many persons in the past, who left deep imprints on the course of history, who as leaders and mentors of seekers of truth carried on the shining torch of humanism through the darkness of times. It will not be unfair if Sofi is put in the same league.