Syed Ali Safvi
A question has been haunting and disturbing me for long now: who after Geelani? What will happen to Kashmir after him? Is there anyone who can step into his shoes?
The septuagenarian leader has done his best to keep the candle of resistance burning in the hearts of Kashmiris, by protecting it from the relentless waves of time. New Delhi has tried its best to distort and belittle Geelani's image by labelling him a "hardliner", "pro-Pakistan", what not! However, unlike other Kashmiri leaders, Geelani has proved a tough nut to crack for India.
Geelani is suffering from kidney cancer and was in March 2007 operated upon at Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital. Every Kashmiri would wish and pray that Geelani lives 100 more years, but at the same time no one wants his hard labour to go in vain. What if he dies tomorrow? He is mortal after all. Is there anyone who can step into his shoes? Is there anyone who matches his persona and charisma?
The question is not who would replace him?, but the question is who has the integrity to uphold Geelani's legacy. Geelani can not be replaced by any Tom, Dick and Harry, but some one who has the honesty and committment to carry forward his leagcy.
The Tehreek-e Hurriyat president is an awesome leader, but every great leader must groom a successor who will ensure his legacy. In this crucial category, Geelani has proved to be mortal.
History is testimony to the fact that the leaders who have not groomed successors, notwithstanding their larger-than-life status, have had very short term influence on the history.
Alexander the Great, arguably the greatest warrior of all time, built a great empire covering Asia Minor, Syria, Tyre - the present day Lebanon, Gaza, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Afghanistan, India, et al. He had planned to invade Arabia and regions north of the Persian Empire, but destiny had something else in store for him. In June in the year 323 BC, Alexander - the world conqueror - breathed his last at the age of 32. Soon after his death the empire he had built after eleven years of continuous, rigorous fighting, without losing a single battle, got disintegrated.
Alexander's failure to make provisions for a successor was in large part responsible for the breakup of his empire after his death.
Alexander's empire didn't survive and i am afraid Geelani's ideology and stand viz-a-viz the solution of Kashmir may also meet the same fate unless he grooms someone as his successor who has the potential to take the Resistance movement "to its logical end".
Kashmir dispute might take another 60 or 100 years, or maybe even more, to solve. It requires utmost patience, strong commitment and unflinching resolve. Kashmiris need leaders who can keep the flag of resistance flying high; leaders who don't succumb to any kind of pressure; leaders who don't have a tendency to give up, come what may.
If Geelani fails to groom his successor, he would be doing a great disservice to his nation, and great service to the Indian policy-makers. India would wish not to see another Geelani rising on the political map of Kashmir. They are waiting to see Geelani off.
Geelani sb, are you listening?
2 comments:
salam,
i think Geelani sb should realize this fact that after him, there is no other leader who can prove to be of his caliber. In his own Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Geelani's associates too seem to be not satisfying the eligibilty criteria for Geelani's stature. Though Sehrai sb cannot be easily rejected as a candidate, but the biggest argument against him would obviously be his dim popularity and above all little media exposure. He is not that articulate, nor that political genius who can envisage things in advance and take appropriate steps. for example, it was Geelani's vision who envisaged the nefarious designs behind land transfer to SASB, had it would been other leader at his place, i am sure things would not have been what it is now. Indeed other leaders like Mirwaiz also followed Geelani and were themselves least aware of the covert developments. Sehrai's other credentials cannot be doubted, but it has long been said: Prefer a leader who has "salahiyat" over the one with "saalihiyat" (prefer ability over piety)
Masrat Aalam also is a reliable candidate but far from maturity, he needs to be groomed.
I think only one person besides Geelani who is almost of equal stature and whose credentials cannot be doubted and who has equal popularity and image and media exposure and political vision is Hizb Supremo, Syed Salahuddin. But all said, given his field of action, his role in the seat of Geelani cannot even be expected, but whether he can still be able to lead the masses from there and become a focus for freedom loving masses remains to be seen.
India should round up Gilani, Shabir, Mirvaiz, Bilal and all other guys and throw them across LOC, not allowing them to return... After all, it is Kashmir on the other side too...!!
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