An Unwavering Commitment The real man behind the resolute freedom icon BY ISLAMIC HORIZONS STAFF
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everal interesting aspects of Syed Ali Shah Insisting upon Geelani’s honesty and sincerity to his people Geelani’s personality emerge from an interview with his has caused the Kashmiris to respect him for being incorruptible. In the decades of strife, he is the only one whose influence and personal physician, oncologist Dr. Sameer Kaul, a Kashmiri [Hindu high-caste] Pandit (and self-described Sufi), con- respect among them has increased [the on-going freedom campaign ducted ten-years ago by Rediff.com’s Krishnakumar Padmanabhan. had a recharge in 1989]. Kaul said, “I think a major reason for that is that he is not conKaul says that Geelani, who was diagnosed with cancer many years ago, survives on three-fourths of a kidney. cerned with petty politicking and doesn’t get down to the nitty-gritty. As someone who has interacted with Geelani regularly, Kaul is He keeps reading and writing books, and is busy translating probably better placed than anyone else to observe the real man Islamic texts. “He lives in a spartan home. A lot of people put up spartan extebehind the unwavering freedom icon. Geelani, the doctor says, is not corrupt. Rather, he’s an upright riors, but are quite different on the inside. But in his case, having man of conviction, a disciplined individual been close to him for two decades, he is who eats very little, never having followed nothing like that. And you can’t hide those the philosophy of consumption in life. Kaul things forever… believes that Geelani has always been sat“To top that, he is extremely humble isfied with the basic things, which must and not greedy. He is not into dynastics [many South have helped him become incorruptible. Kaul only met Geelani when he was Asian politicians pass on party leadership called to operate on him. He recalls that as to their children] and does not seek any a child, whenever he would ask his father favors for his children or sons-in-law. about Geelani, he received the reply that Neither is he into shady deals, nor does he is the man who says “Kashmir banega he have any secret benami [registered in Kashmir Under Siege special postage stamp issued [will be part of] Pakistan.” someone else’s name] property. by Pakistan Post, Aug. 5, 2020 Of course, such a man was anathema “In reality he is quite a soft guy. I do for this Hindu family. not agree with the picture that is being Kaul recalled that he began to respect painted about him.” Geelani because he had not altered his Geelani, Kaul says, has been totally THE PHYSICIAN SAYS THAT stand even after 20 years. He once mendemonized, especially because there “is THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS also the angle that he is the only one who tioned this to Geelani. During the same ONE CAN HIDE FROM YOUR did not bend and dance to your (New conversation he also informed his patient that he disagreed with his philosophy. DOCTOR; AND HE CAN VOUCH Delhi’s) tunes.” Geelani, he says, accepted it with a Kaul recalled that he and his patient THAT GEELANI AND HIS smile and silence. disagreed only once — about his freFAMILY LIVE SIMPLE LIVES. Kaul remembers when Geelani was quent visits to a [late] Sufi saint. “Once called for an interview at the U.S. embassy he (Geelani) tried to tell me that it was in New Delhi for his visit visa. When asked not right. I told him it was my philosophy about his political beliefs, he told them point blank that he disagreed and was best left alone. After that, not once did he ever touch that topic [again].” with American policies. Among Geelani’s greatest strengths are that he is humble, sober, Kaul exclaimed, “What does that tell you? He didn’t lie for the incorruptible and a man of principles, convictions and discipline, sake of going to the U.S. He is beyond that.” This physician, who says that patients can hide very few things says Kaul. Referring to India’s propaganda that Kashmiris are intolerant of from their doctor, can vouch for the fact that Geelani and his family live simple lives. non-Muslims, Kaul states that he can safely conduct medical camps For example, when he discovered that Geelani was staying in in Kashmir because “I do not believe Kashmiris are fundamentalists.” cramped housing with his daughter in New Delhi after his surgery, The ever unrelenting Geelani’s desire to be buried in Mazar-ehe warned him that such living conditions might cause him to Shahuda, the martyrs’ graveyard in old Srinagar, has flustered the get an infection. Geelani responded that moving elsewhere might Indian colonial rulers. ih break his daughter’s heart, for she might think that it wasn’t good [Editor’s note: Source: “The Kashmiri Pandit who saved Geelani’s life”; https:// enough for him. www.rediff.com/news/special/special-kashmiri-pandit-who-saved-separatist-leader-geelanis-life/20101011.htm; Oct. 11, 2010) Kaul exclaims, “Such a fellow has to be humane.” MARCH/APRIL 2021 ISLAMIC HORIZONS 27
