An Unwavering Commitment

The real man behind the resolute freedom icon

BY ISLAMIC HORIZONS STAFF

Several interesting aspects of Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s Insisting upon Geelani’s honesty and sincerity to his people personality emerge from an interview with his personal phy- has caused the Kashmiris to respect him for being incorruptible. sician, oncologist Dr. Sameer Kaul, a Kashmiri [Hindu high- In the decades of strife, he is the only one whose influence and caste] Pandit (and self-described Sufi), conducted ten-years respect among them has increased [the on-going freedom campaign ago by Rediff.com’s Krishnakumar Padmanabhan. had a recharge in 1989].

Kaul says that Geelani, who was diagnosed with cancer many Kaul said, “I think a major reason for that is that he is not conyears 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. behind the unwavering freedom icon. “He lives in a spartan home. A lot of people put up spartan exte-

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. have helped him become incorruptible. He is not into dynastics [many South

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 [will be part of] Pakistan.” Of course, such a man was anathema Kashmir Under Siege special postage stamp issued by Pakistan Post, Aug. 5, 2020 someone else’s name] property. “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 THE PHYSICIAN SAYS THAT Geelani, Kaul says, has been totally stand even after 20 years. He once mentioned this to Geelani. During the same THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS demonized, especially because there “is also the angle that he is the only one who conversation he also informed his patient ONE CAN HIDE FROM YOUR did not bend and dance to your (New that he disagreed with his philosophy. DOCTOR; AND HE CAN VOUCH Delhi’s) tunes.” Geelani, he says, accepted it with a smile and silence. THAT GEELANI AND HIS Kaul recalled that he and his patient disagreed only once — about his fre-

Kaul remembers when Geelani was FAMILY LIVE SIMPLE LIVES. 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 with American policies. topic [again].”

Kaul exclaimed, “What does that tell you? He didn’t lie for the Among Geelani’s greatest strengths are that he is humble, sober, sake of going to the U.S. He is beyond that.” incorruptible and a man of principles, convictions and discipline,

This physician, who says that patients can hide very few things says Kaul. from their doctor, can vouch for the fact that Geelani and his family Referring to India’s propaganda that Kashmiris are intolerant of 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 enough for him. [Editor’s note: Source: “The Kashmiri Pandit who saved Geelani’s life”; https:// www.rediff.com/news/special/special-kashmiri-pandit-who-saved-separat-

Kaul exclaims, “Such a fellow has to be humane.” ist-leader-geelanis-life/20101011.htm; Oct. 11, 2010)