Kashmir's 'Unsung Heroes'

Baba Umar
Rising Kashmir
Srinagar Dec, 16

Eulogizing their exceptional work for the cause of Kashmiri freedom struggle, this year’s Robert Thorpe award was posthoumsly given to Late Akhter Mohi-ud-din, whose son Hilal Akhter received the honor and Late Khwaja Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar was acknowledged as one of the Kashmir’s ‘Unsung Hero’.

In a seminar titled “Unsung Heroes of Kashmir”, organized by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) here in city’s Grand Mumtaz Hotel, Parvaiz Imroz, President of JKCCS, said the event was meant to commemorate those ‘Heroes of Kashmir’ who remained unsung despite their exceptional contribution in the freedom struggle of Kashmir. He said Kashmir’s history has been annihilated and it’s every Kashmiri’s duty to unearth the truth about Kashmir freedom struggle.

“The idea is to infuse information in the new generation regarding the people who championed the cause of Kashmir liberation struggle,” Imroz said. “Occupiers obliterate history and we have to re-invent it.”

Other speakers on the occasion included, Prof. Fida Mohammad Hussnain, Dr Sheikh Showket Hussain, Prof. Noor Mohammad Baba, noted poet and social activist Zarief Ahmad Zarief, Dr Altaf, author ‘The wounded Paradise’, social activist Dr Mubarik and Delhi based social activist Gautam Naulakha.

Speaking on the topic ‘Why we failed to remember those who mattered’, Dr Sheikh Showket Hussain said the reason for this was the U-turn our leaders took during our freedom struggle. “We keep on investing our energy on the ‘slogans’ only to be labeled as unachievable later,” he ridiculed. “Our leaders feel they can’t achieve a certain goal and later they succumb to occupiers’ pressure.” He added.

Blaming partially the academicians for the tangle, he said students should be encouraged to do Ph.D research on the doings of people who pioneered Kashmir’s Freedom movement.

“There are ‘cultural renegades’ who effaced things at the behest of the occupiers, but our students and academicians should take the workings of Gilkaar and Mohi-ud-din as a research topic,” Hussain said. The politicians, he said “are least bothered about our history.”

Prof. Noor Mohammad Baba speaking on the same topic said the “failure to be focussed” and “the crash of the collective efforts of all” led to the breakdown of Kashmiris.

“We should be united on all fronts and the coordinated attempt to thwart any further collapse is the need of the hour.” Baba said.


On the ‘life and Contribution of Akhter Mohi-ud-din’, eminent Kashmiri poet, Zarief Ahmad Zarief, commended the role played by the fiction writer, historian and human right activist Akhter Mohi-ud-din.
“His greatness reflects from the decision he took when he returned to the government of India the Sahitya Academy Award in 1968 in protest of Maqbool Bhat’s execution.”

Zarief said what else could be the greatest contribution of Mohi-ud-din when the latter issued a statement that read: “ Ghandhi Ji’s India will not gain anything by Hanging Maqbool Bhat.”

On Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar, Zarief said, “He was the first person to give Kashmiris pen and paper what people today know as Reading Room Home.”

And as Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, former Chairman of Bar Association stood on the podium; his fiery words sent everybody’s jaw dropping.

“They remained unsung for years and it’s clearly our fault,” he held responsible everybody. “We were slaves but that never meant we would give up, we succumbed to occupiers pressure,” he added.

Qayoom said that Kashmiris have to identify themselves first and later ascertain what they stand for. “We can’t afford to be with congress and with separatists simultaneously.”

Other speakers including Dr Altaf and Dr Mubarik brought to light the indelible role of Akhter Mohi-ud-din and Ghulam Nabi Gilkaar in the freedom movement of Kashmir.

Gautam Naulakha, a Delhi based social activist while referring to the presence of huge number of army personnel in Kashmir, said every oppressor tries to distort the history of the land it occupies. “They (Indian politicians) might say the resistance is dwindling, but the presence of .7 million troops in Kashmir proves the fact that the struggle is continuing and stiff.”

He said Kashmiris need to persist in their resistance till they achieve the needful.
“It’s people of the land who create history not the tyrant.” He said.



It’s worthwhile to mention that the Robert Thorpe award of 2003 was given to Patrica Gosman, an American human right activist, who wrote several articles on Kashmir issue. One of them titled “India’s secret army in Kashmir” irked Delhi government to such an extent that she was banned to come to India.

Robert Thorpe award of 2004 was given to Asia Jeelani, who in the same year died in a landmine blast while covering assembly elections.
Robert Thorpe award of 2005 was conferred to advocate Jaleel Andrabi and Justice S.M Rizvi.
Robert Thorpe award of 2006 was given to Abdul Rouf Wani who was killed at Gaw Kadal massacre, while taking all the bullets on his chest in order to save other protesters.