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Memory: when Ashfaq Majid confronted NC leader
Published on
Sunday, 30 March 2014
12:43 pm
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Articles
Recorded
by Seerat Yusra Ali
As the group of laborers passed outside, Ashfaq Majid
Wani’s eyes followed them. Suddenly, he stood up and marched out of a café in
city centre where we were sitting. Minutes later, he walked in with a group of
ten laborers and made them sit. All of us looked at him as he ordered tea for
them. We were surprised as none of us had money that day. He smiled and asked
the present chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Mohammad Yasin Malik to
rush to his home in Maisuma and fetch money.
It was soon after the Operation Blue Star against Sikhs
in Punjab had ended that I first met Ashfaq in 1984. We didn’t have much in
common except mutual opposition to the Indian rule. A year earlier I had been
arrested for the first time when I was a part of a non-violent protest against
the government. We were already a group of boys with just stones in our hands
and when we met Ashfaq, who was younger than us, we were overwhelmed by his
presence and personality. He was educated, religious, had a unique eloquence
and his simplicity would bowl any one over. At that time he was not famous,
people barely knew who he was. But even as a boy he was respected even by his
seniors for his sound character.
After our first meeting with him, we met often whenever
protests were organized. Days ahead of the Indian Independence Day or Republic
Day, government would arrest us. Jails were our homes. As awkward teenagers
dissent gave meaning to our lives.
Two years later, Ashfaq was instrumental in forming a
student group— Islamic Students League. His ability to lead is unparalleled. He
seemed from some another world. He was extremely modest even though he belonged
to a rich family. In his home one would find the latest gadgets and facilities,
but he was never inclined to worldly things and always appeared like a man from
street. He would never miss prayers.
In the same year the student group that I had also become
a part of organized an Eid-Milad March in Srinagar, but the government banned
it. We were picked up during raids, badly tortured, beaten and injured. But we
didn’t give up.
Next year came the state election. Although the student
group strongly opposed elections as our basic demand was to form a free
country, we were approached by Mohammad Yusuf Shah, the present chief of United
Jehad Council, who was contesting from Srinagar as a Muslim United Front
candidate. But we plainly refused to support any political group which was in
the election fray. During one such meeting, Shah said his organization was also
supporting the struggle to forma an separate nation and wanted to form a
government in the state and pass a new resolution in the Assembly. So we called
a meeting, where Ashfaq was also present, and came to a resolution that we will
support the individuals but not the party.
We took part in Shah’s campaigns and on the voting day
Ashfaq was assigned a polling agent’s role at the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV)
school booth in Jawahar Nagar. His job was to patrol and see the votes were
being cast in a fair manner.
On that day we were informed that fake votes were being
cast by National Conference workers at the Presentation Convent School polling
booth. Therefore, we went there only to find that our polling agent had been
tied up with ropes. The security did not let anyone in but only the candidate.
Therefore, Shah went in and was badly beaten up by the National Conference
agents.
The National Conference workers had locked the polling
booth and were casting fake votes and when Shah was beaten Ashfaq decided to
barge inside. A clash ensued.
Shah had managed majority votes but instead NC
candidate Mohi-ud-din Shah was declared victorious. Many among us, including
Ashfaq, were arrested but some like me went underground. Probably a month
later, Ashfaq family secured a bail for him as his uncle was to get
married.
I bear witness to what Ashfaq told Mohi-ud-din Shah who
attended his uncle’s marriage. Mohi-ud-din Shah told Ashfaq: now that I have
released you, don’t ever protest again. I remember, Ashfaq replied: “You did a
great mistake that you released me. You will always regret this.” Next day
Ashfaq jumped parole and Kashmir changed for ever.
(Aftab Ahmed Dar, a former Maisuma resident, is a businessman)
(Aftab Ahmed Dar, a former Maisuma resident, is a businessman)
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