The Raw Clay of Resistance: Ishfaq Majeed

7/30/2019 The Raw Clay of Resistance: Ishfaq Majeed

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Ishfaq Majid - The Raw Clay of Resistance

Ishfaq Majid Wani - a picture from Tyndale Biscoe days

On September 8, 1982 Abdul Majid

Wani was one of the million people who

gathered for the funeral of Sheikh

Mohammad Abdullah. An avid supporter of

the National Conference, Wani along with

many family members had gathered at the

polo ground at Srinagar to have a last

glimpse of the mortal remains of Abdullah.

Instead of the occasion, however, his

thoughts lingered on his 14-year-old son,

Ishfaq Majid Wani, who had refused to

accompany the family members for the

burial. Wani took the refusal as obstinacy of

a teenager. Little did he know that it was a

paroxysm of pain and disillusionment that had congealed in his heart into hatred against the

government.

More than two decades later, Wani, in his seventies, vividly recalls the occasion: Ishfaq refused

to accompany the family members for the burial of late Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. At first, we took

it as something normal. But later I analyzed that it was just the beginning of things that would

change the course of our lives and that of Kashmir too."

Ishfaq, a lad of fourteen had developed an ideology of his own by then. "The Iranian revolution

had left an indelible mark on him, after studying the literature about it. It had become a motif

of resistance to him. Besides, he had become very disillusioned with the political scenario
http://www.kashmirdispatch.com/conflict/30032536-ishfaq-majid-the-raw-clay-of-resistance.htmhttp://www.kashmirdispatch.com/conflict/30032536-ishfaq-majid-the-raw-clay-of-resistance.htm


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prevailing at the time, which favored the Indian suzerainty. He viewed the Indian occupation as

a yoke of slavery, says Wani.

Ironically, it was Wani himself who had provided the literature to Ishfaq, oblivious of the effect

it would have on his son. The symptoms began to manifest in other ways. Ishfaqs

mother, recalls, The Principal of the Biscoe School summoned us one day and informed that

even though Ishfaq was a brilliant student and an athlete of repute, he possessed leanings quite

uncommon in teenagers. Ishfaq on previous day had vociferously debated with the principal

over a mural of Jesus(as). Ishfaq had objected to it and had suggested a picture of Ayatollah

Khomeini instead. It was just a prelude, as few days later Wani found himself at the principals

office again for another reason.

Ishfaq was very keen to start prayers at the school and had revolted for it against the school

authorities. He would go for afternoon prayers instead of attending his class. His example was

followed by other students and the principal had to comply with the insistence for a break in

the afternoon, exclusively for prayers, Wani says.

The trend would continue at higher secondary and college. In fact, at the higher secondary

Ishfaq had made a reputation of sorts among teenage circles. Elias, younger brother of Ishfaq

recalls an incident: "Initially at the higher secondary when ragging of newcomers was on Ishfaq

was confronted by some seniors. Before they could proceed, he made it clear that he was not

going to answer questions pertaining to films, actors and actresses, as was the trend. Instead he

requested them to question him in context of Islamic history and politics."

By then Ishfaq had committed to heart all the poetry of Allama Iqbal and was profoundly

devouring literature on Islam. He continued his revolting ways at the higher secondary and it

came as no surprise when he had to switch colleges three times later on. After gaining

admission at Shri Pratap College he strongly argued with a professor who 'harassed students

and verbally abused them'.


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Ishfaq with his friends outside his

house in Hari Singh High Street

Exasperated, the college

committee convened a meeting in

this regard. Consequently a

disciplinary action was taken

against Ishfaq and he sought

admission at the Islamia College.

At Islamia College his seditious

fervor again led to his omission. Finally he got admission at the Amarsingh College.

Outside the college, he used to pick fights with drunkards, bullies and eve teasers. "Raj karate

was son of a desk officer at Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and his paternal uncle was a

colleague of mine. A bully, he used to pick fights unprovocatively with passersby. He happened

to pick a fight with Ishfaq who thrashed him thoroughly. Likewise Asif, son of a former senior

civil officer was caught by ishfaq while teasing some girls. Ishfaq not only beat him but also

tonsured his head and eyebrows, at the Kailash hotel. I had to intervene to pacify matters later,

as a FIR was fired against Ishfaq, recalls Wani.

Wani adds further, "Mukhtiar kachur, an infamous thug constantly harassed a beautiful Hindu

girl of our locality. Ishfaq came to know of it and warned him to mend his ways. Some days later

an exasperated Mukhtiar along with some goons pounced on Ishfaq while he was returning

from school injuring him severely. Ishfaq didnt speak a word about it to us. After his wounds

healed, he sent word to Mukhtiar to prepare himself."

Mukhtiar's luck ran out one day when he answered a knock at his hideout at Chanpora and was

responded with "punches and kicks". After beating him to pulp, Ishfaq dragged him to the main

market at Lal Chowk and only intervention from some elders saved Mukhtiar. Incidentally both

asif and Mukhtiar became supporters of Ishfaq later on. The latter dying in an encounter," says

Wani.


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The year 1984 bears big importance in the life of Ishfaq, then a sixteen-year-old. The hanging of

Maqbool Bhat 'disturbed' him very much. The next day he wanted to gather a procession

agitating against it. For the said reason he tried to procure support of his relatives and friends.

However, his ardor didnt rub on them, though.

Ishfaq likewise tried to garner support for

commemorating Maqbool Bhats day the next year

but was not successful. His passion, however, did

not let him get dispirited. In 1986, he instead of

asking support from the people, marched alone

through Hari Singh High street with a green flag

shouting 'anti India slogans and extolling Bhatt as

the national hero'.

Within a short time more than two hundred boys

gathered at the Hari Singh High street and the city

square resonated with slogans for freedom. The

police had a tough time controlling the agitators. 'Ishfaq later predicted to his father that one

day Maqbools day will garner more reverence among people than Sheikh Abdullahs'.

Ishfaq voluntarily hawked Islamic literature at Hazratbal a couple of days later and the money

was utilized to buy flags and banners for the celebration of Eid Milad un Nabi held some days

later. Ishfaq during an athletic event

Sports formed an important aspect of Ishfaqs life. He maintained a strict regimen. Getting early

in the morning he would go for training and exercises. He was a dedicated soccer player, a

marathon runner and a table tennis player.

"He stood first in the interstate marathon tournament in 1985 and was selected to represent

the state. The state team was harassed and treated inferiorly by some people at Jammu.

Eventually fights ensued. Ishfaq along with a local, Kaka Husain, muscled the situation to


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normal. This anti Kashmir treatment smouldered again the embers of hatred in Ishfaq.

Consequently, on 14 august he unfurled a Pakistani flag at the Islamia college and like an army

general received a guard of honor from students," says Wani.

The global politics prevailing at the time also left an imprint on the socio political fabric of

Kashmir. Ishfaqs father emphasizes, "The Afghan- Russian war garnered support from the

Muslim countries. The Muslim preachers stressed on resistance against the imperialistic Soviet

union. Kashmir under occupation itself, related to Afghanistan in that sense. The preaching

therefore tended to acquire political flavors."

Consequently, Kashmir received considerable mention in sermons and preachings at the

mosques. One person adept at highlighting this was a moulvi officiating then at the Gowkadal

Mosque, a stone throw from SP college. An exceptional orator, his efficacious rhetorics fanned

the passions of the throngs of people that gathered there on Fridays. Ishfaq a regular at the

mosque, was not an exception. The sermons made considerable impression on him.

In those prevailing circumstances the screening of Omar Mukhtiar stoked the already raging fire

in Ishfaq. The protagonist in the movie, an old man, revolts against the foreign rule without

making deals for power and lucre, and sacrifices himself for his country. A far cry from

obsequious Kashmiri leaders. It was a cathartic experience for Ishfaq who watched the movie

with a heavy breath and at the climax, with his incandescent rage mingling with disillusionment,

buried his eyes in the handkerchief and wept . In the coming days he took his friends to the

theatre and himself paid for the tickets. "Once out of theatre, contempt for India spilled and

Ishfaq along with some likeminded students tore posters of Sheikh Abdullah and

demonstrations at cinema became an everyday occurrence. The Govt sensing the gravity of

situation acted swiftly and the movie was pulled out after a week of houseful shows. But the

movie had worked its magic. It had evoked the demons of Indias failed legacy in Kashmir," says

one of his school friend who wished anonymity.

Mehmood Sagar a separatist, ran a tea stall adjacent to Ishfaqs home, at the bustling corner of

Hari Singh High street. It became a hangout for teenagers who used to congregate there after


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school for tea and gossip. Ishfaq with his green striped Tyandle Biscoe School tie was regular at

the tea stall. Sagar and Azam Inquilabi, a member of Kashmir Freedom Front, took on the roles

of preachers. The boys listened with rapt attention to their rhetorics infused with nationalistic

zeal and Ishfaqs eyes blazed like coals everytime the need for a revolution was emphasized.

The kernel of patience inside him had broken long ago, though. It was the tea stall boys that

formed a students association, which came to be called as Islamic Students League.

The economic repression of the Muslims continued in the 80s and corruption was palpable in

the functioning of the state. The poor lot of Kashmiris was also a concern for Ishfaq. Kashmir

was in ferment. Ishfaqs mother recalls my husband was an engineer, working in the Middle

East. Whenever he came back he used to bring gifts for Ishfaq like jazzy clothes and expensive

watches. But Ishfaq used to give them to beggars at the nearby Sufi shrine and less privileged

people. He even gifted some branded watches to youngsters participating in anti India

agitations.

A picture taken days before he joined the JKLF

Since his school days he believed that armed

struggle in Kashmir was the solution towards

attaining independence. If he met any beggar

or person from Kupwara, he used to inquire

about Azad Kashmir, its location, its people and

their concept of Kashmirs plight adds Ishfaqs

mother.

His strong political outlook in his teenage years

surprised even his friends and colleagues. Wani

remembers "he was close to some of his friends which included Ijaz Kaiser, Suhail Geelani,

Indumeet Singh. The group had framed some norms for themselves like no smoking, no

cinemas, paid heavy emphasis on literature and sports."


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To his colleagues he was intriguing. Khurshid Ali recalls "Ishfaq was different. Even though the

sartorial sensibilities of teenagers were shaped by the Bollywood, with jeans and T-shirts the in

thing those days. He frequently used to don Shalwar Kamiz and took pride in it. Besides, other

teenage pursuits didnt interest him. Possessing extreme good looks, he received a fair share of

attention from the fairer sex, but this never seemed to impress him. Instead of rambling around

Lal Chowk and going to cinemas he indulged in sports, sometimes practicing alone at the

college. For him Kashmir was everything and therefore his main interest remained agitations

against the government. He possessed an incisive mind and a cultured mien.

Ishfaq (Centre) with members of

JKLF

Besides his courageous personality

and oratory skills won him many

admirers."

His escapades hadnt gone

unnoticed by government agencies.

By 1987, Ishfaq was already on the

radar of Indian intelligence, a prime

target. But the disillusionment of the people was not nascent and everybody felt a need for

change in governance and overthrow of Indian occupation. Therefore democratic channels

were emphasized for the said objective. This led to the creation of MUF, Muslim United Front,

which contested in the assembly election of 1987.

It came as no surprise therefore when he was arrested on March 24 1987 for his involvement

with the Muslim United Front, which took part in elections, incidentally rigged by the

government. Ironically, his father and other family members campaigned for National

Conference and played a role in this rigging.s Like ot


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hers he was placed under arrest. He was shifted from one interrogation centre to other by the

government before being lodged at the Central jail.

It was at the Central jail that he secured the attention of Abdul Ahad Waza from Kupwara. A

supporter of the Kashmir cause, he was impressed by the report of police officials and jail

inmates about Ishfaqs resolute anti India stand. He was himself impressed by Ishfaqs discipline

and dedication at morning exercises, which he took religiously for preparation of the armed

struggle. He offered Ishfaq support for the cause of Kashmir. After his release on parole to

attend his uncles wedding, Ishfaq diligently worked on the plans towards the procurement of

arms from Azad Kashmir. A day before he left for Azad Kashmir, while serving meals at the

wedding reception, he overheard Mohiuddin Shah, a veteran National Conference politician

talking about the futility of agitations against the government. Ishfaq reprimanded him in these

famous words "the government made two grave mistakes as far as Kashmir is concerned. First

they acceded to India and secondly, they let me on parole." These proved to be messianic

words.

The destiny of Kashmir changed. Ishfaq dogged the posse of police in the subsequent morning,

which had gathered to arrest him again. He crossed into Pakistan Administered Kashmir to lay a

foundation for the armed struggle in Kashmir, becoming the pioneer of armed struggle. The

rest is history.

(Ishfaq was killed during a gun-battle with CRPF in Old City on this day in 1990)

The Raw Clay of Resistance: Ishfaq Majeed

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