SRINAGAR: A book believed to have been penned by Muhammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Delhis Tihar jail in February this year, was released here on Tuesday.
The 94-page book, titled Ahli-e-Eemaan Ke Naam Shaheed Muhammad Guru Ka Aakhri Paigaam (Gurus Last Message to the Muslim Believers), is based on writings of Guru who smuggled them out over a period of time from his prison cell, said Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir National Front, who organized the book release function at a local hotel here. The function was attended by a large number of people from different walks of life.
Guru, the second Kashmiri man to be hanged since mid eighties, was convicted for his role in the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament.
At the book launch participants were seen emotionally charged after Sheikh Musaib, who spent time with Guru in Tihar Jail in Delhi, spoke.
Nayeem Khan read out a few excerpts from the book: Guru was freedom fighter and a devout Muslim. Even in his last letter, which he wrote just an hour (6.25 AM) before going to gallows, he addressed his nation without caring for his own family and about his death. He was a valiant to whom Kashmiri people would owe till eternity.
Khan said Shaheed Afzal Guru has not written an elegy but has penned these lines with purpose to inspire nation.
We are organizing this event in a very challenging situation as our resistance leaders are either behind bars or under house arrest, Khan added.
Khan said the iconic figures like Guru are inspiration for young generations.
Shaheed Afzal Guru inspired our young generations for taking part in resistance movement, he said.
Quoting from the book, Nayeem Khan narrated: Islam is the complete way of life. Kashmiri people being both politically as well as intellectually mature do not consider themselves as part of India. It is the responsibility of our scholars and intellectuals to give proper direction to our youth in leading the resistance movement.
While quoting the famous philosopher John Paul Sartre, Nayeem Khan said the violence was necessary for the political health of the oppressed nations.
We are coming out on streets to demand our birth right of freedom. Shaheed Afzal Guru chose the best way to end his life which served as an inspiration for millions, Khan said.
Khan claimed that India wants to change the ideology of our students by organizing Sadbhavana tours here. These Sadbhavana tours are poison to our freedom movement, he said and lamented that army here now organizes even Haj pilgrimages.
Democratic Freedom Party Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah while criticizing the Government of India over hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guru said the fateful episode was the worst blot on the face of India. They hanged Afzal Guru to scare the freedom loving people of Kashmir but they were unaware that hanging of this great soul will give birth to thousands of Afzal Gurus, Shah said.
He said the sacrifices are mandatory to take the freedom movement to its logical conclusion. Without rendering sacrifices freedom can never be achieved.
Calling for unity among pro-freedom leadership Shabir Ahmad Shah said there is no other alternative than to get united for a common cause. We have to seek admonition from our past mistakes by not repeating them.
Lashing out at Indian authorities, Shah said they hanged Afzal Guru just to satisfy the collective conscience of a nation. What does this satisfying the collective conscience of nation mean? Everything is before our eyes. They themselves are becoming police, lawyers and judges and the probes and investigations are nothing but a mockery and eye-wash, Shah said.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai while speaking on the occasion said the treatment meted out to Muhammad Afzal Guru is the worst kind of treatment meted out to any political prisoner. There would never be justice to Shaheed Afzal Guru, he said.
Terming ideological uniformity as the basis for unity among resistance camps, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai said it is possible only when both sides are ideologically similar. We are ready to unite but not with those who speak in double tongues.
Chairperson Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Zamrooda Habib said todays message is for intellectuals not for those who share tables with all. We (resistance people) are aware of the plight of prisoners and we know from which phase Shaheed Afzal Guru had to pass, Zamrooda added.
Others who spoke on the occasion included, noted columnists Dr. Javid Iqbal, Z.G. Muhammad.
During the function two video clips about 2008 and 2010 uprisings were shown to the audience.
Besides, a video footage featuring the sufferings of Gurus family was screened before the audience comprising civil society activists, journalists and students.
Besides others, Gurus brother, Ajaz Ahmed spoke on the occasion.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
