By: Sagar Reshi
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remembered Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat on his first death anniversary, describing him as an affectionate elder, dear friend and guide.
In a message, Mirwaiz recalled Prof Bhat’s wisdom, intellect and gentle humour, saying he deeply missed his presence and guidance. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He said Prof Bhat’s steadfast belief in dialogue and peaceful engagement, even during the most difficult times, remained an important part of his enduring legacy.
Mirwaiz also prayed for Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat’s forgiveness and eternal peace, asking Almighty Allah to grant him the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous.
“May Almighty Allah grant him the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen,” Mirwaiz said.
who was Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat?
Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat (1932/1935 – September 17, 2025) was a prominent Kashmiri academic, lawyer, and separatist political leader. Frequently described as an “accidental politician” due to his long career in education, he served as the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and remained a significant figure in the region’s political discourse for decades.
Early Life and Academic Career
- Education: Born in the village of Botingoo in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, Bhat completed his undergraduate education at Sri Pratap (SP) College in Srinagar, focusing on Persian, Economics, and Political Science. He later earned a postgraduate degree in Persian and a law degree from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
- Teaching Career: After briefly practicing law, he entered the state education department and spent over two decades teaching Persian in various colleges, including a notable tenure at Government Degree College, Poonch. He was widely referred to as “Professor Sahib”.
- Dismissal: In 1986, he was dismissed from government service on security grounds, a turning point that propelled him fully into active political opposition.
Political Activism and the Hurriyat Conference
- Muslim United Front (MUF): In July 1986, Bhat co-founded the Muslim United Front, a broad-based political coalition that mounted a formidable electoral challenge in the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. The widespread allegations of rigging in those elections are widely cited by historians and political analysts as a critical catalyst for the outbreak of armed insurgency in the region.
- APHC Leadership: Following the formation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in 1993—an umbrella coalition of separatist organizations—Bhat’s faction of the Muslim Conference became a founding constituent. He subsequently served on its executive committee and as its chairman.
Stance on Dialogue
Unlike many of his hardline peers, Bhat was known for his intellectual pragmatism and consistent stance favoring dialogue over violence. He frequently criticized armed conflict as well as the routine use of prolonged general strikes (“shutdown calendars”) that disrupted civilian life.
- In 2004, he headed a Hurriyat delegation to New Delhi for landmark talks with then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. He later continued diplomatic engagements with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Later Years and Passing
Bhat gradually stepped away from active frontline politics in his later years, navigating political isolation and internal divisions within the separatist leadership over his advocacy for talks. He passed away on September 17, 2025, at his ancestral home in Botingoo, Sopore.
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