Your newspaper is doing a great service by allowing space for serious debates. I am an avid reader of the reflections column. It gives real feel of the situation and enables readers to keep finger on the pulse of the society. This refers to the debate on the question of leadership in Kashmir that has been going on for the past few days. This week two important write ups, one Dr. Ahad's article “Who could by a charismatic leader?” and a letter titled “Peoples Failure is actually failure of the leaders” by Inam-u-Rehman. The debate was started by columnist  Z G Muhammad by delineating qualities and qualifications of the leaders capable of leading people to their goals. Dr. Ahad's article was placed in Kashmir history and he had tried to identify the qualification from local sources, which gave a different perspective to the debate. But where I disagree with him is that in identifying the cause of Kashmir tragedy he was not only far from the truth but was also was apologetic. He had contorted historical facts by blaming Jinnah for the miseries of Kashmir instead of blaming Nehru of having betrayed his pledges and promises to his best friend Sheikh Abdullah. The tragedy started when Nehru took the matter to Untied Nations and lost debate at the international forum to Pakistan Foreign Minister. Indian historians and writers from MJ Akbar to Ram Chander Gauha, every one has called it Nehru's blunder. Jinnah wanted to settle Kashmir issue through dialogue in accordance with the norms laid down in the partition plan which was accepted by both the Congress and Muslim League- how did Dr. Ahad blame Jinnah for Kashmir tragedy- he knows better. I liked Mr Inam asking Syed Ali Geelani to do little introspection...he had rightly compared him to a shepherd whose job is to watch and guide his flock. In 2008 and 2010, Geelani Sahib failed to guide his flock in right direction- in fact he terminated their journey in the middle of a narrow track where from they could neither move forward nor backward. ZGM in his two articles on leadership had very subtly referred to leadership failing to harness peoples’ power in a direction that would bring them nearer their goal. History of Indian freedom struggle has many a lessons for Geelani Sahib. He may not be liking Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as Abul Ala Mawdudi and Jinnah where never on same page, in fact Mawdudi opposed idea of Pakistan, but Jinnah handling of situation after British announcing partition plan to his distaste has many lessons for veteran Kashmir leaders. He created a nation state because there was no confusion in his mind about the kind of state he wanted to have. Geelani Sahib is steadfast but lacks qualities of an astute politician.

Rifat Iqbal
New Delhi

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST