Srinagar, Jan 30: After remaining in the limelight last year for issuing protest calendars, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani has chosen a novel way to enlist the major killings and events which occurred in the Valley in past over 6-decades, including last year’s  “Quit Kashmir Movement.”
 The octogenarian leader, who was under house arrest for 140-days, has penned down the novel calendar containing details of major killings, name of the victims, genesis of the Kashmir dispute and appeal to people to support the ongoing movement.
 The Calendar published under the banner of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat headed by Geelani spans over 12 colored pages with messages, dates and timings of prayers for Muslims. 
 On the calendar’s first page, a map of JK is shown engulfed in fire. In his message written in chaste Urdu on the calendar, Geelani maintains that Kashmir is a disputed territory and terms demilitarization and right to self-determination as its solution.
 “Kashmiris should take a pledge to have faith in their genuine leadership and carry on their struggle for attaining right to self-determination and freedom the chains of bondage of India,” Geelani’s message reads. He also calls for unity among the Umaah and following the teachings of Islam.
 In a separate column ‘Ka Aap Bool To Nahin Gaya (Lest you have forgotten?), Geelani highlights the United Nations resolution passed on January 5 1949 which granted right to self-determination to Kashmiris. He points out towards the massacre of 45 and 55 Kashmiris on January 6, 1993 in Sopur by BSF and January 21, 1990 by paramilitary CRPF in Gaw kadal respectively. Besides he mentions the massacre of 25 Kashmiri Pandits in Wandhama Ganderbal on January 26, 1998 allegedly by men in uniform and killings of 26 civilians by BSF in Handwara on January 25, 1990.
 On the February page, Geelani traces many incidents including the gang rape of women in Kunanposhpora by soldiers on the night of 23 on this month in 1991. On March page, he dedicates most of space to the killing of 35 Sikhs in Chattinghpora and 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Nadimarg Shopian allegedly by troopers.
 On April and May pages, among other incidents he recounts the rape and murder of Aasiya and Neelofar in Shopian in 2008 and fake encounter killings of three youth of Nadihal in Machil sector of Kupwara in 2009. The economic blockade enforced against Kashmir and killings including of Sheikh Abdul Aziz during the Muzaffarbad Chalo march and Amarnath land row in August 2008 also feature in the calendar.
 However, on June, July, August pages Geelani focuses on the killings of 112 civilians in Valley-wide protests last year. He names each victim starting from Tufial Ahmad Matoo who was killed on June 11, 2010 to Mumtaz Ahmad Sheikh of Handwara who died on October 19, 2010.
 Geelani who is in Delhi for medical check-up told Greater Kashmir over phone that Kashmiris have failed to document their history.
 “Undoubtedly, Kashmiris have given unflinching sacrifices for the movement. But they have failed to document it. Most of them have forgotten the major events and killings as their attention is being diverted to the so-called developmental activities according to a conspiracy hatched by New Delhi,” Geelani said.
 “In this backdrop, I deemed it as my responsibility to atleast abreast the people about the events and killings which occurred in past two decades in Kashmir. As Kashmiris mostly don’t read books, so I put the important information on the calendar. This will surely help them to keep them linked with sacrifices offered by Kashmiris for their respect, identity and free nation,” Geelani maintained.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST