It was in June 1964 that I came in contact with Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, when my late father Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz, veteran freedom fighter, visited the valley after twelve years of his exiled stay in Delhi. I had then accompanied him as his private secretary because during those days his regular PA, Pandit J.N. Sathu, was imprisoned under preventive detention act by Central Government and was lodged in Nabha Jail at Punjab.
We stayed at hotel Budshah for 25 days. During this period Moulvi Saheb used to visit us regularly and I had the opportunity of interacting with this Kashmiri fire-brand leader several times.
Time passed by and we both developed immense intimacy with each other. Despite his numerous supporters and well-wishers in the capital he preferred staying with me and my family.
Moulvi Farooq was a courageous man with very strong views, but as regards political tolerance and freedom of expression his motto was the same as that of Voltaire.
“I disagree with all what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say so.” He used to speak out his heart, views and truth, may it be against anyone high up there.
His ouster from the holy relic Action Committee soon after its formation in 1963 was the jealousy of those who were not capable and intelligent as he was. There is a Persian hemistich: “Aye Roshniyay taba tu bar man bala shudee.” (oh my intelligence you are the cause of my misfortune and ordeal). Had he sold his conscience and played to the tune of the ruling parties he would have been a rling the masses.
When militancy started in the valley, I called on him from Delhi and expressed my desire that he comes over to Delhi to attend my late mother’s, 1st women freedom fighter Badri Bazaz, 8th death anniversary and give a discourse to the withered Kashmiri community in Delhi.
In fact I and my all family members were much worried about his welfare and thus wanted him to be away from the valley which was continuously reeling under militant atrocities.
He replied with a heavy sigh and voice that all the so called leaders have fled the valley and migrated to U.K. and other hideouts in the country. If you still want me that I shall be slotted in the same group and leave the suffering masses.
I just cannot leave the valley until and unless normalcy returns and I am able to stop the slaughter and atrocities being faced by the masses. I shall shed even the last drop of my blood on the soil of Kashmir for the cause of communal harmony and brotherhood. To my utter shock and dismay, on Monday 21st May 1990 Moulvi Saheb was assassinated.
And thus with the passing away of ‘Messiah’ the people lost one of the last hopes in Kashmir and the Chief custodian of valleys unique Shrine. Such was the popularity of Moulvi Saheb that thousands of men, women and children took to the streets within minutes of the attack on him. Crowds that gathered outside Soura Medical Institute and those who lost their lives during his funeral procession speak of the respectability and command which Moulvi Farooq enjoyed amongst the masses of the valley. It will take ages for the soil of Kashmir to produce another messiah like Mirwaz Moulvi Farooq. Today it is extremely painful for me to describe Moulvi Saheb as late, but one has to accept the realities of life.
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