15th June morning, gloomy and melancholic, had turned a remote hamlet of Kreeri into a mini township; all sort of cars, small and big, occupying every inch of the free space, lanes and bylanes and a sea of mourning people. Several dozens of college mates, some juniors, some seniors ans some batch-mates had assembled. It was pouring as if skies were crying. Thousand had assembled to pay the last adieu to their dear friend. Some had met after a duration of about three decades since they left college to chase their careers. A pall of gloom had descended on them all; moist eyes, sighs, sobs and cries. That was it. All would tell their own experience of his generosity, compassion, and comradeship; that how Shujaat was always there when needed the most.
It was a fresh and charming early September morning of 1987; warm sun had filled our youthful bosom with that inexplicably ecstatic enthusiasm unique to those carefree college days. I was eagerly waiting for Prof Habibullah Wani in the annexe of the Principle office of Degree College, Sopore, to participate in an essay competition on “the work and philosophy of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,”. I first time noticed the presence of a tall boy, with unusual exuberance and an engaging smile on his face, waiting to participate in the same competition. Our subsequent meetings in other literary competitions led to the formation of the “Gang of Five” – Shujaat, Mohiddin, Fayaz, Akbar and me. This gang would later on dominate the literary forum and the debating club of the college for the next two years, besides a personal association which would last over the next three decade in innumerable ways. More than mere participation in debates and seminars, this “Gang of Five” would assume the editorial assignment of the college magazine, The Wullar, with Urdu section being the sole responsibility of The Editor in Making – Syed Shujaat Bukhari. In many ways, it was very un-usual for a BA 2nd year student to launch an independent literary club, “The Paradise Forum” which became a hub of literary activism; an early manifestation of a latent talent of a person who later on rose to becoming one of the celebrated, and globally known, editors. I vividly remember the participation in one such debate organized by “The Paradise Forum”, under the patronage of this Student Editor on the theme “Kashir zabaen cha zariyae taaleem banuk bitur”, a linguistic project which Shujaat would ultimately choose as one of his life’s main struggles, culminating in introducing the Kashmiri language back into schools in 2008, after a gap of over three decades; getting 49 teaching positions in High Education Department diverted to the subject of Kashmiri Language. In all dimensions of his personality, he was a staunch linguistic nationalist; his work as president AMK was reflective of that aspect of his personality.
Shujaat had a soulful enthusiasm, ambition and a unique capability to connect with diverse people across political and ideological spectrum, the art he latter used to his advantage to carefully build and nurture a vast camaraderie for peace initiative in the region. During my occasional interactions with him, I could feel his disappointment, and a deeper realization that a conflict ridden socio-political scenario defined by the absence of any credible conflict resolution mechanisms, a vicious circle of violence and bloodbath, repressive military control over dissenting population and the ever diminishing democratic spaces on all sides, is increasingly leading to strengthening a political condition wherein youth of Kashmir are losing their precious lives on almost daily basis. A deteriorating economy, erosion of public institutions and continuous degradation of the condition of human life, is reaching a point of no-return. He was one amongst that small group of moderate thinkers who believe that the festering Kashmir issue needs a permanent solution through a serious political engagement at the highest level, not only because it has consumed tens of thousands of human lives, but also because it is being sustained by spending billions of dollars on either side of the border, at the cost of the millions of poor people in the subcontinent. The resources used by both the countries could be used to provide food, shelter, education and quality life to the millions who still in this modern age of 21st century are condemned to live a life of penury, deprivation, shame and sorrow. A final solution of Kashmir issue through peaceful negations is also imperative for the political stability and better future of the whole of South Asia. To chase this dream, in his own humble and modest way, he travelled extensively throughout globe, attended conferences, made contacts with innumerable people with diverse back grounds in US, Europe, Pakistan, AJK and in India, to extend the constituency of peace.
Difference of opinion and ideologies apart, such gruesome killings of people of calibre and capability are only making us poorer by the day. Justice Markandey Katju, the former Chairman, Press Council of India, had a point when he Tweeted “I am sorry for Shujaat Bukhari. But his assassination shows there is no place for peace makers or negotiators in Kashmir, just as there was none in Vietnam. Either you are with the Indian security forces, or with the militants. There is no third choice”. How sad, that this is the only reality in Kashmir for the saner majority that talks of moderation and a political approach. However, the people like Shujaat who still put in their little efforts at the cost of a personal risk, for finding a peaceful way out to this quagmire and a middle ground through peace efforts are the only hope, for a better future of our collective existence.
The author teaches at Department of Chemistry, the University of Kashmir
altafpandit23@gmail.com