Muzaffarabad: The Institute of Dialogue, Development and Diplomatic Studies, in collaboration with the Post Graduate Degree College Hattian, organized a Youth Consortium to reflect upon the life, struggle, resistance, and resilience of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The towering leader, who breathed his last in custody and was laid to rest under the suffocating lockdown imposed by Indian occupation forces, had spent nearly one-third of his life in jails. In his twilight years, he endured perpetual house arrest-a journey of confinement that ended with his final breath, yet symbolically carried him to the ultimate freedom he had long envisioned for his people.
Syed Ali Geelani devoted his entire life to the cause of Kashmir's freedom, representing its most authentic and uncompromising voice. An ideologue of rare conviction, he never bowed to pressure, enticement, or coercion. Despite repeated offers to soften his position, he remained unwavering in his commitment: the United Nations resolutions already provide the legitimate framework, and the only demand is their implementation. For Geelani, India's refusal to honor these resolutions revealed not strength, but a deliberate strategy of deception.
To him, any deviation from the UN framework was nothing less than a betrayal of Kashmir's cause. He stood as an iron wall, rejecting attempts to reduce the issue to bilateral or trilateral engagements, insisting instead on tripartite dialogue involving Pakistan, India, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For Geelani, Kashmir's Muslim-majority identity naturally aligned its destiny with Pakistan-a stance he defended with historical legitimacy, geopolitical reasoning, and unshakable faith.
It was this clarity, sharpened by India's repeated betrayals, that made Geelani the most revered leader among Kashmiri youth. His predictions proved prophetic: India's unilateral actions-sidestepping UN resolutions, violating international law, breaking bilateral treaties, revoking Articles 370 and 35A, and unilaterally altering Kashmir's status-vindicated his warnings, word for word. Time itself became the greatest judge of his foresight.
The consortium witnessed a large turnout of youth and faculty members. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Wajid remarked: 'Leaders like Syed Ali Geelani are born once in decades. His writings are a beacon of light. He was not only a leader but a scholar, a visionary, deeply aware of the Indian psyche, and firmly rooted in Iqbaliyat, which he quoted in every speech to reflect his commitment and devotion.'
Former Deputy Secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prof. Nisar, paid glowing tribute to Geelani, recalling his remarkable role in shaping the ideological landscape of Kashmir's resistance and guiding future generations. 'His academic contribution alone,' Prof. Nisar noted, 'is a testament to his devotion, determination, and intellectual depth.'
Dr. Waleed Rasool emphasized that 'Crests and troughs are natural in every resistance movement. History testifies that the reasons for rise and fall often remain the same. Pakistan emerged as an independent nation when identity transcended regionalism-when people were not Punjabi, Baloch, Pashtun, or Sindhi, but Pakistanis. Similarly, the leaders of AJK demonstrated solidarity with Pakistan. Unity, faith, and discipline remain the foundation of our success. Yet clarity is essential-fault lines and gray areas invite mistrust. We must bury past divisions and march forward with vigilance.'
The event concluded with a solemn reflection: Syed Ali Shah Geelani's legacy is not of compromise but of clarity, not of retreat but of resilience. He remains, in memory and in spirit, the unwritten constitution of Kashmir's resistance.