Srinagar, September 17 – Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, one of the most prominent faces of Kashmir’s separatist politics and a respected academic, passed away on Wednesday evening at his residence in Botengoo, Sopore. He was 89 and had been ailing for some time.
Early Life and Academic Journey
Born in 1935 in Sopore, Abdul Gani Bhat pursued his education in Srinagar before moving to Aligarh Muslim University, where he studied Persian, economics, political science, and law. An erudite scholar, he joined government service as a teacher and went on to teach Persian for more than two decades, earning respect as an academic before stepping into politics.
Political Career
Prof. Bhat entered public life in the mid-1980s and soon emerged as one of the co-founders of the Muslim United Front (MUF), which contested the 1987 assembly elections. The political turbulence that followed those elections reshaped Kashmir’s political landscape, and Bhat went on to revive the Muslim Conference, serving as its president.
In 1993, when several separatist groups joined hands to form the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Prof. Bhat became an important voice in the coalition. He later served as its chairman, steering the platform through critical phases of dialogue and dissent.
A Moderate Voice
Unlike some of his contemporaries, Prof. Bhat was widely regarded as a moderate. He often advocated for dialogue between India and Pakistan and called for imaginative political compromises to resolve the Kashmir dispute. He distanced himself from violent methods and repeatedly criticized the culture of frequent shutdowns, arguing that such tactics hurt ordinary people more than they advanced the cause.
Even when his own brother was killed by militants, Bhat remained vocal against excesses committed in the name of separatism. His willingness to question entrenched positions and advocate for pragmatic engagement earned him both admiration and criticism within separatist circles.
Legacy
Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat’s life reflected the complexities of Kashmir’s modern history — a journey from academia to politics, from staunch separatism to moderation, from confrontation to cautious dialogue. He leaves behind the legacy of a thoughtful intellectual who tried to balance ideology with realism.
For many, he represented a bridge between the generation that experienced partition and the younger generation that grew up amid conflict. His speeches, writings, and interventions will remain a reference point in understanding the evolution of separatist politics in Kashmir.
Political Reactions
News of Prof. Bhat’s passing evoked widespread reactions across Jammu and Kashmir’s political spectrum.
- Farooq Abdullah, National Conference president, described him as “a learned scholar and a man of deep intellect who always believed in dialogue as a means to resolve differences.”
- Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president, said his death marked “the loss of a moderate voice that consistently called for peaceful engagement at a time when extremism dominated the discourse.”
- Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference, said Prof. Bhat would be remembered for his “scholarly contribution and measured approach to politics at a time of great turmoil.”
- Several separatist leaders and civil society members also paid tribute, remembering him as a teacher, thinker, and a political figure who dared to dissent within dissent.
Passing Away
Prof. Bhat breathed his last at his Sopore residence, surrounded by family and close relatives. His funeral is expected to draw a large gathering of people, reflecting the deep imprint he left on Kashmir’s political and social landscape.