On September 8, 1982 Abdul Majid Wani was one of

the million people who gathered for the funeral of

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. An avid supporter of
the National Conference, Wani along with many
family members had gathered at the polo ground at
Srinagar to have a last glimpse of the mortal remains
of Abdullah. Instead of the occasion, however, his
thoughts lingered on his 14-year-old son, Ishfaq
Majid Wani, who had refused to accompany the
family members for the burial. Wani took the refusal
as obstinacy of a teenager. Little did he know that it
was a paroxysm of pain and disillusionment that had
congealed in his heart into hatred against the
government.
More than two decades later, Wani, in his seventies,
vividly recalls the occasion: “Ishfaq refused to
accompany the family members for the burial of late
Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. At first, we took it as
something normal. But later I analyzed that it was
just the beginning of things that would change the
course of our lives and that of Kashmir too."
Ishfaq, a lad of fourteen had developed an ideology
of his own by then. "The Iranian revolution had left
an indelible mark on him, after studying the
literature about it. It had become a motif of
resistance to him. Besides, he had become very
disillusioned with the political scenario prevailing at
the time, which favored the Indian suzerainty. He
viewed the Indian occupation as a yoke of slavery,”
says Wani.
Ironically, it was Wani himself who had provided the
literature to Ishfaq, oblivious of the effect it would
have on his son. The symptoms began to manifest in
other ways. Ishfaq’s mother, recalls, “The Principal
of the Biscoe School summoned us one day and
informed that even though Ishfaq was a brilliant
student and an athlete of repute, he possessed
leanings quite uncommon in teenagers. Ishfaq on
previous day had vociferously debated with the
principal over a mural of Jesus(as). Ishfaq had
objected to it and had suggested a picture of
Ayatollah Khomeini instead.” It was just a prelude, as
few days later Wani found himself at the principal’s
office again for another reason.
“Ishfaq was very keen to start prayers at the school
and had revolted for it against the school authorities.
He would go for afternoon prayers instead of
attending his class. His example was followed by
other students and the principal had to comply with
the insistence for a break in the afternoon,
exclusively for prayers,” Wani says.
The trend would continue at higher secondary and
college. In fact, at the higher secondary Ishfaq had
made a reputation of sorts among teenage circles.
Elias, younger brother of Ishfaq recalls an incident:
"Initially at the higher secondary when ragging of
newcomers was on Ishfaq was confronted by some
seniors. Before they could proceed, he made it clear
that he was not going to answer questions pertaining
to films, actors and actresses, as was the trend.
Instead he requested them to question him in
context of Islamic history and politics."
By then Ishfaq had committed to heart all the poetry
of Allama Iqbal and was profoundly devouring
literature on Islam. He continued his revolting ways
at the higher secondary and it came as no surprise
when he had to switch colleges three times later on.
After gaining admission at Shri Pratap College he
strongly argued with a professor who 'harassed
students and verbally abused them'.
Exasperated, the college committee convened a
meeting in this regard. Consequently a disciplinary
action was taken against Ishfaq and he sought
admission at the Islamia College. At Islamia College
his seditious fervor again led to his omission. Finally
he got admission at the Amarsingh College.
Outside the college, he used to pick fights with
drunkards, bullies and eve teasers. "Raj karate was
son of a desk officer at Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW) and his paternal uncle was a colleague of
mine. A bully, he used to pick fights unprovocatively
with passersby. He happened to pick a fight with
Ishfaq who thrashed him thoroughly. Likewise Asif,
son of former DC Hamid Banhali was caught by
ishfaq while teasing some girls. Ishfaq not only beat
him but also tonsured his head and eyebrows, at the
Kailash hotel. I had to intervene to pacify matters
later, as a FIR was fired against Ishfaq,” recalls Wani.
Wani adds further, "Mukhtiar kachur, an infamous
thug constantly harassed a beautiful Hindu girl of our
locality. Ishfaq came to know of it and warned him to
mend his ways. Some days later an exasperated
Mukhtiar along with some goons pounced on Ishfaq
while he was returning from school injuring him
severely. Ishfaq didn’t speak a word about it to us.
After his wounds healed, he sent word to Mukhtiar to
prepare himself."
Mukhtiar's luck ran out one day when he answered a
knock at his hideout at Chanpora and was responded
with "punches and kicks". After beating him to pulp,
Ishfaq dragged him to the main market at Lal Chowk
and only intervention from some elders saved
Mukhtiar. “Incidentally both asif and Mukhtiar
became supporters of Ishfaq later on. The latter
dying in an encounter," says Wani.
The year 1984 bears big importance in the life of
Ishfaq, then a sixteen-year-old. The hanging of
Maqbool Bhat 'disturbed' him very much. The next
day he wanted to gather a procession agitating
against it. For the said reason he tried to procure
support of his relatives and friends. However, his
ardor didn’t rub on them, though.
Ishfaq likewise tried to garner support for
commemorating Maqbool Bhat’s day the next year
but was not successful. His passion, however, did not
let him get dispirited. In 1986, he instead of asking
support from the people, marched alone through Hari
Singh High street with a green flag shouting 'anti
India slogans and extolling Bhatt as the national
hero'.
Within a short time more than two hundred boys
gathered at the Hari Singh High street and the city
square resonated with slogans for freedom. The
police had a tough time controlling the agitators.
'Ishfaq later predicted to his father that one day
Maqbool’s day will garner more reverence among
people than Sheikh Abdullah’s'.
Ishfaq voluntarily hawked Islamic literature at
Hazratbal a couple of days later and the money was
utilized to buy flags and banners for the celebration
of Eid Milad un Nabi held some days later.
Sports formed an important aspect of Ishfaq’s life. He
maintained a strict regimen. Getting early in the
morning he would go for training and exercises. He
was a dedicated soccer player, a marathon runner
and a table tennis player.
"He stood first in the interstate marathon tournament
in 1985 and was selected to represent the state. The
state team was harassed and treated inferiorly by
some people at Jammu. Eventually fights ensued.
Ishfaq along with a local, Kaka Husain, muscled the
situation to normal. This anti Kashmir treatment
smouldered again the embers of hatred in Ishfaq.
Consequently, on 14 august he unfurled a Pakistani
flag at the Islamia college and like an army general
received a guard of honor from students," says Wani.
The global politics prevailing at the time also left an
imprint on the socio political fabric of Kashmir.
Ishfaq’s father emphasizes, "The Afghan- Russian
war garnered support from the Muslim countries. The
Muslim preachers stressed on resistance against the
imperialistic Soviet union. Kashmir under occupation
itself, related to Afghanistan in that sense. The
preaching therefore tended to acquire political
flavors."
Consequently, Kashmir received considerable
mention in sermons and preachings at the mosques.
One person adept at highlighting this was a moulvi
officiating then at the Gowkadal Mosque, a stone
throw from SP college. An exceptional orator, his
efficacious rhetorics fanned the passions of the
throngs of people that gathered there on Fridays.
Ishfaq a regular at the mosque, was not an
exception. The sermons made considerable
impression on him.
In those prevailing circumstances the screening of
Omar Mukhtiar stoked the already raging fire in
Ishfaq. The protagonist in the movie, an old man,
revolts against the foreign rule without making deals
for power and lucre, and sacrifices himself for his
country. A far cry from obsequious Kashmiri leaders.
It was a cathartic experience for Ishfaq who watched
the movie with a heavy breath and at the climax,
with his incandescent rage mingling with
disillusionment, buried his eyes in the handkerchief
and wept . In the coming days he took his friends to
the theatre and himself paid for the tickets. "Once
out of theatre, contempt for India spilled and Ishfaq
along with some likeminded students tore posters of
Sheikh Abdullah and demonstrations at cinema
became an everyday occurrence. The Govt sensing
the gravity of situation acted swiftly and the movie
was pulled out after a week of houseful shows. But
the movie had worked its magic. It had evoked the
demons of India’s failed legacy in Kashmir," says one
of his school friend who wished anonymity.
Mehmood Sagar a separatist, ran a tea stall adjacent
to Ishfaq’s home, at the bustling corner of Hari Singh
High street. It became a hangout for teenagers who
used to congregate there after school for tea and
gossip. Ishfaq with his green striped Tyandle Biscoe
School tie was regular at the tea stall. Sagar and
Azam Inquilabi, a member of Kashmir Freedom Front,
took on the roles of preachers. The boys listened with
rapt attention to their rhetorics infused with
nationalistic zeal and Ishfaq’s eyes blazed like coals
everytime the need for a revolution was emphasized.
The kernel of patience inside him had broken long
ago, though. It was the tea stall boys that formed a
student’s association, which came to be called as
Islamic Students League.
The economic repression of the Muslims continued in
the 80’s and corruption was palpable in the
functioning of the state. The poor lot of Kashmiris
was also a concern for Ishfaq. Kashmir was in
ferment. Ishfaq’s mother recalls” my husband was an
engineer, working in the Middle East. Whenever he
came back he used to bring gifts for Ishfaq like jazzy
clothes and expensive watches. But Ishfaq used to
give them to beggars at the nearby Sufi shrine and
less privileged people. He even gifted some branded
watches to youngsters participating in anti India
agitations.”
“Since his school days he believed that armed
struggle in Kashmir was the solution towards
attaining independence. If he met any beggar or
person from Kupwara, he used to inquire about Azad
Kashmir, its location, its people and their concept of
Kashmir’s plight” adds Ishfaq’s mother.
His strong political outlook in his teenage years
surprised even his friends and colleagues. Wani
remembers "he was close to some of his friends
which included Ijaz Kaiser, Suhail Geelani, Indumeet
Singh. The group had framed some norms for
themselves like no smoking, no cinemas, paid heavy
emphasis on literature and sports."
To his colleagues he was intriguing. Khurshid Ali
recalls "Ishfaq was different. Even though the
sartorial sensibilities of teenagers were shaped by
the Bollywood, with jeans and T-shirts the in thing
those days. He frequently used to don Shalwar Kamiz
and took pride in it. Besides, other teenage pursuits
didn’t interest him. Possessing extreme good looks,
he received a fair share of attention from the fairer
sex, but this never seemed to impress him. Instead
of rambling around Lal Chowk and going to cinemas
he indulged in sports, sometimes practicing alone at
the college. For him Kashmir was everything and
therefore his main interest remained agitations
against the government. He possessed an incisive
mind and a cultured mien. Besides his courageous
personality and oratory skills won him many
admirers."
His escapades hadn’t gone unnoticed by government
agencies. By 1987, Ishfaq was already on the radar
of Indian intelligence, a prime target. But the
disillusionment of the people was not nascent and
everybody felt a need for change in governance and
overthrow of Indian occupation. Therefore
democratic channels were emphasized for the said
objective. This led to the creation of MUF, Muslim
United Front, which contested in the assembly
election of 1987.
It came as no surprise therefore when he was
arrested on March 24 1987 for his involvement with
the Muslim United Front, which took part in elections,
incidentally rigged by the government. Ironically, his
father and other family members campaigned for
National Conference and played a role in this
rigging.s Like others he was placed under arrest. He
was shifted from one interrogation centre to other by
the government before being lodged at the Central
jail.
It was at the Central jail that he secured the
attention of Abdul Ahad Waza from Kupwara. A
supporter of the Kashmir cause, he was impressed by
the report of police officials and jail inmates about
Ishfaq’s resolute anti India stand. He was himself
impressed by Ishfaq’s discipline and dedication at
morning exercises, which he took religiously for
preparation of the armed struggle. He offered Ishfaq
support for the cause of Kashmir. After his release on
parole to attend his uncle’s wedding, Ishfaq diligently
worked on the plans towards the procurement of
arms from Azad Kashmir. A day before he left for
Azad Kashmir, while serving meals at the wedding
reception, he overheard Mohiuddin Shah, a veteran
National Conference politician talking about the
futility of agitations against the government. Ishfaq
reprimanded him in these famous words "the
government made two grave mistakes as far as
Kashmir is concerned. First they acceded to India and
secondly, they let me on parole." These proved to be
messianic words.
The destiny of Kashmir changed. Ishfaq dogged the
posse of police in the subsequent morning, which
had gathered to arrest him again. He crossed into
Pakistan Administered Kashmir to lay a foundation
for the armed struggle in Kashmir, becoming the
pioneer of armed struggle. The rest is history.