A Land Set Ablaze
Imagine the thought of your home being reduced to rubble. Between 1989 and 2001, at least 5,368 buildings—homes, shops, places of livelihood—were destroyed by Indian occupational forces. In 2020 alone, 114 homes were razed during military operations, including the tragic incident in May when 22 houses were burnt down in Srinagar after a 12-hour gunfight, leaving families homeless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it does not stop there. Over the years, 1,100 houses have been demolished, 326 Kashmiri properties confiscated, and 200 Kashmiris dismissed from their jobs simply for being who they are. The relentless grip of occupation tightens as more than 20,000 search operations have been conducted, forcing families to live in constant fear.
What Would You Do?
What would you do if your home was razed without reason? If you lost your job simply for belonging to IIOJK? If every move you made was monitored under an oppressive surveillance state?
For the people of Kashmir, there is only one answer—resist. To resist is to survive. To resist is to reclaim dignity. The very idea of “Azadi” is not recent; it has roots stretching deep into history. Let’s take a journey through the figures who kept this flame alive.
Also See: Lines on a Map, Wars on the Ground: The Weaponization of Maps in Kashmir and Beyond
The Faces of Resistance
Allama Iqbal: The Poet of Awakening
As a descendant of Kashmiri ancestry, Iqbal drew strength from the legacies of Sultan Shahab-ud-Din, Syed Ali Hamdani, and Ghani Kashmiri. Their stories shaped his vision, and his verses became a call to consciousness—awakening the spirit of justice, dignity, and Azadi in his people.
In June 1921, when Iqbal set foot in Kashmir, he was met not with the splendor of his ancestors’ land but with a valley steeped in sorrow. The Chinars of Nishat Garden stood scarred, their embers whispering of past glory. The graveyards of Lolab Valley bore silent witness to generations lost.
Overwhelmed by the weight of his homeland’s grief, he raised his hands to the heavens and prayed:
ازاں مے فشاں قطرہ بر کشیری
کہ خاکسترش آفریند شرارے
(O butler! So, a drop of this wine fell on the heart of Kashmiri, from which sparks are created from its wet soil [insensitive soul].)
Quaid-e-Azam: The Defender of Kashmir
In the final days of his life, as he lay frail in the hills of Ziarat, Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s mind was still consumed by the fate of Kashmir. His physician, Dr. Riaz Ali Shah, recalled a moment of striking clarity—Jinnah, despite his failing health, declared with unwavering resolve:
“Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan, and no nation or country would tolerate its jugular vein remaining under the sword of the enemy.”
His commitment to Kashmir was not just political; it was deeply personal. On May 17, 1947, when Lord Mountbatten questioned the meaning behind “Pakistan,” Jinnah made it clear—the “K” stood for Kashmir.
For Jinnah, Kashmir was not just land—it was the heartbeat of the nation he had fought to create.
Maulana Fazal Ilahi Wazir Abadi: The First to Raise the Call
Amid the towering voices of Kashmir’s struggle, one name often fades into the background—Maulana Fazal Ilahi Wazir Abadi. Yet, he was among the first to shape the ideological foundation of Kashmir’s resistance. A scholar, a writer, and a close ally of Jinnah, he viewed the Kashmiri struggle through the lens of faith and history, giving it a deeper sense of purpose.
His most defining contribution came through his book, Masla Jihad-e-Kashmir Aur Is ki Mukhtasir Tareekh, a powerful narrative that not only documented Kashmir’s resistance but also framed it within an Islamic perspective. His words became a guide for those seeking to understand the valley’s fight—a fight not just for land, but for identity, justice, and dignity.
Major General Akbar Khan: The Warrior of Kashmir
Known by the pseudonym “General Tariq,” inspired by the great Muslim conqueror Tariq bin Ziyad, Major General Akbar Khan played a crucial role in the First Kashmir War. He commanded Kashmiri rebels and Pashtun irregulars, leading a fierce resistance against Indian occupation. His contributions cemented his place as one of the earliest military strategists advocating for Kashmiri self-determination.
Mujahid-e-Awal: Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan
As the people of Kashmir rose against the tyranny of the Dogra rulers, one man refused to stand idle. Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan spearheaded the Liberation Movement that set the course for Kashmir’s freedom struggle. On August 23, 1947, from the hilltops of Neela Butt, he ignited a movement that led to the liberation of thousands of kilometers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Northern Areas. It was his valor and leadership that earned him the revered title of Mujahid-e-Awal—the first freedom fighter of Kashmir.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani: The Unwavering Voice
For decades, Syed Ali Shah Geelani stood as a fortress against India’s occupation, his words carrying the weight of an entire people’s pain and resilience. As the leader of APHC, he rejected the notion of an independent Kashmir, declaring, “We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours.”
Decades of imprisonment and house arrest failed to silence him. His words became the rallying cry of a people who refused to bow. Even in death, his legacy endures—an unshaken voice of resistance, echoing in every call for Azadi.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz: Martyred for Leading the Masses
Aziz was not just a leader; he was a frontline soldier in the Kashmiri resistance. As a senior Hurriyat leader, he led a massive march to Azad Kashmir in 2008, protesting against India’s economic blockade of the Valley. The response? He was gunned down in cold blood by Indian forces. His death only strengthened the movement, proving that the desire for freedom cannot be silenced by bullets.
Jalil Andrabi: The Silenced Human Rights Defender
A human rights lawyer and political activist, Jalil Andrabi exposed India’s brutalities in Kashmir. But truth comes at a price. In 1996, he was abducted by Indian forces, tortured, and killed. His lifeless body was found floating in the Jhelum River, a stark reminder of India’s policy of silencing dissent through sheer brutality.
Nayeem Ahmad Khan: The Jailed Revolutionary
As the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) and a key Hurriyat figure, Nayeem Ahmad Khan was imprisoned under fabricated terror-funding charges. His incarceration, like many before him, is part of India’s systematic crackdown on Kashmiri leadership—an attempt to stifle the freedom movement by removing its most vocal proponents.
Burhan Wani: The Spark That Lit a Fire
In the alleys of Tral, a young boy once dreamed of freedom. Burhan Wani was not born a rebel, but oppression turned him into one. At 15, he left home to resist, his voice echoing through social media, drawing thousands to his cause.
On July 8, 2016, at just 22, his journey was cut short in a hail of bullets. But the silence they sought never came. Instead, the streets erupted in fury, banners rose in his name, and a generation vowed to carry forward his fight. Burhan was gone, but the fire he lit refused to die.
Riyaz Naikoo: The Mathematical Mastermind
Once a mathematics teacher, Riyaz Naikoo traded equations for resistance, walking the path paved by his fallen brother-in-arms, Burhan Wani. He rose to command, carrying forward the legacy of defiance, with a bounty of 1.2 million rupees on his head.
In 2020, his journey met the same fate—silenced by bullets, yet louder in death than in life. His fall did not mark an end; it became another chapter in a struggle that refuses to fade.
Dr. Qasim Faktoo & Asiya Andrabi: A Family’s Unbreakable Bond
For over 32 years, Dr. Qasim Faktoo has remained behind bars—one of South Asia’s longest-serving political prisoners. His crime? Writing about Kashmir’s struggle. His wife, Asiya Andrabi, the fearless leader of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, has been imprisoned since 2018, her health deteriorating behind bars.
Their story is one of love and sacrifice, a family torn apart by the occupation but never broken.
Fehmida Sofi & Nahida Nasreen: The Women of Resistance
In a movement often highlighted by men, Fehmida Sofi and Nahida Nasreen stood at the forefront, leading Dukhtaran-e-Millat with unwavering resolve. Their arrests under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act highlight India’s deep-seated fear of Kashmiri women’s resistance.
Mannan Wani: The Scholar Turned Rebel
From the halls of Aligarh Muslim University to the mountains of Kashmir, Mannan Wani’s transformation into a resistance force commander shocked many. His martyrdom in 2018 sent waves across Kashmir, as yet another highly educated youth chose resistance over submission.
Maqbool Bhat: The Pioneer of Armed Struggle
Before Burhan Wani, before Riyaz Naikoo, there was Maqbool Bhat—the man who laid the foundations of the armed struggle. A co-founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), he was executed by India in 1984. His body still lies buried within Tihar Jail, a haunting testament to India’s refusal to acknowledge Kashmir’s struggle.
Ashraf Sehrai: A Martyr in Custody
For decades, Ashraf Sehrai walked alongside Syed Ali Shah Geelani, his voice unwavering in the call for Kashmir’s freedom. As the leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, he carried the struggle forward, knowing well the price of defiance.
In 2020, they came for him. Arrested and thrown into prison, he endured months of neglect, his health failing behind bars. On a silent morning in May 2021, his fight ended—not on the battlefield, but in a cold prison cell. Yet, even in death, his legacy did not fade. His sacrifice became another chapter in Kashmir’s story—one written in blood, but never in surrender.
Shabir Ahmad Shah: The Prisoner of Conscience
For over three decades, Shabir Ahmad Shah has remained behind bars for his beliefs. As the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), he championed Kashmir’s right to self-determination, sacrificing his freedom for the cause. His resilience in the face of relentless persecution stands as a testament to the spirit of Kashmir’s struggle.
Musarrat Alam Butt: The Relentless Leader
Musarrat Alam Butt has been arrested over 30 times, his only crime being his steadfast belief in freedom. As a senior Hurriyat leader, he has led protests that shook the foundations of Indian rule in Kashmir, proving that even repeated incarcerations cannot silence a revolutionary spirit.
Yasin Malik: From Guns to Dialogue
Once an armed fighter, Yasin Malik turned to peaceful resistance, leading JKLF in a non-violent struggle. But India’s response remained the same—he was convicted in a terror-funding case in 2022 and sentenced to life imprisonment, proving that even peaceful voices in Kashmir are met with iron fists.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: The Voice of the People
As the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Umar Farooq has long advocated dialogue over violence. Yet, time and again, he has been placed under house arrest, his attempts to seek peaceful resolution blocked by the very state that claims to uphold democracy.
A Struggle That Lives On
Kashmir’s struggle is not just about loss; it is about defiance. Every demolished home, every shattered livelihood, every voice suppressed only fuels the resolve to fight back. The people of Kashmir do not ask for permission to exist—they demand their rightful freedom.
The occupation may try to erase their identity, but the spirit of resistance remains unshaken. The call for Azadi is not fading—it is growing louder. For Kashmir, the answer to India’s occupation is simple—Resist.
PAYF Insights are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for wider consumption.
