Iftikhar Gilani
Jammu and Kashmir known for political surprises, has witnessed another such surprise with the election of Abdul Rashid Sheikh from the north Kashmir constituency of Baramulla-Kupwara to the Lok Sabha in the recently concluded assembly elections.
Widely known as Engineer Rashid, he has been incarcerated in Delhi’s Tihar jail for the past five years. His victory over prominent figures like former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference chief Sajjad Ghani Lone marks a significant turnaround in voter behaviour.
Lone, on whom New Delhi had banked to take over the political reins in North Kashmir, took the lead in just one assembly segment in Handwara.
I first met Rashid during my college days in North Kashmir. At that time, there were only two colleges in the region, located in Sopore and Baramulla. Students from remote areas like from Kupwara and Bandipora districts used to come to these towns to pursue higher education.
Rashid, who had completed his schooling in Langate, Handwara, attended Sopore College. Our paths crossed frequently as he stayed with a relative in my locality, which eased the loneliness of my college life as most of my schoolmates had gone to Srinagar and other far-flung cities to pursue engineering or medical studies.
Rashid’s political leanings became evident early on. A staunch supporter of Abdul Ghani Lone and with a leaning towards left-wing politics, he engaged in heated debates with his peers who ideologically sided with the Jamaat-e-Islami. His tolerance of dissenting viewpoints and his tenacity in discussions testified to a deep intellect, wide-ranging literacy, and a determined character.
After completing my studies, I turned to journalism in Delhi while Rashid pursued further studies at a polytechnic in Srinagar. During those years, the militant movement in Kashmir took over leading to an anarchic situation and cutting many ties, including ours.
It was through the popular weekly Chattan, edited by Tahir Mohiuddin, that his incisive analytical columns, written by Engineer Rashid, gained prominence.
His writings were so influential that A.G. Noorani, a renowned commentator on Indo-Pakistan and Kashmiri issues, frequently referred to them in his works.
After completing his engineering degree, he was employed as a civil engineer with the Jammu Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC).
When he was initially working as a temporary supervisor on a small bridge project, a group of gunmen came demanding bags of cement. He told them to come at the end of the month so that he could pay them in cash from his salary instead of cement bags, as these belonged to the government and the people.
When he refused to break the trust, he was kidnapped and left near a stream days later with broken arms and legs. This incident caught the attention of the Managing Director of JKPCC, who recognised Rashid’s integrity and offered him a permanent position after his recovery.
Rashid’s entry into politics was marked by the Amarnath land uprising in Kashmir in 2008. Amidst the unrest, he decided to contest the Legislative Assembly elections in Langat, despite opposition from Sajjad Ghani Lone, who had allied with the Hurriyat and called for a boycott.
Rashid’s election campaign, which was conducted in just 17 days, was well-received by the local population and led to his unexpected victory.
According to his own statements, he wanted to take part in the elections just to avoid being drafted into forced labour for the army units stationed in the region. He was arrested also by the police, but a court exonerated him. Later government-backed gunmen abducted him.
His father had to pay a hefty ransom to get him released. He mentioned he wanted to address these issues, as defeated candidates used to get protection. But he surprised by winning the elections against a local strongman.
After his victory, his persistent advocacy and public protests ended this practice of forced labour and brought much-needed relief to the people of the region.
After ending the practice of forced labour, he began a relentless fight against corruption. He encouraged citizens to report any demands for bribes and promised swift action. His proactive approach and approachability endeared him to the people and made him a unique and effective public representative.
During the public protests and violence in Kashmir in 2010 and 2016, Rashid’s constituency remained relatively peaceful – a testament to his leadership and influence. His efforts also attracted attention beyond the region.
Few people realise that some of the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was formed in Delhi in 2012, took lessons from his politics and visited Langate to study the model for people-centric governance.
Frugal Campaign
In the recent elections, Rashid’s campaign was spearheaded by his 23-year-old son Abrar Rashid, who made a heartfelt appeal for his father’s release from jail. The campaign, which was run on a modest budget of just 27,000 rupees, relied heavily on community support. Volunteers took care of the logistics, and the entire campaign was funded by public donations, which parallels the grassroots campaigns of political greats such as the late George Fernandes.
Parallels are drawn between Rashid and historical figures such as Shamim Ahmed Shamim, who defeated former Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, a political giant, in 1971. However, Shamim failed to maintain public support as he had relied on the support of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Rashid’s resilience and commitment have earned him widespread admiration, but it will be crucial to maintain this momentum and translate it into tangible change.
The Kashmir Valley, with its complex political history and legacy of oppression, craves leaders who can navigate the turbulent waters and create lasting peace and development. Rashid’s journey from a university student to a prominent political figure epitomises the hopes and aspirations, but the experiences with the behaviour of Kashmiri leaders also leave many with scepticism.
The democratic process does not end when the people cast their votes. Its biggest test will come after the elections, when it will be a question of whether it fulfills the promise of an inclusive and relaxed environment for voters.
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