news details |
|
|
| Haji Buland Khan a crusader of marginalized Gujjar and Bakerwal | | | R.A. Inqlabi | 6/5/2018 11:18:25 PM |
|  Haji Buland Khan was a crusader of downtrodden masses in general and the marginalized Gujjar and Bakerwal particular.
Haji Buland Khan was born on 1931 in village Thuru of Gool-Gulabgarh in a highly religious family who later on become a shining political figure of Tribal Community. His father's name was Haji Noor Mohammad who was the Lumberdar of the area.
Haji khan joined Government service in J&K Co-operative Department as an Auditor in the year 1955 and during the service he contributed tremendously in making co-operative movement vibrant and a great success.
Moved by the pathetic conditions of the Gujar and Bakerwal community due to abject poverty compounded by exploitation perpetuated by those in power in Gool Gulabgarh.
He resigned from his service on 12th of May, 1960 and with a resolve to fight against intimidation and humiliation and jumped into social activities to bring relief to the suffering people by raising their voice.
During that time Haji Buland Khan met Pt. Prem Nath Dogra who happens to be President of Praja Parishad and discussed with him in detail the problems faced by the general masses of his area. For the first time Haji khan was elected Chairman of Panchayat Halqa Thuroo and remained so for 9 years. Meanwhile Haji Sahib joined Plebiscite Front in October, 1962 on the request of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. During this period as a Plebiscite Front activist Haji Sahib was detained in special Jail and Central Jail, Jammu. He was first jailed on 19th of June 1965 and was arrested from Gool, district Udhampur and remain jailed for Six months in special jail Jammu.
Haji Buland Khan left for Hajj-e-Baitullah on 23rd December, 1967 through ship.
He was accompanied by his father Haji Noor Mohammad and returned from Hajj on April 1968. During that period the expenditure on Hajj was to the extent of Rs. 2300/- per soul. In July 1968 Haji Buland Khan Sahib invited Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Gool-Mahore to have a first hand stock of the situation of the area but the visit was foiled by the Congress lead Government of the time and they didn't allow Sheikh to stay in the local Dak-Bunglow for the night. Meanwhile Haji Buland Khan Sahib was threatened of life by the government, but he didn't pay any heed to that. Haji was elected as MLA three times on National Conference ticket in 1977, 1983 and 1987.
During 1990-1996 the state remained under Governer Rule due to turmoil in the valley. In 1996, he decided not to contest elections himself and instead the ticket was given to his son Aijaz Ahmed Khan. However, the National Conference elected Haji Buland khan as MLC on 16th of October 1996 and remained as MLC for 6 years. He also remained as Vice Chairman of Gujar Bakarwal board for 12 years. First Gujar Bakarwal Conference was held at Eid gah Jammu on 16th of April 1988 where in Dr. Farooq Abdullah was the chief guest. Later on he held Gujjar Bakarwal Conferences at Kathua, Udhampur, Sanasar, Patnitop, Thatri, Ramban, Kupwara, Srinagar and Jammu.
Haji Buland Khan also projected the problems faced by the Gujjar Community to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. He breathed his last on 6th of June, 2007 at his official residence Chashma-Shahi, Srinagar. Various social and political organisations condoled the sad demise of Buland Khan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
