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| Remembering Haji Buland Khan | | Messiah from Gujjar community | |
Parimoo
HAJI Buland khan, was addressed as Haji sahib by his acquaintances and Baba ji by his community, was a class apart, a towering figure both in thoughts and stature, a great visionary, a calculated strategist, upright, courageous, sincere, fearless secular, selfless service to humanity and of strong integrity. He created a niche for himself both in political arena and social sphere with un blemished service have a contributed a lot to the society for welfare of voiceless through consistant, uncompromised principles, a quality that is a rarity these days,
He made his appearance, in this world one full starry night of nov. 1931 in the lap of mountains,, village called Thuru in Reasi district, to a resourceful zamidara family,, Though his birth was uneventful, He being first off spring in the family it was perhaps, desire or might have intuition to his God fearing parents to name him BULAND KHAN, this name was neither prevalent nor common at that time or is now in the area or beyond vast stretches. He himself could not reason about this typical name which very much in tone with his personality..... He was destined to be “Buland”, which he acquired by his vision and hardwork maintained and retained it sheer by dent of his performance, throught his life. It is said that to reach top is no achievement to remain there for long which he maintained till last,, He., dominated the political horizon of the state for about forty years,. His patience forbearance has been hallmark with him, He gained a legendary figure in his life time itself, loved, respected and adored for his nobleness, a patient listener soft spoken, genteel manners always smiling never lost his cool. At the worst provocation he was at his best, language more refined, never allowed to take emotions better of him, hardly reacted in an anger, He commanded respect from all who came in to his contact. He was avaricious reader, never shy to ask, to update his information, was keen to be abreast with the political development in the sub continent, had fair knowledge of freedom movement ,encyclopedia of state politics His indomitable strength was his truth fullness, during upper house election in 1987, he ignored whip and voted for congress nominee Ch Fateh Mohammad, , who was short of one vote and congress party had none to spare, and romped home.volation of whip was done by many other in the NC but on inquest by Sheikh Mohhamad Abudulah, every one swore ,denied ,feigned ignorance except Haji ,to which sheikh sahib said your truthfulness and simplicity may prove us dearly some day
He was one among the masses projected by the masses. He did not believed to ride on religious plank nor used T AA WEEZ culture to further his interest. His long political journey was through masses working at grass root level making his debut as Chairman Panchyat Halqua Thruu in 1960 which he held till 1969 after resigning the the government job of auditor in cooperative department,., from on after joining plebiscite he was appointed founder tehsil president Reasi of the organization., until 1973 his organizational skill was appreciated as it was percolated to the base, despite oppressive tactics of the government, he instill confidence among common people and prepared to face tyranny. He broke open the fortress as was claimed of tyranny in June 1977 by inflicting crushing defeat to congress candidate Mohd Ayub Khan who had hold the fort for 30 years by deceit, he could not make it again to that area. His wining feat was repeated twice again in1983 and 1987. There after in 1990 did not contested any election. ,he said it is better to hear why instead why not.
The Gulabgarh assembly constituency, he represented thrice in succession, was a prefect model of medieval times as if time had never moved since then, roads almost nonexistent, minimum basic needs, like health care, potable water confined to two villages out of 89 villages, educational facilities nominal, no electricity, people reeling under abject poverty, even ration has to be fetched from a distance of two days trek under this background he transformed the area, under multi pronged thrust to the core issues, manifold quantum jump was achieved, under road net work, education, health care, electricity besides in other fields concerning the inhabitants, for all to see. He also served one term as MLC IN 1996. HE was the only Gujjar and non Kashmiri leader ,in the Plebicite Front and after its conversation in to National Conference he remained there through thick and thin, braving all hardship without expressing. He had shown his loyalty despite of the fact he was ignored time and again the ministerial berth while from their own flock insincerity was ignored.. many of stalwarts who now claim more loyal than-the king came only after NC came to power. In 1984 when SHAH government was installed engineering defection, after series of attempts at state level failed to lure him he was called by madam Gandhi and it given to understand by her emissaries that a special plane waits at Srinagar airport to take him to capital, in a high drama slip was given and he made it to Jammu by road.
He never behaved like sun flower, never changed sides., compromised and bought peace at the cost of interest of down trodden, like others, had number of sojourn to the jail which others avoided , .. Cause of deserving was his out most priority, giving preference over self, for them rubbed the bigwigs of the party on the wrong side and could not be a YES person. He always preferred and swam against turbulent waters of politics than with the flow like dead fish. He was a man of peace ,while in jail in 1965 , insurgents from across the border were pushed in to this side who were called guerilla, who succeeded in deep penetration ,a section managed to reach up to near Rampant Haji was in Udhampur jail at that time, he wrote a letter to his father not to assist them reasoning we have nothing to do with them, bad memories and damaged it caused 1947 is still fresh ,they need to be discouraged, this letter was censored, revealing his belief and intentions, veteran leader Rashi Kumar will bear me out
After assuming the assignment of vice chairman in 1986 he extensively toured of habitation the tribe to entire the length & breadth of the state where angles fear to treed taking stock of situation. It pained, anguished and tormented him which shook his conscious, as no development activities worth its name were seen in tribal habitations, it will be of interest to readers that on two occasions two different chief ministers while chairing Gujjar Bakerwal board meetings as chairman of the board, has on record admitted that the tribe have been neglected, developmental activities ran out of steam at the outer edge of tribal basties abruptly. Stark poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, unhygienic living condition, primitive environ exploitation for redressal they have no other option but to see towards sky for God to help. He realized that tribe has to shape their own destiny themselves cannot afford any longer to playa second fiddle at be at the mercy of middle man who had not allowed to percolate fruits of development to reach them ,palliative bundle of false promises and dangling stick come elections they are remembered and exploited He organized the tribe ,gave articulation formed Gujjar Bakerwal conference to the annoyance of those at the helm of affairs in NC of which he was founder member and senior most member of working committee but it electrified the community which after many many years found a place to be called of their own, he was of the opinion that his tribe is equal partner in the development of the state has no moral right to anyone to speak on behalf. He took Gujjar Bakerwal Conference to grass root level allowed it to grow, halqua committee as base on it tehsil, district, province and state committees, organized conventions in which leaders from allover the country participated thus succeeded in having recognized that this tribe has distinct ethnic minority character of its own has noting with fellow Islamic brethrens of the state except the faith. And focused the burning problems on national canvas.
New dimension was given by him to Kashmir issue in various forums to the discomfitures of hardliners and in Round table conference, he suggested that once the bi cameral house will have true representative character, domination of none, due representation to minority sections, the issue will die its natural death, What was done in haste in 1948 can not hold good, much water has flown through the rivers of the state, spade has to be called spade, people want peace and tranquility, let politician stop playing it for personal gains, he often expressed. His death on 6th of june 2007 at Srinagar at the age of 76 years was a grievous blow very difficult to find his like again.
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