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| History belies NC claim of upholding press freedom | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 4: When Sheikh Nazir told a gathering Tuesday that his organization (National Conference) had offered sacrifices for freedom of press, some elderly people laughed. A few of them shared their experiences with Early Times to apprise the younger generation as to how the second oldest profession was prostituted by National Conference.
Ghulam Muhammad Kashfi was a renowned journalist and created a niche for himself in the pre-partition era. According to Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki, Kashfi became Khidmat's editor in 1943. His unique style of writing and presenting news added new dimensions to Khidmat. His column "Confessions of Kashfi" became very popular and that was how he came to be known as Kashfi.
Notwithstanding Kashfi's indefatigable efforts to popularize National Conference, Moulana Masoodi and Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah were not happy with him. One day Masoodi stepped into his office and gave Kashfi a scornful look. A shattered, scared and shocked Kashfi asked reasons for his anger. "You do not prefix Quaid-e-Azam to the name of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah," Masoodi retorted. Kashfi refused to succumb.
The incident was reported to Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah who beat him up to pulp with a hockey stick. In 1947, when state came under Indian rule, going got tough for Kashfi for host of reasons. Several people, including Moulana Masoodi, started conspiring against him. He wanted to join Radio Kashmir but Masoodi sabotaged it. According to Haji Muhammad Akber of Wachigam, when the leaders were released in 1947, people started hatching conspiracies against Kashfi. "One evening he left his bicycle and worn-out bedding in a room of Kashmir Guest House, Lal Chowk and crossed the boundary. He joined Radio Azad Kashmir and retired from there."
Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz and JN Sathu also suffered for their fearless reporting. When Sheikh Abdullah assumed power in 1947, Hamdard was subjected to censorship. The censorship was strictly enforced after the 1947 war. Prem Nath Bazaz was arrested on October 21, 1947. Later, he was exiled. During this period (1947-50) Sathu ran the Hamdard. In that same year, the Hamdard published Sir Zaffarullah Khan's speech at the UN. It created a storm in the Valley. Sathu narrated, "Sheikh Abdullah was the emergency administrator. Shayam Lal Want, a close aide of Sheikh Abdullah, beat up a Hamdard hawker and threatened him to stop selling the newspaper or face dire consequences."
Next day the Hamdard carried the incident and Sathu wrote a letter to Sheikh Abdullah. The letter read, "If the government is determined to suppress and muzzle the voice of press as is evident from the attitude of Shyanm Lal Want, I can assure you we will resist to our last breath."
There was some more trouble with the government. Ultimately the newspaper was closed down. In 1950, Sathu too was exiled. He went to New Delhi and stayed with Prem Nath Bazaz.
Eighty-year-old Abdul Ahad's (name changed) back was ironed by a police officer on the directions of Sher-e-Kashmir. He had dared to listen to Radio Pakistan. He showed his back to Early Times correspondent. The mark is still there.
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