Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the 92-year-old veteran Hurriyat leader, who guided the separatist movement in Kashmir, passed away late on 1 September at his Srinagar residence.

Though he tendered his resignation from the Hurriyat Conference almost 15 months ago and has been in house dentition for more than a decade, his death brought a near-total blackout of communication services in the valley, an overnight curfew, and the presence of hundreds of security personnel on the streets of Srinagar.

A teacher-turned-separatist, Geelani’s political career spanned over six decades, rallying around a single unwavering agenda of merging Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. Apart from his hardline views, he commanded a large support group, especially among the valley’s youth.

However, his departure has now left his party the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, without a captain and with Centre also considering a ban on the Hurriyat faction, the party is left at a crossroads on what lies in their future.

In today’s podcast, we discuss how Geelani shaped Kashmir politics over the years and what his death means for the future of the Hurriyat. 

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram

Guest: Shakir Mir, Srinagar based freelance journalist.

Editor: Shelly Walia

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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