ISLAMABAD: Senior leader All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has paid glowing tribute to renowned Kashmiri intellectual, journalist and prominent advocate of the Kashmir cause, Shaikh TajammululIslam, on his fifth death anniversary, saying his intellectual contribution, political insight and unwavering commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to inspire generations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Altaf Ahmed Bhat said Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam was not merely a journalist or political thinker, but a man who used knowledge, argument and the written word as powerful instruments in defending the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He said Shaikh Tajammul possessed a rare ability to understand the political dimensions of the Kashmir dispute and communicate them with clarity, conviction and intellectual depth.
“Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam belonged to a generation that understood that the Kashmir struggle had to be fought not only through political resistance, but also through ideas, research, journalism and informed advocacy,” Bhat said.
He maintained that throughout his life, Shaikh Tajammul remained deeply committed to keeping the Kashmir dispute alive at national and international forums and consistently highlighted the political and human dimensions of the issue.
Altaf Ahmed Bhat said one of the most remarkable aspects of Shaikh Tajammul’s personality was his consistency. Political circumstances changed, regional dynamics shifted and new challenges emerged, but his commitment to the Kashmir cause remained unchanged.
“He never allowed changing circumstances to dilute his principles. His voice remained clear, his position remained firm, and his intellectual energies remained devoted to Kashmir until the end of his life,” he said.
The APHC leader said Shaikh Tajammul understood the enormous responsibility carried by writers, journalists and intellectuals in a prolonged political struggle. Rather than limiting himself to commentary on day-to-day developments, he sought to create deeper political awareness and encourage younger generations to understand the historical, legal and geopolitical dimensions of the Kashmir dispute.
Bhat said preserving the writings, speeches and intellectual contribution of Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam was particularly important at a time when narratives and information had become central to international politics.
He stressed that younger Kashmiris, especially students, researchers and journalists, should be introduced to the ideas and intellectual work of personalities like Shaikh Tajammul so that their contribution does not remain confined to commemorative occasions.
“The best tribute to Shaikh Tajammul is not simply to remember him once a year. His work should be studied, documented and carried forward. Nations preserve the legacy of their thinkers because ideas often survive long after individuals are gone,” he added.
Altaf Ahmed Bhat said the passage of five years since his death had not diminished the relevance of Shaikh Tajammul’s message. Rather, the continuing political uncertainty surrounding Jammu and Kashmir had made informed, principled and sustained advocacy even more important.
He said the international community must recognise that lasting peace and stability in South Asia cannot be achieved without addressing the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations and internationally acknowledged rights of the Kashmiri people.
Bhat also urged Kashmiri political workers, journalists, academics and members of the diaspora to strengthen coordination and present the Kashmir issue before the world through credible research, responsible communication and sustained diplomatic engagement.
He said Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam’s life demonstrated how an individual equipped with conviction, knowledge and clarity of purpose could make a lasting contribution to a national cause.
“Five years after his departure, we remember Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam with profound respect. His physical presence may no longer be among us, but his ideas, writings and commitment to Kashmir remain part of our collective memory and political consciousness,” Altaf Ahmed Bhat said.
He prayed for the departed soul and expressed the hope that Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam’s intellectual and journalistic legacy would continue to guide those working peacefully for the rights, dignity and political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He is remembered for his lifelong association with journalism, intellectual discourse and advocacy of the Kashmir cause.
