As per the current trend throughout the world, we are witnessing the legacy of leaders having  lead political movements and  put on a high pedestal being demolished and blown to Smithereens.

    The aura once associated with Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, the “Mehboob’’ leader `Sher-i-Kashmir’ for Kashmiris, is fighting to safeguard his own legacy, 41 years after his death, (September 8, 1982), as the socio-political discourse of Kashmir has changed drastically over the years.

The revolutionary iconic leader, social reformer and the harbinger of Naya Kashmir—all combined into one, who literary implemented the slogan “Land to the Tiller’’, empowered Kashmiri Muslims with free Universal Education, positions, businesses   and enabled them to better their conditions at the expense of Indian largesse.

 An esteemed and important member of the Constitution Committee, Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, who inspired awe and tremendous respect   even up to the point of devotion  in the hearts of Kashmiris, however, seems to fight for his legacy in the changed history of Jammu and Kashmir post 1990s.

  In life as well as in death, he remained tall—so much so that  the whole Indian Nation mourned his demise. History was created when both the President and the Prime Minister  flew to Srinagar to attend to his last rites on the Banks of world-famous Dal lake, where his grave stands  guarded  presently by an elaborate security set-up following several attempts to desecrate the same by the very Kashmiris who had once emotionally treasured his name in their hearts. Even a modicum of respect for the great Sheikh by observing December 5 (his birthday) as a Public Day was done away with in 2019 and  the  so-called Sher-e-Kashmir medals are now history.

The astute political awareness of Kashmiris is certainly that the great Sheikh built in them but he is also the most denigrated one for which Kashmiris as well as rest of the Nation have to ponder over.