Book glorifying terrorists and separatists available in government school libraries in Kashmir !

Terrorist Maqbool Bhat described as a ‘martyr’, while separatist leaders portrayed as ‘freedom fighters’

Srinagar (Kashmir) – Even as the government claims that the situation in the Union Territory has returned to normal, it has come to light that the younger generation is being exposed to the glorification of violence. The book Great and Legendary Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, made available in school libraries under Jammu and Kashmir’s Comprehensive Education Policy, glorifies terrorist Maqbool Bhat as a ‘martyr’ and portrays separatist leaders as ‘freedom fighters’. The book has been published by the private publishing house Oberoi Book Services and written by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena.

1. The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum recently made the book public at a press conference, questioned the intentions of the State Government, and demanded action against those responsible.

2. Raghu Mehta, Vice-President of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum, and trustee Deepak Kapoor stated that the book describes terrorist Maqbool Bhat as ‘Shaheed-e-Azam’ (‘Great Martyr’) and portrays separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Masrat Alam and Maulana Farooq as ‘freedom fighters of Kashmir’.

3. The State Government purchased the book under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme for the 2025–26 academic year and made it available in the libraries of all government schools in the State.

4. In a chapter on Maqbool Bhat, the book portrays India as an ‘occupier’ and claims that Maqbool sacrificed his life for Kashmir’s independence.

5. In reality, Maqbool Bhat was hanged on 11 February 1984 for the murders of the then Crime Investigation Department police officer Amar Chand and an Indian diplomat.