Shabir Ibn Yusuf
TREHGAM, FEB 10: Only after five minutes drive from a famous spring here, a visitor catches the glimpse of a three storeyed wooden and shabby house. In this house JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Butt was born. Maqbool was hanged in Tihar jail on February 11, 1984. Now the house is head office of Maqbool Butt Foundation.
The house was constructed in 1946. After entering the house, two boys greet the visitors - Zahid, a 12th standard and Adil, studing in class 9th. Both boys are from Ghulam Nabi Butt family. Ghulam Nabi died in mid nineties. Maqbool's step mother Shah Begum also lives with Ghulam Nabi's family. 

In the second story a room has been kept and according to little Adil, this is in the fond memory of Maqbool. There is a photo but no belongings of Maqool. "We had kept some things of Maqbool but those were wiped out by army of Heri camp during the raid in nineties," says Shah Begum." On the day of his Shahadat, our family was stopped at Srinagar airport and we were not allowed to move to Delhi," she adds.
Despite the fact the family now- a -days can afford a news house, but they are averse to new construction and shifting. "In this house Maqbool has born. He was founder of free Kashmir. On his call, thousand, of youth joined the struggle for free Kashmir," said Begum. She added that the day the dream of my son 'to free Kashmir' comes true, she would feel relaxed. "I can not live in another house. This is a sacred place for me and my family and I hardly care if any one visits this house or not," Begum said.
The family feels proud of Maqbool, but they have a wish. "Let them allow us to visit the place of grave for that soil is sacred for us," they said. In the meanwhile, tea is being severed and the room is filled with neighbours, particularly the youth join the visitors. "We have established Maqbool Foundation, we could not establish it during the peak hours of militancy due to pressure from security forces," says Imran a youth of Trehgam.
Not only the family but people of Trehgam have a complaint as to why this house is not being made as a monument. "The day will come and Maqbool will be accepted as a national hero," says Abdul Rashid a resident of Trehgam, adding, "Our leaders should learn the lessons from Indian freedom struggle- how monuments have been made in memory of its heroes."
Another resident Aslam has a grudges as he says, "Our leaders and writers remember him on his death anniversary and they do not bother to visit the family and on this day."
Dr Sheikh Showkat, who teaches law at Kashmir University, terms the complaints of Trehgam people genuine. He said that not visiting the families of people who contributed to what he called the freedom struggle is a tragedy " That is the tragedy with us, not only in context of Maqbool Butt, but also of hundreds thousands of martyrs who have contributed for free Kashmir cause. We must not forget them. There is lacuna on part of the leaders," Showkat said.
He says, "Maqbool Butt house will serve as an inspiration. The family itself must be motivated to preserve every thing associated with Maqbool Bhat." He said that Kashmiris must begin a campaign to bring back the remains of Maqbool from Tihar jail. "These should be buried in Mazar Shuhda Showkat said.
Separatist leader Shakeel Bakshi termed Maqbool as son of soil and said he belongs to nation not to a community only. "He belongs to the nation and he sacrificed his life for nation and we salute him," he said.


'He was clear...free Kashmir'
Maqbool Butt was student of Saint Joseph Baramulla and while in school he met a resident of Baramulla, Khaliq Parvez, who was exiled in 1957 and remained till 1964 in Pakistan. He recently wrote a book Jail-e-Watan. The book gained a good readership after the release. He wrote as to how Maqbool developed the idea of "free Kashmir?
An extract from the book: "Maqbool convinced me that we must work for a free Kashmir. He used to meet me off and on with his programs and ideas.
Maqbool first came to Pakistan with his aunt and cousin. Once Maqbool was with me in Rawalpandi for the night and late evening there was a knock at the door. The person who knocked at the door introduced himself as Rana from Pakistan. He told me to ask Maqbool to meet him. I told Maqbool and he met Rana.
Rana told Maqbool that Major Yusuf of Kashmir Affairs wanted to meet him and was waiting for him (Maqbool) in office. Around 11 pm we got ready to meet Major Yusuf. I asked Maqbool what would be asked of him by the Kashmir Affairs officer. Maqbool replied that he knew that what he would ask him and what he wanted.
After 15 minute travel, we reached the destination and we were given a warm well come at office of Kashmir Affairs. We had a meeting with Major Yusuf and Maqbool listened to him patiently. After the meeting, Kehwa was served."
According to the author, Maqbool with confidence told Major Yusuf, "We will fight for freedom of our Kashmir. That is the only way it would be accepted on international level. Accession to Pakistan has made it like do or die for both India and Pakistan. Pakistan terms Kashmir as jugular vein and India as its crown. Tell us how Kashmir issue will be solved. Subcontinent was divided on two nation theory. Kashmir issue has created much problem for people of Kashmir and both the countries are at the verge of war."
The author quotes Maqbool Butt as saying, "I want to see India and Pakistan as good friends and they must accept a free Kashmir. Both the countries must withdraw from Kashmir and should treat it like Switzerland and must ensure security of Kashmir. India must not treat it a country of Hindus and Pakistan must not treat the country as Muslim country. This is the only way there will be peace and prosperity in subcontinent. Major Sahib my view point is not against any country. Everything lies in the hands of God. You invited and interacted, I thank you very much Major Sahib."
The author during a phone chat with Kashmir Times said, "Maqbool did not like Pakistan's bureaucracy and did not want to see the need of another freedom struggle after Kashmir had acceded to Pakistan- that is he wanted a free Kashmir."