Maqbool Bhat (1938–1984), Shaheed-e-Kashmir: who he was, and the demand to bring his remains home

Maqbool Bhat's mother, Shahmali Begum, at his empty grave in the Martyrs' Graveyard, Srinagar

A Kashmiri mother’s wait to bring her son’s remains home to his empty grave, since 1984

Since he was hanged in Tihar Jail on 11 February 1984 and buried in the jail Prisoner after death since
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His grave in Srinagar is still empty. Sign the demand to bring him home →

A manifesto of the Kashmiri nation to bring peace to Kashmir and South Asia

One day. One city. One event.

ManifestoRead and endorse the 11 February Manifesto →

Countdown to 11 February
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See events around the world →

A life in eleven chapters View full timeline → Explore the journey map →

Bring him home

Sign the petition to return his remains to Kashmir

Maqbool Bhat was hanged in Tihar Jail on 11 February 1984 and buried inside the prison. His family was never given his body. Add your name to the demand that his remains be returned for burial in the grave that waits for him in Srinagar.

Sign the petitionRead the demand →
See the countdown in each city’s own time zone

His vision

A vision for all humanity

His struggle began against feudal inequality in his own village and grew into a lifelong fight for equality, freedom and social justice. It was never a narrow nationalism: he fought for human dignity and against poverty, exploitation and division, for people of every faith and community.

Equality and social justice

“I have rebelled against obscurantism, slavery, capitalism, exploitation, corruption, cruelty, and hypocrisy.”
Statement before a special court in Pakistan →

Humanity above division

“It’s far better to die in the field in struggle against illiteracy, poverty and oppression and to achieve the glory of humanity while fighting against evil forces than to die in bed.”
His often-repeated saying →

Peace with dignity

“It is important to distinguish between the peace of graveyard and that of peacefully flowing life and society.”
Quotes of Maqbool Bhat →

Friendship between peoples

“We would welcome support from our friends but on the basis of mutual friendship and dignity not on the basis of control and superiority.”
Quotes of Maqbool Bhat →
Our vision

The Maqbool Bhat Foundation carries his ideals forward: a South Asia of free and equal peoples, living in peace, friendship and union, without domination, poverty or discrimination. As early as 2003, he was described as “a symbol for the liberation of the oppressed masses in South Asia”.

Explore the record

Caged on both sidesHis struggle against two occupationsBiography11 chapters on his life and struggle11/2 Around the WorldNews and Martyrdom Day reports from around the worldLetters and writingsPrison letters, Mai Kaun Hun, a biography and original scansTributesPoems and tributesNewsNews coverage and press clippingseBooksLetters, writings and a biography to read onlineVideosOver 450 speeches, documentaries and eventsPhoto galleryRare photographs

11 February around the world

Places named in the Martyrdom Day reports. Click a pin to read them.