Sadaket Malik
Hailing from a towering town called “Bhalessa”, Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri also referred to as Grand Haji Saheb was a great spiritual figure of Doda District. Haji Sahib’s disciples regard him “Murshid”. In scholarly circles he was known as “Sheikh –I – Tareeqat” and “Ganipuri”. Rated high in the realm of spirituality, he had held a considerable place in the hearts of people irrespective of caste. colour, creed and religion.
Born in an improvised land of Bhalessa in Bhatyas (popularly known as Akhyarpur) on 22nd of July 1937. Haji sahib was sent to school and passed Matric in 1954 from HS Kilhotran, In 1956 he was appointed as teacher and was posted at Thanamandi Rajouri. After joining the service he resigned owing to personal problems. In 1957, Haji sahib was again appointed as teacher and was posted in Ramnagar Udhampur. He passed Teacher Training Course from Bhaderwah, 12th class and Alim Fazil from Aligarh Muslim University in 1960. He retired from Government High School Jakyas in 1995. He remained the disciple of Alhaj Abdul Gani Sadiqui. Haji sahib has taught in many Government schools as teacher, administrator and was known for his honesty. Haji sahib being a teacher used to donate salary of all his holidays for charity.
He was a great educationist. After his superannuation as Teacher/Master, he started an Innovative Jamia Gunyatul Uloom at Bhatyas (Akhyarpur) in 1983. The Jamia has been named after Abdul Gani Sadiqui. Haji sahib is regarded as a reformer of Madersa and spiritual education in the entire Chenab valley. In Madersa, Nazra, Hifiz courses were started. Later on the courses like Fiqa, Tajweed, Alim Fazil and specialisation has been incorporated in Jamia curriculum. These are the untried efforts of Haji sahib that Madersa Jamia Gunyatul Uloom produced many scholars. Numerous poor children receive education free of cost. The school has a number of Hindu students, and almost a tenth of its teachers are Hindus, the rest being Muslims. Most of these children are from impoverished families, and in the madrasa they receive free education, boarding and lodging as well as the possibility of a job as a religious specialist once they graduate.
Haji sahib was a prolific writer. He has written more than thirty five books. Most of the books are written in Urdu keeping in view the Urdu speaking populace in the state. His books have been well read by majority of the people especially his disciples who used to visit haji sahib.
He acted as Editor and Publisher of Annual Magazines of Jamia. Majority of his books are found in Jamia library and are available on demand. The titles include the experiences of Haji sahib during performing Haj pilgrimage.
During tumultuous days, Haji Sahib proved as an ambassador of Peace and brotherhood in Bhalessa. The communities of all the religions had a considerable respect for him and used to visit him frequently. Haji sahib exhorted for maintenance of peace in the sub-continent. During his visit to Haji sahib, renowned researcher of Jamia Millia University New Delhi, Yoginder sikand interviewed Haji sahib regarding the peace and amity. Haji sahib said,” Killing an innocent person is tantamount to slaying the whole of humankind. That principle applied in every case.
Above all, Haji sahib was known as a Hakeem. Most of the supplicants would come from as far as Jammu, Kashmir, Delhi, Poonch and Kathua in the hope of a miraculous cure to their woes. They would narrate their troubles to Haji Sahib. He would listen to each of them patiently, advising them on what to do. As ill luck would have it, this great man did not remain among us. May Allah grant him highest place in heaven.
(The writer is a columnist based in Bhalessa)
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