Smiling Sphinx

Now contesting the state appeal in the Supre Court against his acquittal, the attempt on his life this week has sparked outrage among friends and human rights activists, some even alleging 8216;8216;police involvement8217;8217;.

The attack on the Parliament on December 13, 2001, led to the arrest of Geelani along with three others, Mohammed Afzal, Shaukat Hussain Guru and his wife Navjot Sandhu. Geelani was charged on several counts including conspiracy, sedition, waging war against the state under the now-repealed POTA. While the special POTA court sentenced him to death he was acquitted of all charges by a Delhi High Court that said 8216;8216;the prosecution has not been able to sustain the charges8217;8217;.

BLAMING the media for portraying a distorted image of Geelani, his lawyer Nandita Haksar says, 8216;8216;What has been difficult for a courageous and brilliant scholar like Geelani is the negative publicity.8217;8217; But, adds Haksar, 8216;8216;It is as Geelani has been consistently saying, he is not a victim; it is Indian democracy which is being victimised.8217;8217;

His arrest had split public opinion on the DU campus and beyond. While some came out in open support of the All India Defence Committee for

S.A.R. Geelani, others, including lawyers, were warned against representing 8216;8216;anti-nationals8217;8217; like him. It was groups like the People8217;s Union for Civil Liberties PUCL that arranged lawyers for him.

A popular teacher at Zakir Hussain College, students describe Geelani as a 8216;8216;committed8217;8217; teacher, ready to teach even when there was only a single student in class. A former student leader speaks of him as someone who was always helpful. For Ali Javed, long-time friend and colleague who has known Geelani for ten years, 8216;8216;right from the time he was a research scholar8217;8217; at DU, Geelani was and is 8216;8216;a serious8217;8217; research student and teacher. Apart from teaching, Geelani used to be a literary and cultural activities regular.

PUCL members talk of how actively Geelani participated in their meetings on human rights issues and violations in Kashmir. To dispel notions about him, the Defence Committee organised an exhibition of posters 8212; 8216;8216;Lies of Our Times8217;8217;. This, again, was received with both bouquets and brickbats.

Father of two children, Geelani is said to enjoy animated discussions on classical Arabic literary texts and especially talking about his favourite poets, Ghalib and Iqbal. He has told friends and colleagues that it is difficult getting back to life as he knew it.

The recent assault on Geelani, according to friends, is an 8216;8216;outcome of the constant threat to his life8217;8217;. They cite the complaint lodged by Geelani while in Tihar 8212; of being attacked with a blade. He openly expressed his views on the the condition of inmates in Tihar and the alleged human rights violations there which raised more controversy.

What most of his acquaintances find striking about Geelani is his composure; and that inscrutable smile, a smile that rope-walks between cheerfulness and a smirk. Almost as though he is laughing at the happenings around him. Perhaps it8217;s only his cynicism.