Echoes of Resistance: The Journey of Burhan Wani
9th Martyrdom Anniversary of Valiant son of Kashmir
By Shazia Ashraf
Burhan Wani, one of Kashmir’s valiant sons, a young hero who stood unwavering in the face of adversity. His struggle was not without a cause; he carried a vision as clear as the waters of the Jhelum. Hailing from Tral, area of Pulwama district, Burhan became the emblem of a struggle for the right to self determination in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This narrative honors his sacrifice and remembers his martyrdom. At the tender age of 15, he swiftly rose to prominence, rallying young Kashmiris to join the struggle against Indian illegal rule and leveraging social media campaigning for his struggle. His bravery, perhaps, made him a thorn in the side of his adversaries. Burhan’s charismatic persona and adept use of social media transformed him into a revered figure, particularly among the youth, who viewed him as a heroic figure.
His struggle against Indian tyrannical rule in Kashmir was not merely a coincidence, he was forced to stand up against this adversity because of the humiliation he had to face along with his siblings at the hands of Indian forces. In many interviews before his martyrdom, he told that Indian Central Reserve Paramilitary Forces used to beat him and his brother on roads and they were also detained by Indian police for several days. A well-known journalist from Kashmir, Khurram Parvaiz wrote, “he joined armed resistance because he was humiliated on the streets, his brother was tortured, this is where his resentment for the Indian government came from.” Resistance against Indian illegal occupation has been the slogan of people of Kashmir and Burhan did the same thing when he faced and understood the oppression of India.
On July 8, 2016, Burhan’s journey attained martyrdom in a brief yet intense gunfight with Indian forces in South Kashmir’s Kokernag area. His symbolic role as the face of the new Kashmiri resistance had made him a high-priority target for Indian authorities. Burhan’s funeral on July 9th saw an unprecedented turnout, with tens of thousands of mourners and over 22 prayers offered—a record for such an event in Kashmir. His martyrdom ignited widespread protests and violent clashes across the Kashmir Valley, with Indian forces firing live bullets, tear gas shells, pellet guns, resulting in the killing of over 100 civilians and numerous injuries. Indian authorities also declared curfew, banning mobile and internet services and curbing movement restrictions in whole Kashmir.
Burhan’s story resonated profoundly with the youth of Kashmir, who saw him as a martyr fighting for their homeland’s freedom. His death, like those of many young Kashmiris before him, served as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in the territory and the sacrifices made by those who take up arms for their cause. Burhan’s martyrdom revitalized the Kashmiri resistance movement against Indian rule, leading to a surge in the passion of resistance among youth in following years. The mothers of Kashmir hold immense pride when their children attain martyrdom for their cause, viewing it as the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland’s liberation from Indian illegal occupation. Burhan Wani’s martyrdom has immortalized him as a symbol of the Kashmiri struggle, inspiring a new generation to continue the fight for their right to self-determination.
Writer is research associate at Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR)
