Concluding Reason: Abdul Ghafoor Noorani: A Beacon for Those Seeking Honest Deliberation

Ramesh Ojha Abdul Ghafur Noorani. You probably haven't heard this name. He was a lawyer's lawyer, but not as well known as Nani Palkhiwala, Soli Sorabji or Fali Nariman. He was a constitutionalist, but Grenville Austin, b. Shivarao K H. M. Not as well known as Sirwai. He was a reviewer of political reviewers, but not as well known as Yogendra Yadav or Shekhar Gupta. He was a historian's historian, but not as well known as Romila Thapar, Ramchandra Guha, Irfan Habib or Bipin Chandra. The main reason for this is that he was a brilliant scholar. Rejection as I raised my hand. To stand up saying no me lord and then to frame the issue in such a vehement manner that even a distinguished and respectable scholar is silenced. Since 1977, I have been a G. I have been reading Noorani and till date I don't remember a single instance where anyone has contradicted Noorani or pointed out a mistake. Opinions are theirs, but facts are irrefutable. No one can shake hands. If wrong is happening then the right and moral side has to be told. That is why he did not leave Jawaharlal Nehru. He always stood by Kashmiris on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and criticized Jawaharlal Nehru when he felt it necessary to criticize him. Whoever breaks the constitution, whoever acts against the common man, whoever judges in violation of the constitution should face punishment. In 2019, the Supreme Court's ruling on the Babri Masjid did not go unnoticed by Noora. They were writing a whole book about it. It is not known whether the book was completed or incomplete before his death. Another reason Noorani was not well known was that he did not go to meetings or participate in debates on TV. They have to talk in fine detail and do not get such a chance. When I called to seek his opinion on the constitutional role of the Speaker in the debate on the Bofors issue in Parliament when I was at a newspaper, he hung up saying 'I don't do such serious discussions over the phone'. He did not even visit newspapermen. His opinion of journalists was also not very high. Apart from this, there were a few cracks. However, his friends say that he was not what his image was. Highly emotional, fond of loved ones and fond of food. Ever since I started reading Noorani, a question arose in my mind as to how this man could have collected so many references and put them in a nest while writing. For example, about Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir from 1950 till today, the continuous details of who said what and when can be found in Noorani's article. It contains the record of debates in Parliament with date, it contains record of public speech printed in newspaper with date and name of newspaper, it contains record of party conventions and resolutions, it contains record of correspondence between concerned persons, which is record of mouthpiece of that organization, relevant or issued by court. Responsible for mutually inconsistent judgments. All of this is easy enough to write a casual book, but it's the first time I've seen someone cite so many different types of references in an article for a print magazine. Seeing their preparedness, I used to wonder (in the pre-internet era) how they must have collected all this and if someone still collects it, how would they manage it when it comes to scale. ? How would they store so many clippings and documents and what would be their system of classification? Noorani was my utmost respect as a journalist. I have read as many of his articles and books as possible. Where rulers and vested interests deliberately simplify and that simplification is wrong, Noorani stands there to challenge anyone who is doing injustice. A narrative may be developed in the name of patriotism or nationalism, but if it is wrongful to someone, noorani will rise to challenge that narrative, even if national consensus around that narrative is visible and visible. This is also one of the reasons why Noora was not seen much. Noora could not even afford it. If anyone has stood firm on the issue of Kashmir and the people of Kashmir, it is Noorani. If any man has stood firm on the issue of North India and the people of North India, it is Noorani. If anyone has stood firm on the issue of Hyderabad and the Muslim people of Hyderabad, it is Noorani. When the Hyderabad problem arose, the average Muslim in the Hyderabad state was known as a Razakar and was treated as such. No one has challenged Noorani till date, be it Kashmir, North India or Hyderabad. Noora is present, with facts and irrefutable arguments, to counter when attempts are made to further marginalize the marginalized people in the name of patriotism, nationalism and national consensus. Ignore when the answer is no. The fact that Noorani was neglected is also one of the reasons why he remained unknown. Taking the side of truth with reasoned arguments and proofs, taking the side of morality, taking the side of the wronged and taking the side of the last man's interest were lessons learned from Noorani. Never had the chance to meet Abdul Ghafoor Noorani personally, but Noorani was a beacon for those seeking honest discussion.}

Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).