Abdul Gani Bhat Political activist Biography, Family

Quick Info

Profession	Political activist
Nationality	Indian
Birthplace	Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Date of Death	17/09/2025

Latest News about Abdul Gani Bhat

17/09/2025

Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and a prominent moderate separatist leader in Kashmir, died at his residence in Sopore at the age of 90. He was widely recognized as a peacenik who advocated dialogue with New Delhi for resolving the Kashmir issue and held direct talks with Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh in the early 2000s.

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Bio/Wiki

Content	Abdul Gani Bhat was born in 1935 in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He studied at Sri Pratap College in Srinagar, completing undergraduate degrees in Persian, Economics, and Political Science. He obtained a postgraduate degree in Persian and a law degree from Aligarh Muslim University. Bhat began his career as a lawyer in Sopore but left the practice shortly after. In March 1963, he was appointed as a professor of Persian at Government Degree College, Poonch, and worked in the state education department for over two decades. In 1986, he was dismissed by the state government on security grounds. He co-founded the Muslim United Front (MUF) in July 1986, which contested the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections alleged to be rigged. After being arrested post-elections, he spent several months in jail. After the fragmentation of the MUF, he revived the Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir (MCJK) as one of its successor factions. In 1993, he became the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), engaging with various Prime Ministers about the Kashmir issue. He distanced himself from protests after the 2016-2017 unrest, criticizing the activities of the Hurriyat. In December 2017, he was removed as president of the MCJK following controversies over his meetings. Despite challenges, he remained a moderate voice within Kashmir politics throughout his later years. Abdul Gani Bhat was born in 1935 in Botingoo village near Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He was born in Botingoo village near Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India. His father was illiterate but worldly wise. He led APHC delegations to meet Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, and Deputy PM L.K. Advani. Bhat began his career as a lawyer in Sopore before being appointed as a professor of Persian at Government Degree College, Poonch in March 1963. He worked in the state education department for 22 years until his dismissal in 1986 on security grounds. He was seen as a moderate and peacenik among separatist leadership, advocating dialogue with New Delhi for resolution of the Kashmir issue. After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, he urged restraint, saying there should be no war between India and Pakistan.

Content

Abdul Gani Bhat was born in 1935 in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
He studied at Sri Pratap College in Srinagar, completing undergraduate degrees in Persian, Economics, and Political Science.
He obtained a postgraduate degree in Persian and a law degree from Aligarh Muslim University.
Bhat began his career as a lawyer in Sopore but left the practice shortly after.
In March 1963, he was appointed as a professor of Persian at Government Degree College, Poonch, and worked in the state education department for over two decades.
In 1986, he was dismissed by the state government on security grounds.
He co-founded the Muslim United Front (MUF) in July 1986, which contested the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections alleged to be rigged.
After being arrested post-elections, he spent several months in jail.
After the fragmentation of the MUF, he revived the Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir (MCJK) as one of its successor factions.
In 1993, he became the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), engaging with various Prime Ministers about the Kashmir issue.
He distanced himself from protests after the 2016-2017 unrest, criticizing the activities of the Hurriyat.
In December 2017, he was removed as president of the MCJK following controversies over his meetings.
Despite challenges, he remained a moderate voice within Kashmir politics throughout his later years.
Abdul Gani Bhat was born in 1935 in Botingoo village near Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
He was born in Botingoo village near Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
His father was illiterate but worldly wise.
He led APHC delegations to meet Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, and Deputy PM L.K. Advani.
Bhat began his career as a lawyer in Sopore before being appointed as a professor of Persian at Government Degree College, Poonch in March 1963.
He worked in the state education department for 22 years until his dismissal in 1986 on security grounds.
He was seen as a moderate and peacenik among separatist leadership, advocating dialogue with New Delhi for resolution of the Kashmir issue.
After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, he urged restraint, saying there should be no war between India and Pakistan.

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Grey

Educational Qualification(s)

Colleges	Aligarh Muslim University Sri Pratap College, Srinagar
Degrees	Undergraduate degrees in Persian, Economics, Political Science Postgraduate degree in Persian Law degree

Personal Life

Religion	Islam
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Children	1 son

Family

Father	Illiterate but worldly wise
Children	1 son

Career

Content	Bhat's career launched in the legal field, but he transitioned into academia as a professor of Persian. His political activism began with the formation of the MUF, aiming to represent various social and religious groups. His involvement in the Hurriyat Conference marked a significant period in Kashmir's separatist movements, particularly during the 90s. Bhat's career launched in the legal field, practicing law in Sopore before transitioning into academia as a professor of Persian at Government Degree College, Poonch from 1963 to 1986. His political activism began with the formation of the Muslim United Front in 1986, aiming to represent various social and religious groups. He played a key role in breakthrough talks between the separatist conglomerate and the central government in New Delhi during the early 2000s.