MUZAFFARABAD: Justice retired Abdul Majeed Mallick, a prominent Kashmiri jurist and politician, has finally published his memoirs to the benefit of the readers eager to peep into the pre- and post-1947 developments in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir through his eyes.

Having turned 89 this September, Mr Mallick enjoys good health with a surprisingly good memory and still leads an active life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) lakeside city of Mirpur, where he receives visitors at his place and also attends outside events regarding Kashmir issue.

Born in a suburban village of Dadyal he chose a career in law and practised it initially in Lahore from 1956 to 1958 before returning home due to family’s relocation in the wake of construction of Mangla Dam.

Back in AJK, Mr Mallick was deeply attached with the visionary Kashmiri leader Khurshid Hassan Khurshid aka K.H. Khurshid from a young age. When Mr Khurshid launched his Jammu Kashmir Liberation League (JKLL) party in 1962, Mr Mallick was appointed its founding chief organiser.

In 1967, Mr Mallick became JKLL’s secretary general and held this position over the next 11 years. Since he was also an eminent practising lawyer, he was inducted in the AJK High Court as judge in May 1978.

There, he rose to the position of chief justice in August 1983 and held it until his retirement in September 1994 on attaining the age of superannuation.

Talking to Dawn by telephone on Sunday, Mr Mallick said his family members, friends and followers had long been asking him to pen his personal memories about the genesis of Kashmir issue, efforts by the Kashmiri leaders for its settlement as well as politics in the liberated territory.

“Since my memory was serving me right, I thought I should not disappoint them and write my autobiography,” he said.

“I have put together my personal observations and experiences which also include some controversies that have not come into the open to this day,” he said, adding that he believed that a writer should be fair to his readers and set the record straight without bothering about the response.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2021