Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a towering figure in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir — a visionary leader, a bridge-builder, and a statesman whose life was devoted to the pursuit of peace with dignity in one of India’s most complex and cherished regions.

Born in the historic town of Bijbehara, Anantnag, into a humble clerical family, Mufti Sahab rose through sheer perseverance, intellect, and an unyielding commitment to public service. Educated in law and Arabic from Aligarh Muslim University, he entered politics in the 1950s and went on to serve in numerous high offices: as a state minister, Union Minister of Tourism under Rajiv Gandhi, and India’s first Muslim Home Minister under V.P. Singh. Yet, it was his deep-rooted connection to Kashmir that defined his legacy.

In 1999,........

© Greater Kashmir