Anuja Jain
If senior journalist Sanaullah Bhat was alive, he would be celebrating his 98th birthday on 14th November. He is often referred to as Baba-i-Sahafat (Father of Journalism) in Kashmir, having laid the foundation of Kashmiri journalism and made the institution of journalism in Kashmir strong and vibrant. He is also known as Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat, was born on 14th November 1926.
Journalist, editor, and columnist Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat began his career in journalism in 1952 by founding a weekly newspaper called ‘Kashmir’, which was published from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Reflecting on his career, he once wrote, “After 1947, following independence, I was across the border. I started a weekly paper in 1952 on the other side, called it Kashmir. There were differences between me and the authorities. Finally, in 1957, they arrested me and interrogated me for 22 days. Then they handed me over to the Pakistan Army, who threw me across the border, saying, ‘Go across.’ At that time, I did not support either accession to Pakistan or India; I was for independence.” He further recalled, “So they shoved me over. I was lucky the Indians didn’t shoot me. As soon as I came over, I was arrested by the Indian Army. They interrogated me for three days. Then they handed me over to the police, who interrogated me for 16 days. After that, I went home.”
In 1957, Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat went on to establish a daily Urdu newspaper, Aftab, and served as its editor for over 40 years. The newspaper was registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) in 1965. Aftab became the first newspaper in Jammu and Kashmir to be published on an offset printing press, significantly enhancing the appeal of its content through visual elements. Prior to this, newspapers in the region were printed using the antiquated litho printing process.
The Aftab was also the first newspaper in the region to publish photographs, and it is widely credited with introducing photojournalism to the state, a contribution for which Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat is particularly remembered. Through his subscription to news services like Press Trust of India (PTI) and United News of India (UNI), he was able to bring international news to the people of Kashmir, offering them a window into world events through organizations like Reuters, the Associated Press, and Agence France Presse.
Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat made an unparalleled contribution to the advancement of Urdu journalism in Kashmir. He pioneered many practices that are now standard in the region’s media. His efforts included making newspapers accessible to homes in the Valley—a practice virtually unknown before his time. By employing runners, he established a formal structure for news distribution in Kashmir. Additionally, he was a trailblazer in hiring full-time reporters and staff, a practice later adopted by other newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also wrote a daily column called “Khizr Sochta Hai Wular Ke Kinaray” (Khizr Thinks by the Shores of Wular Lake), in which he addressed sensitive political and social issues, offering a deeper understanding of the state’s affairs. His columns were known for their intellectual depth and ideological richness. His sharp political commentary sometimes targeted influential figures earning him both admiration and controversy. One of his most famous and witty critiques was the phrase, “I agar love you, magar you don’t me,” which critiqued the insincerity of political agendas. This style of blending wit with criticism became an influential voice in Kashmir’s journalistic history.
In April 1990, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir ordered the closure of Aftab after it published detailed reports on atrocities committed by government troops. However, the Governor’s decision was overturned by a judge in the Srinagar High Court ten days later, allowing Mr. Bhat to resume publication. Reflecting on this period, Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat noted that under the prevailing culture of fear and intimidation from both the government and secessionist militants, no newspaper could truly claim to be free. He recalled, “We served the militants because the public was with them. We published their statements and reported their actions.”
Despite these challenges, Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat’s tireless efforts made Aftab the most widely read newspaper in the Valley. The newspaper also introduced a daily poetic cartoon, often reflecting on current political and social issues. In 1975, Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat became the first president of the Kashmir Press Club. His notable books include Kashmir in Flames: An Untold Story of Kashmir’s Political Affairs (in English) and Kashmir, 1947 Se 1977 Tak (in Urdu). Khwaja Sanaullah Bhat passed away on 25th November 2009 in Srinagar, leaving behind an indelible legacy in Kashmir’s journalistic history.
(The writer is the student of Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Media at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Jammu)
