Jami may never forget his fifth birthday, an event he was obsessed with in anticipation. “It is my fifth birthday tomorrow (February 20),” Jami would tell visitors at his home. “I will be meeting my papa where we will cut a cake together.”
The only son of Dr Shah Faesal, the systems did permit this special meeting. A cake was cut in the MLA Hostel, where Kashmir’s youngest politician, is held with many others.
Dr Faesal is the eighth politician who was booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after his half-year detention under section 107 CrPc expired. He was arrested on August 14 on “preventive measures” from Delhi airport when he was travelling to the USA to complete his last semester at the Harvard University.
“We were expecting his release or maybe house arrest after completing six months in jail as they did with others. He had just started his political career. But instead, they slapped him with a PSA,” said Mubeena Shah, Faesal’s mother. “Jami has packed his bag and he keeps on saying if papa cannot come home, let me go to MLA hostel (and) I’ll stay with him.”
Jami does not know his father is under detention. The family has told him that his father is in school where he is working on a project, which as per the family members gets authenticated to him when he sees his mother carrying many books along when she meets him twice a week.
Family apart, Faesal’s is a curious case, even for commoners. Unlike all others, he had just begun his politics by launching a party. There was just one political gathering to his credit. A subordinate to politicians, as an officer, he had not “enjoyed” the power as politicians are usually accused of. Besides, he had been a huge role model after he topped the IAS 2009. Everybody talked to him from Dr Manmohan Sing to Narendra Modi.
EARLY DAYS
This story is from the March 01-07, 2020; Curious Case of Shah Faesal; Issue 48 Vol 11 edition of Kashmir Life.
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This story is from the March 01-07, 2020; Curious Case of Shah Faesal; Issue 48 Vol 11 edition of Kashmir Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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