Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri

Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri (22 July 1937 — 24 July 2015) was a Muslim scholar and spiritual leader. He was the founder of Madrasa Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur (Bhatyas) in the Bhalessa, Doda district. The Madrasa was established in 1983 and named after Abdul Gani Sadiqui. Every year, seminars and literary programs are organized in his memory. During the 2014 Kashmir floods, he extended his help along with other NGOs of the Chenab valley for flood-ravaged houses and families.

Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri
حاجی صاحب بھٹیاس
Title	Sheikh-i-Tareeqat and Ganipuri
Personal
Born	Ghulam Qadir Bhat 22 July 1937 Akhyarpur, Bhalessa, Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)
Died	24 July 2015(2015-07-24) (aged 78) Akhyarpur, Bhalessa, Jammu and Kashmir (state)
Religion	Islam
Ethnicity	Kashmiri
Denomination	Sunni
Alma mater	Aligarh Muslim University
Known for	Spirituality
Occupation	Scholar, teacher
[1][2][3]
Founder of	Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur Bhatyas
Muslim leader
Disciple of	Hazrat Abdul Gani Sadiqui
[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri (right) with his close aide Alhaj Dost Mohd Wani (left) in 2002

Ganipuri was born on July 22,1937 in Akhyarpur village of Bhatyas (Bhalessa). He graduated from Khilotran High School in 1954.

Being a disciple of Alhaj Abdul Gani Sadiqui, Ganipuri worked in different government schools as a teacher and administrator. He had a tradition of donating his salary during holidays to charity.[1][4]

Career

After completing high school in 1954, he began teaching at Thanamandi Rajouri in 1956, soon thereafter resigning for personal reasons. In 1957, he began teaching in Ramnagar Udhampur. He completed his Teacher Training Course from Bhaderwah and his higher school and Alim Fazil from Aligarh Muslim University.[1][4]

Ganipuri established a Madrasa in 1983 on the pattern of Darul Uloom Deoband known as Madrasa Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur Bhatyas.[1][4]

Ganipuri used to sit on a mattress in his room where a huge number of supplicants visited him one by one.[5]

Followers considered him a Hakeem and a Murshid. Muslims and Hindus from the locality and also from Poonch, Kathua, and other places would meet him and tell him about their troubles. He advised them on a solution for their woes. He was a Sufi and respected among locals.[5]

Jamia Masjid Akhyarpur Bhatyas Bhalessa built by Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri

Ganipuri wrote thirty-five books, mostly in the Urdu language. These books include his experience at his Haj Pilgrimage. He also acted as editor and publisher of the Annual Magazine Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur.[1]

The school has various Hindu as well as Muslim students and teachers. Most of the students are poor and receive free education and board.[4]

Death

Around sixty thousand people attended the funeral of Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri in Akhyarpur Bhatyas on 24 July 2015.

Ganipuri died on 24 July 2015, after a prolonged illness.[2][4] Every year on the anniversary of his death, seminars and other literary programs are held in remembrance of him.[6]

References

1. Malik, Sadaket (23 Aug 2015). "A Spiritual figure". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 14 Jul 2020.
2. "Alhaaj Ghulam Qadir Sahib Gani Puri is now no more , he was spiritual personality of the Bhallesa". www.fnsjandk.co.vu. 24 Jul 2015. Retrieved 14 Jul 2020.
3. "Saroori pays tribute to Alhaj Ganipuri Sahab on his 5th death anniversary". JK Monitor. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 14 Jul 2020.
4. "Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri, a profound scholar and spiritual leader". The Chenab Times. 26 Jun 2018. Retrieved 15 Jul 2020.
5. "Alhaj Ghulam Quadir Ganipuri: An epitome of Peace". www.scoopnews.in. Retrieved 15 Jul 2020.
6. "One day seminar on life of religious scholar Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri held at Jakyas". The Northern Herald. 20 Jun 2019. Retrieved 14 Jul 2020.