Shah Faesal

Faesal Shah was born in the Sogam area of Lolab Valley, located in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Ghulam Rasool Shah, was a teacher who was killed by militants in 2002.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/kashmirs-new-allindia-elite/article3480620.ece|title=Kashmir's new all-India elite|date=2 June 2012|work=The Hindu|access-date=6 March 2019|issn=0971-751X}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-shah-faisal-s-feat-draws-accolades-from-pm-manmohan-singh-1393214|title=Shah Faisal's feat draws accolades from PM Manmohan Singh|date=7 June 2010|website=Daily News and Analysis|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=6 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/shah-faesal-kashmir-pulwama-india-today-conclave-2019-1468789-2019-03-02|title=Waited for bombs to crash through our roofs: Shah Faesal's heartbreaking account of Kashmir panic|date=2 March 2019|website=India Today|access-date=11 March 2019}} Shah Faesal was 19 at the time. Not only was his father a teacher, but his mother, Mubeena Shah, as well as grandfather were teachers.{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/columns/Mani-Shankar-Aiyar/2019/02/23/kashmirs-arvind-kejriwal.html|title=Kashmir's Arvind Kejriwal|last=Aiyar|first=Mani Shankar|date=23 February 2019|website=The Week|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308152737/https://www.theweek.in/columns/Mani-Shankar-Aiyar/2019/02/23/kashmirs-arvind-kejriwal.html|archive-date=8 March 2019|access-date=11 March 2019}}

He is a 2008 batch graduate of the Jhelum Valley Medical College.{{cite web|url=http://www.iupsc.com/shah-faesal-upsc-civil-services-exam-2009-topper/|title=Shah Faisal: UPSC Civil Services Exam 2010 Topper |publisher=UPSC Topper|access-date=6 March 2019}} He holds an MBBS degree from Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar as well as has a master's degree in Urdu.{{cite web|url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=17745&PageId= |title=Supremo |publisher=Supremo |date=17 May 1983 |access-date=18 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ias-officer-shah-faesal-resigns-from-services-to-protest-killings-in-kashmir/articleshow/67454141.cms|title=IAS officer Shah Faesal resigns from services to 'protest killings' in Kashmir|website=The Times of India|date=9 January 2019 }} He finished MBBS at 26 and left IAS at 35. In 2018, he was a recipient of the Fulbright-Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School.{{cite web|url=https://in.usembassy.gov/fulbright-scholars-prepare-to-depart-for-the-u-s/|title=Fulbright Scholars Prepare to Depart for the U.S.|date=24 May 2018|website=U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001002727/https://in.usembassy.gov/fulbright-scholars-prepare-to-depart-for-the-u-s/|archive-date=1 October 2018|access-date=6 March 2019}}

Before cracking Civil Service exam, Faesal was the gold medalist at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, where he studied medicine.{{cite web|url=http://www.theweekendleader.com/|title=The Weekend Leader – Positive Stories from Around India of Unsung Heroes, Change Makers, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Innovators, Green Warriors|website=www.theweekendleader.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}} In 2009, he became the first Kashmiri to get first place in the UPSC civil services exam, which he also cleared on his first attempt. He was also the first candidate from Kashmir in several years to be selected to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) through open merit. He was the fourth Muslim (after Independence) to top the civil service exam.{{cite web|url=http://www.iupsc.com/interview-shah-faesal-upsc-topper/|title=Interview with Shah Faisal, UPSC Topper 2010|website=iUPSC.com|others=Ritika Chopra, HT|access-date=6 March 2019}}

On 16 August 2012, Faisal was appointed as the assistant commissioner, revenue, of Pulwama district.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/4-ias-officers-among-19-transferred/|title=4 IAS officers among 19 transferred|date=17 August 2012|work=Daily Excelsior|access-date=15 August 2020}} He was transferred to the deputy commissioner of Bandipora district on 8 February 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/23-ias-ips-ifs-officers-among-55-transferred-in-jk/828151|title=23 IAS, IPS, IFS Officers Among 55 Transferred in J&K|date=8 February 2014|work=Greater Kashmir|access-date=14 August 2020}} He was transferred to the position of Director School Education, Kashmir, on 22 August 2015, replacing Showkat Ahmad Beigh. Sajad Hussain Ganai replaced him as deputy commissioner of Bandipora.{{Cite news|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/govt-orders-transfers-in-administration-3/|title=Govt orders transfers in administration|date=22 August 2015|work=Greater Kashmir|access-date=14 August 2020}} Faesal on 26 March 2016 was temporarily given the additional charge of the vice-chairman of J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority while Sarmad Hafeez had been sent to Hyderabad for the IAS Induction Training Programme.{{Cite news|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/dheeraj-gets-charge-of-pdc-shah-faesal-gets-lawda/|title=Dheeraj gets charge of PDC; Shah Faesal gets LAWDA|date=27 March 2016|work=Greater Kashmir|access-date=15 August 2020}}

During his stint as director of school education, he faced a months-long shutdown of schools during the 2016 Kashmir unrest, causing him to sarcastically post on Facebook that he needed a job, which invited varied comments.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/081016/kashmir-school-education-directors-fb-post-draws-sharp-reaction.html|title=Kashmir School Education Director's FB post draws sharp reaction|date=8 October 2016|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=15 August 2020}} Ajaz Ahmad Bhat took over the charge from him on 18 October 2016, after he had been transferred to J&K State Power Development Corporation and made its managing director.{{Cite news|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/ajaz-takes-over-as-director-school-education/|title=Ajaz takes over as Director School Education|date=18 October 2016|work=Greater Kashmir|access-date=15 August 2020}} He was transferred from his post to that of an administrative secretary to the state tourism department in May 2018, however, was later asked to remain on his current post.{{Cite news|url=http://risingkashmir.in/news/shah-faesal-to-continue-as-md-jk-state-power-dev-corpn|title=Shah Faesal to continue as MD J&K State Power Dev Corpn|date=9 May 2018|work=Rising Kashmir|access-date=15 August 2020}}

Faesal also received the Fulbright-Nehru Masters's Fellowship in May 2018 to study at the Harvard Kennedy School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/ias-topper-faesal-lit-hope-in-many-ruffled-some-feathers-too-711314|title=IAS topper Faesal lit hope in many, ruffled some feathers too|date=10 January 2019|work=The Tribune|first=Azhar|last=Qadri|access-date=15 August 2020}} He tendered his resignation from the IAS on 9 January 2019 citing "unabated killings" in Kashmir among other things, through a Facebook post. He was also generally disillusioned with his role as a bureaucrat, which included jailing people and imposing curfews.

In April 2022, he presented an application for withdrawing his resignation & was reinstated in the service, and in August 2022, he was posted as Deputy Secretary in Union Ministry for Tourism.

On 4 February 2019, Faesal Shah began his political life by giving a public speech in his hometown of Kupwara. During this speech he compared his experience in the IAS with feeling like having "spent the last 10 years in a jail."{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/spent-the-last-10-years-in-a-jail-says-ex-ias-officer-shah-faesal-about-his-tenure/story-4Qm0yH1Ji5dvt4xo31Et9N.html|title=Spent the last 10 years in a jail, says ex-IAS officer Shah Faesal about his tenure|last=Ehsan|first=Mir|date=5 February 2019|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=6 March 2019}} On 25 February 2019, he announced during a live debate on NDTV that he is launching his own political party and has already applied to the Election Commission regarding this.{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/shah-faesal-announces-new-political-party-jammu-and-kashmir|title=Ex-IAS Officer Shah Faesal Announces He's Forming a New Party|date=26 February 2019|website=The Quint|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226143628/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/shah-faesal-announces-new-political-party-jammu-and-kashmir|archive-date=26 February 2019|access-date=6 March 2019}} On 16 March 2019, he announced through Facebook that he would be launching his own political party on 17 March, the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples' Movement (JKPM), at a football ground in Rajbagh area, Srinagar.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-ias-officer-shah-faesal-to-launch-political-party-tomorrow/article26554852.ece|title=Former IAS officer Shah Faesal to launch political party|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=16 March 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 March 2019|issn=0971-751X}}

Faesal formed the JKPM on 21 March and stated it would provide a political platform to the youth as well as veteran politicians with a clean image. He later announced that it will not contest the 2019 Indian general election to focus more on outreach, and encouraged people to vote for the right politicians. He also said the party would focus on safeguarding Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution of India.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/ex-ias-officer-shah-faesal-s-party-not-to-contest-lok-sabha-elections-urges-people-to-vote/story-CJtJNhVVXjHMmOLatJRgDO.html|title=Ex-IAS officer Shah Faesal's party not to contest Lok Sabha elections, urges people to vote|date=23 March 2019|work= Hindustan Times|access-date=15 August 2020}} On 18 June, he and Engineer Rashid announced that their parties, JKPM and Awami Ittehad Party, would be entering into a political alliance called Peoples United Front. The main points of its agenda were the resolution of the Kashmir dispute based on the wishes of Kashmiris, peaceful relations between India and Pakistan, protecting the state's special status, return of Kashmiri Pandits and release of all politicians from detention.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-gets-first-pre-poll-alliance-in-run-up-to-assembly-polls-2055473|title=Jammu And Kashmir Gets First Pre-Poll Alliance In Run-Up To Assembly Polls|work=Press Trust of India|publisher=NDTV|access-date=11 August 2020}}

Faesal was one of the political leaders detained after the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. As he tried to take a flight to Turkey on 14 August 2019, he was stopped and later taken into preventive detention.{{Cite news|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page-2/day-after-his-release-shah-faesal-put-under-house-arrest/|title=Day after his release, Shah Faesal put under house arrest|last=Naqushbandi|first=Ubeer|date=4 June 2020|work=Greater Kashmir|access-date=11 August 2020}} He was first kept at the Centaur Hotel in Srinagar and then shifted to the MLA hostel where he spent the next six months.{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/j-k-leader-shah-faesal-booked-under-public-safety-act/story-Ge0UZ74IRtxKE5vg6mZhDI.html|title=J-K leader Shah Faesal booked under Public Safety Act|first=Mir|last=Ehsan|date=15 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020|publisher=Hindustan Times}}

Faesal later in August filed a habeas corpus plea before the Delhi High Court, stating that he was going to the United States to complete his studies, but had been illegally detailed. The government of the union territory stated that he had no student visa, and upon being brought to Srinagar Airport, provoked the people to protest against India. It additionally claimed that he had refused to guarantee that he won't create any such situation again if released.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jk-govt-in-hc-defends-shah-faesals-detention-says-hes-not-in-unauthorised-custody/articleshow/70861587.cms|title=Faesal detained after he 'instigated' people against country in his address: J&K govt tells HC|date=27 August 2019|work=Press Trust of India|publisher=Times of India|access-date=11 August 2020}} The plea was withdrawn by his wife after she met him in September 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/shah-faesal-withdraws-plea-from-delhi-hc-challenging-his-detention-1598341-2019-09-12|title=Shah Faesal withdraws plea from Delhi HC challenging his detention|date=12 September 2019|last=Mathur|first=Aneesha|publisher=India Today|access-date=11 August 2020}}

He was booked under the Public Safety Act in February 2020, being accused of subtly advocating separatism. The detention under PSA was extended by three months on 13 May.{{Cite news|url=https://theprint.in/india/shah-faesals-detention-extended-by-3-months-under-psa/421137/|title=Shah Faesal's detention extended by 3 months under PSA|date=14 May 2020|work=The Print|access-date=11 August 2020}} On 3 June, PSA against Faesal was revoked{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/j-k-leader-shah-faesal-to-be-released-stringent-public-safety-act-revoked-2240071|title=J&K Leader Shah Faesal To Be Released, Stringent Public Safety Act Revoked|date=3 June 2020|work=NDTV|access-date=11 August 2020}} and he was released after a detention of 10 months.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/psa-against-shah-faesal-two-pdp-leaders-revoked/article31739402.ece|title=Shah Faesal, two PDP leaders released|work=The Hindu|first=Peerzada|last=Ashiq|date=3 June 2020|access-date=11 August 2020}} He was, however, put under house arrest on the very next day.

Faesal has also written for the Greater Kashmir newspaper and was a part of Jammu & Kashmir's Right to Information movement along with Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat.{{Cite news|url=https://kashmirlife.net/curious-case-of-shah-faesal-issue-48-vol-11-224733/|title=Curious Case of Shah Faesal|date=4 March 2020|last=Bhat|first=Saima|work=Kashmir Life|access-date=11 August 2020}}

JKPM announced on 10 August 2020 that Faisal had told them he couldn't remain in politics any longer and asked to be relieved from being a member of the party, which they acceded to. Chairman Javaid Mustafa Mir was chosen as his replacement.

Faesal Shah wrote bold social media posts even as a bureaucrat.{{cite web|last=Iqbal|first=Naveed|date=12 February 2019|title=Jammu and Kashmir: With selfies, call for 'change', Shah Faesal takes first steps|url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/jammu-and-kashmir-with-selfies-call-for-change-shah-faesal-takes-first-steps-5578955/|access-date=11 March 2019|website=The Indian Express}} In July 2018, when he was a civil servant, he had posted a tweet, writing:

"Population +patriarchy +illiteracy +alcohol +porn +technology +anarchy = rapistan".{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/disciplinary-action-against-2010-ias-topper-for-rapistan-tweet/313333|title=J&K Govt Initiates Disciplinary Action Against 2010|date=11 July 2018|website=Outlook India|access-date=11 March 2019}}

People had said his tweet was in relation to India, but he had later clarified it was not.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ias-officer-shah-faesal-1st-kashmiri-to-top-civil-services-quits-citing-intolerance/cid/1681338|title=IAS officer Shah Faesal quits, citing intolerance|last=Raina|first=Muzaffar|date=10 January 2019|website=The Telegraph|location=Kolkota|access-date=11 March 2019}} However disciplinary action was taken by the Jammu and Kashmir government as well as the central government's Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the inquiry was still going on before his resignation.

During the 2016 Kashmir unrest, Faesal had urged the national media not to use his pictures for drawing a comparison with Burhan Wani, a Kashmiri militant and commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. During this episode he had threatened to resign through a Facebook post if such primetime propaganda did not stop.{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/spare-me-kashmir-ias-topper-shah-faesal-threatens-to-resign-1431982|title=Spare Me: Kashmir IAS Topper Shah Faesal Threatens To Resign|date=16 July 2016|publisher=NDTV|agency=IANS|access-date=11 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/160716/dont-compare-me-with-burhan-wani-kashmiri-ias-officer-to-media.html|title=Don't compare me with Burhan Wani: Kashmiri IAS officer to media|date=16 July 2016|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=11 March 2019}} In 2019, Hizbul Mujahideen circulated a poster warning people about Shah Faesal.{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hizbul-mujahideen-cautions-people-about-shah-faesal-2713587|title=Hizbul Mujahideen cautions people about Shah Faesal|date=30 January 2019|website=Daily News and Analysis (DNA)|access-date=11 March 2019}}

In February 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs withdrew the security cover of 155 people in Jammu and Kashmir, and this included Shah Faesal, who had until then had been provided security as a bureaucrat.{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-security-of-shah-faesal-pdp-leader-withdrawn-by-jk-govt/325847|title=Govt Withdraws Security To 18 Separatist Leaders, 155 Politicians Including Shah Faesal in J&K|date=20 February 2019|website=Outlook India|access-date=11 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-shah-faesal-s-security-clearance-withdrawn-by-jk-administration-2722301|title=Shah Faesal's security clearance withdrawn by J&K administration|date=12 February 2019|website=Daily News and Analysis (DNA)|agency=PTI|access-date=11 March 2019}}

On 14 August 2019 he was detained while flying out of IGI Airport to Turkey and sent back to Kashmir.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/shah-faesal-detained-kashmir-unrest-delhi-airport-house-arrest-1580770-2019-08-14|title=Former IAS officer Shah Faesal detained at Delhi airport, placed under house arrest in Kashmir|date=14 August 2019}}

Apart from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Shah Faesal has also named Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a role model.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-plans-to-join-any-political-party-as-of-now-shah-faesal/articleshow/67488173.cms|title=I'm deeply inspired by Imran Khan: Faesal Rasool Shah|date=11 January 2019|website=The Times of India|access-date=11 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/imran-khan-kejriwal-inspired-me-to-join-politics-says-shah-faesal-1428976-2019-01-11|title=Imran Khan, Kejriwal inspired me to join politics, says Shah Faesal|date=11 January 2019|website=India Today|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=11 March 2019}} Mani Shankar Aiyar, another Indian bureaucrat turned politician who went on to become a Union Minister, wrote an article on Shah Faesal called "Kashmir's Arvind Kejriwal".

On 3 March 2019, Shah Faesal recommended the Nobel Peace Prize for Imran Khan for "saving South Asia from a nuclear catastrophe."{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/mar/03/ex-ias-officer-shah-faesal-recommends-nobel-peace-prize-for-imran-khan-draws-flak-1946131.html|title=Ex-IAS officer Faesal Rasool Shah recommends Nobel Peace Prize for Imran Khan, draws flak|date=3 March 2019|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=6 March 2019}}

Faesal, during a talk in New Delhi in February 2019 at the India International Center, said that Kashmir is like a "High Altitude Graveyard".{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/kashmir-is-more-like-high-altitude-graveyard-says-shah-faesal-after-pulwama-terror-strike-claims-40-2038025.html|title=Kashmir is More Like High Altitude Graveyard, Says Faesal Rasool Shah After Pulwama Terror Strike Claims 40|date=15 February 2019|website=News18|access-date=11 March 2019}} He has suggested ways forward including "humanising the discourse" and advising people not to see the Kashmir issue as a mere "law and order problem".{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/trust-deficit-among-kashmiri-youth-towards-indian-state-shah-faesal/729528.html|title=Trust deficit among Kashmiri youth towards Indian state: Shah Faesal|last=Singh|first=Ravi S|date=15 February 2019|work=The Tribune|access-date=11 March 2019}}

On 5 March 2021, taking to Twitter, Faesal wrote, "Friends let’s sort it out for once. I have always been pro-India. But now I am single-mindedly, shamelessly, helplessly and unapologetically pro-India. I stick to my side. It is a long story and I have to tell this story one day. But this is how it is going to be. Peace."{{cite web|last=Staff|first=J. K. R.|date=2021-03-06|title="Shamelessly, helplessly and unapologetically pro-India.": Kashmiri IAS topper Shah Faesal leaves netizens confused with fresh social media post|url=http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/shamelessly-helplessly-and-unapologetically-pro-india-kashmiri-ias-topper-shah-faesal-leaves-netizens-confused-with-fresh-social-media-post/333040/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Janta Ka Reporter 2.0|language=en-US}}

Shah Faesal is married to Iram Rashid, an officer of KAS, and has a son named Jami Faesal.{{cite web|date=23 February 2019|title=Petition in HC seeks release of Shah Faesal|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/petition-in-hc-seeks-release-of-shah-faesal/article29162969.ece|access-date=11 August 2020|website=The Hindu}}

{{reflist}}

• Khalid Shah (2019). [https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/shah-faesal-paradox-kashmir-47396/ Shah Faesal and the paradox of Kashmir]. Observer Research Foundation
• Murtaza Shibli (2019). [https://countercurrents.org/2019/01/31/shah-faesal-a-forged-journeyshah-faesal-a-forged-journey/ Shah Faesal: A Forged Journey]. Countercurrents.org

• {{Facebook|shah.faesal.3}}

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Category:Indian Administrative Service officers

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