Shahid Azmi

SHAHID AZMI
1977 – 2010
The Home Ministry, Intelligence Bureau, RAW
 and police all stand to gain from Azmi’s killing

Courtesy

Shahid Azmi (1977 – 11 February 2010) was a noted lawyer and human rights activist, known for defending those accused in cases of terrorism, including some of accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, such as Faheem Ansari, who was later acquitted for lack of evidence.

11th February 2010. Taximan Colony, Kurla, Mumbai. It was just another day for Rehana Azmi. Her son, Shahid Azmi, a Mumbai-based lawyer, had just returned from work. Rehana started preparing tea for him. His mobile rang. It was a call from his staff, Inder. He asked Shahid to come over as some clients had come to meet him. Shahid asked him to tell them to come the next morning as it was already late. “Bhai, wo kah rahe hain urgent matter hai (It’s an urgent matter, please come over),” came the reply. Given Shahid’s commitment towards his clients, no matter who they were, he went to meet them in his office. Before leaving, his mother called out to him, “Beta, chai tou peeta ja” (Have tea and go). “Ammi, abhi aata hoon (I will be right back, Mom),” came his reply. “Par, Shahid kabhi nahi lauta” (But he never returned), said Rehana, with moist eyes when I met her a few years back. But she was quick to mention, “Par hum zaroor milenge jannat mein”. (We will certainly meet in heaven).


Shahid didn’t come back because that evening, he was shot dead by some unidentified gunmen who came posing as clients in need. He was just 32 back then. Though born and brought up in Mumbai, his teenage years were singed by the fires of communal violence which stalked Bombay in the aftermath of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

For his first job as lawyer, he joined noted defence lawyer Majeed Memon as a junior at Rs 2,000 a month. Later, he started his own practice that made a lasting difference. In a short period of just 7 years of his career as a lawyer, he gained both fame and notoriety for his commitment for Justice. The most remarkable thing about him was that he still chose to engage with the system, a system that criminalised and brutalized him.

What is even more heartening is that across the country, there are hundreds of youth, especially Muslims—both men and women, who have taken inspiration from Shahid and are now either studying or practicing law. In fact, there are half a dozen of them in Taximan Colony itself.

Strange, as much as it may sound, but the fact of the matter remains that a person who was in love with justice— who lived and died for justice, his family members are still waiting for justice.

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Listen him talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYR3xJw2Nh0
A biographical Hindi film based on his life titled, Shahid (2013) starring Rajkummar Rao, was directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by Anurag Kashyap. A must watch.
Excerpted by MOI from a contribution by Mahtab Alam, who is a civil rights activist and writer. His twitter handle is @MahtabNama
Photo courtesy: Tehelka
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• Wikipedia Article - here
• A Grain in My Empty Bowl - Tehelka Article
• A Murder Riddled With Holes - Rana Ayyub Article
• Kafila Article by Mahtab Alam here