Online Desk: Burhan Wani is an icon and shining star of Kashmir’s history who will always be remembered as a symbol of resistance and resilience. Kashmiri people consider him as a benefactor, savior and hero, as he represented his oppressed nation with great courage and sacrificed his life for the sacred cause of freedom from Indian slavery.

Every year on the anniversary of this great martyr, the Kashmiri nation renews its pledge to fulfill the great mission for which Burhan Wani and more than 600,000 Kashmiris sacrificed their precious lives since 1947 till date.

Burhan Muzaffar Wani was a torch bearer, whose struggle will serve as model and beacon of light for the young generation of Kashmir. This 22-year-old youth has created a history of courage, bravery and steadfastness that will be written in golden letters in the history of the freedom movement of Kashmir.

In his young age, he proved his leadership skills on every front and gave a new impetus to struggle and direction to the Kashmir freedom movement through social media. He was martyred by Indian brutal forces during a fake encounter in Kokernag area of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on 8th July in 2016.The popularity and devotion of the people of this young and passionate hero of the freedom movement can be estimated from the fact that a sea of people thronged to the streets of Kashmir to participate in his funeral and due to the large number of people his funeral prayers were performed 40 times and millions of people participated in them.

Burhan Wani was born in 1994 in Tral area of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. His father Muzaffar Wani is a school teacher. He opened his eyes in such a tense environment when Indian state terrorism was at its peak. The killing and destruction of Kashmiris by the occupying Indian soldiers, the humiliation of women, the destruction of homes and the disgrace of humanity left a deep impression on the mind of Burhan and he along with other youth revolted against this oppression and started the struggle to free their oppressed nation from this worst slavery.

In response to rising voices against Indian occupation, cruelty and exploitation, Indian forces inflicted immense atrocities on him and his family and martyred Burhan’s younger brother Khalid Muzaffar in a fake encounter.

However, despite shouldering coffins of two young sons, the spirit of great father Muzaffar Wani is high. He says that Indian oppression is forcing the youth to take the path of resistance.

The parents of Muzaffar Wani and other martyrs say that the life of Kashmiris has become worse than hell due to Indian oppression and the youth is preferring martyrdom over a life of humiliation. India is pushing the Kashmiri youth into violence according to a well-thought-out plan to justify their systematic genocide.

Martyrdom of Burhan Wani is a great tragedy for the Kashmiri nation, but by sacrificing his life, this great martyr gave a new courage to Kashmiris to resist oppression and today every youth of Kashmir is Burhan Wani. Following the life, struggle and martyrdom of Burhan as model Kashmiri youth are giving stiff resistance to occupation forces.

Although the region under Indian colonial rule has been under siege by 10 hundred thousand Indian forces for the past five years and every tactic of oppression is being tried to suppress the freedom movement, the spirit of freedom of Kashmiris is invincible and this is the legacy of the martyrs of the Kashmiri nation.

Kashmiris believe that defeat is the destiny of India and the day is not far when the darkness of oppression will disappear and the dawn of freedom will rise.