Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri

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

Ganipuri was born on July 22, 1937, in the Akhyarpur village of Bhatyas (Bhalessa). He graduated from Khilotran High School in 1954.[1] Ganipuri completed his Teacher Training Course from Bhaderwah and his degree and Alim Fazil (post-graduate degree) from Aligarh Muslim University.[1][4]

Ganipuri was a disciple of Abdul Gani Sadiqui and worked in government schools as a teacher and administrator. In 1956 Ganipuri taught at Thanamandi Rajouri and offered his resignation in under a year, citing personal reasons. In 1957, he began teaching in Ramnagar Udhampur.[1][4] In 1983, Ganipuri established a madrasa: Madrasa Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur Bhatyas, which taught and employed both Hindus and Muslims.[1][4] He was inspired to do so by Darul Uloom Deoband. As an honored mentor, Ganipuri sat on a mattress in his room where supplicants visited him one by one.[5]

Followers considered him a Hakeem and a Murshid (religious teacher). He was so widely respected that Muslims and Hindus would often travel to ask him for spiritual assistance.[5]

Jamia Masjid Akhyarpur Bhatyas Bhalessa built by Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri

Ganipuri wrote 35 books, mostly in Urdu. He also acted as editor and publisher of the annual magazine Jamia Guni tul Uloom Akhyarpur.[1]

Around 60,000 people attended the funeral of Alhaj Ghulam Qadir Ganipuri in Akhyarpur Bhatyas on 24 July 2015.

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