Farooq Abdullah (born 21 October 1937) is an Indian politician and president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. He served three times as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He is the son of the state’s towering leader, Sheikh Abdullah, and the father of the current Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. A doctor by training, he has been one of the most prominent faces of Kashmiri politics for more than four decades.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Farooq Abdullah |
| Born | 21 October 1937, Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Age | 88 |
| Party | Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (president) |
| Offices | Chief Minister of J&K (1982–84, 1986–90, 1996–2002); Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy (2009–14) |
| Education | MBBS, SMS Medical College, Jaipur |
| Father | Sheikh Abdullah |
| Spouse | Mollie Abdullah |
| Children | Omar Abdullah, Safia, Hina, Sara |
Early Life
Farooq Abdullah was born near Srinagar, the son of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, known as the “Lion of Kashmir”, who founded the National Conference and led Jammu and Kashmir after independence. Farooq studied medicine at SMS Medical College in Jaipur and practised as a doctor in the United Kingdom. There he married Mollie, a British nurse.
Political Career
Farooq returned to Kashmir in the 1970s and entered politics. He succeeded his father as president of the National Conference and, after Sheikh Abdullah’s death in 1982, as Chief Minister. In 1983 he led the party to a strong election victory. In 1984 his government was brought down by defections and he was dismissed.
Farooq returned as Chief Minister in 1986 after an accord with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the alliance won the disputed 1987 election. As militancy erupted in the Kashmir Valley, he resigned in January 1990, and the state came under central rule. When elections returned in 1996, he became Chief Minister for a third time and served until 2002.
Farooq served in the Rajya Sabha and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Srinagar. From 2009 to 2014 he was Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy in Manmohan Singh‘s government. After the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, he was detained under the Public Safety Act for several months. In 2020 he led the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, a coalition of regional parties seeking restoration of the region’s special status.
Under Farooq’s presidency, the National Conference won the 2024 Assembly election, and his son Omar became Chief Minister. On 11 March 2026 Farooq survived an assassination attempt at a wedding function in Jammu, when a man fired a revolver at him from close range. His security team intervened, the shot missed, and the attacker was arrested. He continues to campaign for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Personal Life
Farooq and Mollie Abdullah have four children: Omar, Safia, Hina and Sara. Farooq is known for his lively personality and his love of singing, golf and film music.
Key Offices Held
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Farooq Abdullah born?
Farooq Abdullah was born on 21 October 1937 in Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
