Srinagar, Aug 12 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Wednesday visited the family of veteran student leader and civil society activist Anwar Ashai to offer condolences, recalling his contribution to Kashmir’s public life and his courage during the political movement.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said Mirwaiz visited the house of Anwar Ashai to offer condolences to the bereaved family over his demise.
He said Mirwaiz expressed grief over Ashai’s passing, recalling that he had met him many times and found him to be a concerned and committed person who remained engaged with public issues.
Paying tributes to him, Mirwaiz said Ashai was deeply conscious of the history and politics of Jammu and Kashmir and the challenges facing its people.
The spokesperson said Ashai was involved in social activism and made significant contributions to education, environment, social reform and other issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Recalling his political past, Mirwaiz said that his association with Kashmir’s political movement began during the Plebiscite Front days in 1965 as a student leader, for which he was arrested and later imprisoned. During his incarceration, Ashai, along with Mohd Jaweed, Iqbal Naqishbandi, Habib Ullah Sufi and Bashir Ahmad, who were also student activists and had been arrested, suffered great torture in prison but refused to become collaborators when asked to become prime witnesses in the false case against Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, who was himself lodged in jail under stringent charges,” the spokesperson said.
He said such moral conviction and courage spoke volumes about these “sons of the soil”, who would always be remembered and honoured by the people.
Mirwaiz said Ashai belonged to the illustrious Ashai family and was the son of renowned educationist and political activist Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, a pioneering figure in the educational and political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims.
“Ashai was a close associate of Muhajir-e-Millat Mirwaiz Yousuf Shah and played a key role in the political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims, eventually leading to the formation of the Muslim Conference, Kashmir’s first major organised Muslim political platform. Ashai was also instrumental in the establishment of Kashmir University,” the spokesperson quoted Mirwaiz as saying.
The spokesperson said Mirwaiz maintained that the passing away of Anwar Ashai had left a void that would not only be felt by his family and friends but also by the people whose causes such individuals dedicated their lives to.
Mirwaiz extended his condolences to his son Zubair Ahmed Ashai, daughter and other family members, particularly the Ashai, Matoo and Shahdad families.—(KNO)