Srinagar, Jan 01 (KNO): Former Mayor of Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu has paid glowing tributes to Mirwaiz Allama Rasool Shah (RA) on his 117th death anniversary today.
According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while reflecting on what he termed as the “monumental legacy of Mirwaiz Allama Rasool Shah Sahab (RA)”, Mattu said his life was a testament to the fact that our greatest strength lies in the harmony of faith and reason, of spiritual depth, social introspection and societal reform.
“When you consider his founding of the Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam in 1899, you see how his vision was far ahead of his time. In his work you can see the awakening of a collective conscience in Kashmir. He captured the very essence of Kashmir. His vision embodied Kashmir’s soul, the very serenity of our spiritual heritage as well as the vibrant pulse of intellectual and social advancement that proved to be a framework for the eradication of many social ills. The Anjuman was a sanctuary where young minds were given the educational and spiritual foundation to bring about social reform”, the Former Mayor said.
“Today, if you walk through a Srinagar that is both ancient and aspiring, you can’t help but acknowledge that while the challenges we face may have evolved, yet the foundational ideals Mirwaiz Rasool Shah (RA) championed are a timeless inspiration for the people, more relevant than ever. In an age of fleeting social responsibility, an endemic disconnect from our spiritual and cultural roots, his commitment to rooted knowledge and community welfare offers a powerful antidote to many of the issues that confront us”, the Former Mayor further said.
Junaid Mattu said that the youth of Srinagar in particular must emulate Mirwaiz Allama Rasool Shah (RA)’s teachings and understand that authentic empowerment comes from combining education with ethics, and service with compassion.
“This is how we must honour Srinagar’s rich past, its spiritual and cultural legacy, by preserving our history for our generations to come and handing forward the ideals of our spiritual and social icons”, Mattu added—(KNO)