Will Be Remembered for Committment, Consistency & Courage
Chief Cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday paid glowing tributes to Anwar Ashai, a veteran student leader, who breathed his last at his Srinagar residence on 12 August.
Kashmir’s head priest, in a statement, said it was rare to find individuals like Anwar Ashai as his moral courage, commitment and contribution to public life stands out.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mirwaiz visited the house of Anwar Ashai to offer conferences to his son, Dr. Zubair Ashai. He prayed for the departed soul.
“I am saddened by Ashai Sahab’s passing away, as he had met with me many times. I always found him to be a concerned and committed person to public issues,” Mirwaiz Umar said.
Mirwaiz showered praise on the character of Anwar Ashai, saying he was someone known for consistency, commitment and contribution.
“He was a deeply conscious person regarding the history and politics of the jammu Kashmir and the challenges facing it. Over time he became involved in social activism, greatly contributing in matters of education, environment, social reform and others affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said quoting Mirwaiz Umar.
Recalling his political past, Mirwaiz said that Anwar Ashai’s association with “Kashmir’s political movement began during the plebiscite front days in 1965, as a student leader, for which he was imprisoned. During his incarceration, Ashai Sahab along with Mohammad Jaweed, Iqbal Naqshbandi, Habib Ullah Sufi and Bashir Ahmad, who were also student activists, suffered 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.”
“Such moral conviction and courage speaks volumes about these sons of the soil, who will always be remembered and honoured by the people,” the statement added.
Mirwaiz Umar added: “Ashai Sahab belonged to the illustrious Ashai house and his father, a renowned educationist and political activist, Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, was a pioneering figure in the educational and political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims.”
