SRINAGAR: Veteran Gujar politician and spiritual leader, Mian Bashir Ahmad was laid to rest Sunday at his ancestral graveyard in Baba Nagri Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of Mian Bashir Ahmad on Sunday, August 15, 2021. Pic: JKNC

Led by local Imam, people from all walks of life including NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah participated in his funeral prayers held at around 4:00 Pm.

Besides countless devotees, and admirers various party functionaries, particularly from Rajouri, Poonch, Banihal, Kishtawar, Doda, Badarwah, Udhampur, and other districts also participated in the funeral prayers.

He breathed his last around 9 pm on Saturday. He was 98.

Condoling the demise, National Conference President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise.

In his condolence message Dr Farooq said, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of Baba Ji, a man of imperishable renown.  Great men of the world have memorabilia set for them, but this man of great vision, and divine force had managed to become enmeshed in the hearts of millions of people cutting across regional and cultural divides. He has left behind a huge wealth of spiritual teachings, which will continue to inspire and strengthen coming generations, particularly the Gujjjar community, to realize their full potential. During his lifetime, Baba Ji carried forward the valuable heirloom of traditions, which were handed over to him from generation after generation. On his demise, I pay my earnest tributes to his departed soul and pray to almighty Allah to grant him highest echelons in Jannat and much needed patience to the bereaved family members, particularly Mian Altaf Sahib and millions of his followers and devotees of his to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.

While expressing grief over the passing away of Baba Ji, Omar said the guiding light has gone out of our lives. He said that Baba Ji’s struggle and efforts to bring the deprived and marginalized sections of society into the mainstream will continue to remain unparalleled. A man of sound knowledge, lofty integrity and unparalleled dynamism, he was deeply concerned about the socio-political and economic emancipation of our Gujjar brethren. His contribution towards the upliftment of marginalized, and underprivileged sections of our society particularly Gujjars will inspire many in the future as well. Baba Ji had made peace building his lifelong mission; his efforts towards strengthening the bonds of amity, and brotherhood among different sections of society in J&K will be remembered for all the times to come. I pay homage to this great son of the soil and pray to almighty Allah to grant his departed soul eternal peace in the highest realms of Jannat. I share in the grief of Mian Altaf Sahib and the entire bereaved family and millions of Baba Ji’s admirers, and followers at this difficult time,” he said.

Dr Farooq Abdullah visited Baba Nagri Kangan and participated in Namaz e Janaze of Mian Bashir Ahmad. Among others GS Ali Mohammad Sagar, AGS Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, Hasnain Masoodi, Nazir Gurezi, Ishfaq Jabbar, Ajaz Jan, Sajjad Shaheen also participated in Namaz e Janaza. Devender Singh Rana was also present.

Meantime a condolence meeting was held here at party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, where scores of party functionaries paid tributes to the great spiritual and socio-political personality. The meeting was marked by Fatiha Khawani for the deceased.

NC functionaries who have condoled the demise of Baba Ji Larvi and expressed unison with party senior leader Mian Altaf Ahmed in this hour of grief include: GS Ali Muhammad Sagar, Add. GS Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Sigh Rana; Senior leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Muhammad Shafi Uri, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mubarak Gul, Sakina Itoo, Nazir Gurezi, Party MPs Muhammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi; Former MPs Sharief Ud Din Shariq, Pirzada Gh Ahmed Shah, State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous, Central Secretary Irfan Ahmed Shah, Mir Saifullah, Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi,  SS Salathia, Ajay Sadohtra, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo, Javed Rana, Provincial senior VP Muhammad Syed Akhoon, VP Ahsan Pardesi,  Syed Tauqeer Ahmed Shah, Shabir Ahmad, Zonal Presidents Ali Muhammad Dar, Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri; Dr. Sajad Shafi Uri, Syed Rafiq Shah, Tanvir Sadiq, Provincial Secretary Showkat Ahmed Mir, district presidents Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Altaf Ahmed Wani, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Javed Dar, Peer Afaq Ahmed, Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Mir, Showkat Ahmed Ganaie, AA Dar, Sajad Shaheen, Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Social media in charge Sarah Hayat Shah, Dr. Sameer Koul, YNC Provincial Presidents Salman Ali Sagar, Aijaz Ahmed Jan, Womens Wing PPs Er. Sabiya Qadri, Satwant Kour Dogra, Bimla Luthra, additional spokespersons Mudassar Shahmiri, Ifra Jan, Minority Wing MK Yogi, JS Azad, Irshad Kar, GN Shaheen, G H Rahi, Farooq Ahmed Shah, Mohammad Yaqoob Wani, Reyaz Bedar, Aga Mehmood, Dr Muhammad Shafi, Reyaz Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, GQ Pardesi, Pir Muhammad Hussain, Sheikh Muhammad Rafi, Adv. Shabir Kullay, Younis Gul, Safdar Khan, Salam Ud Din Bajad, legal, youth, minority, women’s wing and media office bearers.

The functionaries unanimously expressed unison with the bereaved family particularly with the party senior leader and the son of the deceased, Mian Altaf Ahmed in his hour of grief and loss, said the NC statement.

The Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti in its statement has expressed grief and sorrow over the demise.

Funeral of Mian Bashir Ahmad at Kangan on Sunday, August 15, 2021. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

In her condolence message, Mehbooba described Bashir Saheb as a spiritual guide, mass leader and as someone who dedicated his entire life to the cause of people and religion.

“In Bashir Sahab’s loss, Kashmir has lost a true son of soil, poor and destitute have lost a friend,  Gujjar community has a lost a strong advocate of their empowerment and his followers have lost a spiritual guide,” Mehbooba said.

Recalling his contributions Mehbooba said that Mian Saheb will not only be remembered for his spiritual guidance but shall also be revered for his social contributions to his community and to Jammu and Kashmir at large.

“Mian sahab always vocally stood against those who tried hard to divide communities, strived for a harmonious and equitable relationship between communities and always put the interests of his people first,” Mehbooba added.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, Mehbooba prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to his family to bear this loss.

“I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family especially to Mian Altaf Saheb and his family at this time of grief and sorrow,” she said while praying for everlasting peace and harmony to the departed soul.

Meanwhile, Party leaders including vice president A R Veeri, General Secretaries G N Lone Hanjura, Dr Mehboob Beg, Nizam ud din Bhat , Senior Leaders  Sartaj Madni, Naeem Akhthar, Sofi Abdul Gaffar,  Syed Farooq Andrabi, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Aasiya Naqash, Advocate Mohd Yusuf Bhat, Abdul Hameed Kosheen, Ghulam Mohi ud din Wani, Aijaz Ahmad Mir &  Bashir Ahmad Mir have also condoled the demise of Miyan sahib and prayed for eternal peace to his soul.

Former lawmaker and CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami in a statement said that the demise of renowned religious personality and prominent Gujjar leader, Mian Bashir Ahmed Larvi, is a huge loss to the society as the deceased was always at the forefront of working for the downtrodden sections of the society.

“The deceased was widely respected and prominently followed across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country and for his contributions to the society was awarded Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian award), by the government of India on 26 January 2008. Upliftment and progress of every individual was the hallmark of his political career,” he said.

“In his entire life he always preached peace and always opposed divisive politics. At a time when divisive politics has taken a center stage across the country, the demise of Mian Bashir sahib is a huge loss to the society,” said Tarigami in a statement.

Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari in a statement expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of Mian Bashir Ahmed, a widely respected Gujjar Leader and a great spiritual personality.

In his condolence message, Bukhari described Mian Saheb as an epitome of humility, perseverance and compassion. “His demise has left a huge void in Kashmir’s Sufi society. His brief stint in power was purely to serve the people of especially the downtrodden sections of Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari recalled.

He said that Mian Saheb’s philanthropic contributions besides his spiritual teachings shall be remembered till times to come. “The deceased was a noble soul who has left behind his legacy of religious teachings, human values and cherished virtues of peace and harmony among the people,” Bukhari observed.

He said that Mian Saheb was not only an eminent religious scholar but a great socio-political leader who was revered by one and all especially in the Gujjar-Bakarwal community and it was for rendering extraordinary services to the community besides helping the downtrodden sections of the society that he was honoured with Padma Bhushan award by the government of India.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, Bukhari prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and patience to his family to bear this severe loss.

“On behalf of my family and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and stand with it especially Mian Altaf Saheb and his family at this time of grief and sorrow,” he said while praying for everlasting peace and harmony to the departed soul.

In its statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) expressed profound grief over the passing away of Mian Bashir Saheb Larvi, describing it as a great loss to Jammu and Kashmir.

In his condolence message JKPCC President Ghulam Ahmad Mir has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of eminent religious scholar, Socio and Political figure of J&K Mian Bashir Saheb, who was known for his spirituality and social work he has rendered to people of Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said.

Saddened to learn about the passing away of Mian Bashir Saheb. I have no words to express my grief, Mir said in his condolence message.

My deepest condolences to Mian Altaf, other members of the bereaved family and followers of Mian Shaheb, I pray for eternal peace to the departed soul, JKPCC Presided added and said Mian Bashir Saheb’s guidance and teachings shall continue to inspire generations.

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