Personality

Prof Manzoor Fazili

(March 3, 1933 – July 7, 2013)

Kashmir lost one of its diligent intellectuals this week. Renowned academician, writer and political analyst, Prof Manzoor Fazili breathed his last, past Sunday. He was 80 and is survived by his wife, two sons Ehsan Fazili- Special Correspondent for The Tribune newspaper, Irfan Fazili- who teaches Russian language at Kashmir University, and two daughters.

“A lesson on Political Science by Prof Fazili was always a treat for his students. A knowledgeable teacher, he had not just earned the degrees by merely passing the examination. That would always reflect in the lessons he would deliver,” writes Shujaat Bukhari, a prominent journalist of the valley in his obituary to Prof Fazili.

The deceased was suffering from stomach cancer from past few years. He was laid to rest at his ancestral village Wonagam in Bandipora district.

Born on March 3, 1933 at Gamroo, Bandipora, Prof Fazili did his schooling from his native village and then moved to Aligarh Muslim University where he completed his post-graduation.

“I knew Prof Fazili for more than three decades. He wielded the pen comfortably in both English and Kashmiri languages.  He was a great conversationalist and he had considerable knowledge about political, social and literary issues. His death has caused a vacuum in the literary circles of Kashmir,” said PCC chief, Prof Saifuddin Soz.

Prof Fazili joined the government service as a school teacher and later as a school lecturer in 1961. He taught Political Science at Amar Singh College (1961-66), at SP College (1966-71) and at Government Degree College, Sopore in two stints, first from 1971-76 and then from 1982 to 1991. He also taught at the Post-Graduate Department of Political Science, Kashmir University from 1976 to 1982.

Prof Fazili did his PhD from University of Kashmir in 1977 and one of the evaluators of his thesis happened to be Boutros Boutros Ghali, Ex-Secretary General of the UNO.

He had written several books on history, culture and politics of Kashmir and was regarded as an authoritative source on these subjects. Prof Fazili’s Kashmiri publications include Seyastich Piarzan, Luke Seyasat; Munwar Shah, Luk Hakumat and Mukhtesar Tareikh-e-Kashmir.

He was a member of the Cultural Organization, Srinagar and Advisor to Adbee Markaz Kamraz. Prof Fazili had also been conferred J&K Academy of Arts and Culture award.

“I have learnt my first lessons on Article 370 from Prof Fazili and much before A G Noorani would expand the causes and concerns over its erosion in a 400-page book, my favourite teacher had dawned this reality upon us way back in 1987-88,” noted Bukhari.

-Bilal Handoo