SRINAGAR: Sajad Lone, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Handwara, has condemned the removal of a chapter about the revered Kashmiri saint Sheikh Noor-U-Din Wali from the Class 9 textbooks by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE). Lone labelled the decision as “pure cultural terrorism” and an “assault on our culture and ethos,” stating that Sheikh Noor-U-Din Wali, also known as Sheikh-ul-Alam, has been held in the highest esteem by all Kashmiris, irrespective of their religion.
The removal of the chapter, which has sparked widespread controversy, comes months after the revision was made under the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Although the change was carried out before the return of the Assembly elections, criticism has been aimed at the National Conference (NC) government, led by Omar Abdullah, with accusations of the party being responsible for the decision.
Sheikh Noor-U-Din Wali, a prominent Sufi saint, is deeply revered by both Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits. His shrine at Charar-e-Sharief, destroyed during a siege in 1995, was later rebuilt and remains a significant cultural and spiritual landmark. The omission of a chapter dedicated to his life from the Class 9 English textbook has ignited intense criticism from local politicians, including former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu and his former deputy Sheikh Imran.
The situation has been complicated by the hybrid governance model in Jammu and Kashmir, where the roles of the chief minister and lieutenant governor remain undefined. This has led to confusion regarding who is ultimately responsible for the decision. Despite calls for clarification from the Omar Abdullah-led NC government, the education department has yet to address the issue.
The controversy has also sparked debate about the preservation of Kashmir’s cultural and spiritual identity amid ongoing political changes.
Lone, in his remarks, emphasised that the life and teachings of Sheikh Noor-U-Din Wali are deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people, far beyond the existence of the BOSE itself. He stressed that the saint’s life, especially in a time marked by violence, greed, and hatred, serves as a beacon of hope and a model to emulate. Lone strongly condemned the decision and reaffirmed that the legacy of Sheikh Noor-U-Din Wali is inseparable from the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kashmir.
