SRINAGAR: Glowing tributes were paid to the late Dr Javid Iqbal at an impressive condolence-cum-remembrance meeting organised by the Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, on Saturday. The gathering brought together eminent scholars, writers, academicians, medicos, journalists, business leaders, social activists, former bureaucrats, technocrats, friends, admirers and members of the bereaved family to honour the memory of a man widely regarded as a distinguished physician, prolific writer, public intellectual and committed social activist.
The programme commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a Persian na’at rendered by Fayaz Ahmad Khushkhwan. An audio presentation prepared by Wajahat (Gabriel) Iqbal, the deceased’s son, was played at the outset, offering a moving portrayal of Dr Javid Iqbal’s life, achievements, and personal attributes from a family perspective.
The meeting was presided over by Justice (Retd.) Bashir Ahmad Kirmani. In his presidential address, Justice Kirmani described Dr Javid Iqbal’s demise as a collective loss to society. He observed that with his departure, society had been deprived of a prolific writer who tirelessly strove to awaken public consciousness, a vigilant social activist who kept a keen eye on societal developments and fearlessly contested social evils, and an intellectual whose scholarship was always guided by compassion and concern for the common good. He commended KCSDS for organising the programme, saying that societies which remember and honour their social activists and men of integrity keep alive the values they stood for.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, the Chairperson of KCSDS, Prof. Hameedah Nayeem, remarked that the organisation had lost its “soul and conscience.” She read out a memorial citation prepared by KCSDS in recognition of Dr Javid Iqbal’s lifelong services to society and presented the framed citation to Bashir Siraj, a close relative of the deceased.
Rich tributes were paid by Maulana Showkat Hussain Keng, Dr Altaf Hussain, Senior Advocate Zaffar Ahmad Shah, Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, Nasir Naseer, Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Gowhar Geelani, Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba, Dr Maroof Shah, Dr Abdul Waheed, Dr Abdul Ahad, Dr Nazir Mushtaq, Advocate Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Prof. Kamaluddin Farooqui, Zareef Ahmad Zareef and Amir Suhail Wani, who highlighted different facets of Dr Javid Iqbal’s multifaceted personality as a physician, scholar, columnist, promoter of Urdu and Kashmiri literature, advocate of social harmony and compassionate humanitarian.
Maulana Showkat Hussain Keng reflected upon the inevitability of death and recalled numerous interactions with Dr Javid Iqbal, describing him as an authority on Islamic theology, history and Persian mystical literature. Dr Altaf Hussain presented an overview of his diverse accomplishments, observing that it was difficult to find another individual endowed with such a wide range of qualities. Senior Advocate Zaffar Ahmad Shah recalled Dr Javid’s efforts in alleviating the suffering of the needy during periods of natural calamities. Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, speaking on behalf of the Urdu Council, highlighted his services as President of the institution, while Nasir Naseer remembered the lasting impression his literary presentations left on members of the Fiction Writers Guild.
Prominent journalists Mahmood-ur-Rashid and Gowhar Geelani shared their experiences and reminiscences, while Prof Noor Ahmad Baba and Dr Maroof Shah spoke about their long association with the departed scholar. His close friends and companions, Dr Abdul Waheed, Dr Abdul Ahad, Dr Nazir Mushtaq and Advocate Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, narrated touching anecdotes that reflected his simplicity, generosity and deep concern for others. Prof. Kamaluddin Farooqui emphasised the need to carry forward Dr Javid Iqbal’s legacy by continuing to raise important social issues and seeking practical solutions to them. Zareef Ahmad Zareef recited a moving Kashmiri elegy composed on the occasion, while Amir Suhail Wani offered poetic tributes to the departed soul.
The function was attended by an impressive gathering of distinguished citizens from diverse walks of life who listened with rapt attention to the reminiscences and reflections shared in honour of the deceased. Among those present were writers and columnists Rukhsana Jabeen, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, Abdul Majeed Siraj, Shakeel-ur-Rahman, Shafi Athar, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Prof. Amin Sofi, Abdul Hameed Siraj and Prof. Shahnawaz Muntazir; former bureaucrats Saleem Beg, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Irfan Yaseen and Mehmood Akhtar; technocrats Er SRS Madni, Er Jalal-ud-Din Shah, Er Hakim Iftikhar Ahmad and Er Fazal Qari; academicians Prof. Qazi Altaf Ahmad, Prof. Khurshid Mahajan, Prof Shafiqa Parveen, Prof Sujan Kour, Dr Naseema, Saleem Salik, Rubina Renzu, Dr Ishaq Wani, and Prof Muslim Jan Fazili, Prof Qurat ul Ain. Hawa Bashir; medics Dr Fareeda Ashai, Dr Saleem Najar, Dr Kaisar Ahmad and Dr Zubair Ashai, senior journalists Sheikh Manzoor Ahmad and Peerzada Ashiq; business leaders M. Ashraf Mir, Rauf Punjabi, G. M. Dug and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Majid Wafai; social activists Khurshid Ahmad Wani, Mushtaq Ahmad Jan and Showkat Farooqi; besides several other distinguished personalities.
Members of Dr Javid Iqbal’s family, including his sister Dr Saleema Shora and her husband Dr Shora, Bashir Siraj, Kamran and other relatives, were also present on the occasion.
The vote of thanks was presented by Abdul Majid Zargar, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their presence and tributes. He also thanked Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary of the Amar Singh Club, and others associated with the Club for facilitating the organisation of the programme. Syed Shakeel Qalander moderated the proceedings.
