KL Report
Srinagar
Legendary Scout of Jammu and Kashmir, Ahmadullah Affandi, the recipient of Bharat Scouts and Guides Silver Elephant National Award by President of India in 1999 passed away on Monday at his residence in Wonagam village of Bandipora district in north Kashmir.
Affandi passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 91 years. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, three sons and grand-children.
The death has been widely condoled. Afandi was also given state award in 2005-06 for his outstanding contribution towards the Scouts and Guides movement. The Chief Commissioner, J&K Scouts and Guides, Farooq Rennzu has condoled the demise of Affandi and lauded his role in the movement.
Ahmadullah Affandi was also the leader of Indian contingent which was invited to Saudi Arabia by the then Saudi Arabian King, Shah Faesal in 1967. He has also played as a goal-keeper for Kashmir 11 hockey team, which participated in different matches at Lahore in 1948-49.
He had raised a Scouts troop at the Eaglet’s Public School in Bandipora, where he taught for more than two decades after his retirement from government services.
Born on February 22, 1922, he was appointed as teacher in 1941, on the basis of his scouting skills.
As a teacher, Affandi taught in unique style based on the spirit and basic principles of scouting, to the students at the level of Nursery and pre-primary in and outside his school.
For the last six decades of the 20th century, Affandi had been upholding the spirit and principles laid down by Lord Baden-Powell, the pioneer chief of scouting.
May Allah bless him with a place in Paradise and give his family, and those close to him patience to get through this difficult time. Ameen.