SRINAGAR: The 60th passing away anniversary of Mirwaiz Moulana Ateequllah Shah (RA), the prominent religious scholar, spiritual leader and former president of Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, was observed with great devotion and respect, under the auspices of this over-a-century-old educational institution.
Due to the continued detention of the Anjuman head Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, it was not possible to organise any major academic event in this regard, the institution said in a statement. However, in a brief and significant meeting, the teachers, staff and students of the Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam paid homage to the Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA) for his invaluable educational services and reforms to the institution, it added.
They said the tenure of Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA) as the chairman of the Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam was an unforgettable, illustrious and golden period for the institution in all respects as it produced a large number of doctors, scholars, engineers, scientists and intellectuals under his guidance, who excelled in their respective fields and earned fame for Kashmir.
The statement said that shortly after the establishment of Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam in 1899, Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA) was appointed its General Secretary and after the demise of Mirwaiz Ahmadullah Shah (RA) in 1931, the responsibility of presiding over the institution was placed on the shoulders of Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA) and since then until his last breath, the late Mirwaiz added a valuable chapter in the history of the Anjuman by devoting all his abilities to achieve the goals and objectives of the institution.
The Anjuman said due to the efforts of Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA), the foundation stone of Islamia College of Science and Commerce Srinagar was laid. The college used to run on the premises of Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam for the first two years and was then transferred to Hawal, Srinagar. Mirwaiz Ateequllah Shah (RA) was the President of Islamia College of Science and Commerce, for life.
The Anjuman reminded that as soon as the news of Mirwaiz Ateequllah’s demise spread, thousands of people from both Muslim and Pandit communities from nook and corner of the valley gathered at the Mirwaiz Manzil to pay their last respects to him. And on the second day, an official holiday was observed and the deceased was buried in his ancestral graveyard, Malkha, with moist eyes.

KR Desk