A tribute to the late administrator who left an indelible mark on the lives of many through his selfless service, acumen, and dedication to the betterment of Srinagar City

Hazaaron Saal Nargis Apni Be-Noori Pe Roti Hai

Badi Mushkil Se Hota Hai Chaman Me Deedawar Paida

Sab Kahaan Kuchh Laala-o-Gul Me Numayaan Ho Gayein

Khaak Mein Kya Sooratein Hongi Ki Pinhaan Ho Gayein

It is hard to believe that my last meeting with the late Jenab Mohammad Shafi Pandit Sahib would indeed be the final one. At the last GCC meeting, which he presided over a month ago at the Help Foundation office, he appeared quite healthy, showing no signs of any ailment. During that meeting, I inquired about his recent visit to London and requested that he send someone from the Help Foundation to receive a clothes donation. He called an employee to handle the matter, but unfortunately, the task was not completed, perhaps due to his illness. Little did he know then that he would have to part with his own wardrobe even before this offer could be fulfilled.

The rich tributes paid to him by numerous prominent personalities in the electronic and print media upon his passing are a testament to his popularity, acumen, sincerity, humility, intelligence, efficiency, good etiquette, and, above all, his dedication to social service, both during his active service and afterwards.

I first met him during his tenure as the Administrator of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). He streamlined the building permission process in such a way that all the Executive Engineers (Xens) of the concerned departments would meet weekly at the SMC, where he would chair the meeting and approve or reject the cases in one go, a process that would otherwise take months.

On another occasion, he invited suggestions regarding the development of Srinagar City. In response, I compiled my viewpoints in the form of a booklet titled “Srinagar the Sun City—What it Should Be” and presented it to him when he was the Development Commissioner of Kashmir. I later published and distributed it freely.

Another incident that comes to mind took place in 1989. I had a dream in which I saw the most revered Prophet (SAWS), and I felt compelled to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage. The next day, I met Shafi Sahib in his office when he was the Divisional Commissioner and expressed my desire to perform Hajj. He informed me that I was too late as the registration had closed a week prior. However, as I was leaving, he advised me to check again at 4 PM. When I met him later that day, he congratulated me, saying that an additional 150 seats had been made available, and I could apply. Consequently, I filled out five forms for my relatives and family members.

Many times, we at the Institution of Engineers invited him to chair our seminars, where he delivered thought-provoking lectures based on his vast experience.

There was a special kind of affection that radiated from his face. I pray that Allah blesses him with the highest echelons of Jannat-ul-Firdous. Aameen!

The writer is a former Chief Engineer

By Er Mohammad Ashraf Fazili

[email protected]

Er Mohammad Ashraf Fazili