His humble beginnings, relentless pursuit of knowledge, and inspiring legacy remind us that true greatness endures beyond the grave. May we carry his spirit forward in unity and compassion!
Writing about Dr Zubair Rather, whose life was cut short in a deadly accident, wounds my soul deeply. When the news of his death flashed on social media sites, my eyes couldn’t believe what had happened. In the blink of an eye, the social media platforms were filled with messages mourning the untimely death of a genius research scholar.
I want to begin by making it clear that I cannot do justice to Dr Zubair, given his nature and the hard work he put into everything. What to write and how to write? What to skip and what to highlight? The way he fought with the fragility of life is a legacy to be cherished forever. Though I didn’t know him personally, I couldn’t reconcile with the fact that such a hardworking and brilliant individual could die like this. His humble background and the brilliance he had achieved so far kept me hooked on him since his death. However, the fact remains that death is common to all, and Dr Zubair was no exception.
The legacy he left behind is too vast to encapsulate in a single article. In his limited years on this earth, he proved that hard work and determination have no substitutes. Going through the toughest grinds and religiously following the procedure has the potential to turn the tables in our favour. Dr Zubair proved this exceptionally well. He was aiming for the stars. However, on that day, his life—just about to bloom—was marred by the merciless claws of death, and the ever-lasting autumn decimated the fragile blossoms of his journey forever.
How easy is it to write about someone who endured everything to fulfil the dream of living an honourable and comfortable life? I am writing these lines under a running fan. After eating to my fill and drinking different kinds of beverages, I am throwing light on the accomplishments of a noble soul. However, I cannot fully grasp the body language of Mr Zubair when he was alive, nor of his family members now. His family will never be able to come to terms with the fact that their apple of the eye is gone forever. The burning candle in the stormy days and nights was extinguished in a jiffy.
Though hope remains for his family members to survive on, his presence and dedication towards his goal will always echo through the hollow walls of their lives. He will be remembered every moment. When it rains, the falling raindrops will make his presence felt. In the winter season, when the biting cold reaches the marrow of our chests and the snowflakes kiss the earth in ecstasy, Dr Zubair’s presence will be felt bitterly. The wounds of the heart and soul will bleed again, and the wailings will keep the dead awake for a long time.
How can his daughters forget him? I am unable to understand. How is it possible for them to sleep in his absence? How can they convince themselves that their father will never return to live among them? How can they eat and swallow food when their father’s place remains vacant? Who will read the books he left open? Who will carry his research forward? When will his dream of becoming a government lecturer or Assistant Professor be fulfilled? Who will send their CVs to different institutions for their perusal? Who will do all these things? Who?
As I am short of words and my eyes brim with tears, I want my fellow Kashmiris to take care of Dr Zubair’s family now. It is our duty to contribute as much as we can to help his family in these tough times. His void will never be filled. However, we can lessen the burden on his loved ones. Dr Zubair is now resting in eternal peace. The angels of mercy are lulling him to sleep. The fairies of paradise are preparing his eternal bed so he may sleep peacefully. But his family must carry on with life in this merciless world.
All of us must come forward in these trying times and carry forward the legacy of Dr Zubair in the best way possible. Being a student, it hurts me to know he is no longer among his family. One of his colleagues wrote a heart-touching account of him in the renowned weekly magazine Kashmir Life. In that well-articulated piece, I came to know what kind of personality he truly was. The writer, too, requested fellow Kashmiris to keep the memory of Dr Zubair alive by helping his family in whatever way possible.
So, to bless the pious soul of Zubair Ahmad, let us—individually as well as collectively—help his family for the sake of humanity and as a tribute to this legendary scholar. Bhupinder Singh and Mitalee Singh sang rightly, “Tum laut kar na shaam aayoge, intezaar tumhara kiya.” Dr Zubair will never come back on any evening. Every evening, the candles lit in his welcome will flicker and fade by dawn.
If we want to keep the candle of Zubair Ahmad burning in the stormy days and nights, let us not forget him.
Rest in peace, Dr Zubair Rather!
Syed Mustafa Ahmad