M. Ashraf, former DG Tourism and eminent columnist, dies at 77

Ziraat Times Team Report

Srinagar: Mohammad Ashraf, well-known writer-columnist, who had also served as Director General, Tourism, J&K, for several years, passed away on Tuesday night. He was 77.

One of the close relatives of Mr Ashraf told Ziraat Times that Mr Ashraf breathed his last at SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar last night at 11 PM.

A prolific writer, Mr Ashraf wrote Kashmir First column in daily Greater Kashmir for many years. He has published at least four books, with two books “Remembering Jammu” and “Travels in Ladakh” published in 2015. Mr Ashraf was also closely associated with Ziraat Times as an adviser.

Mohammad Ashraf was born on August 25, 1943 in a middle class family living in Amira Kadal near the famous locality of Maisuma in Srinagar.

Ashraf received his schooling in half a dozen institutions right from Islamia Middle School to Tyndale Biscoe School.

Having studied Engineering at
Regional Engineering College, Srinagar, and obtained a diploma in French language from New Delhi, in 1973 he gave a project to the State Tourism Department for setting up of an Adventure Tourism Wing for promotion of adventure tourism in J&K. The proposal was accepted and he was appointed in charge of the wing.

Starting his career as a Deputy Director he rose to head the same Department in 1992 as its Director and was promoted as Director General in 1996 from which post he retired in 2003 after a total service of 30 years in Tourism. He is credited with introducing modern tourism in Ladakh region.

Mr Ashraf was single. With the demise of his mother earlier this year, his immediate family comprises of his siblings, most of whom are settled outside the country.