Er. Mohammad Ashraf Fazili— pen name Sayid Ashraf Shah — is a well respected, admired but little known name in Kashmir’s intellectual, technical and spiritual circles. Born in Srinagar in 1942, Mr Fazili’s journey from a civil engineer to Chief Engineer in the J&K government is marked by visionary contributions to infrastructure, sustainable urban development and environmental planning.
He is also a Chartered Engineer, Patron Consulting Engineers Srinagar, He served as Honorary Secretary the Institution of Engineers (India) J&K State Centre, Chairman the Institution of Engineers (India) J&K State Centre 2016-2018, Council Member the Institution of Engineers (India). He is Fellow Institution of Engineers India (FIE), Life Member Indian Road Congress (MIRC), Member American Society of Civil Engineers (MASCE), Member World Federation of Engineers Organization Paris (MWFEO), He is also Member National Geographic Society and Member of the Board of Governors SSM College of Engineering, Parihaspora.
Post-retirement, he emerged as one of Kashmir’s most prolific writers, having authored over 66 books covering Islamic scholarship, Sufi heritage, civil engineering, environmental sustainability and Kashmiri history.
A Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and a recipient of accolades across civil society and academia, his work bridges tradition and modernity, deeply rooted in Kashmiri ethos. He has also been a columnist with Ziraat Times. In this interview with Ziraat Times’ Ambreen Khan, Er. Fazili shares insights from his remarkable life and work.
Ziraat Times: Er. Fazili, thank you very much for speaking with us. You’ve had an incredibly diverse career. Let’s begin with your early years. What shaped your path?
Er. Mohammad Ashraf Fazili: Thank you for your time. I was born on December 19, 1942, which coincided with Eid-ul-Azha that year. As the only surviving child of my parents, I was brought up with great love and care. I completed my FSC from the University of Jammu & Kashmir in 1958 and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Annamalai University in South India at the age of 20. Living in South India broadened my worldview and helped build my English proficiency.
Ziraat Times: And soon after, you entered public service?
Er. Fazili: Yes, I joined the J&K government as an engineer. Over the years, I handled key projects across departments—PWD, HUDD, SDA, UEED, LJHEP, and more. I eventually retired as Chief Engineer. Some notable assignments included the Lower Jhelum Hydroelectric Project, urban renewal projects in Srinagar, sanitation and drainage systems, and planning for small and medium towns under UNDP initiatives.
Ziraat Times: What were some of the most satisfying projects for you?
Er. Fazili: Several. The Inland Water Transport project along River Jhelum, sanitation schemes under UNICEF, the Ganderbal Hydroelectric infrastructure, and urban drainage in Srinagar stand out. Also meaningful was my work on low-cost sanitation and solid waste management projects aimed at making Srinagar a cleaner city.
Besides this, I have managed several important projects in J&K PWD, J&K HUDD, SDA, REC Srinagar, LJHEP, NGHEP, REW, PWD R&B, J&K UEED, J&K PCC, D&P Directorate etc. as: Assistant Engineer-DPR for National Highway Sector 1A (Upgradation) DPR for 123 KVA HVT Transmission Line from Jammu to Srinagar, Preparation of DPR with design of several RCC bridges, culverts in Kashmir, Design of Govt. Polytechnic building Jammu, Construction of (105 MW) Lower Jhelum Hydro-electric Project Gantamulla Baramulla, Construction of Wool Grading Centre Building Complex Srinagar under UNDP supervision, Construction of Earthen Dam Karapora Pulwama, , Construction of Office cum Residential Building Complex at Uri Baramulla, Maintenance of National Highway from Baramulla to Uri (50 Kms.) Construction of hill roads and bridges in Uri, As Executive Engineer-Construction of Nalla Mar Road Project, DPR for Sewerage & Drainage Project for Srinagar City, Drainage Scheme Bemina Colony, Low-Cost Sanitation Project of Srinagar City under UNICEF assistance, DPR for Solid Waste Disposal of Greater Srinagar City, Urban Renewal of Srinagar City, Development of small & medium towns of Jammu & Kashmir under UNDP Project, Construction of Circular Road System, Rural Development works Anantnag District, Maintenance of National Highway Bypass Srinagar including the rehabilitation of the damaged bridges, Procurement of 100 no. Gantry Girder Bridges from Garden Reach Kolkata and their installation at damaged sites, Construction of infra structure of New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project (65 MWS), Maintenance of the Lower Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (105 MWS), Construction of Building in Regional Engineering College Srinagar (now NIT), As Superintending Engineer-Project Director Inland Water Transport on River Jhelum from Pampore to Chattabal (to be extended to other water bodies), Development of Housing Colonies- Srinagar Development Authority, Master Plan Srinagar City (2000-2021), Project Director Building Centre Srinagar, As Chief Engineer Development of Model Town Chrar-i-Sharief Budgam with HUDCO loan/assistance etc.
Ziraat Times: After retirement, your journey into writing and scholarship intensified. How did that start?
Er. Fazili: My interest in writing started during my school days. I was tutored in Urdu and English by the Wafai family of Khanyar. Throughout my professional career, I kept reading and writing. After retirement, I focused fully on writing, translating rare Persian and Arabic manuscripts, and documenting the intellectual and spiritual history of Kashmir.
Ziraat Times: You’ve authored over 60 books. Could you highlight some themes?
Er. Fazili: The books cover a wide range—civil engineering, spirituality, Sufism, environment, history and personal reflections. Titles like Environment in Jammu & Kashmir, The Wonderful Miracles of Sufi Saints of Kashmir, Sufi Saints of Kashmir, Saints of Kashmir, Kashmir – A Jhelum Valley Civilization, and Tazkira Salikin-i-Kashmir reflect my commitment to heritage and ecological awareness. My memoirs include My Life Story, My Reflections, and The Kashmir Chronicles.
Ziraat Times: You also donated rare manuscripts to academic institutions.
Er. Fazili: Yes. My grandfather Pir Ahmad Shah had a vast library in Tral. I donated about 300 rare Persian and Arabic manuscripts to the Allama Iqbal Library at the University of Kashmir for digitization and preservation. I also donated over 500 technical books to SSM College of Engineering.
Ziraat Times: How has Sufi philosophy influenced your outlook?
Er. Fazili: Immensely. The teachings of Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Alam, who said “food is subservient to forests,” and the practices of our saints who lived simple, eco-conscious lives have deeply shaped me. They practiced sustainable living, planted trees, and promoted public utility. I see these values as foundational to civilizational balance.
Ziraat Times: What is your perspective on balancing environmental sustainability and development?
Er. Fazili: Regarding maintaining the balance in environmental sustainability with urban development needs there has been a long drawn dialogue going on various forums where it was suggested that instead of attracting people from rural areas to migrate to urban areas where they find availability of such facilities that are absent in rural areas, it shall be prudent to create similar facilities in rural areas as well like tapped water supply, drainage, roads, transport, schools, colleges, offices, hospitals etc. located at accessible distances. That would help check migration of rural people to urban areas thus reducing the pressure on the already overtaxed facilities of urban areas. Besides the migrants must be charged for the provision of facilities that are not available in rural areas. It was suggested that rural areas need to be developed in such a manner that people from urban areas should get attracted to migrate to rural areas than vice versa.
About protection of environment we have famous saying by the Sufi Saint Hazrat Shaikh Nuruddin Shaikh-ul-Alam that “Food is subservient to forests.” Almost all the Sufi Saints have lived a life of austerity which had a great impact on the life of locals as well. Even use of water on a running river or a lake was advised to be used with restriction as called in a Hadith. Many Sufi Saints used to plant trees, build secluded bath rooms for public utility involving the locals to build the same. By going through the biographies of our Sufi Saints we have a great lesson to learn. A few of my books like Tazkira Salikin-i-Kashmir, Sufi Saints of Kashmi-Sufi Orders of Kashmir, The Wonderful Miracles of Sufi Saints of Kashmir available with Gulshan Books Srinagar could be useful in this respect.
Ziraat Times: You also personally led tree plantation efforts in recent years.
Er. Fazili: Yes. With help from the Forest Department, I was able to coordinate the planting of over 9,000 deodar, kail, and cypress trees at Ganderbal, NIT Srinagar, Kashmir University, and SSM College campuses in 2020 and 2021.
Ziraat Times: Your literary output is immense. Could you please share the names of a few significant titles?
Er. Fazili: Some of my works include:
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Let the World Know
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The Truth
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Environment in Jammu & Kashmir
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Sufi Saints of Kashmir
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Tazkira Salikin-i-Kashmir
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Kashmir – Jhelum Valley Civilization
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The Pearls of Deep Sea, Glimpses of Paradise, and The Unchallenged Truth
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The Wonderful Miracles of Kashmiri Sufi Saints
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Sayings of Shaikh-ul-Alam (under publication)
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My Umrah Experience, Our Concern, The Kashmir Chronicles, My Recollections, My Musings, and The Straight Path
