Remembrance meeting at Amar Singh Club pays rich tributes to Dr. Javid Iqbal

Srinagar, June 21: Rich tributes were paid to noted physician, writer, public intellectual and social activist Dr. Javid Iqbal at a condolence-cum-remembrance meeting organised by the Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, on Saturday.

The well-attended gathering brought together eminent scholars, writers, academicians, medicos, journalists, business leaders, social activists, former bureaucrats, technocrats, friends, admirers and members of the bereaved family to honour the memory of Dr. Javid Iqbal and reflect on his contributions to society.

The programme commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a Persian na’at rendered by Fayaz Ahmad Khushkhwan. An audio presentation prepared by Wajahat (Gabriel) Iqbal, son of the deceased, was played at the outset, offering a moving portrayal of Dr. Javid Iqbal’s life, achievements and personal attributes from a family perspective.

The meeting was presided over by Justice (Retd.) Bashir Ahmad Kirmani, who described Dr. Javid Iqbal’s demise as a collective loss to society. In his presidential address, Justice Kirmani said society had lost a prolific writer who worked tirelessly to awaken public consciousness, a vigilant social activist who fearlessly challenged social evils, and an intellectual whose scholarship was guided by compassion and concern for the common good. He also commended KCSDS for organising the programme, observing that societies which remember and honour their social activists and men of integrity keep alive the values they stood for.

Welcoming the participants, KCSDS Chairperson Prof. Hameedah Nayeem remarked that the organisation had lost its “soul and conscience.” She read out a memorial citation prepared by KCSDS in recognition of Dr. Javid Iqbal’s lifelong services to society and presented the framed citation to Bashir Siraj, a close relative of the deceased.

Several speakers paid glowing tributes to Dr. Javid Iqbal, highlighting different facets of his multifaceted personality as a physician, scholar, columnist, promoter of Urdu and Kashmiri literature, advocate of social harmony and compassionate humanitarian.

Among those who spoke were Maulana Showkat Hussain Keng, Dr. Altaf Hussain, Senior Advocate Zaffar Ahmad Shah, Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, Nasir Naseer, Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Gowhar Geelani, Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba, Dr. Maroof Shah, Dr. Abdul Waheed, Dr. Abdul Ahad, Dr. Nazir Mushtaq, Advocate Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Prof. Kamaluddin Farooqui, Zareef Ahmad Zareef and Amir Suhail Wani.

Maulana Showkat Hussain Keng reflected on the inevitability of death and recalled his interactions with Dr. Javid Iqbal, describing him as an authority on Islamic theology, history and Persian mystical literature. Dr. Altaf Hussain presented an overview of his accomplishments and remarked that it was difficult to find another individual endowed with such a wide range of qualities.

Senior Advocate Zaffar Ahmad Shah recalled Dr. Javid Iqbal’s efforts in alleviating the suffering of needy people during natural calamities, while Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, speaking on behalf of the Urdu Council, highlighted his services as President of the institution. Nasir Naseer remembered the lasting impression his literary presentations left on members of the Fiction Writers Guild.

Prominent journalists Mahmood-ur-Rashid and Gowhar Geelani shared their reminiscences, while Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba and Dr. Maroof Shah spoke about their long association with the departed scholar. His close friends and companions, Dr. Abdul Waheed, Dr. Abdul Ahad, Dr. Nazir Mushtaq and Advocate Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, narrated touching anecdotes reflecting his simplicity, generosity and concern for others.

Prof. Kamaluddin Farooqui emphasised the need to carry forward Dr. Javid Iqbal’s legacy by continuing to raise important social issues and seeking practical solutions. Poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef recited a moving Kashmiri elegy composed for the occasion, while Amir Suhail Wani offered poetic tributes to the departed soul.

The function was attended by a large gathering of distinguished citizens from diverse walks of life who listened attentively to the reflections shared in honour of Dr. Javid Iqbal.

Among those present were writers and columnists Rukhsana Jabeen, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, Abdul Majeed Siraj, Shakeel-ur-Rahman, Shafi Athar, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Prof. Amin Sofi, Abdul Hameed Siraj and Prof. Shahnawaz Muntazir; former bureaucrats Saleem Beg, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Irfan Yaseen and Mehmood Akhtar; technocrats Er. S.R.S. Madni, Er. Jalal-ud-Din Shah, Er. Hakim Iftikhar Ahmad and Er. Fazal Qari; academicians Prof. Qazi Altaf Ahmad, Prof. Khurshid Mahajan, Prof. Shafiqa Parveen, Prof. Sujan Kour, Dr. Naseema, Saleem Salik, Rubina Renzu, Dr. Ishaq Wani, Prof. Muslim Jan Fazili, Prof. Qurat-ul-Ain and Hawa Bashir; medicos Dr. Fareeda Ashai, Dr. Saleem Najar, Dr. Kaisar Ahmad and Dr. Zubair Ashai; senior journalists Sheikh Manzoor Ahmad and Peerzada Ashiq; business leaders M. Ashraf Mir, Rauf Punjabi, G.M. Dug, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Majid Wafai; and social activists Khurshid Ahmad Wani, Mushtaq Ahmad Jan and Showkat Farooqi, besides several other distinguished personalities.

Members of Dr. Javid Iqbal’s family, including his sister Dr. Saleema Shora and her husband Dr. Shora, Bashir Siraj, Kamran and other relatives, were also present.

The vote of thanks was presented by Abdul Majid Zargar, who thanked all participants for attending the programme and paying tributes to the deceased. He also expressed gratitude to Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary Amar Singh Club, and others associated with the club for facilitating the event. The proceedings were moderated by Syed Shakeel Qalander.