Srinagar: Vice President Jammu and Kashmir Adbee Markaz Kamraz and well known educationist Atiqa Bano passed away Wednesday evening after prolonged illness at Sopore in north Kashmir.
She was 76.
Popularly known as Behanji, Atiqa had retired as Director Libraries and Research after serving in the education department as Joint Director.
Also a heritage and language lover, Atiqa founded first of kind heritage museum in private sector “Meeras Mahal” at Sopore. She also founded a chain of education institutions and contriburted a lot in empowerment of women. She was also founder of Majlis-un-Nisa the first ever women exclusive organization in north Kashmir.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the passing away of noted educationist, heritage activist and former Director, Education and Libraries, Atiqa Bano, who breathed her last Wednesday this week evening at Sopore.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister, who is also the President of J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, said the relentless efforts put in by late Atiqa Bano to preserve the past heritage and culture of our society is noteworthy and worth emulating. She said her single minded devotion in this regard led to the setting up of a first of its kind Meeras Mahal at Sopore which the deceased continued to supervise till her death.
Mehbooba Mufti also recalled the efforts of Atiqa Bano in the spread of education in north Kashmir, particularly among women. “As the founder of Majlis-un-Nisa, the first ever women exclusive educational organization in north Kashmir, late Atiqa Bano would be remembered for leading the movement of educational spread among the young girls of the area”, the Chief Minister said in her message.
The Chief Minister has prayed for peace to the departed soul of late Atiqa Bano and conveyed her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
Director Libraries & Research, Mukhtar-ul-Aziz, has also expressed deep sorrow at the sad demise of Atiqa Bano, Ex-Director, Libraries and Research, who passed away on 04-10-2017.
In a condolence meeting held at the Directorate of Libraries & Research, a two minutes silence was observed by all the participants for the peace of the departed soul.
