Bandipora: Justice (retired) Bashir Ahmad Kirmani, inaugurated a one-day international conference on contribution of noted scholar of the State-Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri.
The conference was organised by Kashmir Comparative Philosophical Foundation (KCLPF) in collaboration with District Administration at Conference Hall DC Office Bandipora.
Speaking on the occasion, Justices (Retd) Bashir Kirmani in his presidential address said Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri was a devoted scholar who tried to set a trend of mutual understanding among different schools of thought.
He said the noted scholar of South Asia, Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri, discussed issues on the basis of research and logic thus setting a new trend among the traditional religious scholars while keeping hold of the tradition. “We lost track with the legacy of Allama Anwar Kashmiri and there is a need to establish an Allama Anwar Shah Academy to undertake research on the contribution of this great scholar,’’ he added.
Former Direction Education Muhammad Rafi, Rector Dar-ul-uloomOnagamMoulana Sayed Haseeb were also present on the occasion.
A galaxy of scholars, academicians and intellectuals spoke during the international seminar titled “Rediscovering Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri in postmodern era” and resolved to work for establishing Allama Anwar Shah Academy that will facilitate work on Uloom-i-Anwari.
Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng in his keynote address presented a detailed account of academic status of Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri and his writing.
Keng requested scholars and academicians to come forward for further exploration into many facets of Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri.
During his welcome address, Muhammad Yousuf Mashoor said a lot of fiction has been added around the persona of Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri and proposed initiation of research on the relation of Anwar Shah Kashmiri and Allama Iqbal wherein many links have been left out by their biographers.
“Biographers have left out some vital aspects of his life which demands a proper research” Mashoor said, adding “His relation with AllamaIqbal has not been explored and documented properly with authentic references, even a lot of fiction has been added to around his persona”
Noted Scholar and columnist Dr Muhammad Maroof Shah said Allama Anwar Shah Kashmir was a non-sectarian scholar of devoted thought who carried on with critical analysis of towering scholars like Ibn-i-Taymmia and Ibn-Qaim. “Allama studied and critically analysed books of Islamic Scholars across the varied sects” Maroof said.
Former Director Muhammad Rafi in his address projected the need of translating Allama’s writings in Urdu and English so that present day scholars can benefit from his thought.
Dr Suhail Ahmed, a physicist who teaches at Central University said Allama was inclined to modern sciences. Suhail explained the complex relation between scientific and Islamic epistemes in light of remarks by Allama Anwar Shah.
During the conference, over thirteen research papers were presented during the two sessions of the seminar. The inaugural session was presided over by noted legal experts retired Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani while a religious scholar and patron Anjuman-e–Himayatul Islam MoulanaShowkat HussainKeng presented the key note address.
Among the scholars and academicians who presented their papers include Dr Imtiyaz Afree, Dr Taveer Hayat, Ghulam Rasool Jan, Dr Showkat Hussain, Dr Tanveer Rather, Dr Suhail, Showkat Husain Keng, Dr Nisar Ahmed Parra, Dr Muhammad Maroof Shah. Research Papers submitted by Sayed Ahmed Khazir Shah and Mufi Shakib Qasmi from Deoband were read by Moulana Tanveer Ahmed.
