Srinagar: Top educationist of Jammu and Kashmir Agha Ashraf Ali passed away late last night at about 11.45 a.m at his Rajbagh residence. He was 97.
Family sources said “Agha Ashraf Ali was weak due to old age but healthy”, adding that “he died peacefully minutes after going to bed”. They also said that Agha Ashraf Ali He will be laid to rest at his family graveyard Gulistan Baba Mazaar, at Alamgari Bazar area of Old city. The family sources also said that there will be no congregational Fatiha/gatherings due to prevailing circumstances in the valley. People have been requested to offer Fatiha individually and offer condolences to the family members through social media. Agha Ashraf Ali held several top positions in the education department during his active service career. Political leaders of all hues, educationists, civil society groups and people of all shades and opinions have condoled the demise of Aga Ashraf Ali and express sympathies with the bereaved family
NC : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Mr. Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Kashmir’s noted iconic educationist and one of the foremost intellectuals Aga Ashraf Ali, who passed away at his home last night.“The light has gone out of our lives, Aga demise is a great loss for the entire society, such great souls are rarely born,” said Party President while expressing grief over the demise of the great son of soil Aga Ashraf Ali. “One of the most distinguished scholars, who was endeared and revered by all. A renaissance figure of Kashmir, his philosophy of life was firmly grounded in the progressive philosophy of humanism and secularism. A polymath, he authored many books and many lucky ones had the honor of having him as their teacher. He was an institution in himself and guided generations. He was spotted by Sher-e-Kashmir, when he had returned from abroad after completing studies there. He got appointed as Inspector of schools. Later he served in various key positions including Principal of teachers training college and other important positions. His contribution towards education, his life and works will continue to guide millions in the coming decades also. I pay my earnest homage to Aga , and pray to Almighty to grant him the highest stations in Jannah. I express my unison with the entire Aga family, scores of his admirers in their hour of grief. May the deceased have eternal repose in paradise,” he said. A great educationist , an outstanding academician, Aga Sahib’s demise has created a great vacuum in the field of education, Party Vice President said while expressing grief over the demise of Aga Ashraf Ali. “Widely remembered for his wit, inspiring lectures, his contribution to the field of education will be written in golden letters in the annals of history. I pay my earnest homage to him. I pray for peace to his soul and fortitude to the bereaved family of his in their hour of grief. I express my solidarity with the thousands of admirers, students of his in their hour of grief. I pray to Almighty to grant him the highest echelons in Jannah,” he said. Party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Members of parliament Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi and party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar have also expressed grief over the demise of Aga , and prayed for peace to his soul, strength to the bereaved family.
PDP : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday paid glowing tributes to Kashmir’s renowned educationist and scholar Agha Ashraf Ali on his sad demise.
In a condolence statement, the party spokesman termed Aga Ashraf an institution in himself and is credited worldwide for enlightening and educating generations of students and teachers. “Kashmir today lost one of its brightest stars. Agha Ashraf Ali was no ordinary scholar. May his soul rest in peace. Our condolences to the bereaved family,” PDP spokesman said a statement.
Prof Soz : Former Union Minister Prof Saif-Ud Soz on Saturday condoled the demise of veteran educationist of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Aga Ashraf Ali, saying that “Dr. Agha Ashraf Ali’s death will be mourned by a vast community of Teachers and Teacher-Educators!”In a condolence statement issued here on Saturday Prof Soz said that death of Aga Ashraf Ali is a great loss to the widespread community of teachers and researchers in the J&K State.“Prominent alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, where he taught for many years and came closer to the life and teachings of Dr. Zakir Hussain Khan, he left for America where he enlightened his mind on Modern System of Education, particularly the American system of Teacher-Education”, the statement reads. Soz said that Aga returned to Kashmir in early 60s to run the system of education, where he had already made a mark in the field of Teacher Education in the State. Recalling that Aga became the Principal of Teachers College, Srinagar the time when there was then only one Teachers College in Kashmir and the alumni of that College became fore-runners of the system of Education in Kashmir, Soz said ” Aga Ashraf Ali inculcated among the teachers the habit of ‘reading of books’ Terming Aga a voracious reader, Soz said that Aga was now reading a book titled ‘GOD’. Tributing Aga and condoling his demise Soz said “I pay a thoughtful tribute to late members of ‘Sulfia Nishan’ (Agha Ashraf’s abode)- Agha Syed Hussain, Begum Zaffar Ali, Sufia Ashraf, Agha Shahid Ali and now Agha Ashraf Ali!” He said “When Aga grew old, he patronised an Elementary School at Maisuma Srinagar”, adding that “Aga Asharaf Ali stood firmly for the fact that if any country wanted to reform education, the primary education should get the first attention. May God rest his soul in peace!”
Altaf Bukhari: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of renowned educationist and a distinguished scholar Prof. Agha Ashraf Ali.In a statement issued here on Saturday Altaf Bukhari termed the deceased as a visionary who had dedicated his whole life in public enlightenment through the medium of education. Paying rich tributes to his illustrious life, Bukhari said that with Prof. Agha’s demise the J&K has lost a luminary and a torchbearer who chose to change the lives of people by bringing out their best and instilling confidence and values among them. The JKAP president expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. “Prof. Agha’s passing away is not an irreparable loss for his family, friends and associates only but the same has created a huge void in J&K’s intellectual circles which is hard to be filled. In his passing, the J&K has not just lost one of its legendary educationists but a great human being, a dedicated and caring individual, one of the great nation builders and a person who never gave up hope.”
Tarigami: While terming the death of Dr Agha Ashraf Ali as a great loss to the society, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Saturday said late Agha sahib was a progressive mind who always believed in pluralistic values.The contributions of Agha sahib, one of the foremost intellectuals of Kashmir, are immense and his death is an irreparable loss to the society. He always believed in composite pluralistic culture. He tirelessly worked for the education of the people of Kashmir and was widely known as a public speaker. In his death Kashmir has lost a compassionate man of great conviction. While expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, he said that Agha sahib’s death has created a void which is very difficult to be filled.
ASAW, CCK, PSAJK : Agha Shahid Ali Writers (ASAW), Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), Coaching Centres Association of Kashmir (CCK) have expressed their deepest condolences on the death of educationist, scholar, thinker, orator, teacher Dr Agha Ashraf Ali. A joint meeting of all the associations was held in which people expressed their condolences on his demise. Dr Agha Ashraf was also the chairman of ASAW. G N Var who is also the General Secretary of the ASAW said that the demise of Dr Agha Ashraf Ali is a great loss to the society. “He was one of the rare personalities who knew what can be the solution to our seething problems. He was a revolutionary who wanted to ignite a revolution by advocating education. Every time he would suggest read a book, enrich yourself and thus be ahead of others.” The Coaching Centres Association also highlighted his role in giving new shape to learning for competitive examinations in Kashmir. “He was always worried that Kashmiris are not cracking civil services and other competitive examinations. For this he became instrumental in establishing SN Das Gupta College where he taught and delivered lectures to aspirants for seven years without taking even a single penny,” said Var. “He would identify needy students, bring them home and help them financially besides giving them books. He also built a rich library at ASAW which was unfortunately lost during 2014 floods.” The PSAJK termed his role as educationist as the golden period of education in Kashmir. “When he was head of the Board of School Education and education department he initiated reforms that had far reaching effects. He started Carry-On and Re-appear system as he believed that it would arrest the trend of students dropping out of studies because of failure in a single subject. It greatly helped our students and our literacy rate increased due to this policy,” said Var. “Till date no director of education or Secretary BOSE has matched his legacy, in fact they are even following his path albeit not with dedication.” Dr Agha Ashraf Ali was a great proponent of emergence of local talent and institutions. “He would often guide schools on how to match the global standards and groom the talent. He wanted the emergence of good educational institutes in Kashmir.
Hakeem: Chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen here on Saturday condoled the demise of top educationist Dr Aga Ashraf Ali.
In his condolence statement, Hakeem recalled the unmatched contributions of Aga Ashraf in the promotion of education in Jammu and Kashmir adding that late Aga Ashraf Ali was an outstanding educationist and a beacon of light and a treasure knowledge and values. ” In his demise, education system in Jammu and Kashmir has lost a great guide and mentor, ” Hakeem added. He has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul of Aga Ashraf Ali.
Qayoom Wani, leaders of JK CSF: Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JK CSF) Ab Qayoom Wani on Saturday condoled the sad demise of top educationist,scholar ,writer and academician of great repute Aga Ashraf Ali.In a condolence message here on Saturday chairman Wani expressed grief and sorrow on the sad demise of Aga Ashraf Ali.Wani said that Aga Ashraf Ali has contributed a as a scholar, writer, educationist and an administrator .Wani said that late Aga had created history in the education department by contributing as commissioner Secretary Education ,Chairman J&K Board of school education which will be remembered forever .Wani said that the deceased was a courageous man with sense of belongingness. Wani termed his death a big loss for the society.Wani prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.Wani and other leaders of JK CSF expressed sympathy and solidarity with the whole Aga family at this difficult time.
Chairman JKTJC : Chairman JKTJC Gazi Abdul Aziz has paid a rich tribute to a well known educationist Dr Agha Ashraf Ali who left for heavenly abode during the intervening night of 7th and 8th August, at the age of 96, at Rajbagh Srinagar,“Dr Agha Ashraf Ali was a great educationist, an academician and a scholar. He was a well known public speaker and has widely spoken on education, history, culture etc. He has contributed a lot to the society in the field of education and social work. He has been an advocate of human rights and has been vocal on human rights issues in Kashmir”, said the chairman. On behalf of the whole teachers fraternity, chairman JKTJC Gazi Abdul Aziz has paid a rich tribute to departed soul and extended condolence to the bereaved family. He has also prayed for Janatul Firdous to the departed soul and patience to his relatives on his sad demise.