Advocate for Heritage, Ecology and Progress

In 1968, when I transitioned from Govt. College Baramulla to Govt. College Sopore to teach Economics, I had the pleasure of meeting Prof. Mohammad Shafi Pandit, who had recently joined the college as a Geology lecturer. I was immediately struck by his politeness and eloquence in discussing a variety of issues. Over time, our casual conversations became a regular exchange, but this camaraderie was interrupted when he cleared the prestigious IAS exam in 1969. Despite this, we maintained contact, drawn together by shared interests in the socio-economic development of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly Kashmir’s fragile ecology.

Our mutual concern for the protection of Kashmir’s environment only grew stronger after I joined the Union Cabinet. One significant episode that stands out was when the Department of Archaeology decided to transfer artefacts from Burzahom to Delhi under the pretext of ‘cleaning’. Troubled by this decision, I visited Burzahom on June 18, 2019, accompanied by Mohammad Shafi Pandit Saheb and Mohammad Saleem Beg. We were deeply pained by the removal of these artefacts and the neglect shown toward Kashmir’s cultural heritage. In his characteristic thoughtful manner, Shafi Saheb suggested that, given my recent role in the Union Cabinet, I should pursue the matter further. I vigorously raised the issue with the Union Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India, but to no avail. Tragically, while the Prime Minister recently celebrated the return of 105 antiquities to India, those belonging to Kashmir remain in Delhi, depriving scholars and local communities of their heritage.

Shafi Saheb will be remembered not only for his distinguished career in the IAS, where he contributed significantly to administrative reforms, but also for his tireless efforts in advocating for social, ecological, and economic development in Jammu & Kashmir. His deep understanding of Kashmir’s cultural heritage and ecology remained close to his heart throughout his life.

A man of great intellect, Shafi Saheb was not only well-versed in Kashmir’s history but also had strong views on the region’s social and political developments. He held firm opinions on where society had faltered but always expressed his thoughts with unparalleled politeness, which made him a beloved figure among his peers.

Shafi Saheb’s knowledge of Kashmir’s traditions, places, and people was extraordinary. His insights into lesser-known figures, like the great Persian poet Mohammad Ameen Darab, reflected his deep engagement with the region’s cultural history. It was no surprise that when I decided to revisit Burzahom to assess the neglect it had suffered, Shafi Saheb was the first person I thought of to accompany me. Together, we were saddened to see a playground encroaching on the site that needed protection and were further dismayed by the removal of significant archival materials to Delhi.

In his gentle yet firm manner, Shafi Saheb remained committed to the causes that mattered most—preserving Kashmir’s heritage and advocating for its socio-economic progress. His passing leaves a void not only in the lives of those who knew him but in the very fabric of Kashmiri society.