Anwar Shah Kashmiri’s ancestral home crumbles amid Govt apathy

Kupwara, Dec 4: Seven years ago, the then dispensation led by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had announced developing the 148-year-old ancestral house of Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri at Warnow Lolab as a heritage site but nothing has been done so far in this regard.

An official communiqué under Order No 944 by the Education Department was passed on November 22, 2017, to develop and preserve the house under the heritage conservation programme.

“I am not being allowed to demolish the house and take up new construction after the heritage site announcement by the then government. I don’t possess land other than the piece on which our ancestral house is constructed,” Anzar Shah, the proprietor of the house and a close relative of Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri told Greater Kashmir.

“We have been moving from pillar to post to get things done in a positive direction but the traditionally built three-story structure is lying in ruins due to the coldhearted approach of the concerned department,” he said.

Locals of the area also seem to be anguished at the callous approach of the government for miserably failing to protect the ancestral house of the renowned Islamic scholar despite assurances.

They said that the structure was lying in ruins and if concrete steps were not taken for its preservation, the house could get demolished.

“We were happy after the announcement in 2017 was made but later our hopes of seeing Shah Sahab’s house as a heritage site were dashed,” said Tariq Ahmad, a local. “As Lolab is a picturesque valley, developing Shah Sahab’s house as a heritage site can attract more tourists to the valley which will provide an opportunity for locals to earn their livelihood.”

Official sources said that a survey of the house was conducted a few years ago and the report compiled was forwarded to the higher authorities of the Education Department but nothing has been done so far.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Lolab, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone said, “Whatever is required will be done to develop the house as a heritage site.”