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He left a void

More than a teacher he was a mentor and guiding light to me
10:45 PM Jan 28, 2025 IST | Aijaz Syed
he left a void
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On 27th of December, I woke-up in the middle of the night around. With a mobile phone lying beside me, I started scrolling through Facebook like anyone else. “Professor Gilkar has passed away” was posted by one of my friends a few hours ago. What? I could not believe my eyes. The news shattered me and left me stunned. I couldn't sleep after that.  More than a teacher, he was a mentor and guiding light to me. Every moment I shared with him, every conversation we had and every piece of advice he gave me are engraved in my memory forever.

Professor Nazir Ahmad Gilkar was an epitome of wisdom and ethical brilliance. Calling him a professor, philosopher or poet does not do him justice. He was much more than that. No CV can truly capture who he was. His departure has created a void that can never be filled.

If my memory serves me right, it was probably April, 2006, when I was selected for my Post Graduate course in Commerce at the University of Kashmir, and was allotted PG Centre at Govt. Degree College, Bemina, Srinagar. During the admission process, I heard people whispering about Prof. N.A Gilkar, describing him an eminent professor of Kashmir. Out of curiosity, I wanted to learn more about him. As time passed, I came to realize that Professor Gilkar was not just a teacher par excellence but much more than that.

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Prof. Gilkar used to teach us Management Accounting and Financial Management through all four semesters of our PG program. No student would leave the college with out attending his class. He introduced us to innovative teaching methods, such as role playing and group discussions. Besides, he would encourage students to write for newspapers, journals and magazines. His mastery of the subjects was unparalleled. In response to a question about if science was better than commerce , he said, “Science and Technology will not benefit a nation unless they are commercialized”.

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His wisdom and encouragement left an indelible mark on all those who were fortunate enough to cross his path. His primary focus was always on investing in intellectual growth of his students in and outside the classroom. His scholarly aptitude and philosophical thinking would take students out of this world where they believe that intellectual development, knowledge, honesty and humility were the only prerequisites to live a respectable life

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He would often stress the significance of Iqbal’s work saying, “The west has already researched and explored his thoughts and philosophies, while the Muslim world is yet to benefit from his noble teachings.” Prof. Gilkar had a unique gift of connecting knowledge to everyday life. He would often say, “Learning is a mental exercise, whatever you learn in a class is an opportunity to handle real life problems. You won’t be taught exactly what you will face in life but you will definitely learn how to think and adapt”. His teaching would extend beyond academics. He did not just teach us how to write but also how to question and engage in deliberations to foster critical thinking.

In 2008, I had an opportunity to work with him as a contractual teaching faculty in Govt Degree College (Boys) Sopore, where he served as Head, Department of Commerce. I have never seen him sitting on the HOD’s chair saying it was not a permanent seat rather only a temporary one. Despite being a top ranked academic and a prolific columnist, his humility was immense. Prof. Gilkar was a regular contributor to Greater Kashmir where he would focus on topics such as Islamic Banking, Academic Audit, Quality Higher Education and the National Education Policy-2020, among others.

Prof Gilkar would always recount stories about his father, who was a mason. “You know what, whenever my father would notice an error in a house he constructed, he would ensure not to repeat it. Similarly when you make a mistake, you must admit it and ensure it is not repeated”.
As we accept the reality of his absence, we find solace in the indelible mark he has left on countless lives. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

(The writer is Lecturer Commerce at Govt. Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Sopore)