Remembering Mohammad Shafi Pandit
On September 22nd, Kashmir remembered Late Mohammad Shafi Pandit— fondly known as Shafi Sahab— on his first death anniversary. The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) hosted a memorial lecture titled“RTI and Good Governance—Responsibility of Civil Society”, attended by eminent bureaucrats, political leaders, and business stalwarts.
To my deep regret, I missed the memorial—having seen the WhatsApp message too late. Missing it has haunted me ever since, for I had known Shafi Sahab for over 35 years—long enough to witness the quiet integrity of his character, the brilliance of his mind, and the grace of his soul.
That regret compelled me to pause, reflect, and write—not just in remembrance, but as a small tribute to a man who stood tall in every sense, yet never made anyone around him feel small.
In the early years of my career, our furniture unit—started by my late father— gained widespread recognition. Ministers and top officials—including the Chief Minister—became our clients.
At the time, we planned to expand our office without municipal approval. When a demolition notice arrived, I confidently contacted the CM’s office, expecting the issue to be resolved. A favorable call was made to Divisional Commissioner M.S. Pandit, who also led Srinagar Municipality, and I was asked to meet him.
Confident and backed by top recommendation, I entered Shafi Sahab’s chamber expecting support. Instead, he sternly reprimanded me, rejected any ‘sifarish,’ and told me bluntly that the illegal construction had to be demoloished.
What followed was unexpected—and transformative. After his stern words, he asked me to sit. Calm and fatherly, he enquired about my background, education, work, and future plans. Then he spoke gently about honesty, integrity, and earning respect through principle, not connections.
That conversation changed me. In a system where influence often trumps integrity, he chose to instill values. His words cut through my youthful arrogance and planted principles that guide me to this day.
Years later, in 1999, during his tenure as Administrative Head of the Industries Department, our unit was selected for a national award by Union Ministry of Small Scale Industry. At the New Delhi ceremony, as I received the honour from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I turned to find Shafi Sahab glowing with joy. He hugged me repeatedly, his pride evident. It was a moment that felt less like a professional milestone and more like a shared celebration—between a mentor and someone he had quietly shaped.
Though I wasn’t active in FCIK during his tenure as Administrative Head of Department of Industries, I often heard about his tireless efforts to revive our struggling industrial sector.
However, what I witnessed in 2002 stands out. After launch of Central Industrial Package by the PM Vajpayee, a meeting of stakeholders with the then Union Secretary DIPP Sh. Jagdeshan was organised to receive a feedback. What should’ve been a smooth event turned tense as we questioned the Union Secretary on the package’s failure to support existing industry.
In that charged atmosphere, Shafi Sahab did something remarkable. Instead of toeing the official line, he chose to stand with the local industry. Calmly but firmly, he endorsed the concerns being raised, implicitly challenging the position of his superior sitting just beside him. It was a rare and courageous stance—one that spoke volumes about his integrity, his sense of duty, and his unwavering commitment to those he served.
By the time I became President of FCIK, Shafi Sahab had moved on from the Industries Department. Yet his involvement never ceased. He remained a quiet yet constant source of guidance, sharing insights and updates on initiatives he had pursued with the Centre and those still pending at the state level.
During my six-year tenure as FCIK President, I served on nearly three dozen boards and high-level committees—many alongside Shafi Sahab. In most meetings, few officials spoke with substance; most chose silence over dissent. Shafi Sahab was among the rare few who spoke, analysed, and challenged where needed. His voice stood out—not for its volume, but for its clarity, courage, and unwavering honesty.
M.S. Pandit was, by all accounts, among the most deserving candidates for the post of Chief Secretary—not only as the first local Muslim to qualify the IAS, but also for the remarkable breadth and depth of service he rendered across key departments. His impeccable integrity and steadfast commitment to rule-based governance, however, may have unsettled elements within the political establishment. In a system that often rewards pliability over principle, Shafi Sahab, like many other local officers before and after him, was sidelined.
And yet, even more striking than the injustice he endured was the extraordinary grace with which he bore it. Not once did he express bitterness or grievance. No lament, no self-pity. Instead, he met each new, often lesser assignment with the same quiet dignity and unwavering commitment that had defined his entire career. He took charge as Vice Chairman of the Wakf Board—a role far beneath his stature—not as a demotion, but as another opportunity to serve.
Later serving as Chairman of the Public Service Commission, he left an enduring legacy. Under his stewardship, the commission regained public trust, and whispers of favoritism—once common—faded to a large extent.
Even after retirement, Shafi sahab showed no inclination to slow down. Instead, he redirected his energy toward selfless service. Alongside his illustrious wife, he became actively involved with Help Foundation, a charitable initiative dedicated to supporting orphans and underprivileged children. Their combined efforts gave the organization a unique blend of compassion and discipline—transforming it into a beacon of hope for many who had been forgotten by society.
Shafi Sahab’s post-retirement years were not a quiet winding-down, but a powerful continuation of a life devoted to others. He coached civil services aspirants, led civil society initiatives, and founded the Group of Concerned Citizens with other well-meaning personalities to raise socio-economic issues with policymakers. In every chapter of his life, Shafi Sahab chose service over comfort, action over apathy, and principle over convenience.
Moreover, whenever any civil society group—including ours, the Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS)—invited him to a roundtable or seminar on socio-economic issues, Shafi Sahab would gladly attend and offer thoughtful, insightful suggestions.
Shafi Sahab was deeply committed to tackling social evils, particularly the rising extravagance in marriage functions. Disturbed by the growing culture of ostentation and waste, he championed the Guest Control Policy—a bold initiative to cap the number of guests and dishes at weddings. He led the effort during his service, joined by several respected figures, and the initiative remains fresh in public memory.
A few months before his passing, Shafi Sahab visited me—gracious and warm as always, but with a purpose. He reminded me of some job I had done for him years ago and insisted on settling a long-deferred payment. I laughed it off—it was long forgotten and written off.
“I could be called to the eternal world at any moment,” he said emotionally. “Do you want me to stand before the Almighty with unsettled dues?”
His words shook my conscience. Within a few days, I looked up the amount and communicated it to him. He immediately transferred it.
When he left us, just a couple of months later, I found myself reflecting:
at the start of my professional journey, he showed me how to walk the straight path. In the end, he showed me how to leave it—with integrity.
What I’ve shared here reflects only a fraction of the memories I hold of Shafi Sahab. No tribute can truly capture the depth of his integrity, intellect, humility, truthfulness, compassion, patience, self-discipline, generosity, courage, or his deep fear of the Almighty.
Yet if this remembrance serves any purpose, let it be this: as a collective reminder to our society—to recognize and remember its true heroes. Those, who served quietly, selflessly, and with unwavering principle. Those who stood for truth, upheld justice, and carried themselves with humility and grace. And those, who never sought the spotlight but became beacons of light.
Let this remembrance also serve as a solemn reminder to the current and prospective breed of officers that selfless service, grounded in integrity and humility, is the true measure of a life well-lived—ensuring that they too will be remembered with respect and honor. May they ever be mindful that the society they serve observes their conduct with a discerning, bird’s-eye view, and that only through steadfast virtue can they earn its trust and admiration.
May the noble legacy of Mohammad Shafi Pandit live on and guide the future.
Shakeel Qalander, business leader and civil society animator
