Saifuddin Soz expresses dismay over deteriorating condition of Anwar Shah Kashmiri’s heritage house

Kupwara, Dec 5: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Professor Saifuddin Soz, has raised alarm over the deteriorating condition of the ancestral house of Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, located at Warnow, Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

This concern was sparked by a recent report in Greater Kashmir highlighting the neglect of the historic structure.

In a letter addressed to Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan, a copy of which is available with Greater Kashmir, Professor Soz expressed dismay over the state of the centuries-old house. The property was declared a heritage site during the PDP-BJP coalition government, yet it has seen no significant restoration efforts. As a result, the site remains in a state of ruin, further threatening the legacy of the scholar.

Professor Soz underlined the global significance of Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, a distinguished Islamic theologian and philosopher whose intellectual contributions have earned international acclaim. He urged the district administration to prioritise the preservation and restoration of the house, which stands as a testament to the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of J&K.

Soz while talking to Greater Kashmir said that the ancestral house of Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri has great historical significance so it was need of the hour to develop it as a heritage site.

“I talked to Deputy Commissioner Kupwara and apprised her about the significance of this house, she assured of taking concrete steps required to develop it as heritage site,” Soz added.

Soz said that the proprietor of the house should be compensated so that he can construct a new house for his family.

Soz appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally look into the matter so that this historical treasure could not fade away.