These two-and-a-half years have been tough for us: Sabzar’s father

Sabzar Ahmad Sofi featured among toppers of the National Eligibility Test and also managed to earn a prestigious Junior Research Fellowship to realise his dream of pursuing PhD in his favorite subject, Botany.

As he was preparing to leave for New Delhi during the summer of 2016 to begin his research, Kashmir erupted over the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

Like thousands of other people, Sabzar braved restrictions and walked several miles to reach Tral, the native town of Burhan, to join his funeral prayers. He returned home late in the evening.

A week later, Sabzar informed his family that he would be flying to Delhi to pursue his research.

His parents and siblings bade him goodbye. But they had no contact with him for next two months, primarily due to communication gag in the Valley then. However, at the end of September, the family was left shell-shocked after learning that instead of flying to Delhi to pursue his PhD, Sabzar had picked up arms.

“My son always remained engrossed in his studies. He had never participated in protests or showed any inclination towards militancy,” said his father Bashir Ahmad, a retired government employee, sitting in a corner of a room and waiting for the body of his son to arrive here.

Sabzar was killed alongwith his associate Asif Shergojri in a gunfight in Nowgam area of Srinagar in the wee hours of Wednesday.

“When Burhan achieved martyrdom, he (Sabzar) left home without telling us anything. Later he returned home in the evening along with some of his friends and went to his room as usual for studies. We came to know after few days that he had gone to Tral to attend Burhan’s funeral,” Sofi said.

“He was very much career-oriented and would not discuss anything else than studies with us. He remained outside the state for more than six years for the purpose of studies,” he said.

After completing his B.Sc from government degree college (boys) Anantnag, Sabzar did M.Sc in Botany from Barkatullah University Bhopal and later M.Phil from Jivaji University Gwalior.

He had also completed B.Ed and was simultaneously preparing for civil services (Indian Administrative Service).

Sabzar even ran his coaching centre named ‘Ascent’ at Sangam where he used to teach students free of cost.

“I have never come across a brilliant student like him. He was a gem. Apart from Botany, he was good in Zoology and Chemistry too,” said Muhammad Ashraf, Sabzar’s class-fellow at the Anantnag college.

He said after topping the NET, Sabzar decided to pursue PhD to be able to get monthly stipend of around Rs 40,000 during his research.

“He didn’t want to rely on his parents’ financial support to pursue higher studies,” said Ashraf.

Besides his parents, Sabzar is survived by three brothers—one of them a teacher, another a government employee and the third one a student—and a sister, who is a postgraduate.

“We (me and Sabzar’s mother) have been only thinking about him all this time. These two-and-a-half years have been tough for us. He never even met us during this period. But, it’s Allah’s wish and we have no complaints,” said the visibly-defiant Sofi.

Sofi was surrounded by an elderly man whose militant son was also killed some years ago, and father of another active militant. Both of them shared their stories and advised Sofi to exhibit patience.

Soon, Sabzar’s body reached his home, with people jostling to have his last glimpse. Emotions ran high as youth raised pro-freedom slogans as well as slogans eulogising Sabzar.

Sabzar’s mother, sister and three brothers were around his body, with their eyes moist.

Sofi performed ablution and also walked slowly towards the lawn of the house to bid adieu to his son. People made a way for him as he sat down and hugged and kissed Sabzar.

After sometime, people took the body to an open field, barely 300 meters away from Srinagar-Jammu highway, for the funeral prayers.

As they prepared for the funeral, six armed militants—with their faces uncovered—made an appearance and moved towards the wooden podium where the body of Sabzar was kept.

One among them was a top Hizb commander Zeenat-ul-Islam, who raised pro-Islam, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.

Mourners tried to get close to the militants, but youth pushed them back to maintain a safe distance.

After a short while, a woman came with a glass of milk, got on to the podium and hugged and kissed Sabzar.

“She is Sabzar’s mother,” a youth said.

Soon, the militants offered a gun salute to their fallen colleague and before getting down from the podium, raised pro-freedom slogans and left through nearby paddy fields.

At least four rounds of funeral prayers were held for Sabzar who was laid to rest in the evening.

The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed the mourners telephonically.

Near the highway, youth were seen fighting pitched battles with forces since morning. The forces in turn responded with teargas and pepper shelling as well as aerial firing.

Several people sustained injuries during the clashes, mostly after being hit by metallic pellets.

“We received three injured and all of them were hit in eyes. They were shifted to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital,” a doctor at sub-district hospital Bijbehara told Greater Kashmir.

One more youth with bullet injury was being treated at district hospital Pulwama. He was reportedly injured in clashes in Anantnag district.

Meanwhile, thousands turned up at the funeral of Asif Shergojri at his native village in Khiram, Bijbehara.

Militants also turned up at the funeral and offered a gun salute to him.

Asif was a higher secondary student before joining Hizb late last year. He was an adopted son of his elderly parents.