In a remarkable day-long event organized by Future Forum International (FFI) at the historic Dak Bungalow in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, hundreds of people including students from various institutions came together to pay tribute to Maqbool Sherwani, a unsung hero, who saved Kashmir from Pakistan tribal raiders in October 1947.
The event organized by the FFI, aptly themed “Saviour of Kashmir: Maqbool Sherwani,” was a platform for scholars, teachers, and social activists to emphasize the importance of knowledge, research, and the exploration of historical truths.
The day-long event served as a beacon of inspiration for the students, scholars, and activists who attended. It celebrated the legacy of Maqbool Sherwani who was mercilessly killed by tribal invaders on November 7, 1947 and tied to an electric pole.
Taha Mukhtar, a student of Kashmir University while paying tributes to Maqbool Sherwani on his 76th anniversary said the role played by volunteers like him during the tribal raid in 1947 was historic. “But younger generation of Kashmir has little or no idea about the sacrifice of this unsung hero and his heroic deeds,” he said.
Amid thunderous applause from the audience, Mukhtar made them aware about the saga and sacrifice of Sherwani and made them understand why Sherwani was a role model for the youth of Kashmir.
Zeenat Akbar Dar, a social activist in her forceful speech urged the youth not to forget about the real history of Kashmir and for that research was an important tool. “Shaheed Maqbool Sherwani was an ambassador of peace who sacrificed his life for a cause. Despite being alone, he saved lives of hundreds of non-Muslims as well as Muslims from the marauding Qabiali raiders,” she said.
While terming Maqbool Sherwani a role model youth of Kashmir, Dar said, “Sherwani, also with the help of his close associates arranged shelter and support for the Hindus and Sikhs fleeing the violence unleashed by the Pakistani tribesmen without caring for his own life.”
Waseem Raja, a college student exposed the myth created by Pakistan sponsored proxies in Kashmir that the “tribal invaders were liberators of Kashmiris” and not marauding lashkar.
“Thoughts of Sherwani are one of the major forces behind promoting peace and national integrity in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Syed Iqbal Hussain, the Founder and Chairman of the Raju Gandhi Literacy Mission emphasized the vital role of knowledge and experience in understanding and discussing history, particularly when it is rooted in ground truth.
He encouraged the students and participants to utilize the available resources and dedicate their time to learning and researching those topics where there is ambiguity.
Among the notable speakers at the event was Tuiba Bashir, the State President of the State Women’s Empowerment Mahila Mandal, NGO. She underscored the importance of women’s empowerment in the region and how knowledge and education can be instrumental in achieving this goal.
Ms. Zahida Bhat, the State Coordinator of the LEGION Development and Research Foundation, also took the stage to share her insights. Sajad Ahmad Bhat, the Secretary of the Wullar Environment Education and Training Society, spoke passionately about the environment and the need for education to preserve it.
Firdous Ahmad Bhat, the District President of the Legion Development and Research Foundation, shared his experiences and insights on the importance of community engagement. Ms Nuzhat, the District Coordinator of the Rajiv Gandhi Literacy Mission, highlighted the mission’s efforts to improve literacy rates and provide quality education to the marginalized sections of society. Her dedication to this cause inspired many in the audience.
Ms Insha Yousuf, the Coordinator of RGLM Calligraphy, Ms Bisma Rehman, the Coordinator of the Skill Development Training Programme, Mr. Tariq Ahmad, the Coordinator of CSC Academy Sopore, Mr. Shahdab, the Coordinator of the Prime Minister Digital Literacy Mission (PMGDISHA), also spoke on the occasion.
With the enthusiasm and dedication of these individuals, the region’s future is undoubtedly in capable hands.
