Eminent personalities condole Agha Ashraf Ali’s death

Eminent personalities and several organizations expressed their shock and condolences at the demise of Agha Ashraf Ali on Saturday. He was 98.

Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam has expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of veteran education expert, intellectual, firebrand orator and writer Agha Ashraf Ali.

In its condolence statement, Anjuman hailed the invaluable contribution of Agha Ashraf Ali in the field of education and the reformative works therein saying the demise is a big loss for all of us.

Terming the contribution towards education especially in the literary field by Agha Ashraf Ali and his son Late Agha Shahid Ali as highly remarkable, the Anjuman said the Late Agha Ashraf Ali and his family had a close relationship with the Mirwaiz Family especially the former chairman of Anjuman Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq and its present chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq.

“Late Agha Ashraf Ali always used to give his valuable suggestions aimed at carrying out reformative measures in the educational sector in Jammu & Kashmir and also taking forward the programmes of the Anjuman,” the statement said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday paid glowing tributes to Kashmir’s renowned educationist and scholar Agha Ashraf Ali on his sad demise.

In a condolence message, the party spokesman termed Aga Ashraf an institution in himself and is credited worldwide for enlightening and educating generations of students and teachers. “Kashmir today lost one of its brightest stars. Agha Ashraf Ali was no ordinary scholar. May his soul rest in peace. Our condolences to the bereaved family,” PDP spokesman said a statement.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of renowned educationist and a distinguished scholar Prof. Agha Ashraf Ali. Bukhari termed the deceased as a visionary who had dedicated his whole life to public enlightenment through the medium of education. Paying rich tributes to his illustrious life, Bukhari said that with Prof. Agha’s demise the J&K has lost a luminary and a torchbearer who chose to change the lives of people by bringing out their best and instilling confidence and values among them.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Mr. Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Kashmir’s noted iconic educationist and one of the foremost intellectuals Agha Ashraf Ali, who passed away at his home last night.

“The light has gone out of our lives, Aga demise is a great loss for the entire society, such great souls are rarely born,” said Party President while expressing grief over the demise of the great son of soil Aga Ashraf Ali. “One of the most distinguished scholars, who was endeared and revered by all. A renaissance figure of Kashmir, his philosophy of life was firmly grounded in the progressive philosophy of humanism and secularism. A polymath, he authored many books and many lucky ones had the honor of having him as their teacher. He was an institution in himself and guided generations. A great educationist, an outstanding academician, Aga Sahib’s demise has created a great vacuum in the field of education, Party Vice President said while expressing grief over the demise of Aga Ashraf Ali. “Widely remembered for his wit, inspiring lectures, his contribution to the field of education will be written in golden letters in the annals of history. I pay my earnest homage to him. I pray for peace to his soul and fortitude to the bereaved family of his in their hour of grief. I express my solidarity with the thousands of admirers, students of his in their hour of grief. I pray to Almighty to grant him the highest echelons in Jannah,” he said.

Party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Members of parliament Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi, and party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar have also expressed grief over the demise of Aga , and prayed for peace to his soul, strength to the bereaved family.