I first met Mr. Mohammad Shafi Pandit in 1968 when I moved from Government College Baramulla to Government College Sopore to teach Economics. Shafi had joined the same college to teach Geology, and it was during this time that our paths crossed. Our association, though brief due to his qualification for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1969, left a lasting impression on me.
Even after he left for his administrative career, we maintained a strong bond, united by our shared passion for protecting Kashmir’s ecology and environment. Our friendship deepened when I joined the Union Cabinet, as we continued to collaborate on issues of mutual interest.
One such occasion occurred when I learned of a decision by the Union Department of Archaeology to remove artefacts from the ancient site of Burzahom to Delhi, under the pretext of “cleaning” them before their eventual return to the J&K Department of Archaeology. Disturbed by this, I decided to visit Burzahom and requested Mr. Pandit and Mohammad Saleem Beg to join me on June 18, 2019. Shafi Saheb readily agreed, and we were deeply disheartened to find that the artefacts had already been shifted to Delhi.
In his inimitable way, Shafi Saheb advised me to use my influence, having recently held a position in the Union Cabinet, to take up this fight. I pursued the matter with the Union Ministry of Culture and the Department of Archaeology in New Delhi and even sought the support of Mr. Arun Kumar Mehta, then Chief Secretary of J&K. Unfortunately, our efforts yielded no results.
It is tragic that, while Prime Minister Modi recently celebrated the return of 105 antiquities to India from abroad, his administration has shown little interest in returning the valuable artefacts of Burzahom to J&K for the benefit of its scholars and learners. This neglect highlights a profound disconnect between national pride in heritage and the preservation of Kashmir’s rich historical legacy, something that Mr. Mohammad Shafi Pandit and I fought to protect.
Shafi Saheb will always be remembered as a man of intellect, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the causes that matter most to Kashmir.(KINS)
Remembering Mr. Mohammad Shafi Pandit: A Lifelong Advocate for Kashmir’s Ecology and Heritage By: Prof. Saifuddin Soz
