ER.MOHAMMAD ASHRAF FAZILI
Hardly could one think that it shall be my last meeting with late Jenab Mohammad Shafi Pandit Sahib when in the last GCC meeting which he presided over a month back at Help Foundation office, he appeared quite healthy with no indication of any ailment. I asked him about his visit to London besides requested him to send some person from Help Foundation to receive a wardrobe of clothes being donated by someone. On this he called an employee to do the needful, which however did not mature perhaps due to his illness, and little did he know then that he may have to disown his own wardrobe even before this offer.
The rich tributes paid by innumerable great personalities in electronic and print media on his passing away is a testimony to his popularity, acumen, sincerity, humility, intelligence, efficiency, good etiquette and above all his social service while in active service and thereafter.
During his service career I knew him as Administrator SMC, when he streamlined the Building Permission cases in such a manner that every week all the Xens of the concerned departments would meet in a meeting at SMC chaired by him and approve or reject the BP cases in one go, which otherwise would take months to sanction.
Again, once he invited opinion regarding the development of Srinagar City. In response I compiled my viewpoints in the form of a booklet “Srinagar the Sun City-What it should be” and presented to him when he was the Development Kashmir of Kashmir. Later, I published it and distributed freely.
Another incident I remember that in 1989, I saw the most revered Prophet (SAWS) in a dream because of which I thought that I should go on Hajj pilgrimage. The next day I met Shafi Sahib in his office when he was Divisional Commissioner and expressed my desire. On this he said that you are too late, as the registration is over a week back. However, on taking my leave he said you may check again at 4 PM. When I met him at 4 PM he congratulated me by saying that we have got 150 seats mor hence you can apply. In response I filled five no. forms of my relatives and family.
Several times we at the Institution of Engineers invited him to chair our seminars where he delivered thought-provoking lectures based on his great experience.
There was a special kind of affection radiating from his face. I pray Allah bless him with highest echelons of Jannat-ul-Firdous. Aameen!
The author is a former Chief Engineer
