Syed Nissar H. Gilani
Losing a friend, a contemporary, or a well-wisher with whom you have shared even a few moments leaves memories that are hard to fade. Recently, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing away in the USA of late Professor Riffat Buch, a remarkable academic and gentle soul. Her passing calls to mind an entire era, inviting us to reflect not only on her own grace and intellect but also on the illustrious lineage of the Buch family—a clan that has profoundly shaped Kashmir’s cultural, administrative, and intellectual landscape.
Late Professor Riffat Buch
The Golden Years of Youth and Debate
My thoughts drift back to the golden years between 1966 and 1969, when inter-college debates brought together some of the brightest minds of our generation. Those were vibrant times fostered by two neighboring institutions in Srinagar—S.P. College and Government College for Women, M.A. Road—ably led by veteran principals of the era, Prof. Saifuddin and Prof. Miss Mohammadi Ahamed Shah.
I fondly remember how a formidable debating team took shape, featuring brilliant contemporaries like Riffat, Indu Bal (the sister of the famous, world-renowned fashion designer Rohit Bal), and several others. Together, we carried our eloquent rivalries across the Valley to Tagore Hall, the Oberoi Palace Hotel (now The Grand Palace), Government Medical College Srinagar, and beyond. In those spirited contests, the late Agha Shahid—son of the legendary educator Dr. Agha Ashraf Ali—and I proudly represented S.P. College, often finding ourselves face-to-face in friendly debate with the brilliant young women of Women’s College.
Agha Shahid went on to become a world-famous, celebrated poet whose profound collections—most notably The Country Without a Post Office (1997) and his final masterpiece Rooms Are Never Finished, which was a finalist for the National Book Award—etched the pain, beauty, and soul of Kashmir onto the global literary map. He was not only a gifted debating partner and a sharp intellect, but a literary voice whose pen and presence touched everyone who knew him.
Professor Riffat Buch: Grace, Resilience, and Illustrious Roots
Professor Riffat Buch came from a tremendous family background defined by public service, global diplomacy, and intellectual distinction. She was the daughter of the legendary scholar, writer, and editor of many newspapers, the late Janab M. Amin Buch. She was also the wife of the late Engineer Yaqoob Qureshi, a man of exceptional spirit who passed away some time before her. Having fought a courageous battle with kidney failure, Yaqoob was on dialysis for fourteen long years, yet he lived every single day with dignity, grace, and the spirit of a prince.
Riffat’s wider family tree reads like a roll of honor:
Uncle M. Yousuf Buch: Retired as Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and notably served as an advisor to the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Uncle Ghulam Naqashband Buch: Served as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for the J&K State, having married a foreigner, and passed away many years ago.
Brother Misbah Buch: A talented engineer who spent many years working in Saudi Arabia and was famously instrumental in designing Hotel Jahangir in Srinagar—the city’s first multi-storied building—winning high praise from the engineering fraternity.
Mushtaq Ali Buch: A Cricket Legend, Writer, and Gentle Soul
Professor Riffat was closely related to my dear friend and class fellow, the late Mushtaq Ali Buch, who tragically passed away due to bladder cancer on November 11, 2007. Mushtaq had returned home just a few months prior after serving in Saudi Arabia for sixteen years. He was a renowned cricketer, a talented writer and commentator, a person of exceptionally pleasing personality, and above all, a deeply good human being.
Mushtaq, too, hailed from a formidable background. His father, the late Mohammad Ali Buch—a law graduate with a postgraduate degree in history from Aligarh Muslim University—was a highly capable revenue officer, followed by three younger brothers who also excelled brilliantly in their respective fields. Mushtaq’s uncle, Engineer M. Yousuf Buch, retired as a Superintending Engineer. Mushtaq is survived by his wife and two children, Imran and Maria, who are settled in Italy.
A Fading Chain of Contemporaries
As the years roll on, we mourn the steady fading of that remarkable chain of college friends and contemporaries who shaped our youth. Alongside Mushtaq and our dear Agha Shahid, we remember fine physicians like Dr. M. Shaffi Wanchoo, who represented Government Medical College Srinagar, and many other unforgettable peers.
May Allah grant eternal peace to the souls of all those friends, well-wishers, and colleagues from the same esteemed Buch family and beyond who are no more with us.
My heartfelt personal condolences go out to the families of both Madam Riffat Buch and Mushtaq Ali Buch. May Allah Marhoumeen key Magfirat farmayee. Aameen.
Syed Nissar H. Gilani is a former civil servant of the administrative service and a recipient of many national and international awards, can be reached at nisargilani57748@gmail.com
