Haroon Rashid Bhat
“Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi” — food will exist only as long as forests survive.
Some voices belong to their own time, while others become part of the conscience of generations. Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA), popularly known as Sheikh-Ul-Alam and Nund Rishi, belongs to the latter. His words were born in Kashmir, but their message transcends time, geography and social boundaries. His teachings on humanity, simplicity, compassion, environmental responsibility and spiritual awakening continue to hold profound relevance. To remember Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) is therefore not merely to remember a saint of the past; it is to revisit an important intellectual and moral foundation of Kashmiriyat.
Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) emerged from a remarkable spiritual tradition that gave Kashmir a distinctive cultural character. His association with the Rishi tradition and the spiritual resonance often drawn between his teachings and those of Lal Ded reflect the Valley’s long history of dialogue between different streams of thought. Both are remembered for taking spirituality beyond rituals and appearances and directing the individual towards inner purification, truth, humility and a deeper understanding of humanity. Their legacy contributed to a cultural atmosphere in which spiritual wisdom could become a bridge between communities rather than a source of division.
The strength of Sheikh-Ul-Alam’s message lies in its simplicity. He spoke in the language of the common people and addressed issues that remain central to human life: greed, pride, injustice, selfishness, exploitation and the consequences of forgetting one’s moral responsibilities. His poetry did not merely offer spiritual consolation; it challenged people to examine their conduct. His emphasis on compassion and simplicity remains especially meaningful in an age increasingly dominated by material aspirations and social competition.
His famous observation, “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi,” demonstrates the remarkable ecological wisdom embedded in his thought. The statement connects forests directly with food and human survival. At a time when environmental degradation, deforestation and climate change have become global concerns, this centuries-old wisdom sounds remarkably contemporary. Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) reminds us that human prosperity cannot be separated from the health of nature. Development that destroys the ecological foundations of life ultimately undermines its own purpose.
His legacy is also inseparable from the idea of Kashmiriyat. Kashmiriyat, in its cultural and historical sense, represents more than a slogan. It encompasses the Valley’s shared traditions, language, poetry, hospitality, spiritual heritage and values of coexistence. The Rishi-Sufi tradition contributed significantly to this cultural consciousness. Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA), therefore, can be viewed as one of the most important representatives of a Kashmir that valued spiritual depth, human dignity and social harmony.
This makes the place of his teachings in education particularly important. Education is not only about preparing children for examinations, employment or technological advancement. It is also about helping them understand who they are, where they come from and what values can guide them. A child may become highly proficient in modern science and technology, yet remain culturally disconnected if education completely neglects the intellectual heritage of his or her own society.
The National Education Policy 2020, with its emphasis on Indian languages, local knowledge systems and cultural heritage, provides an important framework for strengthening this connection. In the context of Kashmir, the works of Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA), Lal Ded and other indigenous thinkers can enrich education by bringing local literature, philosophy, environmental wisdom and cultural memory into meaningful classroom discussion. Modern knowledge and indigenous knowledge should not be presented as competing alternatives. A truly holistic education can accommodate both.
There have been concerns and discussions about the place of Sheikh-Ul-Alam’s teachings in curricular revisions, including reports that material relating to him has been removed or reduced in certain contexts. Such claims should naturally be examined against the official curriculum and documented changes. However, the broader principle remains important: curriculum reform should modernise education without disconnecting students from their linguistic, cultural and intellectual roots. The inclusion of local heritage should not be treated as an obstacle to modern education but as a means of making education more meaningful and rooted.
Preserving Sheikh-Ul-Alam’s legacy, therefore, requires more than commemorative speeches or occasional references in textbooks. His poetry should be read and explained to younger generations. His environmental wisdom can be connected with contemporary ecological education. His emphasis on compassion can inform value-based learning. Above all, the Kashmiri language in which his profound thoughts were expressed deserves sustained protection and promotion.
The greatest tribute to Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) would be to transform his teachings from memory into practice. If his message of humility can influence our conduct, if his ecological wisdom can influence our relationship with nature, and if his vision of humanity can influence our relationship with one another, then his legacy will remain alive.
In an age of rapid technological change, social fragmentation and weakening cultural connections, Kashmir does not need to choose between modernity and its roots. It needs an education and social vision that can carry both forward. Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) offers precisely such a bridge — connecting spirituality with humanity, tradition with relevance, and the wisdom of the past with the responsibilities of the future. His legacy is not a chapter that belongs only to history; it is a living inheritance. To preserve it is to preserve a part of Kashmir’s soul.
“A society that forgets the voices that shaped its conscience may gain knowledge, but it risks losing wisdom.”
Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher by profession, can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com
