South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

London, December 29 (KMS): Prominent Kashmiri leader, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, passed away in London, today, after a brief illness. He was 77.

 

According to Kashmir Media Service, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl was admitted to a hospital in London due to serious illness on December 23. He was suffering from chest infection and kidney problems. He breathed his last today. He was a multilingual person, an educationist, an author and poet and a human rights defender.

 

Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl was born in Baramulla town of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir on October 13, 1946. He received his education from Baramulla. He graduated in sciences and post-graduated in Botany from the Kashmir University, specializing in ecology, post-graduated in education from The Himachal Pradesh University, India. He undertook various trainings at NCERT (India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training) Delhi and SCERT (State Council for Educational Research and Training) Jaipur, India, and specialized in curriculum development. 

 

He started his professional work from St. Josephs’ Institute, Baramulla and later joined the government education department having contributed to educational theory and practices through different research projects in association with SCERT and UNICEF including developing experimental curriculum particularly in environmental studies.

 

Professor Shawl held different positions in his professional career that includes being a Professor and researcher in Botany, field advisor Sciences, coordinator UNICEF assisted project PECR, member Board of Undergraduate Studies in Botany, University of Kashmir, and Chief Test Administrator Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS-Bombay).

 

Professor Shawl migrated to Pakistan in 1991 and started working for the Kashmir cause. He remained representative of veteran Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Gilani, for some time in APHC-AJK chapter. He worked as Chief Editor of Kashmir Mirror, Chief Editor of SANA News (Now SABAH) and Chief Editor of news agency Kashmir Press International. Later, he got shifted to the UK in 2004 and headed the Kashmir Cantre, London. He has been championing the Kashmir cause and highlighting the Kashmir dispute at the international level for the last three decades.

 

Professor Shawl headed the Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC) which Advocates for Justice, Human Rights and Self Determination for the People of Jammu and Kashmir. He instituted a think tank, together with other activists, known as South Asia Centre for Peace and Human Rights of which he was the Chairman. He is the pioneer to introduce the Kashmir conflict in policy making institutions like Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Chatham House, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Conciliation Resources, international Alert and Mediation Ireland.

 

In his advocacy and diplomatic work, Professor Shawl organised and attended conferences, seminars and exhibitions in parliaments, council chambers and other significant venues. He instituted the first Working Group on Kashmir that was chaired by David Ervine and upon his death, he was succeed by John Walls Cushnahan (former MEP).

 

He politically and diplomatically worked for Kashmiris right to self-determination with enthusiasm. Professor Shawl’s writings highlighted his concerns about the human rights of the people in different conflict areas including occupied Kashmir.

 

Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl attended several international conferences, seminars, protest demonstrations and other events in different cities of the world as a representative of oppressed people of occupied Kashmir. He has played an important role in exposing the Indian brutalities in the occupied territory before the world.

 

Professor Shawl authored a number of books that include “Speaking Silence”, “Weeping Wisdom” and “Tormented Past and Bruised Present”.

 

The staff members of Kashmir Media Service extend heartfelt condolences to the family members and relatives of Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl. They pray Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with patience.

 

Meanwhile, Kashmiri leader, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, in a statement paid rich tributes to Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl. He said, “We have not just lost a dedicated leader, but we have lost a true family man and I have lost someone who is truly my brother. He has left this world for the eternal abode in the world hereafter. However, his fearless legacy stays with us.” 

 

Recalling the Annual Labour Party conference at Liverpool, Barrister Tramboo exemplified the character of Professor Shawl, “On 25 September 2019, in Liverpool, at the UK Labour Party Conference Kashmir Fringe Meeting – Professor Shawl had received a message that his Mother passed away on the day of the conference. It was devastating news for him. Nonetheless, Professor Shawl gathered the courage and determination, in the most extra-ordinary situation, to lead the conference. It was extraordinary to witness the steel of his character in such circumstances.”

 

The Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC), headed by Professor Shawl, in a statement said that he was an icon to the self-determination issue of the Jammu and Kashmir and his untimely passing away is a big loss to all. “OKC extends its sincerest condolences to Mrs Shamim Shawl and all members and friends of the Shawl family at this extremely sad time. The family will update the diaspora and more on the funeral arrangements for Professor Shawl. He will never be forgotten as a man with integrity, nobility, and peace in his approach to all matters in life,” the statement said.

 

It is worth mentioning here that in a message from his hospital bed, Professor Shawl on Thursday urged one and all to stand united on one point agenda - The Kashmiris’ Right to Self-Determination. KMS