The service was held at the historic Lal Chowk in the center of Srinagar at around 3 p.m. in the afternoon, and Khawaja Sahib, as he was popularly known as, was laid to rest in the compound of his residence in Soura.Bhat, 87, who had launched the Aftab, the first independent newspaper of the valley 53 years ago after the Hamdard of Prem Nath Bazaaz ceased publication, lost a long battle with multiple illnesses on Tuesday night at the SKIMS where he had been put on ventilator support after being admitted some weeks ago.
A large number of people, including the NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and several prominent separatist leaders flocked to his Soura residence when his body arrived there on Wednesday, and the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, JKLF, Muhammad Yasin Malik, supervised the arrangements for his funeral.
In the afternoon Bhat was taken in a procession to Lal Chowk where the head of the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees, Maulana Shaukat Ahmad Shah, led thousands of people in the funeral prayers.
Chief minister, Omar Abdullah, the minister for finance, Abdul Rahim Rathar, other cabinet colleagues, top civilian and police officers, separatist figure Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and a large number of their colleagues, attended the funeral besides prominent journalists, writers and intellectuals.
Earlier, announcements had been made over loudspeakers in the city’s commercial hub that the funeral prayers would be held in Lal Chowk.
Security arrangements had been made in the city center for the service, and the inspector general of police for Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad, was personally on the spot to oversee the exercise and the regulation of traffic.
After the service, Bhat was carried in an ambulance to his residence in Soura in downtown Srinagar where he was laid to rest in the compound of his house.
Bhat, a divorcee, who had no immediate heirs, having been issueless, has bequeathed his property of a house and two kanals of land to the two servants who had been looking after him for long.
TRIBUTES
Recalling the services of the late chief editor of the Aftab, the chairman of the Hurriyat G, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, said that Khwaja sahib had a unique style with his words which had taken his newspaper to the pinnacle of success. Geelani expressed grief at Bhat’s passing away and conveyed his condolence to the Aftab team.
Paying tribute to the six decades of service by Bhat, the chairman of the Hurriyat M, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, recalled the journalists deep ties with the elders of the Mirwaiz family and said that he had always been affectionate to him personally.
“With his bold writings, Khwaja sahib had made a true portrayal and representation of the Kashmir society,” the Mirwaiz said.
Senior Hurriyat leader and the chief of the Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, too expressed deep grief at Bhat’s death and lauded his services in the field of journalism.
He hoped that the fraternity would make efforts to fill the void in the profession left by Bhat’s departing.
The grand mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Muhammad Bashiruddin, the head of the Anjuman-e-Shara’ie Shiayan, Agha Syed Hassan-al-Safavi-al-Musavi, and Maulana Riyaz Ahmad Hamadani, too have expressed grief at the passing away of the Aftab chief.
Tributes and condolences have poured in from a large number of other mainstream and separatist leaders, employees associations and trade and business federations.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while reacting on the demise Mr Bhat said that the contribution of this veteran personality in the field of journalism is of great value. He said that late Khawaja Sahib was bold, brave and an honest journalist who always projected day-to-day problems of people of the state in an efficient and meticulous manner. Late Khawaja Sahib was the close witness of the history of the state and his writings are the clear examples of his craft and command not only on language but on situation as well. He said that his love for people of the state is evident from fact that Lal Chowk was thronged by large number of people. He said there are rare examples where any personality like Late Khawaja Sahib gets love of people to this extent.
Mr. Omar Abdullah said that the deceased had his own vision about journalism and has always fought against corruption injustice and exploitation during his life time. His wisdom was concealed in his each word particularly the column of “Khazir Sochta hai”.
Late Khawaja continued write this column for about 60 years even on his death bed also.
The Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra, has expressed grief over the death of the veteran journalist and Chief Editor, Daily Aftab, Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat, who passed away in Srinagar last night.
In a condolence message, the Governor recalled the valuable contribution of Khawaja Sahib to the development of Urdu journalism in the State and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Vice Chancellor Kashmir University Prof Riyaz Punjabi deeply mourned the demise and prayed to Allah that his soul may rest in peace. .
Vice chancellor said that the loss of Kh. Sanaullah Bhat has created a void, not only in the arena of journalism but in the field of culture and literature also. VC said that Kh Bhat was the founding father of Urdu Journalism in Kashmir who set new and innovative trends in Urdu journalism in J&K state. VC said that Kh. Sanaullah Bhat brought revolutionary changes in the content of news reporting and analysis of events . Saying that it needs to be recognized that Kh. Sanaullah was a witness to an era Prof Punjabi said that Kh. Sanaullah Bhat had a deep understanding of local , national and international events .
Referring to his special column Khazir Sootchta Hae wular kae Kinarae VC said that the column was both satirical as well as a commentary on men and matters which will be ever remembered in the history of journalism in Kashmir.
The Director Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of 'Daily Aftab' Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat who breathed his last on Tuesday evening after prolonged illness.
According to a statement issued by the Kendra spokesman, a condolence meeting was held at Doordarshan Srinagar here on Wednesday which was chaired by the Director DDK Srinagar Dr Rafeeq Masoodi and attended by the officials of the station who paid great tributes to Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat and expressed sympathies with the bereaved.
The spokesman said that Dr Masoodi while chairing the condolence meeting said that Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat was the doyen of Urdu journalism in Kashmir and "it was because of his personal efforts and uncompromising stature that the tenants of journalism in Valley became more objective and journalists more professional."
The Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, intellectuals, journalists and people from cross-sections of the society.
Speaker, Legislative Assembly Mr. Mohammad Akbar Lone described Sonaullah Sahib as pioneer in the field of journalism who through his writings catalyzed a silent social change in the society.
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather described Khawaja sahib, a great luminary who infused high spirit in the field of journalism and worked tirelessly to promote Urdu literature in the State. Remembering the satirical column of the editor, “Khazir Sochta hai Wullar ke Kinare” in his daily Aftab, he said that the veteran journalist earned public praise for his inspirational write ups. He said the contribution of the great journalist would continue to inspire the budding journalists.
Minister for Revenue, Relief, and Rehabilitation, Mr. Raman Bhalla andMinister for Education, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed said that Mr. Sonaullah highlighted the public issues boldly, without any fear.
Minister, for R&B, Mr. G. M. Saroori, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora described late Sonaullah as a bridge between people and the Government. They said that he has contributed a lot in nurturing fair journalism in the State.
Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Social Welfare Ms. Sakina Itoo and Minister for Animal/Sheep Husbandary, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi describing Sonaullah sahib as a spokesman of public sentiments, praised his efforts in institutionalizing Urdu journalism in the State.
Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad said that Sonawallah sahib had devoted his entire life for promotion of professional journalism.
The Deputy Chairman, J&K Legislative Council, S. Arvinder Singh Micky, also expressed grief over the demise of veteran Journalist Khawaja Sonaullah Bhat.
Minister of States for Hajj and Auqaf Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Minister for Power Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan, Minister of State for Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for&B Mr. Javid Ahmad Dar and Minister of State for Cooperatives Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma have also condoled the demise of Mr. Sonaullah terming it a great loss to the State.
Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Mubarak Gul also condoled the demise of Khawaja Sonaulla. He expressed his sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed the eternal peace to the departed soul.
MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami described Khawaja Sonaulla as a core professional, who set a new trend of fair and fearless journalism in the State. He expressed hope that the young and upcoming journalists of the State would be benefited from his inspirational write ups and independent commentaries.
The Director General of Police, Mr. Kuldeep Khoda has also condoled the demise of Khawaja Sonaullah Sahib.
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