Srinagar, Feb 21: The Rasm-e-Chaharum of noted poet and writer Shafi Shaida was held on Sunday with people from different walks of life, paying rich tributes to the deceased.
 Hundreds of people offered Fateh at Shaida’s grave at his ancestral graveyard near Rainawari. Later a condolence meeting was held at his residence Chandpora Harwan. On the occasion, the speakers described him as a man of principles. The speakers said his death has created a void in the society and prayed for peace to his soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.
 Born on December 25, 1941 to a noble family at Akilmir Khanyar, Shaida was a meritorious student with initial schooling from Islamic High School Rajouri Kadal. After graduating from SP College, Shaida did his LLB Aligarh Muslim University and later practiced in Srinagar.
 Shaida started his political career with Plebiscite Front. Later he joined Congress and remained closely associated with it for several years. But Shaida shot to fame after his composition ‘Aamar’ (Desire) fetched him prestigious Sahitiya Academy Award in 1992.
 During Dr Farooq Abdullah’s regime in 1996, Shaida served as advisor to Industries and Commerce and subsequently to Information department.
 However, during the PDP-Congress regime, he unsuccessfully contested the Municipal elections from Zakura. For past few years he was not keeping good health and remained away from politics. He breathed his last on Wednesday at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST