One of the noblest professions in the world is that of a teacher. It is he who inspires his students by his way of teaching. He instills in his students a sense of responsibility, shapes the character, moulds the minds by ways of teaching, grooms the personality and thus transfers in his students what we call education and rightly has been said that, “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning and a good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way of others”. All great men choose their profession as teacher to enlighten the mankind. One such great man was Ghulam Mustafa Shaheen whom people fondly know as Shaheen sahib.
Born in the middle class family at Tral as Ghulam Mustafa Wani, had his formal education from his native place and went to Aligarh Muslim University for higher education. Did M.A (Arabic), PhD from the University and moved back to J&K to serve this own people. He would have got high profile job of University teacher and surely would have retired as Head of the Department as many of his friends and contemporaries reached upto the position, but he preferred the teaching at lower classes. Teaching is noble profession at any level, be it school, college or University but teachings at school is little tough and a great challenge. It needs lot of confidence to take such a great responsibility where one takes a challenge to make a society better by imparting the young buds at elementary level in school rather teaching the learned and mature students of University. Moreover, University job would have assured certain old age benefits, pensions and other guarantees unlike private sectors, but Shaheen Sahib had only aim of imparting education and great discipline among his students;
Parvaaz hai donou ki isi ek fiza mai
Kargis ka jaha aur hai, Shaheen ka jaha aur
A devout Muslim with expertise in Islamic jurisprudence from humble background and education from the Aligarh Muslim University, thus influenced by the teachings of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Allama Sir Mohammad Iqbal, he had chosen his destiny as a teacher, mentor, guide of young buds and started his career as Principal Iqbal Memorial Institute. It was a time when education did not mean business and there were only few private schools in the town of Anantnag and all run by educationists rather businessman and among those few schools Iqbal Memorial Institute emerged one of the best schools by the efforts, hard work and vision of Shaheen Sahib. Under his guidance, the institution earned a name and fame. Had he not worked so hard with that dedication, enthusiasm and sincerity, IMI Anantnag would not have been known to anybody and that’s what today Iqbalians across the length and breadth of globe are proud of their alma mater and more importantly taking pride for being students of Shaheen sahib. Named after a great philosopher, poet, intellectual Sir Allama Mohammad Iqbal, the school has produced officers, teachers, writers, thinkers, businessman who contribute for the betterment of the society remembering the teachings of the school and those of their beloved teachers including Shaheen sahib. The central theme of Allama Iqbals poetry is concept of self realization and the Shaheen is the bird Allama Iqbal has discussed so much in his poetry owing to peculiar characteristics of the bird as he flies high in the skies and never stoops low and lives on the high altitudes rather plains, so was our beloved Sir Shaheen sahib. He had chosen his name Shaheen perhaps for this reason as he never let his principles compromised and the result is his high esteemed and towering personality as he was always being treated in high regard, esteem and dignity anywhere he went. His students forgot their own designations, be it Teacher, Officer, Doctor, Engineer, Writer, Businessman or any other profession, if countered by Shaheen sahib one was overawed by his towering personality.
Many friends sarcastically said, “We change the route if we see him approaching as we didn’t have courage to face him and stand in front of him”. Such dominating was the personality. He remembered his students even decades after they have left their school by their names, parentages and even 10th and 12th marks. His ways of teaching was unique as he taught with greater depth, much vision and always in the light of the Islamic teachings and always stressed upon his students the Islamic teachings apart from worldly knowledge. He would always enquire about punctuality of namaz, roza and other things thus carving fine human beings out of human bodies and was great administrator as well. Being his student and keeping in view his towering and dominating personality, it needs courage to write an obituary for such a great man. Allama Iqbal’s words describes his personality:
Wo mard-e-dervaish ki jis ko haq nai diyay thay andaza-e-khusruwana.
Sir, you sacrificed your today for our tomorrow and we all your students are highly indebted to you and your selfless sacrifices. We owe our successes to you and you have been ladder, inspiration, guide and mentor throughout. We all Iqbalians are in a state of shock and pain and pray to Almighty Allah to give eternal peace to your soul and Jannatul Firdoos to you and patience to your family.
(The author works as a Geologist with JKSPDC Srinagar)