It was Thursday morning, 17th of June 2021, sky was overcast but pleasant. I received a phone call from my younger brother Dr. Tariq, that M. Ayub Khan has left for heavenly abode. It was really a sad day for us. He was not well for last few months and was also taken to Delhi for treatment in winters and was convalescing in his home at Srinagar. Some days back I had also enquired about his health on phone but found him in good spirits though he was in great pain. He was the eldest son of M. Shahbaz Khan, a noble soul and our grand uncle from maternal side, at Bhagat Barzalha. This family has long history in this area and had good chunk of land at Bhagat with variety of fruit orchards. This area had lot of orchards and that is why this hamlet is known as Bhagat meaning orchards. In the olden days Bhagat Barzullha, being not part of municipality limits of Srinagar district, would fall in the jurisdiction of rural police station Sadar.
Silk industry of Kashmir goes far back in time even as the opening of silk road, and found in early records of the Kashmir history. However, it got impetus during Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin’s time, who was known as the champion of arts and craft. Most of the population in rural areas of Kashmir depended on the breeding of the silk worms and spinning of their cocoons. The silk industry was the major industry in Kashmir before and in early time of 1947.
M Ayub Khan had four siblings, three sisters and one brother. After doing his graduation in science he was appointed as Assistant director in sericulture department of J&K government. Late Hakeem Ali, who also hailed from Bhagat was heading the department as Director sericulture. It was the time when Kashmir silk was famous not only in India but out side. Kashmiri silken carpet had made niche in world market and Sari made of Kashmiri silk was a brand in the country, known for its high quality and texture. The wearing of these saris was a craze for rich families. The government J&K had its own silk factory known as Reshim Khana at Solina Rambagh, Srinagar. The department would produce silk in bulk for domestic use and would also export Kashmiri silk to out side state mostly to the then Madras and Calcutta cities for fabrication of silken saris which would fetch a good revenue to the government as well as to private dealers.
Ayub Khan achieved success by dint of his hard work, commitment to service and honesty. He did his advance studies and research in sericulture, in and outside the country, and with his vast knowledge of science of sericulture, he was considered to be an expert on the subject. He made a commendable contribution in the production and growth of silk in J&K state. Due to his dedication and honesty he rose to the position of director and ultimately retired as the director general of the sericulture department. During his tenure, the department made a great head way in the growth of silk production under his leadership with the mass expansion of mulberry plantation in Kashmir. During his service, he was sent on deputation for some period to Sri Lanka by the Government of India to advise Sri Lankan government on the matters relating to the promotion of silk production in that country. During peace times he had also visited Afghanistan to advise their government on the matters for the promotion of sericulture to boost their economy. After his retirement in mid nineties as Director General sericulture department, he was reappointed by the Government as director JK industries Ltd. for a period of three years to help the government in the revival of its various units, which had fallen sick due to the militancy in the valley. I have seen him personally visiting various offices for the procurement of products of JK woolen mills, where the production had fallen to minimum because of lack of demand and sales though this Mill had a reputation of producing the best quality products of woolen items. Once the tweed produced by this factory was a brand name, used as a craze by the domestic as well as foreign tourists. However Ayub Khan succeeded in bringing the production to the level that the employees of this unit could get pay regularly.
After completing his period as Director JK Industries Ltd, he was given three years more to serve as the member of JK Subordinate Service Selection Board.
At home he was a great champion of women empowerment. He not only laid emphasis on the education of boys but played a great role in educating his sisters though facing tough opposition from his other relatives. All the three sisters got post graduation degrees in various subjects. One of his sisters retired as principal Government higher secondary school and other, Dr. Amina Khan worked in Kashmir university as professor of Botany, who was the first Muslim girl in valley to do PhD in Botany. The eldest among sisters did her post graduation in Urdu. His only brother Mushtaq Amed, who is an engineer by profession and known for his honesty, retired as Chief Engineer PDD in JK government.
There were also many other officers who served in J&K government and contributed a lot to the state but passed away as unsung heros.
May their soul also rest in peace.
Abdul Rashid Khan is former IGP