With Mian Bashir Ahmad’s death, a chapter of Kashmir’s history ends

Srinagar:  Last of the grand old men of Jammu and Kashmir, Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi, who passed away on Saturday, has taken away with him a large part of Kashmir’s tumultuous history in which he played an epochal role.
Baba Sahib, as he was popularly known, died at the ripe age of 98. Till his very end, he continued to inspire members of different communities and religions.
The tribal Gujjars and Bakarwals (Goat herds) took pride in saying that the Baba Sahib belonged to their community while Kashmiris and Dogras of the Jammu division said he was the eldest of their communities as well whose love transcended communities and religions.
Hardly has anyone in Kashmir’s recent history had the rare quality of having remained in politics without losing his respect of being a religious and spiritual leader.
He remained the most powerful tribal leader till his very end. He gave up politics nearly two decades ago, but he never lost sight of political developments in the country and abroad.
Despite his son, Mian Altaf Ahmad being a senior leader of the National Conference (NC), Baba Sahib’s respect has cut across political loyalties. He remained a referral point in Kashmir’s history for all those who studied his life.