[Obituary] On the death of Huzur Mukhi Muhammad Siraat
Iqbal Barcha
Gilgit – Huzur Mukhi Ustad Muhammad Siraat of Khyber Gojal Passed away on September 21, 2011 at Al-Shifa Hospital Islamabad after a protective illness ( May Allah rest his soul in the eternal peace). He was laid to rest in Khyber Gojal on September 23, 2011, in presence of thousands of people who came there from different villages of the region to attend his funeral.
He left behind a widow three daughters and three sons including Mr. Zahid Ali Sakhi (Manager Bank Al-Falah) . Late Ustood Muhammad Siraat was a distinguished pioneer teacher, devoted community/ volunteer worker, and an excellent development expert.
He served the Khyber village in the capacity of pioneer teacher for almost three decades, till his retirement in mid eighties. Furthermore, he served the community of Gojal in general and people of Khyber village as community leader during his entire lifetime. He served as Mukhi for two terms, as religious guide, for at least two decades and as member of Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board Gojal for a number years.
After the inception of the Aga Khan Rural Support program in the early 1980s Ustad Muhammad Sirat as the manager of Village Organization Khyber and later on as Cluster Manager of VOs in Gojal played catalyst role in making the people conceptualize and practice the concept of participatory development. Trough his efforts the village organization Khyber became a successful model which set a good precedent for the other VOs in the AKRSP program area in Gilgit Baltistan. He had been a regular speaker of conferences and seminars on the themes of community development and village organization organized by AKRSP and other NGOs in Gilgit Baltistan.
He will always be remembered for his selfless services to the people of Gojal .
May Allah rest his soul in the eternal peace – Aameen
Very well done, Iqbal Barcha.
Ustaad Siraat was a great teacher, a devoted social activist and an accomplished community leader, of a generation that witnessed rapid change and transformation in our area. His contribution to promoting the work of AKRSP in upper Hunza and his passion for community development will be fondly remebered by the RSP community. May his soul rest in eternal peace and his mission continue and remain a beacon of light for the coming generations.
Izhar Hunzai
May Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal peace.Ameen
My heartfelt condolence to grieved family Sajjad bhai,Zahid Bhai and sisters.
ISRAR AHMED
SEOUL, ROK
I learnt In Pamir Time this morning the demise Of
ustad Mohummad sirat
INALILAHI WAINA ELIHIRAJEOON.
On behalf of me I extend my heartfelt condolence to
MR. Mohmmad Jnat MR. Mohmmad sajad
Mr.Mohnnad Zahid Ali
the daughters of late ustad and other Family members.
for the irrecoverable loss to the family.and it is a great loss for Gojal
MY Allah give there family the strength to bear this sudden shock.
I share your sorrow and I pray may to Allah rest the departed soul
in eternal peace Aameen
Hikayat shah
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon.
Uncle Muhammad sirat was a great teacher, a devoted social worker and a leader with bright vision, his efforts for the welfare of our village and Gojal will be rememberd for ever.
To me, as a person and as my teacher, Ustad sirat has always been a foremost example. I will never forget his humble attitude. His supreme intellectual abilities were acknowledged in our society.
We realy lost one of our dear elder and great leader.
On the sad demise, we express our deep heartfelt condolence to the family members and pray that May Almighty Allah rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give the family strength to bear this irreperable loss. (Aameen)
Jamal Shah & family
Indeed the news is very sad and Iqbal has very rightly reflecetd about his services provided to the community. He was a true activist- competent and honest. I did meet him number of times in Pindi before he died but could not manage to go with the dead body as I was out of the town. He did tell me about his experience how he provided leadership to VO and clusters in fostering accountable decision making local organizations and transparent accounting methods.
during my meeting with him he would always look back and appriciate the village volunteers ( man/ women) who gave their time and supported him to in collective action in improving well being of the villages people. I am glad IZHAR has also recorded Ustaad Siraat’s services.. Izhar knows such people, there are other activists as well who did put their best to work for the mountain people.
Izhar( Ex- GM AKRSP): can you influance RSPs to come up with the idea of rewarding such exceptional people for their volunterr services.
I am sorry, did not record my condolances in the previous message!
My wife children and I pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace and offer our condolances to late Siraat’s wife, brother, daughters, Sajad, Zahid and all his family members
This morning when i opened the site of Pamir times has realy shocken me to learned that USTAD SIRAAT passed away on 21the Sept. Indeed this is a sad news. I still remember Ustad siraat for his dedicated work for Gojal when he and My father used to work and shared the issues with problem of the people of Gojal.
I pray to Allah that the departed soul may rest in eternal peace and our heartfelt condolence to their immediate families specially Mr.sajad, Zahid bhai and our sisters. May Allah give them courage to bear this irreparable loss.
Engr.M.Hussain , Dr.shahida Chicago USA.
may Allah rest uncle soul in eternal peace Aameen
indeed his services will be rememberd we extend our heartfelt condolances to Zahid bayee and to all his immidaite family members.
Ali Masud
Montreal
May his soul rest in peace. Ameen!
May Allah rest his soul in the eternal peace – Aameen
Indeed the news is very sad and Iqbal has very rightly reflecetd about his services provided to the Kaybar community. He was a true activist- competent and honest.
I pray to Allah that the departed soul may rest in eternal peace and our heartfelt condolence to their immediate families specially Mr.sajad, Zahid, and our sisters.
Sarfraz
Khorog, tjk
Indeed we have lost a passionate volunteer and a true ambassador of participatory community development. His name will be written in golden words specially in the world of development and I am sure, reserachers would trace more about his contributions and hidden talensts in the years ahead. I appreciate the idea of Darjat bhai regarding official recognition of such visionaries.
He has played his due role and the youth needs to follow his path. The best lesson from his services is reflected in this peotry:
Shakwa-e-Zulmat-e- Shab sey tou kahee(n) behtar hey
Apne hissay ka diya sab hi jalatay jaye(n)
May his sould rest in enternal peace (Aamin)
May his soul rest in peace and give the family the strength to pass the days of mourning in peace and tranquility.
Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, his brothers, sisters, daughters, and sons.
Ustad Sirat’s dedication and commitment to the cause of education and local development is well recorded above by Iqbal and comments by our Ustads above.
I can only say, we rarely find ‘social activists’ of this passion and commitment in the area now a days. One reason for many of our misfortunes now a days, may be we continue to lose community leaders and activists like Ustad Sirat.
May the youth in the villages follow the foot steps of these giants.
Ina Lilahi wa ina illhi rajioon
May Allah rest his soul in eternal peace and give the family the strength and courage to bear the irreparable loss.”Ameen”
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, Including Uncle Janaat, brother Zahid and entire family in Gojal. Gojal people as well as family in fact lost a very dedicated teacher, social worker and great human being. He is role model for youth. In this time we are equally share in sorrow with the family.
Sharifullah, Bi Bi Hassina, from Karachi and from Ishkoman Muhammad Yaqoob and Abullah Baig & Family