Budgam, Oct 22: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Thursday highlighted the global significance of Kashmir’s rich Rishi-Sufi heritage while releasing Apostle of Light, an English biography of Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Aalam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), authored by noted writer Baba Ghulam Nabi Adfar, at Chrar-e-Sharief in Budgam.
As per news agency JKNS, Dr. Andrabi, released a biographical book on the life, teachings and spiritual legacy of Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Aalam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), written in English by noted writer Baba Ghulam Nabi Adfar. Titled “Apostle of Light”, the book was formally released by Dr Andrabi at a special literary and academic event organised by Kashmir Markaz-e-Adab-wa-Saqafat and was held at the Sheikh-ul-Aalam Conference Hall of the J&K Waqf Board, Chrar-e-Sharief.
The event was attended by eminent scholars, writers and academicians, including Prof. G. N. Khaki, Dr Satish Vimal and Ghulam Hassan Talib, besides other intellectuals and admirers of the rich Rishi-Sufi heritage of Kashmir. Famed author Inayat Gul moderated the event and presented the welcome address.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Andrabi appreciated the author for documenting the life and message of Sheikh-ul-Aalam in the English language and said that such literary efforts have the potential to take Kashmir’s profound spiritual and cultural heritage to a wider global audience.
“We need to tell our story of spiritual excellence to the world. Kashmir has a rich legacy of Rishi-Sufi thought, spiritual wisdom, compassion and universal human values. The life and teachings of Sheikh-ul-Aalam represent the finest traditions of this heritage, and it is our collective responsibility to preserve, document and communicate this legacy for future generations,” Dr Andrabi said.
Dr Andrabi said that Sheikh-ul-Aalam’s teachings transcend geographical, social and sectarian boundaries and continue to remain relevant in the contemporary world. His emphasis on spirituality, humility, compassion, human dignity, harmony and devotion to the Creator, she said, provides important guidance for society, particularly for the younger generation.
She further observed that translating and documenting Kashmir’s spiritual heritage in languages such as English is essential for creating greater awareness about the region’s indigenous intellectual and spiritual traditions beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our saints and spiritual masters have given us a universal message of peace, tolerance, coexistence and service to humanity. Their contribution should not remain confined to our local memory; it must reach readers, scholars and seekers across the world,” Dr Andrabi said.
She congratulated Baba Ghulam Nabi Adfar for bringing out Apostle of Light and expressed hope that the book would encourage further research and literary work on the lives and contributions of Kashmir’s great Rishi-Sufi personalities. (JKNS)
