On 19TH of September, 2026, the Group of Concerned Citizens, J&K, organised the 2nd Mohammad Shafi Pandit Memorial Lecture at the Institution of Engineers (India), Sonwar, Srinagar. The programme was chaired by Dr. Sohrab Uddin Yaqoob Qurashi (IAS Retd), Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, who delivered his speech on the theme “What Kashmir Taught Me: Democracy, Courage and Belonging,” M.C Phunsog, IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary of J&K. B. R. Sharma, IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary of J&K, were the Guests of Honour. The Former IAS officer and Chairman of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, and Lateef u Zaman Deva, Vice Chairman GCC, Ab Rashid Khan, Former IGP, and Former IAS officer, Ghulam Jeelani Nehvi also graced the occasion and podium.

Speaking on the theme, “What Democracy Taught Me: Democracy, Courage and Belonging”, Quraishi said people had turned out in large numbers for the 2024 Assembly elections, but argued that Jammu and Kashmir requires Statehood. The former CEC said Kashmir needed democracy, reconciliation and a revival of its old social bonds and sense of belonging. He said the return of the pandit community require snot only rehabilitation but also reconciliation. The Chairman GCC, Khurshid Ganai said that the GCC has made several suggestions to the government over the past few years on improving governance and addressing issues facing the people. He stressed on the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. About Shafi Pandit, he said that “he was as an innovative administrator, and his contribution lay not merely in introducing new initiatives but also in finding different ways of doing existing things”. C. Phunsog highlighted Pandit’s contribution to public administration, his innovative approach to governance and his deep commitment to serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He described his return to Srinagar after many years as a “homecoming,” a gush that........

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