Some people enter our lives quietly and almost imperceptibly until one day we realise they have become an inseparable part of our intellectual and emotional landscape. Dr. Javid Iqbal was one such person in my life.My first encounter with him came through the Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS), a civil society group whose activities had long intrigued me. During my tenure as head of a business chamber in Kashmir, I was invited to participate in one of its Round Table Conferences on an economic issue. I had closely followed the group’s interventions and admired its seriousness in addressing public concerns. Unlike many forums that merely discussed problems, KCSDS sought practical solutions, with its programmes invariably culminating in well-considered recommendations for policymakers and society at large.

The conference introduced me to an impressive gathering of scholars, medicos, journalists, professionals, former bureaucrats, and academics associated with a small but deeply committed team led by a distinguished woman academic. By then, KCSDS had already earned considerable credibility, and an invitation to its programmes was regarded as a mark of distinction.

It was there that I first heard Dr. Javid Iqbal speak on a subject close to my heart and one that I had myself been advocating within my own organisation. His presentation reflected extensive research, thoughtful analysis, and an uncommon command of the subject. Gracefully attired in a suit and remarkably humble in demeanor, he possessed the rare ability to persuade without being overbearing. When my turn came to speak, I noticed him carefully taking notes. That small gesture revealed much about the man. Here was an accomplished physician, writer, and public intellectual listening as eagerly as he taught. After the programme, the Chairperson introduced me to Javid Sahib and other members of the core team. He spoke encouragingly about my presentation, appreciated my heading a prestigious organisation at a relatively young age, and exchanged telephone numbers with me.That very evening, he called seeking clarification on some of the points I had raised. I was pleasantly surprised that someone of his stature would take such keen interest in the observations of a younger participant. Yet that was Doctor Sahib’s defining trait—he was generous in appreciation, humble in learning, and genuinely interested in ideas irrespective of their source. To my astonishment, he remarked that he had himself learnt something new from my presentation.

That conversation opened a door that never really closed. Doctor Sahib would frequently call to discuss economic, developmental, and social issues, many of which later found expression in his newspaper columns. What began as a chance meeting at a conference gradually blossomed into a warm friendship and an enriching intellectual companionship. Following my departure from the business chamber in December 2010, I continued my association with the civil society group and was soon invited to join its core team. Having already witnessed the integrity and seriousness with which the organisation functioned, I accepted the offer without hesitation.

As I became more closely involved, I came to appreciate the remarkable range of issues the group engaged with—from unemployment, environmental degradation, lopsided development and governance, communal harmony, social reform, literature, science, and culture. The discussions were invariably informed, balanced, and solution-oriented.

I was entrusted with organizing events, preparing minutes of proceedings and drafting press releases, responsibilities that brought me into even closer interaction with Javid Sahib. I would usually seek his inputs before forwarding the drafts to the Chairperson for approval. Whenever she polished the language or substituted certain expressions, he would humorously remark that the document had now acquired its inevitable “Shakespearean touch”, referring to the command the chairperson as a teacher of English literature possessed. His gentle wit, humility, and absence of ego made working with him a delight, for even the most serious deliberations were seldom devoid of warmth and laughter. It was only after joining the core team of the group and interacting with him almost daily that I began to discover the many dimensions of his personality. Behind the soft-spoken physician and prolific columnist stood a man of immense scholarship, phenomenal memory, deep spirituality, and boundless compassion. With each passing year, another facet of his life and accomplishments unfolded before me.

Educated in Sopore and other parts of Kashmir, Doctor Sahib had graduated from Government Medical College, Srinagar, and devoted his life to the service of humanity through medicine. His professional journey took him to Iran, Libya, and Tajikistan, where he served with distinction during challenging times. His years in Iran coincided with the era, when the country’s healthcare........

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