Imtiyaz Rashid Chashti
On 10th September 2025, Kashmir lost not merely a distinguished educationist but a symbol of an entire tradition when Hirdey Nath Koul, former Principal of Islamia School, Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, passed away.
Son of Shri Tara Chand Koul of Banamohalla, Habbakadal, and later settled in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, he represented the best of Kashmiri Pandit scholarship, discipline, integrity, and a lifelong devotion to service. His departure marks not just a personal loss, but the quiet fading of an era when teachers were the moral custodians of society.
Koul Sahib belonged to that rare cadre of Kashmiri Pandit teachers who shaped the intellectual and moral foundations of generations. As Principal, he was known not only for academic excellence but for embodying fairness, humility, and kindness. His classrooms were not confined to the rigors of curriculum; they were spaces where values of honesty, respect, and perseverance were instilled. To his students and colleagues alike, he was not simply a teacher but a moral compass.
In a society often fractured along political and communal lines, teachers like Koul stood as quiet bridges of harmony. Their dedication transcended boundaries of religion and community, reflecting an inclusive vision of education as a collective responsibility.
The Pandit teachers of Islamia Schools, among them Raina Sir, Niranjan Sir, and Koul Sahib, were not merely imparting lessons; they were shaping a culture of coexistence, concern, and shared progress.
The 1990s turmoil robbed Kashmir of its peace, but equally of its inclusive ethos. The silence of our collective memory around teachers like Koul is a painful reminder of neglect. We, as former students and as a community, failed to remain connected with the very mentors who nurtured us. What does it say about a society that forgets its torchbearers? This failure is not just personal; it is civilizational.
Even today, it is not too late to honor such figures. Their recognition is not merely a ceremonial gesture but a reaffirmation of our indebtedness to a generation that lived and taught selflessly. It is in this spirit that I urge Mirwaiz Dr. Umar Farooq Sahib to take the initiative in acknowledging the contributions of these Pandit teachers of Islamia School. Such a tribute would be more than remembrance, it would be an act of moral restitution.
With the demise of Hirdey Nath Koul, a luminous chapter of Kashmir’s educational journey has come to a close. Yet, his legacy survives in the thousands of lives he shaped, the principles he embodied, and the values he imparted.
He will be remembered not only as a distinguished principal but as a symbol of dedication, inclusiveness, and moral courage.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
