Srinagar, May 6, 2026
A condolence meeting was held today at the Seminar Hall of the Cultural Academy, Lal Mandi, Srinagar, to pay heartfelt tributes to Marhoom Mohammad Rafeeq Mattoo, who passed away yesterday morning.
The gathering was marked by deep respect and emotion, as a large number of friends, fellow artists, contemporaries, and seniors assembled to honor the memory of the noble soul. Speakers recalled Rafeeq Mattoo’s remarkable qualities both as an artist and as a human being. He was remembered as a man of humility, simplicity, and kindness, whose down-to-earth nature endeared him to all who met him.
The presidium included prominent personalities such as Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, Dr. Aiyash Arif (who presided over the meeting), Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Nazeer Josh, and Gul Javed Khan. The proceedings began with the recital of the Holy Quran by Shahzad Shabbeer.
Among those who spoke on the occasion were Yousuf Shahnaz, Shaikh Haneef, Shahzad Rasool, Umar Imtiyaz, Aijaz Rah, Afzal Bhat, Javaid Khan Gora, Manzoor Ishbari, Khursheed Mir, Shabbeer Hakak, Shahnaz Mushtaq, Mahjabeen Inksari, Dr. Shabnum Rafeeq, and Syed Iftikhar. The presence of artists such as Farhat Sideeq, Akib Haleem, Majaaz Mir, Barkat Ali, Shahid Malik, and Idrees Bukhtiyar further reflected the depth of respect for the departed soul.
The hall was filled to capacity, with each speaker highlighting different facets of Rafeeq Mattoo’s life and work, painting a collective portrait of a man who lived with dignity and touched countless lives through his creativity and compassion. The challenges faced by the artist community were also discussed during the meeting.
The gathering concluded with prayers for his maghfirat (forgiveness) and for his soul to be granted the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. While the collective sentiment was one of profound loss, it was also one of gratitude for having known and shared life with Rafeeq Mattoo. His absence will be deeply felt in the artistic community of Kashmir.
