Mr. Mohammad Azim Tuman played an intangible role for Kashmir’s tourism and Kashmir’s Hajin community.
Despite of being a school dropout Mr Mohammad Azim Tuman initially worked as an office boy at the ERC and rose up to the level of Office In-charge. Tuman sahib worked with ERC’s New Delhi center for around 17 years. This was the time when he introduced Kashmir to visiting student groups, researchers and academicians from US. During his tenure at ERC from 1960-1977 Mr Tuman used to accompany US student groups to Srinagar where they would stay with his family who owned a House Boat called “Mascot” at Nigeen.Tuman family actually hailed from Ban Mohalla Habba Kadal where they used to live in a Donga on the banks of river Jehlum. Most of the Hanji community used to live in Dongas which kept moving in Jehlum river in search of livelihood. With the passage of time the Dongas were modified and were converted into houseboats.
The concept of having educational / business conferences in Kashmir and MICE tourism was initiated by Mr. Azim Tuman during early 1960s. From 1960 to 1989 almost dozens of reputed American universities and companies like IBM, World Airline Clubs Association (WACA) held their meetings in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. During 1965 to 1975 airline magazines of Air France , Lufthansa, Swiss Air etc would frequently give coverage to Kashmir tourism and pictures of Nigeen & Dal lake houseboats could be seen in those magazines. On the insistence and goodwill of Mr. Azim Tuman WACA returned to Kashmir in 2005 after a long gap of 15 years long years.
Mr Azim Tuman would always make his community feel proud about their solidity and strengths especially vis a vis their social life. He would feel proud for Hanji community for not accepting dowry from girl’s family during marriages. This culture still exists among this community especially those involved with houseboat trade.
Mr. Azim Tuman’s contribution to Kashmir’s tourism industry and towards his community is truly remarkable. Unfortunately at the age of 81 , great Mr. Azim Tuman left this world on October 4th 2018 but his selfless work and contribution towards Kashmir is unforgettable.
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