Ghulam Nabi Gowhar

Ghulam Nabi Gowhar (born Ghulam Nabi Muqeem; 26 June 1934 19 June 2018) was a multilingual Indian Kashmiri author, novelist, poet, columnist and a retired sessions jurist. He wrote about sixty books in Kashmiri, Urdu, and in English languages on various subjects such as politics, literature, history and on Sufism. In 1971, he wrote a novel titled ''Mujrim'', leading him to become the "first novelist of Kashmiri literature". The recipient of cultural and literary awards and accordion, including Sahitya Akademi Award, he is also credited for translating constitution of India into Kashmiri language.

He also conducted extensively research on various subjects such as history of Kashmir and Sufi saints. He is also credited for deciphering the poetry (called Shruks) of Nund Rishi. He also documented Bijbehara Massacre and Charari Sharief operation in his two historical books titled ''The Central Stage of Kashmir Politics'' and ''Military operation in Kashmir: insurgency at Charar-e-Sharief''.

Early life and education

He was born as Ghulam Nabi Muqeem to Haji Mohammed Akram Mukim in Charari Sharief town of Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir princely state of British India. He received his initial schooling at his hometown, and graduated from Gandhi Memorial College, Srinagar. Later, he went to Uttar Pradesh and did his Bachelor of Laws from the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He postgraduated in Persian language from AMU.

Gowhar originally started his career in judicial. He started legal practice in Budgam, and was then appointed as a judge. Prior to his appointment, he wanted to be a politician, however before participating in elections, he qualified the judicial examination and was appointed as a judge and retired as a Sessions Judge. He, according to the '' Greater Kashmir'' wrote some judgements in the form of rhythmic poems, and sometimes used to deliver verdict on the pattern of poetry and stories.

Literary career

He was also involved in writings while serving as a judge. However, he became known to literary society around 1969 when his first novel titled ''Mujrim (The Guilty)'' was published. He later wrote numerous novels until he became the "first novelist of Kashmiri literature" with a first-ever Kashmiri language novel titled ''Arg-e-Ashud'', published in 2012 by the Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK), a literary organization of the union territory. In 1973, he wrote second novel titled ''Meoul (Union)'', and later ''Paap Ti Punye (Vice and Virtue)''. His third novel, which was awarded Sahitya Akademi award in 1988 was also broadcast on Radio Kashmir Jammu. He covered the history of Kashmir before partition in his another novel titled ''Gilnavith Kath (Torch Bearer)'', published by the Raider Publishing International, New York.

Besides writing novels, he conducted extensive research about Sufi saints, including Nund Rishi and wrote research books titled ''Kalam e Sheikhul Alam'' and ''Saheef-e-Noor'' on the subject. He translated poetry of Muhammad Iqbal and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee into Kashmiri language. He also edited the complete literary work of Ghulam Nabi Aariz, the 9th century's Kashmiri poet.

Publications

Death

Gowhar was suffering from Kidney disease and died of Kidney failure on 19 June 2018 in Kralpora of Budgam district. His death anniversary is celebrated annually by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, a state-owned literary organization dedicated to promote regional languages and art and culture in the state.

References

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowhar, Ghulam Nabi

1934 births
2018 deaths
Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University alumni
Kashmiri poets
Urdu-language writers from India
English-language writers from India
20th-century Indian novelists
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kashmiri
Kashmiri writers
People from Budgam district