Mohammad Yousuf Taing (born 1935 in Shopian, India), also known as M. Y. Taing, is a researcher, scholar, critic, writer, politician and historian. He is also biographer of Sheikh Abdullah. He is a prolific literary thinker writing in three Indian languages. Previously served as secretary,

Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (also known as Cultural Academy) is a Society registered with Government as a Cultural organization dedicated to the promotion of regional languages, art and culture including theatre ...

, member of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, director of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, he is currently serving patron of Jammu and Kashmir Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA) in office since 2021. He also served as member of

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council (also known as the ''Jammu and Kashmir Vidhan Parishad'') was the upper house of the legislature of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. History The first Legislature was established by the ...

(MLC) twice from the National Conference and deputy chairman of

Early years

Taing was born at Shopian, in

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

in 1935. The traditional occupation of his family was fruit trading. He had his early schooling in his hometown and later went on to graduate from the University of Kashmir. Thereafter, he joined the weekly journal Jahani Nav, published from

Srinagar Srinagar (English: , ) is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city is known for its natu ...

, as its editor. This was the beginning of his journalistic career. Later he was to work on the editorial side of the weekly Aaina, in close collaboration with its editor Shamim Ahmed Shamim. He also worked for other newspapers in Srinagar such as Aftab, Zamindar, Haqeeqat and Chattan.

Career

Taing joined the Department of Information for the

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

Government as the Assistant Editor of its monthly publication ‘Tameer’, whereupon he took over as

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...

of the journal. It was during his stewardship of Temeer between 1958 and 1960 that it assumed notable status as a literary journal devoted to

Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to: * People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir * Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley * Kashmiri language, their language People with the name * Kashmiri Saikia Barua ...

language and literature. He assumed editorial duties of the Urdu bi-monthly Sheeraza, an organ of the

, in 1962. This began a long association with the organization, which he came to head as Secretary in 1973. He continued to head this body until 1993. During his tenure, the Academy rendered yeoman's service for the promotion of languages and literature of the state, as well as the encouragement of research. Taing has also worked as the Director of Information,

Cultural Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human Society, societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, and habits of the ...

Adviser, Chief Minister, and Director General of Culture, all for the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Publications

He has published four critical works in

, Urdu and English, and edited more than a dozen books on literary subjects. In addition to this he has written numerous research papers, and contributed to literary and cultural treaties. A collection of Taing's Kashmiri writings was published in 1988 under the title ‘Talash’. This was followed by a collection of his Urdu writings under the title ''Shinakht''. His critically acclaimed work ''Mahjoor Shinasi'' (criticism) won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1998. This work comprises fourteen articles on the life and works of Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, the harbinger of modernism in

poetry. This work, which comprehensively evaluates the poetry of the

poet, takes full advantage of the methods and principles of historical and biographical criticism and discusses the intrinsic literary worth of

Mehjoor Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad (August 1885 − 9 April 1952), known by his pen name as Mahjoor, was a poet of the Kashmir Valley, along with contemporaries, Zinda Kaul, Abdul Ahad Azad, and Dinanath Nadim. He is especially noted for introducing a new s ...

as well as his influence on modern

poetry. Taing has traveled extensively within and outside the country. He has visited Pakistan, United States, former USSR and

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

as a member of literary delegations, he is the very first living literary figure of

language in whose Honour a private literary organization has published a full-fledged Special Number of its magazine. He was the sole amanuensis of the late

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982) was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (later rena ...

’s autobiography entitled ‘Aatish-e-Chinar’ which won the Sahitya Akademi Award . He has compiled and edited a number of other books with critical annotations and well researched introductions. These include Kashmiri Zaban Aur Shairi (in three volumes), Heemal, Gulrez, Waliullah Mattoo Kuliyat-e-Maqbook, Kuliyat-e-Rasul Mir, Kashmir Mein Urdu, Kuliyat-e-Mahjoor, Parbat Aur Panghat and Yi Chhu Son Watan.

Awards

Recognizing his contribution to literature and education, the President of India honoured Taing with the Padma Shri on Republic Day in 2008. Taing also won the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Best Book Prize from

in 1994. Other accolades include the Robe of Honour and Silver Plaque from the President of Auqafi Islamia in 1986 and the Robe of Honour from Adabi Markaz Kaamraz in 1998. The J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages also conferred on him its robe of Honour in 1999 and made a documentary film on him. He was nominated in 1999 to the

to represent art and culture. He has been the Chief Patron of Gurjar Desh Trust Jammu for the language journal "Awaz-e-Gurjar" for the last 15 years.

Books

* ''Tlash'' 1988 (Criticism) * ''Kulyat-e-

Mahjoor Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad (August 1885 − 9 April 1952), known by his pen name as Mahjoor, was a poet of the Kashmir Valley, along with contemporaries, Zinda Kaul, Abdul Ahad Azad, and Dinanath Nadim. He is especially noted for introducing a new s ...

'', 1982 (Edited) * ''Kulyat-e-

Rasul Mir Rasul Mir (Kashmiri: ) also known as Rasul Mir Shahabadi, was a romantic poet of Kashmir in the 19th century. He was born at Doru Shahabad, a historic town in Anantnag district of Kashmir. He is often referred to as imām-e-ishqiya shairi (T ...

'', 1984, 1997 (Edited) * '' Maqbool Shah Kralwari'' (2 volumes) 1972, 1978 (Edited) * ''Mahjoor Shinasi'', 1993 (Criticism) * ''Rash'', 2001 (Research) * ''Shesh Rang Research and Criticism'', 2005 * ''Ranga Devay'', 2007 * ''Kashir Kitab History – Heritage'' – 2008 Urdu * ''Shinakht'', 1987 (Criticism) * ''Kashmiri Zaban aur Shairi'', 3 volumes (Edited) * ''Kashmir Mein Urdu'', 3 volumes (Edited) * ''Jesta Jesta'' (Research) 2001 * ''Kashmir Qalam'', 2010 English * '' Yusuf Shah Chak'' 1980 (Research) * '' Nehru in Kashmir 2012 Persian * ''Himal-Nagrai''

References