Rafiq Raaz (born 10 March 1950) is an Indian poet, broadcaster and the former director of
All India Radio Srinagar. He primarily writes in
Urdu and
Kashmiri language.
He published his first book titled ''Nai Che Naalan'' (Flute is wailing) in 1978, leading him to become the recipient of
Sahitya Akademi Award after the book was released to the general public in 1995. Consisting of eighty-three
ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
s and one
qasida about
Nund Rishi, it was later introduced to the
Bachelor of Arts courses by the
University of Kashmir.
He was among the other writers who helped improve
Kashmiri literature in 1950s of what is now called modern Kashmiri literature. In 2015, he featured in Meet the Author Program focused on to promote Urdu and
Persian languages in the region. It is organised by the University of Kashmir via its English department.
Early life and education
He was born on 10 March 1950 in
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 ...
,
Jammu and Kashmir princely state, India (in modern-day
Jammu and Kashmir union territory
Jammu and Kashmir is a region administered by India as a union territory and consists of the southern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947, and between India and ...
).
He was ten years old when his father Khaja Ali Mohd Shamrock permanently relocated to Zaina Kadal and stayed there for over thirty-eight years until he relocated to Bagat Srinagar.
He attended schools in his hometown, and later he attended
S. P. College for further studies.
He obtained
master's degree in
Urdu language
Urdu (;["Urdu"](_blank)
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. ur, , link=no, ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, In ...
from the University of Kashmir.
In 1975 and 1976, he started his PhD
thesis at the same university.
He was later appointed to the post of lecturer at the department of Kashmiri where he taught until he was appointed as a
programme executive at the
All India Radio Srinagar, and by the latter served as director until he retired in 2010.
Career
During his career, he wrote six books out of two such as ''Anhar'' and ''Nai Che Naalan'' consisting of one hundred and eight-three ghazals and one qasida. He also wrote 50 to 60
radio plays broadcast by the Radio Kashmir, and has also used to host morning radio programs, including Zoon-e-Dab program, while some programs were aimed at to recite
Āyahs (Quranic verses).
He also wrote a
patriotic song titled ''Ek Hai Bharat Shresth Bharat'' (There is no country like India) that was released on
Republic Day by the
All India Radio.
Publications
Awards and accordion
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raaz, Rafiq
1950 births
Living people
People from Srinagar
University of Kashmir alumni
Poets from Jammu and Kashmir
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kashmiri