Fariq’s poetic collection 'Grav' released
SYED ALI SAFVI
BUDGAM, Apr 12: Despite being one of the most educationally backward districts in the state, central Kashmir’s Budgam district has the distinction of being the 'land of poets'. The fertile land of Budgam has produced some of the legendary poets like Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), Samad Mir, Shamas Faqir, Abdul Ahad Azad et al, who have left their indelible mark on the pages of history.
A galaxy of writers, poets and intellectuals had assembled at Sheikh-ul-Alam Hall here today to pay tributes to one of the legendary poets of Kashmir, Fariq Budgami, on his sixth death anniversary. The function was jointly organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Language (JKAACL) and Harmukh Kashur Markaz.
Minister for information technology and science and technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, was chief guest on the occasion, while vice chancellor central university, Prof Abdul Wahid, presided over the function.
A 344-page book, ‘Grav’, a collection of Fariq Budgami’s ghazals, was also released on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, that government was ready to extend every possible support to JKAACL in order to safeguard Kashmiri language.
“Kashmir society is a “murda-parast” (those who worship the dead) society. We don’t honour our living legends. We only realise their importance and worth once they are dead,” he said.
He said that Fariq Budgami was a legendary poet who conveyed social messages through his poetry.
“He was a revolutionary poet and his poetic collection must be preserved, safeguarded and developed for the benefit of present and future generations,” Ruhullah said.
Speaking on the occasion, secretary JKAACL, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, emphasized the need to preserve Kashmiri language.
“If we are really serious about preserving our language, we all need to play our role. It is our utmost responsibility to safeguard our language, and that will be a great tribute to the legendary Kashmiri poets like Fariq Budgami,” he said.
“It is a good omen that more NGOs are coming forward for the cause, but the enthusiasm must not die down,” Manhas said. “So let's together take some positive steps for the revival of our rich Kashmiri language. Let us take a pledge to preserve and promote it.”
Stating that Fariq Budgami was a revolutionary poet, Manhas said that lot of work needed to be done in order to bring forth the contribution of Fariq Budgami in the field of the Kashmiri language.
Earlier, brother of Fariq Budgami and a prominent poet of the valley, Shahid Budgami, in his welcome address, described Fariq Budgami as a “revolutionary poet”.
“He was the people’s poet, whose poetry has a message for all,” he said.
He said that Fariq Budgami has the distinction of having written over 300 ghazals in Kashmiri.
“Samad Mir and Shamas Faqir have written 142 and 110 ghazals respectively, while as Fariq Budgami has written over 300 ghazals, not an ordinary feat to achieve,” he said. “He was one of the finest poets of the century.”
He said that Shab-e Ashoora nazam (poem) of Fariq has been translated into English in Iran.
President Kashmir Press Association (KPA), Ghulam Hassan Kalloo, Mirwaiz Beerwah, Moulvi Syed Abdul Latif, Dr Aziz Hajni, Prof Rafi-ud-Din Bukhari, Prof Shad Ramzan, Javaid Budgami, Mir Mohammad Saleem also paid tributes to Fariq Budgami.
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