Farooq Nazki, 82, a prominent poet, broadcaster, and cultural icon, died in Katra on Tuesday.
Nazki had been dealing with a variety of health difficulties, including lung and kidney complications, for the past four years. Faced with health issues, Nazki moved to Katra to live with his son, a medical doctor at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspecialty Hospital.
Nazki died on Tuesday morning, with his two daughters by his side.
Naeem Akhtar, Nazki’s nephew and former minister, told Greater Kashmir that Nazki’s body was transported to his Shivpora property in Srinagar from Jammu via the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Tuesday evening.
“The late Nazki Sahab’s Namaz-e-Janaza will be performed on Wednesday, February 7 at 10:30 a.m. on the grounds of the Syed Sahab Sonwar shrine. His body will be laid to rest at the family’s tomb in Malkha, Kathi Darwaza, Srinagar,” Akhtar stated.
Nazki was born on February 14, 1940, in the charming village of Maddar in the Bandipora region of north Kashmir. He made significant contributions to literature, broadcasting, and Kashmiri culture during his life.
Nazki had early education in Gamroo village, his maternal home, and later attended a government school in Nadihal, Bandipora, where his maternal uncle Masood Ahmad was stationed.
Ahmad would accompany him wherever he was sent.
Under the tutelage of his tutor, Ahmadullah Afandi, he absorbed the scout spirit, embodying attentiveness and discipline reminiscent of his parents.
Despite his father’s doubts, Nazki’s intellectual abilities were clear during his school years.
His relationship with boyhood buddies Mansoor Ahmad Fazli and Manzoor Fazli was inscribed in his soul.
In a recent chat with Dr Rafiq Ahmad Masoodi, former Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy for Art, Culture, and Language, Nazki recounted how his school teacher, Ahmadullah Affandi of Onamgam Bandipora, left an everlasting mark on his career.
“When Nazki was in third grade, Prof Mujeed from Jamia Millia Islamia and his team visited the school. Prof Mujeeb has assembled a panel to choose students based on their IQ and award scholarships at Jamia Millia Islamia,” Nazki explained during his meeting with Masoodi.
During the conversation, Nazki stated that his father refused to let him leave, despite the fact that his mother was open to the idea, and that his father cited hefty costs as the cause, which ranged from Rs 4 to Rs 6 per month.
During the conversation, Nazki mentioned that Mansoor Ahmad Fazli was one of his closest friends, and Vijay Dhar had been a friend since boyhood.
Nazki termed Dhar is an honest man with a high intellectual level.
Despite the fact that many acquainted with Nazki described him as extremely clever in school, he regarded himself to be an average student.
During his school days, his non-Muslim friend Rajnath would always bring him meals from his home, and they had a strong bond.
Nazki’s family moved to Srinagar in 1948 and settled on Exchange Road.
From being a mediocre student in his father’s eyes to becoming the Director of Doordarshan and AIR Srinagar, positions he held from 1986 to 1997, Nazki’s journey was nothing short of amazing.
Nazki, a complex personality, also served as Editor of Daily Mazdoor beginning in 1960, leaving an unforgettable imprint on journalism.
He played critical roles as media advisor to Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, demonstrating his commitment to public service.
His president at Bazm-e-Adab, literary assistant position at JKAACL, and term as Editor of Daily Mazdoor all demonstrated his dedication to developing literary potential.
Nazki’s powerful and evocative poetry, which captured the essence of Kashmir’s beauty and suffering, won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 for ‘Nar Heton Kanzal Vanas’.
In eighth grade, Nazki submitted an article for the Jamia Millia Islamia magazine ‘Mera Parcha’, which was led by Dr Zakir Hussain.
After completing the tenth grade, he wrote for several newspapers, including Khidmat and Delhi’s well-known newspapers Ashiana, Mastana, Jogay, and Hafta Rozah.
After graduating from SP College, he became president of the Literary Forum and worked as a literary assistant at JKAACL for a while.
When Nazki obtained a CDG Fellowship, his trip to Germany expanded his knowledge of literature, ideas, and perspectives.
He also earned the State Cultural Academy Award and the Noor-ul-Lugha Award for his contributions to the Kashmiri and Urdu languages.
He received the Asia ’82 Award for Best Media Controller as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Award for Best Electronic Media Management in recognition of his media contributions.
Among his Urdu works are ‘Akhir-e-Khwaab Se Pehle’ and ‘Yeh Dhuan Sa Kahan Se Uth Raha Hai’.
Farooq Nazki
‘Masnavi Meh Jabeen’ was written in Kashmiri by Nazki.
Nazki’s deep voice and eloquence established him as a known character in radio, helping to promote Kashmiri literature to a broader audience.
Despite health issues in his later years, he remained active in cultural and literary organizations, leaving a lasting legacy.
During a conversation with him in Kashmir, prominent Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah was captivated by Nazki’s command of the Urdu language.
His legacy lives on in the hearts of people who have been moved by his words, and his contributions are still shaping Kashmir’s cultural environment.
