At a function organized by Adbi Markaz Kamraz and J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages in association with Mehfil-e-Ilm-o-Adab Pakherpora at S.P. College Auditorium here, the maiden poetic collection of G. R. Josh titled ‘Safar Safar Tanha’ was released by Jnanpith awardee Kashmiri poet, Prof. Rehman Rahi. Josh, a prominent representative of the contemporary Kashmiri poetry, has been writing since age 18.
Presided over by Prof. Rehman Rahi, the release function was attended by a host of prominent writers, poets and lovers of Kashmiri literature including Mohammed Shafi Pandit, Farooq Nazki, Mohammed Zaman Azurda, Ayaz Rasool Nazki, Dr. Rafeeq Masoodi, Kifayat Rizvi, Ayash Arif, and GR Hasrat Gadda.
Chief Information Commissioner, J&K, GR Sufi was the chief guest on the occasion. Recalling their association with Josh, students of the poet - Nazir Ahmad and Farooq Ahmad highlighted Josh’s poetic excellence and appreciated the joint initiative of the organizers to host the literary event.
Echoing similar sentiments, Aaj Tak bureau chief and a former student of Josh, Mohammed Ashraf Wani paid tributes to the literary genius of the poet-translator.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelProminent writer-academic, Mohammed Zaman Azurda presented an in-depth paper on Josh’s poetry.
Earlier in his welcome address, President Adbi Markaz Kamraz, Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari presented a brief about recent activities of the AMK.
Speaking about Josh’s poetry collection Shujaat said that AMK was meant to promote literary excellence in Kashmiri language and literature.
Terming Josh as a good poet, Bukhari said that supporting the release function was a matter of pride for his organization -Adbi Markaz Kamraz.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Academy, Dr. Aziz Hajini said that Kashmiri as a language was facing myriad challenges and only civil society based initiatives would address them. He commended the efforts of Josh for penning down Safar Safar Tanha.
In his address Josh thanked the organisers for supporting the release function. Attributing his poetry writing to people like Prof. Rehman Rahi, Amin Kamil and Qaiser Qalandar, Josh said that he owed his maiden poetic collection to these people.
As a prelude to the book release singer Munir Ahmad Mir sang select poetry of the poet-translator. (KNS)