( Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

Hari Krishna Kaul (1934-2009) has remained as one of the major Kashmiri playwrights of the modern era who started his literary career during his college days in early fifties, writing short stories in Hindi until mid-sixties. He then switched to Kashmiri, his mother tongue. His first collection of short stories in Kashmiri, Pata Laraan Parbat, was published in 1972 and immediately established him as an acclaimed writer. His only novel, Vyath Vyatha, was published in 2005. He was the recipient of many awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award for Kashmiri fiction in 2000.

 Hari Krishna Kaul’s plays, mostly broadcast over All India Radio, were about common people concerning larger issues of their life and existence. His famous play in Kashmiri “Yeli Watan Khur Chu Yevan’’ was perhaps the best example of such characters created by Kaul. Incidentally, this play was broadcast by All India Radio on its entire network simultaneously in different languages on 27^th February, 1975. Kashmir Rechords is reproducing a gist of that  play, carried by several vernacular magazines nearly five decades ago.

Another example of memorable characters created by Hari Krishna Kaul was an old accountant of the humorous play Dastar, telecast over Doordarshan Srinagar. In mid-seventies, Kaul’s play Naatuk Kariv Band was first staged at Srinagar’s Tagore Hall. This play was a milestone in Kashmiri literature and was staged in Hindi besides  other Indian languages.

 The exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir valley in late eighties robbed Kaul the platform on which he presented his plays.  Kaul passed away on January 15, 2009.

Function at Sahitya Akademi

It was in recognition of his literary contribution that on July 19, 2019, a literary event was organised by Sahitya Akademi at  New Delhi to deliberate upon the valuable contribution of late Hari Krishana Kaul towards Kashmiri language and literature. Some scholars had an opportunity to speak on the occasion and to mention about his popularity of dramas that were famous even across the border. Those  who  had discussed various dimensions of the literary personality of Kaul included  Late  Autar Krishan Rehbar, Mushtaq Muntazir, Gauri Shankar Raina, Roshan Lal Roshan, Dr. Roop Kishan Bhat  and Dr. Rajesh Bhat

Book on Kaul

Hari Krishna Kaul published most of his work between 1972 and 2000. His short stories, shaped by the social crisis and political instability in Kashmir, explore – with an impressive eye for detail, biting wit, and deep empathy – themes of isolation, individual and collective alienation, corruption, and the social mores of a community that experienced a loss of homeland, culture, and language.

Parsa, in association with HarperCollins India is releasing his book “For Now, It is Night’’, translated from Kashmiri by Kalpana Raina, Tanveer Ajsi, Gowhar Fazili and Gowhar Yaqoob. The book brings a comprehensive selection of Kaul’s stories to English readers for the very first time. The book release function is slated for October 29, 2023 at Srinagar.

Kalpana Raina, translator, says: ‘My uncle, Hari Krishna Kaul, was a major fiction writer and dramatist. It is profoundly gratifying to bring this selection of his works  to a wider audience through this unique collaboration.

Rahul Soni, Associate Publisher, HarperCollins India, says : ‘It’s been a privilege to be involved with this translation.