Pitambar Nath Dhar Fani’s story took a heartbreaking turn in 1990. Forced to leave his home in Lal Nagar, Srinagar, he first moved to Trikutanagar, Jammu and eventually to Gurgaon, far from the valley he adored. It  was a spiritual exile for a man who had lived and breathed the essence of Kashmir.

(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

Pitambar Nath Dhar ‘Fani’ was not just a poet—he was a storyteller, a teacher  and a beacon of cultural harmony whose life and works embodied a profound love for Kashmir. Though his final years were marked by separation from the land he cherished, his words continue to echo the beauty, resilience and spirit of his ancestral home.

Born in the picturesque Kashmir Valley in 1919, Fani’s early life was deeply intertwined with the region’s culture and traditions. He grew up surrounded by the mystique of mountains and rivers that later became vivid themes in his poetry. His natural flair for languages—Kashmiri, Persian, Urdu and Arabic—allowed him to weave a rich tapestry of verse that celebrated the essence of Kashmir.

The Teacher Who Inspired Generations

Fani’s career as an educator at Islamia High School in Srinagar was legendary. Students recall him as a towering figure with a lean frame, curly hair and glasses—a man whose presence was as commanding as his intellect. He wasn’t just a teacher; he was a guide who infused life into morning assemblies with captivating speeches on morality, discipline, and spirituality. He often led students in reciting prayers from a school “Book of Prayers,” a collection that included his own devotional poems alongside works by greats like Iqbal and Mehjoor.

A Voice That Transcended Boundaries

These prayers reflected his unique poetic gift: the ability to transcend boundaries. Fani wrote devotional hymns for Hindu gods, elegies for Imam Hussain and praises for the Prophet Muhammad, seamlessly blending cultures and traditions in his verse. His bilingual work Hubab, featuring Kashmiri poems with Urdu translations, stands as a testament to his love for his homeland. In other books  like Poshe Daeil and Posh Baag, he celebrated the beauty of Kashmir, its people  and their indomitable spirit.

The Pain of Exile: Forced from the Homeland

Yet, Fani’s story took a heartbreaking turn during the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989–1990. Forced to leave his home in Lal Nagar, Srinagar, he first moved to Trikutanagar, Jammu and eventually to Gurgaon, far from the valley he adored. This displacement was more than a physical journey—it was a spiritual exile for a man who had lived and breathed the essence of Kashmir.

Creativity in Adversity: The Making of Bhakti Kousam

Despite the odds, Fani continued to create. In 1990, he managed to publish Bhakti Kousam, a collection of Kashmiri devotional bhajans and Leelas. The journey to bring this work to life was fraught with challenges: finding a calligrapher in Jammu and securing a printer willing to take on the project tested his resolve. Yet, with the help of the J&K Cultural Academy and the Qaumi Printing Press, he overcame these hurdles, leaving behind what would be one of his final contributions to literature.

The Final Chapter: A Poet Separated from His Soil

As Fani spent his last days in Gurgaon, Haryana, he remained deeply connected to Kashmir through his poetry. He passed away on January 9, 2018, at the age of 99, without the solace of returning to his homeland. Even in death, he was denied the wish to be cremated in the soil of Kashmir—a poignant reminder of the pain of displacement.

Pitambar Nath Dhar ‘Fani’ was a poet of unparalleled depth and a teacher whose legacy endures in the hearts of his students and admirers. His life, marked by love for his homeland and the anguish of separation, is a testament to the unbreakable bond between a poet and his land. Through his works, Fani immortalized Kashmir, ensuring that its beauty, culture, and resilience will continue to inspire generations to come.