The exquisite Farooq Nazki
Kashmir Rechords Exclusive
Are laureates cultivated or do they appear on their own? Both statements can be true or false at the same time. But there appears to be a strong relationship between the environment and a tradition in the family that cultivates quality literature. One’s inclination and the output combined with prevailing creative atmosphere in the family or otherwise can many a time produce great literary figures. This appears to be true in respect of Farooq Nazki, a multi-dimensional personality who has been a witness and an active participant in the vicissitudes that have dotted his colourful life.

His journey, we are told, has started as a cub reporter and his instincts would naturally align with what was then a pre-dominantly reconstructive socio-political movement and not less than a silent revolution of sorts of questioning beliefs, situations and had a streak of rebellism against obscurantism, inequalities, exploitation and corruption. Interestingly, this seemed to be a world phenomenon and was predominantly visible in societies which had just freed themselves from the clutches of imperialism. This movement dubbed as the ‘Progressive Movement’, is in fact only evolving and is said to be metamorphosing into other forms.
Farooq Nazki associated himself with the movers and shakers of this movement and it set the direction for his future literary endeavors. His father, Ghulam Rasool Nazki may have initiated him into the world of literature but his journey was purely carried by him on his shoulders like the lone pilgrim. This pilgrim tasted the waters of all streams and imbibed the light of all thoughts (Agnostic as well as Gnostic.)
