The Multi-dimensional 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 breathed his last at a Katra Hospital on February 6, 2024.

Farooq Nazki, who was a witness and an active participant in the vicissitudes that dotted his colourful life, had 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, 83, had 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.)

A relentless Journey

It has been a relentless journey .The passion that essentially arises out of suffering blossoms into flowers and is the engine that drives creativity. Farooq Nazki was a poet, a broadcaster, a playwright and a noted literary figure of repute in both Urdu and Kashmiri besides proving his mettle as an administrative and political functionary also. He had donned many a hat and carried them deftly.

While much has already been written and said about Farooq Nazki, his family and his works, the trail he has left goes on projecting aspects of his colourful personality unknown to the world.

Kashmir Rechords is in possession of very candid moments of this multi-dimensional personality’s periods of struggle, the aspects that are mainly hidden from the world. The black and white photographs of his younger life when he was growing in the shadows of his illustrious father Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki speak for themselves about the vicissitudes, associations, agonies and the ecstasies combined with highs and lows of his life.

Through these rare photographs, Kashmir Rechords pays homage to this great son of the soil.