Farooq Nazki

Farooq Nazki was born on February 14, 1940, in Maddar village of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir. He came from a family deeply connected to literature and culture. His father, Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki, was a respected poet and broadcaster who influenced Farooq’s early interest in writing and the arts. Growing up in such an environment helped shape his sensitivity toward language, culture, and human experience.

Nazki began writing poetry in the 1960s and soon became known as one of the most distinct literary voices of Kashmir. He wrote in both Urdu and Kashmiri, creating poetry that was rich in imagery, emotion, and reflection. His work often focused on themes such as love, faith, loss, and the struggle of human existence. At the same time, his poetry captured the spirit of his homeland, expressing both its beauty and its pain.

Apart from being a poet, Farooq Nazki was a distinguished broadcaster and media professional. He served as the head of Doordarshan Srinagar and as Director of All India Radio, where he played an important role in promoting cultural and literary programs. Through these platforms, he gave space to young writers, artists, and performers from Jammu and Kashmir, helping to preserve and promote regional voices.

His poetry collection Naar Hyutun Kazalwanas (Fire in the Forests of Kazalwanas) earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995. The collection stands out for its depth of emotion and its lyrical representation of the Kashmiri landscape, both physical and emotional. His poetry was known for its ability to speak of pain and hope in equal measure, reflecting the complex realities of life in Kashmir.

Farooq Nazki’s contribution went beyond writing. He became a bridge between tradition and modern expression in Kashmiri literature. His understanding of human emotion, combined with his clarity of thought, gave his work a universal appeal.

He passed away on February 6, 2024, in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. His passing marked the loss of a poet who had not only enriched Kashmiri and Urdu literature but had also carried forward the legacy of compassion and cultural pride that his family represented. Farooq Nazki is remembered as a poet of deep humanity, one who gave voice to the silent longings of his people.