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Kashmir has no dearth of men and poets of fame. Dina Nath Koul Nadim was one of the great poets of 20th century. His name stands written in the history of progressive poets as he was an outstanding poet of progressive movement and was immensely influenced by the life,poetry and works of greatest poet Mahjoor. Nadim was born on 18th March 1916 in Srinagar city. It is no exaggeration to state that with him began an era of modern poetry. He was a famous poet of Kashmir and all Kashmiris' regarded and respected him & his poetry reverberates even today in Kashmir. Nadim Saheb led the progressive writers movement in Kashmir and his name is etched in the memory of Kashmiris progressive fraternity and he was famous in the literary circles of Kashmir. Being a down-to-earth man he initially began writing poetry in Urdu and Hindi language but later on switched to his mother tongue Kashmiri and his great works are written in Kashmiri language. Nadim greatly influenced the poets of his time especially the young poets were drawn towards his poetry and were influenced by his personality and poetry.
He also influenced poets younger than him who were greatly attracted and influenced by this great poet of progressive fame. Nadim was also famous for writing operas such as Vitasta, Safar Taa Shehjaar, Shuhal Kull to name a few from his writing. His famous opera was Bombur Taa Yamberzal. He has been awarded several times. He got the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1971 & the Shitya Natak Academi award for his "Shuhul Kull" in 1986. He passed away on April 7, 1988 at the age of 72 years and his death was widely mourned by the literary circles and politicians of his time also mourned his death. Hemal Nagray is an old tale in Kashmiri literature and Dina Nath Nadim had written the story in the style and form of opera and it is very famous in Kashmir even at the present time of science and technology. 'Bombur Taa Yamburzal' was the first opera written in Kashmiri language and Nadim is credited for writing this famous opera. He was epoch maker and trend setter in Kashmiri language and poetry as well as prose. The political events of Kashmir in 1947 attack led to the rise of poets, writers who rallied against those who were against Kashmir and wanted to keep valley subjugated and wanted to usurp this beautiful land called paradise on earth. As a response to the attack of Pakistan an organisation known as Cultural Front came into being and its work was to uphold patriotism,secularism and communal amity and this organisation played a pivotal role in furthering these attributes of progressive filed and life.
The writers, actors and painters were made members of this cultural front.Cultural Front kept public morale high and its members talked in kashmiri language in both rural and urban areas.It was in fact during the political upheaval and turmoil that Nadim came into limelight.Ever since he remained in the forefront of Kashmiri literatrure.Nadim’s mother had a great impact on the grooming of his son and on his personality. After the passing away of his father Shankar Koul when Nadim was only eight years of age. Nadim was thus brought up and was looked after his mother.Nadim’s mother used to sing Lal Vaks and also sung Kashmiri Bajans and also composed some Kashmiri Bhajans herself and she narrated these to his son who later on rose to eminence due his poetry and writing of operas.Nadim was well educated. He did his matriculation in 1930 and did BA in 1943 and did the a Bachelor of Education degree in 1947.
It is unfortunate that there is no published collection of Nadim’s works. However his collection of poems called as Shuhul Kull had been published. Most of his poems were presented in poetic symposia or published in Kashmiri journals. He has written 150 poems in Hindi, Urdu and Kashmiri language. Like his contemporaries his decision to write in Kashmiri language was made very late. His poetic career did not start until1930’s and initially he composed some poems in English. He was trying to discover himself and his linguistic medium. Lastly he selected Kashmiri language and started to write in Kashmiri and he leaned towards peasant movement and progressive ideology. He said, "my mother tongue has greater claim on me.’’ He thus later on concentrated in writing in Kashmiri language. He had written his first Kashmiri poem in 1942 on Maj Kashir-mother Kashmir. He wrote in Kashmiri and its translation is roughly as - why should the share of labourer be stolen by a capitalist? Why should a honey-bee circle the flowers and take away its honery. In 1947 he was on the forefront of protest and wrote and recited progressive and revolutionary poems and thus he became a vanguard of progressive movement. Dina Nath Koul Nadim will be remembered for many years and many will continue to be inspired by his poetry.
(Vivek Koul)
Nice post
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