Prof. Rashid Nazki

Prof Rashid Nazki was one of the founding fathers of the Adbee Markaz Kamraaz. He became its first president in 1972, and held this office till 1984. During his presidentship, Markaz evolved to the literary heights, got Sadiq Memorial Award for its service towards the Kashmiri language, started series of literary publication titled "Masha-ier-I Kamraz" documenting life of renowned literati, poets and writers across Kamraz. Prof Rashid Nazki and G N Gowhar  founded a literary organisation in 1969 in Bandipora. A year later, he founded Literary Forum Bandipora in 1970, Both the organisations published a literary journal "Samanbal".

Born in main town of Bandipora in the year 1931, (18 September) ,Nazki served in the department of education as a teacher from 1949. Nazki served in the Cultural Academy in 1974, where he was an editor of the Journal "Sheeraza', and first Chief Editor of Kashur Encyclopaedia. Nazki was appointed as lecturer in Kashmir University for the department of Kashmiri in the year 1979. After shifting to Kashmir University in 1979, he was selected by the president of the academy as a reviewer of the first volume of the encyclopaedia. He completed PhD in Kashmiri mysticism and was elevated to the position of Professor. He retired from the same department in the year 1991. Later, he was appointed as visiting professor for the Institute of Iqbal Studies University of Kashmir.

He holds the distinction of being the first PhD holder in Kashmiri for his research on the topic of "Mystic Trends in Kashmiri and Urdu Poetry". Nazki is the first writer to compile a detailed book on "Rishis and Rishism in Kashmir" in 1979 from the University of Kashmir.
Nazki got Sahitya Academy Award (1999) for his famous poetic collection  "Vahraat". Nazki was honoured by the then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005 for his literary contribution and in 2010, he was honoured with the State Award.

Nazki is considered the first author to compile 'Seerah' or Prophets Biography in Kashmiri. He is known for his writings like Seeryat(Mysticism), Mysticsim in Urdu Poetry, Kuliyiati Nadim, Rishiyat ta sayen Rish, Zam Zam, Na'atiya Adab, Mazhabi Rehnama, Zikr-i-Habib(Two Volumes), Baz Gasht, Miey Baqi and Tasawuf. He also authored many other  books in Kashmiri and Urdu.
Rashid Nazki is known for Literary Traditionalism.

Besides growing under deep influence of Progressive Literary philosophy and modernism, Nazki keep on creating poetry and literature on traditional lines. Though he adopted modern and post modern shades, but he always traditionalises his poetic creation in a way that a reader always feels pleasure of neo-traditional vibes in his poetry and prosaic writings.

Nazki was a prolific writer, impressive Translator, Critic and scholar of international repute. He was well versed with both Eastern and Western tradition of knowledge and literature. He was a scholar of comparative religions and Mysticism, besides having scholasticism in comparative poetry.
(Compiled By Mir Tariq Literary Forum Bandipora)