Gowhar”s “Arg-e-Ashud” released

Kashmiri language gets first novel of its kind

Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) today organised a literary event at the Taseer Hall of Amar Singh College Srinagar in which “Arg-e-Ashud,” a Kashmiri novel of noted poet and novelist Ghulam Nabi Gowhar and its English adaptation “Torch bearer in dark circle” were released.

AMK collaborated with the civil society body Kashmir Centre for Social and development Studies in organising the function.

Prof  Rahman Rahi presided over the function while as Justice (r)  Bashir Ahmad Kirmani was the chief guest on the occasion.

Prof Hameeda Nayeem and Z G Muhammad presented papers on the English adaptation of the book. Ghulam Nabi Aatish’s paper on “Arg-e-Ashud” was read out by Dr Iftikhar Bukhari. The paper readers termed  Gowhar’s novel as first of its kind in the Kashmiri fiction, saying he has recreated history from the debris of past. They said the novel is epoch-making not for being voluminous but for its canvas.

In his presidential address, Prof Rahman Rahi termed the novel as complete from  the perspective of literary technique . “This novel is a great addition to the   Kashmiri literary treasure,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice (r) Bashir Ahmad Kirmani said the vacuum in the Kashmiri literature caused due to inadequate number of novels has been filled up by  “Arg-e-Ashud.” Comparing the theme of the novel with Aag Ka Darya by Quratul Ain Haider and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Kirmani said the novelist has bestowed a precious gift to Kashmiri language.

Delving into the circumstances which gave him the theme and inspiration to write the novel, Ghulam Nabi Gowhar said he wanted to narrate the eventful era from 1930 to 1990, and the sufferings of the people of his motherland, that has finally come up in the form of this novel after decades of literary work.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, AMK President Dr Aziz Hajni said Gowhar has been selflessly serving the cause of Kashmiri language since past five decades. Terming the novel as “grand narration,” which was lacking in the sphere of novels in Kashmiri literature, he said now the Kashmiri language can boast of a prized possession in the form of “Arg-e-Ashud.”

Presenting the vote of thanks, AMK General Secretary Dr Shujaat Bukhari said AMK is committed to provide platform to poets and writers to bring forth their literary works.

Pertinently, Prof Rahman Rahi stressed the need to introduce Kashmiri as a compulsory subject in the 9th and 10th classes.

A galaxy of poets and writers garced the literary event. They include Farooq Nazki, Rukhsana Jabeen, Prof Manzoor Fazli, Meem Hai Zaffar, Prof Bashar Basheer, Dr Mubarak, Dr Javid Iqbal, Dr Altaf Hussian, Prof Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Majeed Zargar, Quratul Ain, Dr Nazir Azad, Rasheed Afaq, Nisar Naseem and Mushtaq Sopori.

Noted theatre artist Muhammad Amin Bhat conducted the proceedings.