Renowned poet, writer and broadcaster Abdul Ahad Farhad passed away in Jammu, leaving behind a rich legacy in Kashmiri literature, journalism and broadcasting.
He was widely regarded as a trendsetter in bilingual news reading and a towering cultural figure of Jammu and Kashmir.
Born on April 13, 1946, at Soura Srinagar, Farhad completed his schooling from Zadibal Srinagar, pursued college education at S.P. College, and earned a Master’s degree in English from the University of Kashmir. Soon after completing his post-graduation, he worked as editor of Daily Wular before joining Radio Kashmir in 1972 as an intermediate script writer. He later served as a bilingual news reader and became known for giving a distinct style and dignity to news presentation.
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As per news agency JKNS, Farhad also wrote columns for Daily Aftab under the pen name “Kokab Kashmiri” and authored the much-discussed “University Diary,” which continues to be remembered. Approved as a poet during his bachelor’s studies, he represented the Kashmiri language at a National Symposium in 1984 and delivered an elaborate lecture at the International Ijtihaad Conference held in Mecca in December 2008.
Farhad translated several notable works, including the writings of late Makhmoor Syedi and Sri Guru Narayan. He also did live commentary of the Amarnath Yatra from Pissu Ghati in 1975. Over the course of his career at Radio Kashmir, he planned and produced several prestigious programmes such as Vaadi Ki Awaaz, Sangarmal, Mulaqaat, youth programmes, and Khat Kay Liye Shukriya. He authored more than 20 musical features on festivals and communal harmony and scripted numerous documentaries on varied subjects.
He also wrote travelogues including Khanbal Peth Khadanyar, Soura Peth Sarbal, Sendh Ta Safar, Qazigund Peth Kopwore and Vyeth Cha Pakaan. Farhad scripted and compered popular television shows like Tarakh Maal, Gashir, Zitni Zool, Tabaruk, Azmat Nishan, Shakhsiyaat and Mashhoor-e-Shahar.
His Naat “Ba Khuda Sarai Khudayee,” sung by Padma Shri Shameem Dev Azad, gained popularity across the subcontinent. His poem “Hubul Watan-e-Minal Imaan” was translated into more than 26 languages, while his kalaam was rendered by leading Kashmiri singers including Ghulam Hassan Sufi, Raj Begum, Naseem Akhtar, Kailash Mehra, Qaiser Nizami and others, besides playback singers like Dilraj Kaur.
Farhad was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including honours from All India Kashmiri Pandit Samaj, Anjuman-e-Mazharulhaq, Shakir Aslam Award, Funkar Cultural Organization, Radio Kashmir Srinagar and Bazm-e-Sakafat Budgam.
His demise has been widely mourned across literary, cultural and media circles, who described his passing as an irreparable loss to the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)
