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Muzaffar Aazim

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Muzaffar Aazim was a Kashmiri-American poet and a writer of the Kashmiri language[1]

Muzaffar Aazim
Born
Mohammad Muzaffar Mir

(1934-04-29)April 29, 1934
Tangmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, British India
DiedJuly 8, 2022(2022-07-08) (aged 88)
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
CitizenshipKashmiri-American
Occupation(s)Poet, Writer, Director Sericulture
Notable workPoetry collections: Zolana (1963), Mani-Kaman (1974), Saze-Salasil (2005), Harf Dai (2007), Translations: War & Peace (1977), Wuthering Heights (1987), ‘Iyaruingam’ Awami Raj (1988)

Mahmud Gami (Makers of Indian Literature), (1991) ‘Yak Rang’ poems of Anwar War Anwar (2012) Drama: Nai-Mout, Srinagar Door Darshan; Hawas ta Haasil, Radio Kashmir

Created the first Kashmiri Narqalam font and Gulmarg Nastalik font
MovementProgressive Writers Movement, Modernism
AwardsAcademy of Art, Culture and Languages, Kashmir; Soviet Land Nehru Award,1978

Early life and career

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Muzaffar Aazim was born in 1934 in picturesque hillside Tangmarg town located along Himalaya mountains in erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State of India. He graduated from Sri Pratap College and briefly taught at Amar Singh College.[2] [3] He later became the Director of Sericulture in Kashmir, a position that enabled him to travel widely and helped him gain a deep insight into human behavior, feelings, interactions, and expression.

Kashmiri font and script promotion

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He was instrumental in promoting Kashmiri poetry and language, partly by creating the first Kashmiri Narqalam font and Gulmarg Nastalik font.[4] In collaboration with other language experts, he pushed for improvement in Unicode to better represent Kashmiri language.[5] This enables almost seven million Kashmiri speaking population worldwide to write in their chosen language.

Literary works

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Aazim started writing poetry at the age of 10 and published his first Kashmiri poetry book ‘Zolana’ (The Fetters) in 1963. His contemporary, noted Kashmir poet Rahman Rahi, writing about this book comments that “The chief quality that distinguishes Aazim from almost all other poets of his age is his dexterity as a craftsman, a quality which can be appreciated in his ghazals”.[6] His second Kashmiri poetry book was ‘Manikaman’ (The Desire). His other poetry books include Saze-Salasil (The Rhythm of the Chains) in Urdu and Haraf Dai (Two and a Half Words) in Kashmiri. He authored ‘Mahmud Gami’, Makers of Indian Literature published by Sahitya Akademi.[7] He compiled a comprehensive review on ‘Experiments in Modern Kashmiri Poetry’ in ‘Indian Literature, also published by Sahitya Akademi.[8] He published ‘Yak Rang’, a popular collection of unpublished poems by mystic Kashmiri poet Anwar War Anwar (1873-1905).[9] He has appeared multiple times on television to discuss poetry, literature, and life.[10] He has written several plays for All India Radio Srinagar including Havas ta Haasil (Longing and Gain), and for Door Darshan TV including Nai Mout (The Flute Fakir). He started abstract digital art in 2014. This became his main, and a popular, outlet of creative expression in the later years of his life.

Translations

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Muzaffar Aazim translated many classics into Kashmiri including Tolstoy’s War & Peace published by Cultural Academy.[11] He also translated Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and Awami Raj, originally written as Iyaruingam (Peoples Rule) in Assamese by B.K. Bhattacharya and published by Sahitya Akademi.

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Muzaffar Aazim wrote many melodious Kashmiri songs that are mostly played on All India Radio Srinagar and quickly became favorites. ‘Asi bor wizi wizi’ was adopted by the University of Kashmir as an anthem for 3 years.[12][13][unreliable source?] ‘Yina sa cheshman’, a song he dedicated to his wife became a classic.[14] Other songs include ‘Jigar zakhmi’ and ‘Yena zulfow chanew’, both still very popular.[15]

Awards and honors

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Muzaffar Aazim received the best book award for two of his Kashmiri poetry collections ‘Zolana’ and ‘Manikaman’ by Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.[16] He was awarded Soviet Land Nehru Award for translating ‘War & Peace.[17][unreliable source?] He also received a ‘Dastar Bandi’ by Academy of Art, Culture and Languages of Kashmir.[18]

Death

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Muzaffar Aazim died on July 8, 2022, in Woodbridge, Virginia.[19][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The History of Kashmiri Language & Literature, by Prof. Shafi Shauq, Ali Mohammad & Sons, Srinagar pp. 431-433
  2. ^ T“SRI Pratap College Home Page”. SRI Pratap College. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  3. ^ “Amar Singh College Srinagar Home Page”. Amar Singh College. Retrieved 30 December 2023
  4. ^ GULMARG EDUCATIONAL MEDIA (26 August 2013). “Kashmiri Language”. Kashmirilanguage.com. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  5. ^ ANDERSON, DEBORAH, ET. AL (14 May 2009). "Proposal to add two Kashmiri characters". Unicode.org. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ RAHI, RAHMAN (1964). “Kashmiri Literature (pp. 52-55)”. JSTOR. Retrieved 30 December 2023. Vol. 7, No. 2 (1964).
  7. ^ AAZIM, MUZAFFAR. “Mahmud Gami (Makers of Indian Literature)”. Biblio. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  8. ^ INDIAN LITERATURE (March 1978). “Experiments in Modern Kashmiri Poetry (pp. 92-97)”. JSTOR. Retrieved 30 December 2023. Vol. 21, No. 2 (1978).
  9. ^ APHARWAT (21 September 2012). “Yak Rang Feturing Anwar War Anwar Released by Muzaffar Aazim”. The Pinnacle of Objective Kashmiri Thought Process. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ^ KOSHURI1 (7 July 2013). “Muzaffar Aazim on ‘Subhai Subhai’ Show: Srinagar Kashmir Television”. YouTube. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  11. ^ JK Cultural Academy (2 June 2021). "Jang Te Aman Vol 1 Kashmiri Translation of Tolstoys War and Peace JK Cultural Academy". Archive.org. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ “University of Kashmir Home Page”. University of Kashmir. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ^ GONMATH “Asi bor wizi wizi”. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ^ AHMED, LUQMAN “Yina sa cheshman”. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ T-Series Kashmiri Music “Jigar zakhmi”. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ ACADEMY OF ART, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGES. “About us”. Government of Jammu & Kashmir. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  17. ^ “Soviet Land Nehru Award”. Bharatpedia. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ KOSHUR1 (15 June 2013). “Dastar Bandi Celebration of Muzaffar Aazim, Kashmiri poet and writer”. YouTube. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  19. ^ KV (2022-07-09). "Noted Kashmiri poet Muzaffar Aazim passes away in US". Kashmir Vision. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  20. ^ NETWORK, GK NEWS (2022-07-08). "Former Director Sericulture passes away". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
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