January 31
As the Kashmir valley Witnesses prolonged unrest, paralyzed life, caged nights and curfewed days from decades, it has gained wide attention from media. But on the other hand, the Kashmir vale has a history and culture and is known as a birth place of some famous Sufi saints and poets.
Here in Tral, also known as “SHAH-E-HAMDAAN” town, a sufi poet Abdul Gani, from an economically backward village Dar Ganie Gund Tral is striving for peace through his poems.
Abdul Gani alias “Gani Razaq Kashmiri” , born in 1960 at Dar ganie Gund village, some fifteen kilometers away from Tral town despite all odds has kept believing that poetry and literature can take Kashmir into peace.
There was only one institution in the area which was about 5 km from his native village where he received his primary education but he had to give up his studies because of financial issues.
Gani Razaq Kashmiri, At the age of 25, In early 80’s, left his ancestral area and went to Aishmuqam area of Islamabad (anantnag) district to one of the famous spiritual saints of the time , Ahad Dhalval and stayed there for five years to get a glimpse of spiritual affinity.
During this period, he drew his attention towards Sufism and got impressed and influenced by the spirituality. Gani razaq Kashmiri served his maiden, Soon his spirituality also got home in Razaq’s heart and veins.
Gani Razaq Kashmiri worked in Jammu Kashmir industries and Commerce department as an employee. During 5 year tenure, he decided to leave the job by giving his legs a try, But as a lone bread earner of family with ailing parents compelled him not to quit job.
Despite economic problems Gani Razaq Kashmiri continued his struggle and finally in 2014 when the flood hit the valley, Gani Razaq Kashmiri kicked off a storm of his success and put forth the secret of his success as Bahar e Gul in front of the people.
Presently Gani Razaq Kashmiri is surviving with three children and a wife at his ancestral village , Dar Ganie Gund. Gani Razaq Kashmiri is now retired and is now working continuously to highlight the Sufi culture and is steadily motivating people towards oneness of God through his poetry and spirituality.
The Kashmiriyat reporter Nawaz Gull Spoke to Gani Razaq Kashmiri who believes that Sufism, Poetry and literature can take Kashmir valley into peace.
Did you have a poet in your home?
One Must be passionate to become a poet and must have glimpse of spirituality to learn a poetry.
In that era a Sufi was living in Aishmuqam area, i went there and stayed there for 5 years during which I learnt a lot while being in his service. The first poetry, I started was the praise of beloved prophet (pbuh), Slowly the passionate poetry starting flowing in my veins. Five years in his service are the most important time in my life. In his service i got some spirituality and since then i started poetry.
Q. Being a resident of area lagging on all fronts especially in in aspect of education , what challenges or obstacles you faced to achieve this feat?
I consider myself very lucky to have a father par excellence. Although my father was educated and he used to make Kashmir traditional mats during winter season. He always encouraged me to sail on this boat.
I believe if you truly want to achieve something, you have to put your heart and soul into it, having a back up or not doesn’t really matter but yes it gives a certain direction to your journey. In my case, I was blessed enough to have my mentor in my father and my spritual leader ahad sahab dhalval.
Q: Writers write for many reasons what did you write for?
Writing to me is a form of therapy, whenever I was feeling inundated with emotions, I used to write. The reasons can be many but for me I wanted to make a difference through my writings and poems by bringing forth the message of oneness of Almighty Allah. I seek peace and i believe peace in kashmir too can be reached through peace.
Q: Being a resident of disputed region how a situation affected you and how you tried to reach to the masses?
It affects a writer to a great extent both psychologically and emotionally. Once you ready to serve under the shadow of spiritual leaders, the world has no meaning for you. But It becomes very difficult to reach out to the masses who are troubled by their own circumstances. No one wants to listen to your voice when their own voices are choked, same is with Kashmir, every family has a story that deserves to be heard.
Q: What ideas generated in your mind and what ideas bought you to shape your poetry into a booklet?
I was not interested in giving a shape to my poetry, as we were economically unsound and also besides all this , I wanted to keep it secret but Some spiritual figures asked me to put forth my poetry, To get permission i continued used to visit to a shrine of famous sufi saint ” WAHAB KHAR” and after 12 years i gained the permission for publishing my poetry.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for ” BAHAR-E-GUL?
It was not the choice. It took 12 years to complete a booklet. It contains almost 150 praise poems. I mostly praised our beloved Prophet (s.a.w) and many famous spiritual saints especially “GHOUS-UL-AZAM & MAKHDOOM SAHAB”. As i made my mind clear to publish my poetry , i was caught in dilemma, My teacher (murshid) came up with an idea of Bahar-e-Gul .
Q: What are your future plans?
I do not want to earn my doctorate. I am a seeker of peace and peace for my people.