Ghulam Nabi Bulbul, torchbearer of Kashmiri folk traditions, dies at 75

June 11, 2025 by News Desk

Ghulam Nabi Bulbul, a celebrated Kashmiri singer and folk dancer known widely for his contributions to traditional music and performance, passed away this morning at his residence in Batsuma village of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. He was 75.

Popularly known as Hamli Bulbul, the artist was a prominent figure in Kashmir’s folk scene for decades, earning admiration for his soulful singing and distinctive dance performances, often featuring the rare act of balancing a glass of water on his head.

Born in 1949, Bulbul began his artistic journey in childhood, performing in local school events before receiving formal training under the noted musician Khazir Mohammad Shah. He went on to master traditional instruments such as the sarangi and became a household name through his frequent broadcasts on Radio Kashmir since the early 1960s.

Bulbul was awarded an A-Top grade by All India Radio for his artistic excellence and served for many years as a music instructor with the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations, where he recorded numerous folk compositions.

In recognition of his decades-long service to Kashmiri folk culture, Bulbul was conferred with the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Award in 2011.

His passing has been widely mourned by artists, cultural activists, and members of the public who hailed him as a guardian of Kashmiri oral traditions.

Bulbul is survived by his family and is being laid to rest in his ancestral village, where local residents and fellow musicians gathered to pay their respects.