Renowned Broadcaster and Poet Farooq Nazki Passes Away

Renowned poet, broadcaster, and cultural icon, Farooq Nazki, aged 82, breathed his last at a Katra hospital on Tuesday. Nazki had been facing various health issues, including lung and kidney complications, for the past four years. He had moved to Katra to reside with his son, who works as a doctor at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.

Born on February 14, 1940, in the village of Maddar in Bandipora district, Nazki made significant contributions to literature, broadcasting, and Kashmiri culture. He received early education in Gamroo village and later studied at a government school in Nadihal, Bandipora.

Nazki’s intellectual prowess became evident during his school days, and he formed deep bonds with childhood friends Mansoor Ahmad Fazli and Manzoor Fazli. Under the guidance of his teacher Ahmadullah Afandi, Nazki imbibed the scout spirit and developed a sense of discipline.

After completing his education, Nazki became the Director of Doordarshan and AIR Srinagar from 1986 to 1997. He also served as the Editor of Daily Mazdoor and played important roles as a media advisor to Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. Throughout his life, he remained dedicated to nurturing literary talent and was associated with organizations like Bazm-e-Adab and JKAACL.

Nazki’s eloquent and evocative poetry, capturing Kashmir’s beauty and pain, earned him prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 for his work ‘Nar Heton Kanzal Vanas’. He was also recognized for his contributions to Urdu and Kashmiri languages, receiving the Noor-ul-Lugha Award and the State Cultural Academy Award.

Despite his declining health, Nazki actively participated in cultural and literary activities and left behind a lasting legacy. His contributions to broadcasting helped bring Kashmiri literature to a wider audience. Famous Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah once applauded Nazki’s mastery over the Urdu language during an interaction in Kashmir.