Pulwama, Oct 19: A grand literary function commemorating renowned Sufi poet Soch Kral was organised by the Soch Kral Adabi Cultural Sangam in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at a private medical institute in Pulwama. Hundreds of writers, poets and intellectuals participated in the event.
The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Nisar Wani, followed by Naat-e-Sharif presented by Saima Ashraf. Ghulam Hassan Talib, chairman of the Soch Kral Adabi Cultural Sangam, delivered the welcome address.
Renowned writer Faqir Nisar Ahmad Dildar presided over the function. The presidium included Gulzar Ahmad Haray, translator of the Holy Quran; Dr Gulzar Ahmad Rather; Ghulam Hassan Talib; Farooq Fida; Syed Ishtiyaq; and Gulzar Ahmad Wani, among others.
Younis Waheed presented a critical review of Soch Kral’s celebrated poem Dapyo Me Balah Yaara, highlighting its literary significance.
During the function, around 60 personalities from literature, education, social work and the print and electronic media were felicitated with citations and shawls for their contributions.
Ghulam Hassan Talib was honoured with the Khillat-e-Noor by Kashmir Markaz-e-Adab-o-Saqafat, while Younis Waheed received the Josh Memorial Award and A.R. Fida was conferred the Rasheed Rashid Award.
Three books were also released on the occasion: Habba Khatoon, Rooh-e-Arzi: Advent of Islam in Kashmir, and Hadd-e-Nigah by Nisar Ahmad Wani.
The programme concluded with a mushaira in which around 40 poets recited their compositions. The participating poets included Fayaz Dilgeer, Farooq Fida, Ali Ahsan, Sikandar, Irshad Ahmad, Wajoodi, Shab Roz, Mehak, Nisar Ahmad Dildar, Asim Asadi and Shams Saleem, among others.
The event celebrated Soch Kral’s enduring literary and spiritual legacy while recognising the contributions of contemporary writers and poets to Kashmiri language and literature.