Rehman Rahi

Rehman Rahi Biography

Rehman Rahi is one of the greatest living legends of Kashmiri language at present. Rahi was born on 6 May, 1925 and now he lives in Vichar Nag, Nowshera in Srinagar. He was awarded the Indian Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 for his poetry collection Nawroz-i-Saba and Padma Shri in 2000. He has also received Jnanpith award in 2004 for his Kashmiri works - Subhuk Soda, Kalami Rahi and Siyah Rode Jaren Manz. However the announcement was done in 2007. He is the first Kashmiri writer to be awarded the Jyanpith. Based on the life of Rahi, two documentary films were made; ‘A Night of Prophecy’ by Amar Kanwar and ‘Rahi’ by M K Raina. Rahi has made tireless efforts in the renewal and uplift of Kashmiri language, a language that’s never taught in schools or colleges of Kashmir. His works to this language are regarded as unparallel. He has also played a significant role in the establishment of PG department of Kashmiri in the University of Kashmir and in the introduction of Kashmiri as an optional subject.

He was brought up by his uncle after being orphaned at an early age. Rahi began his career as a clerk in the Public Works Department of the Government in 1948. But it was for a brief period and very soon, he became associated with Progressive Writers' Association. Later he became its general secretary. He has also acted as an editor of its journal, Kwang Posh. Later he became sub-editor in the Urdu daily newspaper - Khidmat. Later he took MA in Persian (1952) and in English (1962) from Jammu and Kashmir University. He has been also associated with Communist Party activities for a while. He was on the Board of Editors of the Urdu daily Aajkal in Delhi from 1953 to 1955.

In 1952 and 1956, Rahi published two early anthologies Sanwan Saaz and Nauroz-e-Sabha. Siyah Rude Jaren Manz was published in the year 1997, one of the best works in the last two decades. Despite trying his best he couldn’t find enough support to publish another collection of poems from 1962 to 1997, as his works were solely written in Kashmiri language. Other notable works include - Farmove Zartushtan, Saba Moallaqat and Kashir Shara Sombran.

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Updated: November 20, 2013