A Tribute to the Literary Legend

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Sultan Ganaie

By Manzoor Narvaw Walla

The literary era of poetry in Kashmir phase out from ‘’ Vakhs”(four line couplet style) of Lalleswari ,whose mystic and ascetic verses are practically on every Kashmiri’s lips, commonly known as “Nightin-gale’’ of Kashmir . Downhill to Sheikh-Noorud-Din (Nund Rishi): Patron saint of Kashmir who modernized the Kashmiri Language, Habba Khatoon, ”Abdul Ahad Azad ‘’mostly preferred as the “John Keats’’ of Kashmir and is pioneer of modernist movement , ”Zinda Kaul ‘’ (Master-Ji) the first poet of Kashmir to win the ‘’Sahitya Academy Award” in 1965 for ‘’Sumran’’, Dina Nath Nadim , Gani Miskeen , ‘’Mahjoor” so called as ‘’Words- Worth” of Kashmir and many more legends associated with the Literary Canon who contributed a lot to Kashmiri Literature.

Likewise many other prominent bards who chipped-in a lot to Kashmiri Culture and Literature but are still unknown to the people having rich Literary taste. “Ganaie Sultan”, a big Wheel of versatile intellect and achievements, first poet of “Narvaw’’ region in North Kashmir’s District Baramulla who gained for modern era a permanent place on the Literary map. Even though his geniture and expiration date is not known but is still a believed and beloved bard whose verses are at every one’s finger tips. He lived in ‘’Zogiyar”, a posh hamlet under the foot-hills of Pirpanjal range of sky kissing mighty Himalayas, situated nearly seven kilometers in west of Baramulla, one kilometer away from Sheeri. A Shepherd by profession Ganaie Sultan remained mostly unknown outside of the Valley. Due to some catchy reasons that, this region exhibited not even a single person having rich sense of Literary Concept could jot down his verses and unfortunately which lead vaporization of most of his flamboyant verses. Apart from poetic nature he rose to the unparallel heights of saint-hood and innate spirituality that invalids came to him for amulets and personal benefits. His works are posthumously published in one of a magazine ‘’Bazm-Adab Narvaw” which was published annually under the patronage of Mr “Saliq Bilal’’ (Fatehgarh) with the editorial cell of Intellects , Versifier’s ,Writer’s and Poet’s of Narvaw Valley. The entire editorial cell at full throttle mustered the courage and left no stone unturned to recollect his verses to pen them down before they were buried irretrievably under the sands of time. These poems were sung by the indigenous people of Narvaw valley while planting paddy in the fields.

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“Bazm-Adab Narvaw” is truly the beacon light that painted ‘’Ganie Sultan” in proper colours. By reading his verses one can really feel that he has come to life. Among his notable Poems published in Kashmiri language in the first print of the mentioned magazine are as; “Pish-Nama” which is written in dialogue form between a Flea and Head lice with a series of question’s and answer’s.

Another Poem under the title of ‘’Haaw Deedar Baab Gafuro” has an allegorical significance in the sense that , the Poet is provoking “ Baba Gafur’’( A Sufi Saint entombed on the shore of River Jhelum in Peeeniyan twelve kilometers in the west of Baramulla) to flash the slight view of his reflection and enchanting him solemnly by praising words of sublimity.

HAAV DEEDAR BAB GUFOORO

Kad te Haajat mang hye shukooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Bab Gufooro Haa myaane peroo

Haav Deedar Bab Gufooro

Chukh che panay sarkar aali

Chaane darbar kah go ne khaali

Rome tye Shaam chukh mashooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Chukh behit Che lab daryawas

Jaaye rat tham goshan hawawas

Treish hut chus praran ranjooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Posh baagan phalmit lal zar

Che shooban kumbye mukhtehar

Shola maaran lal kandooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Roz choonie khotmut pur zar

Che shooban mokhtin jaalar

Che bolaan kamlye kastooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Che tche zaatan ditmut shaanye

Manz peeran trowuth thaanaye

Chukh dedwaan dar kasheero

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Manz peeran roodukh tchaaye

Chus wulmut chaaniye maaye

Yut che waatan jantich hooro

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

Yim Haajat Ganaie Sultanas

Che tche dasgah maqsad paanas

Tat wasalat kerzam zururo

Haaw Deedar Bab Gufooro

GLIMPSE, PLEASE

Merciful be, O’ Obliged!

A rendezvous set, Baba Ghafoor!

Baba Ghafoor, my dear mentor,